Agriculture

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  • Grafted watermelon plants take in more pesticides

    ScienceDaily: Agriculture and Food News
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:19 am
    The widely used farm practice of grafting watermelon and other melon plants onto squash or pumpkin rootstocks results in larger amounts of certain pesticides in the melon fruit, scientists are reporting in a new study. Although only low amounts of pesticides appeared in the fruit in the study, the scientists advise that commercial farmers use "caution" when grafting watermelon plants to squash.

  • What will it take to break this Texas drought?

    Texas Agriculture Talks
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm
    By Gene Hall I haven’t lived on the farm for 40 years, but I am still at heart a “farm boy.”  Nothing that’s happened in my life could squeeze that out of me. And, for an old farm boy, there is not a more beautiful sight than the torrents of rain that battered my windshield as I drove to work yesterday. Add that precipitation to the 2 inches I poured from the rain gauge the night before and you have “significant rainfall,” enough to soak into our parched land and produce runoff for our sadly low ponds, tanks, lakes and rivers. I knew there would be…

  • Thousand Cankers Coming? How to Spot Walnut Tree Killer

    The Ohio State University Extension News Releases - RSS feeds
    knebusch.1
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:27 pm
    Fatal thousand cankers disease on a walnut tree: The illness is named for the many small lesions it causes on branches. For now it's not in Ohio. (Tennessee Department of Agriculture image.)  COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now you can get a free wallet-size ID card for spotting thousand cankers disease, which is a new, deadly walnut tree illness. It’s close to but not in Ohio yet. And while state officials hope it never gets here, they want to find it quickly if it does. At risk: $1.2 billion -- the estimated value of lumber from Ohio’s black walnuts -- and tons of edible nuts. By using the…

  • Labs Size Up New Guidelines For Rodent Cages

    AWIC
    17 Jan 2012 | 8:49 am
    NPR.org - Recently, some new recommendations about how to house female lab rodents and their babies caused an uproar, with experts at major research institutions now saying they're unsure of what they'll have to do to keep their government funding. http://www.npr.org/2012/01/16/145172737/labs-size-up-new-guidelines-for-rodent-cages

  • @Healthy_Harry City birds are fun to keep, but you need to know the rules.

    AWIC
    13 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am
    Zoning laws plus tips from us will give you the tools. 1.usa.gov/AQkma
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    ScienceDaily: Agriculture and Food News

  • Making poisonous plants and seeds safe and palatable: Canola now, cannabis next?

    27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Every night millions of people go to bed hungry. New genetic technology can help us feed the world by making inedible seeds edible and tasty.

  • High animal fat diet increases gestational diabetes risk, study finds

    25 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm
    Women who consumed a diet high in animal fat and cholesterol before pregnancy were at higher risk for gestational diabetes than women whose diets were lower in animal fat and cholesterol, according to researchers.

  • Attack or retreat? Circuit links hunger and pursuit in sea slug brain

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:28 pm
    If you were a blind, cannibalistic sea slug, living among others just like you, nearly every encounter with another creature would require a simple cost/benefit calculation: Should I eat that -- or flee? In a new study, researchers report that these responses are linked to a simple circuit in the brain of the sea slug Pleurobranchaea.

  • Grafted watermelon plants take in more pesticides

    25 Jan 2012 | 9:19 am
    The widely used farm practice of grafting watermelon and other melon plants onto squash or pumpkin rootstocks results in larger amounts of certain pesticides in the melon fruit, scientists are reporting in a new study. Although only low amounts of pesticides appeared in the fruit in the study, the scientists advise that commercial farmers use "caution" when grafting watermelon plants to squash.

  • Improving crops from the roots up

    24 Jan 2012 | 1:01 pm
    Scientists have taken us a step closer to breeding hardier crops that can better adapt to different environmental conditions and fight off attack from parasites.
 
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    Water - Air Quality / Agriculture News From Medical News Today

  • Asthma Rates And Costs Rise Due To Traffic Pollution

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm
    An international study of asthma, published in the early online version of the European Respiratory Journal, has for the first time, included the number of incidents caused by air pollution and shows that the costs for childhood asthma have risen sharply...

  • Viruses That Con Bacteria With Helping Hand

    26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Scientists studying ocean microorganisms have encountered something they have never seen before. A marine virus that cons certain photosynthetic bacteria into letting it come inside because it appears to offer a "helping hand" by bringing resources very like their own to help them acquire phosphorus, a nutrient they are desperately short of...

  • Experts Warn Cost Of Asthma Caused By Traffic-Related Air Pollution Is Much Higher Than Previous Estimates

    26 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    The total cost of asthma due to traffic-related air pollution is much higher than previous estimates, according to new research. The study, published online ahead of print in the European Respiratory Journal, has revealed the true extent of the healthcare costs associated with living close to a busy road...

  • Extracellular Matrix Identified As Source Of Spreading In Biofilms

    25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    New research at Harvard explains how bacterial biofilms expand to form slimy mats on teeth, pipes, surgical instruments, and crops. Through experiment and mathematical analysis, researchers have shown that the extracellular matrix (ECM), a mesh of proteins and sugars that can form outside bacterial cells, creates osmotic pressure that forces biofilms to swell and spread...

  • Link Between PCE In Drinking Water And An Increased Risk Of Mental Illness

    22 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    PCE in drinking water linked to an increased risk of mental illness The solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) widely used in industry and to dry clean clothes is a neurotoxin known to cause mood changes, anxiety, and depression in people who work with it...
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    USDA Agricultural Research Service

  • ARS Food and Nutrition Research Briefs Issued

    27 Jan 2012 | 7:49 am
    ARS Food and Nutrition Research Briefs Issued By Kim Kaplan January 27, 2012 Drinking soy milk rather than cow's milk or mother's milk can result in better bones, at least in piglets, according to findings reported in the latest issue of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food and Nutrition Research Briefs and its Spanish-language edition (Informe de investigaciones de alimentos y nutrición). View the English edition at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb0112.htm The popular online newsletter reports discoveries from researchers at ARS laboratories nationwide. Among other…

  • New Issue of Healthy Animals Now Online

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:03 am
    New Issue of Healthy Animals Now Online By Sandra Avant January 26, 2012 The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today posted a new issue of Healthy Animals. This quarterly online newsletter compiles ARS news and expert resources on the health and well-being of agricultural livestock, poultry and fish. Each quarter, one article in Healthy Animals focuses on a particular element of ARS animal research. The current issue examines some of the collaborative partnerships formed by ARS and international agencies to control destructive diseases that threaten the health of livestock in developing…

  • USDA Unveils New Plant Hardiness Zone Map

    25 Jan 2012 | 10:09 am
    The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is more sophisticated and accurate than any other previously developed. Click the image for link to zone map web site. USDA Unveils New Plant Hardiness Zone Map By Kim Kaplan January 25, 2012 WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. The new map—jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU)…

  • Finding New Forages for Rangeland Cattle

    24 Jan 2012 | 9:05 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. Ranchers in the Intermountain West can reduce feeding costs by grazing their animals on the forage kochia, an Asian plant that sometimes survives wildfires and other environmental challenges better than native plants. Click the image for more information about it. ARS and New Mexico scientists take a long look at livestock and locoweed   A better breed of plants helps revive western rangelands   ARS research helps develop new leads in cleft palate repair Finding New Forages for Rangeland Cattle By Ann Perry January 24, 2012 Cattle that graze…

  • Seeding Strategies Help Rangelands Recover from Fire

    20 Jan 2012 | 8:18 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS rangeland scientist Tony Svejcar (left), technician Lori Ziegenhagen and plant physiologist Jeremy James found that small improvements in seeding could significantly increase plant restoration efforts on some postfire rangeland landscapes. Click the image for more information about it. Burning invasive juniper trees boosts perennial grass recovery   ARS scientists study effects of grazing on grouse habitat   Challenging weed meets its match in field trials Seeding Strategies Help Rangelands Recover from Fire By Ann Perry January 20, 2012…
 
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    AWIC

  • PRIM&R 2012 IACUC Conference

    23 Jan 2012 | 10:44 am
    Registration is now open for PRIM&R’s 2012 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Conference, which will be held March 20-21 (with 2 exciting pre-conference programs on March 18-19) in Boston, MA. Please visit www.primr.org for more information.

  • Nearly 7 million bats may have died from white-nose fungus, officials say

    19 Jan 2012 | 11:51 am
    WashingtonPost.com - More than five years since the deadly white-nose fungus was first detected in a New York cave where bats hibernate, up to 6.7 million of the animals are estimated to have died in 16 states and Canada, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nearly-7-million-bats-may-have-died-from-white-nose-fungus-officials-say/2012/01/17/gIQAyixH6P_story.html

  • Labs Size Up New Guidelines For Rodent Cages

    17 Jan 2012 | 8:49 am
    NPR.org - Recently, some new recommendations about how to house female lab rodents and their babies caused an uproar, with experts at major research institutions now saying they're unsure of what they'll have to do to keep their government funding. http://www.npr.org/2012/01/16/145172737/labs-size-up-new-guidelines-for-rodent-cages

  • #ff @National_Ag_Lib @USDA

    13 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    @USDA_APHIS @USDA_ARS @InvasiveInfo

  • @Healthy_Harry City birds are fun to keep, but you need to know the rules.

    13 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am
    Zoning laws plus tips from us will give you the tools. 1.usa.gov/AQkma
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    USDA Economic Research Service - What's New

  • Food Price Outlook, 2012

    25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm
    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food is probably the most widely used indicator of changes in retail food prices. ERS regularly updates food price forecasts for the short-term period. The CPI for all food is projected to increase 2.5 to 3.5 percent in 2012. ERS’s food price outlook is available for December 2011.

  • Agricultural Outlook Statistical Indicators

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Statistical Indicators previously published in Agricultural Outlook addressing a broad spectrum of agriculture-related issues. Includes commodity and food prices, general economic indicators, government program expenditures, farm income estimates, and trade and export statistics.

  • Wheat Data

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    This data product contains statistics on wheat - including the five classes of wheat: hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, white, and durum - and rye. Includes data published in the monthly Wheat Outlook and previously annual Wheat Yearbook. Data are monthly, quarterly, and/or annual depending upon the data series.

  • Feed Grains Database

    24 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Interactive database that contains statistics on four feed grains (corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), foreign coarse grains (feed grains plus rye, millet, and mixed grains), hay, and related items. Tables previously published annually in the Feed Yearbook are available and updated continuously as data are added to the database. Custom queries also allow users to retrieve historical data.

  • Meat Price Spreads

    19 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    This data set provides monthly average price values, and the differences among those values, at the farm, wholesale, and retail stages of the production and marketing chain for selected cuts of beef, pork, and broilers. In addition, retail prices are provided for beef and pork cuts, turkey, whole chickens, eggs, and dairy products.
 
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    Global Voices » Environment

  • Video Highlights: Music, Indigenous Initiatives, Indignation and Wonder

    Juliana Rincón Parra
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:44 pm
    This section aims to showcase interesting and recent posts in Global Voices that show the many ways in which videos are helping people tell stories all around the world. You can follow the activity by regions in our YouTube channel or by clicking on the regional header links. Music and Indigenous Initiatives Latin America Brazil: Cultural Debate as ‘Oh if I Catch You' Song Goes Global Music has spurred an ongoing debate in Brazil, as netizens realize they have a new cultural ambassador which they may not have chosen themselves. In this case, it is Michel Teló's song ‘Ai se eu te…

  • Video: Online Media by and for Indigenous People

    Juliana Rincón Parra
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:26 pm
    Intercontinental Cry has a list of 12 recommended films on indigenous issues, some made by indigenous people from Brazil, Australia, Panama, USA, Northern Kenya, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Written by Juliana Rincón Parra · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter · reddit · StumbleUpon · delicious · Instapaper

  • Djibouti: 2012 Djibouti Whale Shark Expedition

    Ndesanjo Macha
    26 Jan 2012 | 7:12 am
    Seychelles Whale Sharks blogs about the the 2012 Djibouti whale shark expedition: “…Gareth has passed on the important statistics for the last week which yielded a further 369 encounters which makes the total of 1077 over the three weeks of expedition…Also, Gareth managed to deploy two satellite tags, one on a five metre female and the other on a five meter male…” Written by Ndesanjo Macha · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter · reddit · StumbleUpon · delicious · Instapaper

  • Jordan: Let it Snow

    Ali Alhasani
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:39 am
    The long awaited white visitor has arrived to Jordan, after a couple of dry cold fronts it came and quickly melted. It didn't even accumulate but it brought in lots of joy and happiness to people eager for it. As soon as it started snowing in the mountainous regions of Jordan (around 1,000 meters above sea level), a flow of tweets and Facebook posts, along with photographs and videos, started making the rounds on social media. In Jordan, citizen journalism plays it's role very well since almost everyone owns a smart phone connected to the Internet at all times. Netizens were not only…

  • El Salvador: New Attack Against Anti Mining Activists

    Silvia Viñas
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:02 am
    Voices from El Salvador reports on a new attack against anti mining activists in Cabañas. This time, Father Neftalí Ruiz was attacked by “several young men [who] tied him up in his home and proceeded to search his home, computer files, and cellphones for information and supposed weapons.” Grit and Grace published an English translation of a press release by the National Working Table against Metallic Mining in El Salvador on this attack. Written by Silvia Viñas · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter · reddit · StumbleUpon ·…
 
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    ANR News Blog Feed

  • Searching for zinfandel clonal excellence

    26 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm
    A quest to find the best zinfandel clones began in the early 1990s, wrote Ann Hanami of the Napa Valley Wine Examiner. UC Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist James Wolpert was getting feedback from winemakers about the poor quality of the four available commercial zinfandel clones from the Central Valley, whose main characteristics were high-yield, large berries and poor varietal character. Wolpert went on a California “safari” to find old-vine selections that had evolved...

  • Alfalfa is ice cream in the making

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:45 am
    When Khaled Bali looks at ice cream he thinks about alfalfa, wrote Alejandro Davila in the Imperial Valley Press. The story highlighted the research contributions of UC's Desert Research and Extension Center, which this year is celebrating its centennial.The director of UC Cooperative Extension in Imperial County and an irrigation farm advisor, Bali said that for some people the connection between ice cream and alfalfa is not quite clear. Since alfalfa feeds dairy cattle, it is an important...

  • California dreamin'

    20 Jan 2012 | 11:24 am
    The almond industry's dream of hitting the two billion-pound mark has come true, according to an article by Cary Blake in Western Farm Press. “We once believed achieving a 2-billion-pound California almond crop was a distant dream but now it’s a reality,” said Bob Curtis of the Almond Board of California at the 2011 Almond Industry Conference. The conference included presentations by John Edstrom, UC Cooperative Extension emeritus farm advisor, Colusa County; Mario Viveros, UCCE emeritus...

  • Clearing vegetation helps protect homes from fire

    19 Jan 2012 | 11:15 am
    Clearing vegetation close to houses is the best way to reduce impacts of severe wildfires, according to a team of scientists from Australia and the U.S., said an article published in Science Codex. The researchers examined house loss after a series of fires raged across the Australian state of Victoria in February 2009, killing 173 and injuring 414. However, fuel reduction close to houses is only a partial solution. Other measures - such as early evacuation, safer places and architectural...

  • Pest threats 'overblown'

    18 Jan 2012 | 11:39 am
    It's been nearly 20 years since olive, walnut and pistachio farmers first declared war on cotton, but the Glenn County Board of Supervisors declared Tuesday that fear of verticillium dahliae levels might be a a bit overblown, said an article by Susan Meeker in the Colusa County Sun-Herald. The board agreed to revisit the 2008 regulation that prevents cotton growers from planting in the same field three years in a row if the level of verticillium wilt is detected in 3 percent or more of...
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    agriculture news from mongabay.com

  • Disease kills 6 million bats in North America

    Jeremy Hance
    18 Jan 2012 | 11:41 am
    In just six years around six million bats have succumbed to white-nose syndrome in North America, according to U.S. federal researchers. The number, somewhere between 5.7 and 6.7 million bats, is far higher than past estimates of over a million. Showing up in 2006 in New York, the perplexing disease, which appears as white dust on bats' muzzles, wipes out populations while they hibernate.

  • Prehistoric Peruvians enjoyed popcorn

    Jeremy Hance
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am
    Researchers have uncovered corncobs dating back at least 3,000 years ago in two ancient mound sites in Peru according to a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The ancient corn remnants, which proved residents were eating both popped corn and corn flour, are the earliest ever discovered in South America and may go back as far as 4,700 BCE (6,700 years ago), over fifteen hundred years before the early Egyptians developed hieroglyphics and while woolly mammoths still roamed parts of the Earth.

  • Targeting methane, black carbon could buy world a little time on climate change

    Jeremy Hance
    12 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm
    A new study in Science argues that reducing methane and black carbon emissions would bring global health, agriculture, and climate benefits. While such reductions would not replace the need to reduce CO2 emissions, they could have the result of lowering global temperature by 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 degree Fahrenheit) by mid-century, as well as having the added benefits of saving lives and boosting agricultural yields. In addition, the authors contend that dealing with black carbon and methane now would be inexpensive and politically feasible.

  • Industrial palm oil production expands at expense of rainforests in Peru

    Rhett Butler
    10 Jan 2012 | 8:07 am
    Intensive palm oil production is expanding at the expense of biolologically-rich lowland rainforests in the Peruvian Amazon, reports a study published in Environmental Research Letters. The research indicates that enthusiasm for oil palm — one of the world's most lucrative crops — is taking a toll on forests outside of Southeast Asia, where the vast majority of palm oil is produced.

  • Colonization program remains important driver of deforestation in Brazil

    Rhett Butler
    10 Jan 2012 | 7:58 am
    Government-subsidized colonization of the Amazon rainforest remains an important driver of forest loss in Brazil, but has mixed economic value, argues a paper published in Biological Conservation.
 
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    Blog

  • Will Brazilian Ethanol Really Compete With US Ethanol?

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:24 am
    The ethanol economy remains strong and healthy, even without the blenders’ credit and the import tariff which expired at the end of 2011.  There were few that would have imagined that several years ago, based on the strength of the lobbying efforts of the corn and ethanol associations.  However, the lack of expected competition from Brazil has been the reason for today’s ethanol market.  That market has US ethanol being shipped to Brazil, just the opposite of what had been predicted.  But how long will that be the case, and could it change?

  • What IS Your Corn Marketing Plan?

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:40 am
    How about those corn prices?  Oh, you’re not very excited about corn prices, you say?  March corn has bounced between $5.75 and $6.75 and new crop corn has had an 85¢ swing.  With such excitement, what is there to complain about?  Oh, predictable stability at high prices, is what you want?  Well, we all need to work on that.  But in the meantime, we have to work on a marketing plan with the cards that have been dealt to us.

  • Livestock Feed Supplies Remain Tight, But Not Worsening.

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:22 am
    The deteriorated pasture and rangeland pushed many head of cattle into feedlots at an early point in their cycle, and Friday’s Cattle on Feed report reflected that glut, with a high number on feed, but low numbers entering feedlots and being marketed.  With the weather still uncooperative, many livestock producers are concerned about the outlook for feed in the coming year.  Will there be enough, given all of the dynamics pushing and pulling on the supply?  Answers follow.

  • Begin Your Crop Year With Lower Insurance Premiums

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:52 am
    With another potential impact from LaNina this year, how will you be managing your yield risk?  Some farmers will have a plan to not manage it, but others will be visiting crop insurance agents soon after visiting with their lenders.  And anyone who inquires about premiums for 2012 may be pleasantly surprised with what their agent says.  Really.

  • What Is To Blame For The Recent Collapse Of Corn Prices?

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    17 Jan 2012 | 9:37 pm
    The grain markets were rising from mid-December until the USDA’s Final 2011 Crop Production Report, Supply Demand Report, and Quarterly Grain Stocks Report, which were all released on January 12.  Declining yields in Brazil and Argentina had been pushing up values at the CME, until last Thursday, until the USDA released data that surprised the market.  Corn closed down the 40-cent limit, and both bean and wheat markets also collapsed with abandon.  Was the market drop the result of USDA finding a lot more available grain to supply the domestic and global demand, or was it the…
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    The Ohio State University Extension News Releases - RSS feeds

  • Ohio State Food, Ag, Env Calendar Listings as of Jan. 28

    knebusch.1
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:10 pm
    Cal DeWitt, University of Wisconsin, speaks twice in Wooster on Jan. 28. Topics: Environmental stewardship and sustainable land use planning; climate and agricultural ethics. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Here are upcoming events involving Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences as of Jan. 28: January Jan. 28: The Dunn Paradigm: How We Transformed Our Town Into an Environmental Stewardship Community, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Shisler Conference Center, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Free. Speaker is Cal DeWitt,…

  • Farmers, Food Industry: Brix Workshops Set for Feb. 9 (Wooster) and Feb. 18 (Granville)

    espinoza.15
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:53 pm
    Brix values are used for measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables. WOOSTER, Ohio -- How much sugar is in your vegetables? How sweet might they taste? What factors influence sugar levels in vegetables? Are you interested in learning how to measure sugar levels using Brix values? The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) will be offering two workshops on these topics, Feb. 9 in Wooster and Feb. 18 in Granville. Presented by OARDC's Vegetable Production Systems Laboratory, the workshops will focus on measuring,…

  • Two Ohio Small Farm Conferences Set for March

    filipic.3
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:20 pm
    WILMINGTON, Ohio -- Small farm landowners interested in improving production and marketing practices will get the information they need in March at conferences hosted by Ohio State University Extension's Small Farm Program in Wilmington and Massillon. The first conference is the fourth annual “Opening Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show, March 9-10 at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio The conference will feature 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers.  The conference kicks off on Friday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. with “Meat Marketing—Front and…

  • Chow Line: Canned salmon good for omega-3s (1/27/12)

    filipic.3
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am
    We love making baked salmon, especially because it’s so good for you. But it is expensive. Recently I’ve been tempted to try canned salmon. Does it have the same health benefits from omega-3 fatty acids? Canned salmon can be a great, economical alternative to fresh salmon. The amount of omega-3s varies widely, but you can rest assured that you’ll be getting more heart-healthy omega-3s with canned salmon than with no salmon at all. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Harvard University researchers determined that eating 2 grams of omega-3 fatty…

  • Thousand Cankers Coming? How to Spot Walnut Tree Killer

    knebusch.1
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:27 pm
    Fatal thousand cankers disease on a walnut tree: The illness is named for the many small lesions it causes on branches. For now it's not in Ohio. (Tennessee Department of Agriculture image.)  COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now you can get a free wallet-size ID card for spotting thousand cankers disease, which is a new, deadly walnut tree illness. It’s close to but not in Ohio yet. And while state officials hope it never gets here, they want to find it quickly if it does. At risk: $1.2 billion -- the estimated value of lumber from Ohio’s black walnuts -- and tons of edible nuts. By using the…
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    Ed's World : Grain Marketing

  • 2012 Pre-Harvest Marketing Plan for Soybeans

    usset001
    5 Jan 2012 | 1:46 pm
    Last September I posted a lament over my lack of early action in pricing 2012 soybeans. In early July I took action to start pricing 2012 corn. In August I stepped up and started pricing 2012 spring wheat. In soybeans, for some reason, I was fixated on $14/bu. (Nov’12 futures). We never got there. In early September, the Nov’12 contract peaked at $13.99½/bu. That is correct: for lack of a lousy ½ cent/bu., I passed on a great pricing opportunity. The Nov’12 contract proceeded to trade all the way down to $11.20/bu. in late November and again in mid-December. I grumbled the whole way…

  • Finished with pricing the 2011 HRS wheat crop

    usset001
    22 Dec 2011 | 10:16 am
    In late November I completed pricing the 2011 hard red spring wheat crop. You can find my post-harvest marketing plan and a recap of my activities here. My average price was not bad, considering that I had sales made as low as $6.60/bu. and as high as $9.55/bu. The holidays are here and it’s time (if you haven’t already done so)  to turn our attention to 2012. My pre-harvest marketing plan for 2012 spring wheat is here. I first published it last August and the initial sales were made at very good levels. Which leaves me, of course, with that “I should’a sold…

  • One more chance at Grain Marketing is Simple before the holidays

    usset001
    8 Dec 2011 | 1:53 pm
    LULU.com says this is their last sale before the holidays – one more chance to buy Grain Marketing is Simple for a friend or family member. Go to the website here and type in Grain Marketing is Simple in the “find” bar. Enter coupon code COUNTDOWN305 at checkout and receive 25% off your order. The maximum savings for this offer is $150.  Sorry, but this offer is only valid in US Dollars and cannot be applied to previous orders. You can only use this code once per account, and unfortunately you can’t use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer expires…

  • Cyber Monday is here for Grain Marketing is Simple

    usset001
    28 Nov 2011 | 10:06 am
    Cyber Monday is here at LULU.com and another great chance to buy Grain Marketing is Simple. Go to LULU.com and follow the directions. Enter coupon code CYBERMONDAY305 at checkout and receive 30% off your order. The maximum savings for this offer is $300. Enter coupon code MORECYBERMONDAY305 at checkout and receive 35% off your order of $750 or more. The maximum savings for this offer is $750.  Sorry, but these offers are only valid in US Dollars and cannot be applied to previous orders. You can only use these codes once per account, and unfortunately you can’t use these coupons in…

  • 2012 Pre-Harvest Marketing Plan for Corn: An Update

    usset001
    28 Nov 2011 | 9:57 am
    Several weeks ago, I asked a colleague at the Center for Farm Financial Management to update his projections for production costs in Southern Minnesota. Estimated production costs are a very important number in my approach to pre-harvest marketing. They represent my minimum pricing objective – a number, under which, I am unwilling to price grain before harvest. The update was needed because costs do change. Fertilizer prices, for example, are much higher today than when we put together a quick projection for 2012 costs last spring. Hmm, the updated projections were surprising, and much…
 
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    FarmPolicy

  • Budget; Farm Bill; CFTC (MF Global); Climate; and the Ag Economy

    Keith Good
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:08 am
    Budget Issues, Payroll Tax Felicia Sonmez reported yesterday at the 2chambers Blog (Washington Post) that, “The Senate on Thursday voted against proceeding on a symbolic resolution that would have disapproved of President Obama’s request earlier this month to raise the federal borrowing limit, clearing the way for the $1.2 trillion increase to proceed as expected.” The update noted that, “Last week, the House approved the disapproval resolution on a largely party-line vote, with most Republicans voting ‘yes’ and most Democrats voting ‘no.’ “Even if the resolution had passed,…

  • Budget Issues; Farm Bill; CFTC; Ag Economy; Trade; and Regulations

    Keith Good
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:58 am
    Budget Issues, Payroll Tax Daniel Newhauser reported yesterday at Roll Call Online that, “Republicans today dismissed Democrats’ proposal to include a package of expired tax extenders in the payroll tax cut conference committee. “Rep. Dave Camp, the co-chairman of the committee, indicated that he does not think the group of about 80 tax provisions should be brought up as the panel looks to extend a payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits and prevent cuts to doctors’ Medicare reimbursements.” The article explained that, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Max…

  • Budget-Payroll Tax- State of the Union; Farm Bill; MF Global; and Biofuels

    Keith Good
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:31 am
    Budget- Payroll Tax- State of the Union A House Budget Committee news release from yesterday stated that, “The House Budget Committee advanced three legislative reforms today to address the broken budget process. The reforms focused on bringing greater accountability and transparency, and stronger protections for hardworking Americans’ tax dollars. While the House Budget Committee works to advance solutions, today marks 1,000 days without any budget from the U.S. Senate.” And Alexander Bolton reported yesterday at The Hill Online that, “Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)…

  • Budget; Farm Bill and Policy Issues (Animal Agriculture); and Biofuels

    Keith Good
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:19 am
    Budget Issues Byron Tau reported yesterday at Politico that, “The Obama administration’s 2013 budget will be delayed by one week, an administration official told POLITICO. “The Office of Management and Budget will put out next year’s budget on February 13th, instead of February 6th. Under the law, the budget is supposed to be released on the first Monday in February, but the administration has released the budget late in the past.” In response to the President’s decision to delay the release of his Fiscal Year 2013 budget, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R.,…

  • Budget; Farm Bill; Ag Economy; Biofuels; and Regulations

    Keith Good
    23 Jan 2012 | 4:21 am
    Budget Issues Pete Kasperowicz reported on Friday at The Hill’s Floor Action Blog that, “Whatever show of bipartisanship Republicans and Democrats manage to put on during President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, 2012 is already looking like another year of bitter divide over what has become the political question of our time: How much should government spend? “Obama has made a recent nod toward cutting the deficit, by combining several economic agencies into one. He’s likely to remind his GOP critics of this proposal during Tuesday night’s speech.
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    EurekAlert! - Agriculture

  • Capturing an octopus-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef

    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (University of Bristol) A specialized camera that allows scientists to see as reef-dwelling animals do has been built by a team of researchers at the University of Bristol. The team will travel to Lizard Island off the coast of Queensland this year to capture images of the Great Barrier Reef which they hope will provide new insight into this underwater world.

  • Trial by fire: A landscape-scale experiment in restoring Ozark glades

    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Washington University in St. Louis) A giant experiment is under way at the Tyson Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis' 2,000-acre outdoor laboratory for ecosystem studies. The experiment, led by Tiffany Knight, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, will test three different variables in 32 glades with the goal of establishing best practices for restoring not just degraded glade habitats but degraded ecosystems in general. The experiment is expected to draw collaborating scientists locally and around the world.

  • Overgrazed grasslands tied to locust outbreaks

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Arizona State University) Scientists from Arizona State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences show that insect nutrition and agricultural land management practices may partially explain modern day locust outbreaks.

  • Scientist: Temperate freshwater wetlands are 'forgotten' carbon sinks

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Ohio State University) A new study comparing the carbon-holding power of freshwater wetlands has produced measurements suggesting that wetlands in temperate regions are more valuable as carbon sinks than current policies imply, according to researchers.

  • Detecting detrimental change in coral reefs

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Phil Dunstan has watched reefs deteriorate at an alarming rate. Recently he has found that the Landsat Satellite data offers a way to evaluate these changes globally. Using an innovative way to map how coral reefs are changing over time, Dustan now can find 'hotspots' where conservation efforts should be focused to protect these delicate communities.
 
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    AgWired

  • Novus Commitment to Sustainability

    Chuck
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pm
    During the Animal Ag Sustainability Summit 2012 held in conjunction with International Poultry Expo, Scott Hine, Vice President – Product Management and Operations, Novus, spoke about the company commitment to sustainability. Scott says the Summit was an opportunity for Novus and his message was that “if you want to be engaged in sustainability, which Novus believes is core to the future, that you really need to set up a way forward to engage your people and then set your goals and then achieve those goals and report on it.” He says they’ve developed their platform around…

  • Eggmeister is the Egg Mascot

    Chuck
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:59 pm
    Thanks to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association for providing a photo of the winner of the name the International Poultry Expo egg mascot contest. The International Poultry Expo’s egg mascot has been officially named Eggmeister! After receiving over 1,350 name submissions, the list was narrowed down to five names. On Thursday, January 26, the name with the most votes was announced during the 2012 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta, GA. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Dave Roets,…

  • Wrapping Up International Poultry Expo

    Chuck
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am
    The 2012 International Poultry and Feed Expo exceeded expectations. Here are some statistics on this year’s event. The 2012 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo drew over 20,500 poultry and feed industry leaders from all over the world. In addition, the show had 895 exhibitors as compared to 900 last year. Sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the American Feed Industry Association, the annual Expo is the world’s largest poultry and feed industry event of its kind. To get a wrap up on the event I spoke with John Starkey, President, U.S. Poultry…

  • Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:23 am
    Wheat Growers promotes Stephen Briggs to Senior Vice President of Agronomy and Corporate Marketing and Roger Krueger to Senior Vice President of Grain. Terry Sekel joined Rural Media Group, Inc. as senior vice president of advertising sales; Andrew Eder joined as vice president of sales; Sandy Lawson as director of equine sales; and, Sally Stith-Burdette as account representative. The National High School Rodeo Association has joined the Alltech Ag Network on iHigh. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the final regulations for the nation’s school lunch…

  • BASF Presents New Herbicide Research at Weed Science Meeting

    Cindy
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:33 pm
    Weed scientists meeting in South Carolina this week got a look at a new product in the BASF Crop Protection pipeline to help in the war against herbicide resistant weeds. During the 65th Annual Meeting of the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS), BASF presented research related to Engenia™ herbicide, the company’s next-generation formulation of dicamba. “Engenia will be an important new tool for soybean growers battling herbicide- resistant weeds, like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and marestail,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “Research presented at the…
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    Real Agriculture.com

  • Cropweek 2012 -New Holland Showcases Guardian Front Boom Sprayer

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:35 am
    Spraying your crops is a tricky job. For starters, there is always a specific window to hit that has to match your crop stage and the weather conditions. It’s also a matter of proper application. Not only are pesticides and herbicides high value products, but they have to be applied properly to work. All of this has to take place on some rough terrain. It could be wet, bumpy, hilly or all of the above, so you need a machine that can handle all of the above. It wouldn’t be so bad either if those hours spent in the sprayer were comfortable. Those are some of the thoughts that went…

  • Cropweek 2012 – New Holland Offers SmartTrax System to Provide Wider Harvest Windows

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:31 am
    At this year’s Crop Production Week Show in Saskatoon, we got to take a look at New Holland’s new SmartTrax track system. The system offers producers a number of benefits, the first of which is more power to the ground. The tracks offer a boost in pulling and climbing power when travelling or pulling larger implements across hilly land. The second benefit is better floatation. The wide surface area on the tracks makes spinning and sinking a lot harder to do. One of the other benefits of a track system is the lack of soil compaction compared to tires. This is a real benefit to no…

  • Tiffin 2012 – Temple Grandin – A Practical Approach to Improving Animal Welfare

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:19 am
    Temple Grandin’s work in the livestock industry cannot be understated. Her designs and innovations in the areas of livestock handling revolutionized the industry and brought a more humane system into existence. Those insights and contributions are made all the more impressive by the fact that Dr. Grandin is autistic. That condition is part of the reason that she had so much success in developing systems to handle cattle. She describes herself as a visual thinker. Her mind thinks in pictures, a process that served her well when it came to implementing her designs. I highly recommend to…

  • Cropweek 2012 – Syngenta Canada Creates Scholarship to Benefit Pulse Industry In Canada

    Shaun Haney
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm
    In order for the pulse industry to grow in Canada, a number of areas have to be looked at. One of those areas is market development. The world’s food needs are growing and changing. New markets are opening up as a middle class emerges in areas of the developing world. Those people have specific end-use needs when it comes to food. The other area involves growing crops that fit those specific end-use needs. That’s where research and development on an institutional scale becomes important. Included in that is having the human resources necessary to do that, and that is why Syngenta…

  • Cropweek 2012 – 2012 Tier 4 Case IH Combine

    Shaun Haney
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am
    This year at the Crop Production Week Show in Saskatoon, we got to take a look at the 2012 Case IH Tier 4 Combine. The latest improvements on the machine are focused mainly on the engine. Fuel economy and power have been improved which is sure to be a major consideration for farmers thinking of long hours come harvest. The exhaust system has also been overhauled to meet the 2014 emission control standards, which makes for a “greener” choice. There are also some comfort and control improvements that have been made to accommodate the farmer living inside through harvest. I took a…
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    Free Agriculture Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com

  • How to Use Usenet for File Sharing

    9 Jan 2012 | 8:20 pm
    Usenet is a very different beast compared to the World Wide Web. In its base form the WWW is a multitude of separate spaces containing the files for a website. Usenet content, on the other hand, is all mixed together in one giant space. Usenet differs from the WWW in that there are a number of Usenet server farms which, instead of containing different data, all communicate with each other to make sure data is available on each server farm. This means that most of the data can be accessed by anyone, regardless of which Usenet service provider they connect to or where they are in the…

  • Dairy Foods

    3 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am
    Dairy Foods delivers the information necessary for dairy business success. This is done each month by analyzing and reporting on technologies, trends and issues. In-depth special features, lively columns and expert technical articles come together and provide innovative ideas for dairy processors. Dairy Foods' editorial staff and columnists combine for over 250 years of dairy industry expertise.Request Free!

  • Nutraceuticals World

    15 Dec 2011 | 10:50 am
    Nutraceuticals World covers market and technology developments, dissect regulatory issues and provide international perspectives unique to the supplement, food and beverage market. The major ingredient/product trends Nutraceuticals World frequently highlight include antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, herbs and botanicals, nutrition bars, nutraceutical beverages and functional foods. In addition, some of the health areas Nutraceuticals World focus on are weight loss, diabetes, heart health and eye health.Request Free!

  • Ethanol Producer

    4 Nov 2011 | 12:50 pm
    The magazine is known throughout the ethanol industry for its authoritative plant construction lists, compelling profiles and engaging features on production, research, science, technology, equipment, environmental and safety compliance, marketing, policy and industry events.Request Free!

  • Industria Avicola

    6 Sep 2011 | 12:20 pm
    Established in 1952, Industria Avícola is the premier Latin American industry publication serving commercial poultry interests. Published in Spanish, Industria Avícola is the region's only monthly poultry publication reaching an audience of 10,000+ poultry professionals in 40 countries. Industria Avícola founded and continues to administer the prestigious Latin American Poultry Hall of Fame.Request Free!
 
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    Cooking Up a Story

  • Alan Kapuler: Man of Science, Ideas, and Humanity part 4 (video)

    Cooking Up A Story
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    The garden is not just a garden. The garden is a metaphor for having a place to develop an ethical way to understand life, and to make a life that is ethical. —Alan KapulerIf there were an intergalactic spacecraft capable of carrying but one life safely in search of contact with other sentient beings, my vote would be for Alan Kapuler to be humanity’s ambassador to the cosmos. Leading a lifetime of work devoted to organic gardening and open pollinated plant breeding in the public interest, Kapuler, a molecular biologist by training, poetically expresses his reverence for all living…

  • Factory Farms: Animal Welfare, No Legal Protections 2 (video)

    Cooking Up A Story
    17 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    In part 2, Kathy Hessler, Director of the Animal Law Clinic at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland (Oregon), discusses some of the important work that is being done to try and address the problems associated with factory farms. According to Hessler, this effort involves a large coalition of folks from different states, as well as internationally.From the video, these are some of the important areas of concern where the laws need strengthening:Environmental concerns: Massive manure lagoons pose threats not only to surface waters (rivers, tributaries, etc.) but also to groundwater supplies…

  • Factory Farms: Animal Welfare, No Legal Protections (video)

    Cooking Up A Story
    10 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm
    EditorialIn this Friends of Family Farmer’s sponsored talk, Kathy Hessler, Director of the Animal Law Clinic at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland (Oregon), discusses the important subject of factory farms in relation to animal welfare protections under existing federal and state laws.In a nutshell, livestock in America do not enjoy any protections under the law; they enjoy the same rights as a personal kitchen toaster. There are no federal laws, including federal and state animal anti-cruelty laws, that apply to farm animals. One small exception applies to the transportation of…

  • Farmer Don: Ode to a Small Family Farmer

    Cooking Up A Story
    9 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Don Wachlin, Fourth Generation Farmer; Schlichting Century FarmsJanuary 8, 2012, Sherwood, Oregon. A packed crowd of friends and family gathered for the ceremony at the local Lutheran church where Don Wachlin (to us, Farmer Don) was to be buried in the small cemetery lot, a mere few hundred yards from the church his ancestors helped to build.Strawberry Picking at Schlichting Century FarmsWe had come to know Farmer Don from doing a story on him and his century old family farm in the Fall of 2007. Immediately, he stood out as a natural born storyteller. Since then, almost every year, our family…

  • Mother Nature’s Own Weapons of Mass Destruction

    Cooking Up A Story
    4 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    The year was 2004, and I happened to be sitting in an audience listening to Robert Webster, a world-renowned flu expert, and virologist at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He was talking about a relatively new strain of avian flu virus that was killing wild birds, poultry, and mammals, including some humans, at an astonishing rate of speed, in small animals, sometimes in a matter of hours. Believed to have originated in southern China’s Guangdong Province, in 1997, the virus suddenly began infecting humans in Hong Kong, and later turning up in Southeast…
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    Alpaca Farm Girl

  • Top 10 Ways to Name Your New Alpaca

    Katy
    16 Jan 2012 | 2:52 pm
    People are always asking me how we choose the names for our new baby alpacas (called cria). Here are the top ten ways we do it. 1. Look at the cria and see if he or she is just “looks” like a certain name or if the situation calls for something special. For example, when “George” and “Martha” presented themselves unexpectedly on President’s Day, that seemed a no-brainer. 2. Let your children choose the name. This can leave you with a herd where most of the alpacas are named “Fluffy”, “Brownie” or “Pickachu”, but you…

  • Starting New Traditions Cold Turkey

    Katy
    6 Dec 2011 | 11:36 am
    Ice Cream Turkey This Thanksgiving was a quiet one because the kids weren’t here. Jim and I had some welcome alone time. We had my parents over for a late afternoon lunch. We also had the pleasure of our dear friend, Anne’s company. She lives down the road, and is a regular visitor and confidante whom I rely on heavily. Anne is adorably crochety. She gets around admirably well with her cane and has remarkable energy for her 70+ years. The other day I walked in on Anne discussing the merits of kicking the crap out of bullies that might be bothersome with my third grader. You really…

  • Welcome Home Jim!

    Katy
    2 Nov 2011 | 11:40 am
    Jim and our new cria After a long deployment in Iraq, my sweetie, Jim Cocking, is finally home! Actually, he has been home a while. We’ve taken the last month to have a honeymoon. Kinda. As much as you can on a farm with a passel of kids and a herd of alpacas. So not much of one now that I think of it. But it is wonderful to have Jim back home and not in harm’s way. And we love being able to communicate  face to face instead of by email. We have realized how many of our email convos have been misinterpreted because you can’t read the nonverbal and metacommunication. (Yeah,…

  • Amber’s New Cria

    Katy
    12 Oct 2011 | 1:16 pm
    The other day I went out into the field, and what did I find? A new baby! Amber had her little cria. It’s a girl, and she’s doing well, bopping around. Playing with the other little girl we had last week. Our next cria are due today so we are on baby watch again for four of our alpaca mommas. Should be a Fun Fall!

  • New Cria Suzy Q’s First Day (video)

    Katy
    4 Oct 2011 | 10:33 am
    The other day the kids & I went to my mother’s house to celebrate her birthday. Before I left I checked on the alpacas. The two girls who were (over)due looked fine so we left and had a fun day with my parents in Gulf Shores. I intended to be back before dark, but got back just after the sun went down. As I walked outside to the fields to check on the alpacas I looked down and saw a tiny cria sitting next to Foxy Lady. They were up next to the fence just sitting there like nothing was unusual at all about that. I rushed inside their pen and picked up the cria. It was dry so it had…
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    AgricultureGuide.org

  • Growing Mushrooms in Winter Outdoors

    Ahmet K.
    1 Jan 2012 | 4:39 pm
    It’s a little late to start growing mushrooms outdoors at this time of the year, but it can be done on beds of straw or wood chips if you start the process in the fall. You can also grow mushrooms such as shiitake and oyster types on logs which have been impregnated with mushroom spores or spawn. If you are new to mushroom growing, then you could start with the easiest ones to grow, which are shiitake or oysters read more

  • Guide to Growing Leeks in Winter Conditions

    Ahmet K.
    17 Dec 2011 | 6:06 pm
    Leeks are a popular winter vegetable belonging to the onion family but they are much easier to grow as compared to onions. They are available for consumption when most other vegetables are expensive, scarce or short in supply. Here is a leeks guide explaining how to grow leeks in winter conditions discussing various aspects of gardening: Site and soil Leeks are tolerant plants, which do not require any specific so read more

  • There “Mite” Be a Problem: Getting Rid of Spider Mites

    Ahmet K.
    19 Nov 2011 | 7:56 pm
    If there is one thing a garden hates, the title would fall upon spider mites. While these “bugs” are tiny, the damage they can cause to a garden is immense. It is estimated that spider mites cause roughly 5-7 percent of agricultural damage around the world. If you take a stroll through your garden or greenhouse, and you find that the leaves on some of your plants have tiny holes in them, chances are good that read more

  • Guide to Growing Carrots and Care

    Ahmet K.
    20 Oct 2011 | 8:50 am
    Carrots are a great vegetable to grow however; one must follow certain guidelines if he/she wants his/her carrots to be the best in appearance and taste. Rich in vitamin A, carrots are best flavored when they are fully mature and therefore deeply colored. The right time to sow carrot seeds is early spring when the ground is a little loose and workable. The carrot seeds are slow in germinating and may take up to se read more

  • Seasonal Care in Apiculture

    Ahmet K.
    8 Oct 2011 | 3:51 pm
    SPRING CARE In order to take the desired yield from apiculture, it is important to consider the works necessary to be carried out every season. The works are densely carried out in spring season. The aim of the spring controls is to check what the bees do in winter season, current food amount in hive, presence and ovulation aspect of queen bee, number of worker bees and whether there are fusty honeycombs or diseas read more
 
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    Texas Agriculture Talks

  • What will it take to break this Texas drought?

    26 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm
    By Gene Hall I haven’t lived on the farm for 40 years, but I am still at heart a “farm boy.”  Nothing that’s happened in my life could squeeze that out of me. And, for an old farm boy, there is not a more beautiful sight than the torrents of rain that battered my windshield as I drove to work yesterday. Add that precipitation to the 2 inches I poured from the rain gauge the night before and you have “significant rainfall,” enough to soak into our parched land and produce runoff for our sadly low ponds, tanks, lakes and rivers. I knew there would be…

  • Agriculture is the top ‘dud’ degree, and eating is highly overrated…

    23 Jan 2012 | 2:41 pm
    By Mike Barnett Agriculture. Animal Science. Horticulture. Lop those in with fashion design and theater and you have the top 5 “dud” college degrees, according to Terrence Loose in an article on the Yahoo Education website. Granted, Mr. Loose is reporting on the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) 2012 outlook study, which surveyed almost 1,000 employers on their future hiring plans. It showed that greatest job demand lies in the business, accounting and computer science fields. Fair enough, knowing that business, accounting and computer science are far…

  • Climate change to devastate agriculture? I don’t think so.

    19 Jan 2012 | 8:37 am
    By Gene Hall  We’ve all heard it. We’re only a few short years from climate change devastating agriculture. We’ll have food riots as soccer moms fight to the death over a can of beans.  We used to call this global warming until the earth actually cooled a bit over the last decade. Now we call it climate change, but I won’t get into that disagreement. I’ll just concede for now that Mother Earth has warmed a bit over the last few decades. For growing food, it doesn’t seem to matter, because there is exactly zero evidence of a climate driven calamity…

  • When will good times roll again in the cattle business?

    16 Jan 2012 | 1:10 pm
    By Mike Barnett The possibility of really good times returning to the cattle business any time soon are as remote as a Republican in East Texas. Although livestock prices are high, the cost of feed and other inputs eat into the profits, said Dr. James Mintert at a recent livestock conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. Add the price of non-existent hay in Texas to stay ahead of the drought and cattle producers continue to be pounded. To see what a truly healthy beef economy looks like, Mintert drove us back to a half-century stretch between 1925 and 1975. Demand and…

  • One regulation away from being out of business

    12 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pm
    By Gene Hall “One regulation away from being out of business.” Reed Rubinstein, senior council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, began his presentation at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention that way. For the farmers and ranchers in his audience, that was no surprise, but Rubinstein also claimed that unfortunately the Sword of Damocles hangs over the head of many other business entities. He spoke of the growth of the regulatory juggernaut and the complexity of environmental law. It’s a governmental phenomenon that does not necessarily respect the division of…
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    AGCO Blog

  • Double Success for Massey Ferguson at Hungary’s AGROMASH EXPO in Budapest

    Campbell Scott
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:56 am
    Massey Ferguson‘s winning streak continued today as two major awards were scooped up at this year’s Hungarian Farm Machinery Expo in Budapest. Massey Ferguson’s  new MF 7600 series was awarded the “Grand Innovation” prize, having stood the scrutiny of the team of Independent experts who assessed the latest new products on the market. With its AGCO SISU POWER engines and new e3 Generation 2 SCR delivering power, economy and performance coupled to industry leading Dyna transmissions, topped by the comfortable new cab with its straightforward ergonomics, the MF…

  • AGCO Holds First Africa Summit in Berlin

    Jamy Johnson
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:18 am
    AGCO held its first ever AGCO Africa Summit yesterday in Berlin, Germany. The Summit is a joint initiative of AGCO, Bayer CropScience and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. “With its population poised to double in the next 20 years, it is a global responsibility to develop a new vision for agriculture in Africa,” said Martin Richenhagen, Chairman, President and CEO at the opening press conference. “Our objective is to promote international dialogue to encourage global businesses to invest in the future of Africa.” The goal of the AGCO Africa Summit was to…

  • Anne Corten

    acorten
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm
    Hi Everybody! I am Anne Corten, Market Intelligence Manager at AGCO and the recent addition to the Social Media team.  I joined AGCO in June of 2010 after completing my Master’s in Marketing & Management. My role gives me the opportunity to work with AGCO’s 4 core brands across all regions. My goal is to gather valuable data & information that ultimately enables AGCO to better meet your needs. I am excited to join AGCO’s Blogging team and I am looking forward to communicating with all of you!

  • Red Tractor Gets Full Back-ing From Bristol Rugby Club’s Full-back, Jack Tovey

    May Norris
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:14 am
    Two local Bristol (United Kingdom) farmers, John Hore and Charles Bourns,  have combined their two greatest passions – farming and rugby – by sponsoring up-coming rugby star, Jack Tovey. The sponsorship aims to promote great food and farming through the use of the Red Tractor logo which will now gain exposure to thousands of Bristol’s rugby fans. Jack Tovey with his Red Tractor sponsors, local farmers John Hore (L) and Charles Bourns (R) John, a local Red Tractor beef and sheep farmer, said: “Rugby is a truly British sport, featuring highly skilled athletes and it has a vast…

  • Social Media Support for AGCO’s Dealers

    admin
    17 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am
    Do you want to learn how to drive more business into your dealership and connect with your customers through social media, but are unsure of where you should start? Are you already active in social media but looking for new ways to engage your customers through your existing channels? AGCO understands that social media involvement is growing rapidly in the agricultural sector, so we’ve developed a number of FREE multi-media tools and resources that you can use to better connect with your customers. We encourage you to explore these tools and take the next steps toward deepening your…
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    Beef Matters

  • Cold & Cows

    beefmatters
    19 Jan 2012 | 3:04 pm
    Just when I was coming to terms with the mild winter we were having this year…the snow came blowing in! Winter was bound to arrive at some point. The snow is needed to increase our moisture level for the year, so it’s a bit of a relief to see some white stuff on the ground. We can deal with the snow, but the worst part of winter’s arrival is the wind. Wind is cold and miserable for all of us. These cows are eating more hay than normal, just to keep themselves warm. Brand new baby calves and their mamas are moved into the barns to give the calves time to warm up and start…

  • Chauffeur

    beefmatters
    16 Jan 2012 | 11:33 am
    Chauffeur. That is my most recent job title. I have been shuttling kids back and forth nearly every day this month. Guitar lessons, karate lessons, hair cuts, and my near weekly trip to pick up my son’s glasses from being repaired. Ten year old boys + eye glasses + recess = many broken frames! As I uploaded the photos from my memory card last night, I had to laugh as the photos came across the computer screen. I have taken several landscape shots this month and somehow had forgotten that until I saw the photos again. I don’t know how I could have forgotten, once I glanced at the…

  • Cows, Calves, Silage & Kindergarteners

    beefmatters
    12 Jan 2012 | 10:38 pm
    Baby calves are still arriving on the ranch. In addition to the early calvers we (inadvertently!) bought last fall, we also have a small group of older cows that have started calving. These cows were grouped together as dry cows to go to market and then… a fence-jumping bull decided to visit them. Consequently, we now have a group of cows calving in January. They require a little more care, because many of them are older cows. They are in a large pen right now, which makes it easier to move them to the barn if it starts storming or the wind is howling. We can also keep a closer eye on…

  • The First One

    beefmatters
    6 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm
    Here’s the thing about cattle: our calendar means nothing to them. Nothing. When we bought a couple of loads of bred cows last fall, the buyer assured us that they were set to start calving in March. That would work perfectly for us.   Apparently the cows did not get this memo. This calf was born early this morning. Early this January morning. Fortunately, the weather this week has been absolutely perfect for calving! 50+ degrees and no wind. We couldn’t ask for better weather. Even in March. Due to this little guy’s early arrival, I find myself in the odd situation of…

  • Preg-Check

    beefmatters
    3 Jan 2012 | 11:49 pm
    Warning: this post contains photos of a somewhat sensitive nature. Especially if you are a mother. Particularly a mother of a three year old boy. Today we had our veterinarian at the ranch to preg-check cows for us. At the end of the day we sorted the cows based on when they are due to calve and then took them to separate pastures. To determine when the cow is due to calve, our vet does a rectal palpation and feels the cow’s uterus. It is not a job for those with an aversion to mud or muck. You may look at this photo and feel some compassion for the dirty job our vet had to do all day…
 
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    The Soybean Review

  • Land Costs:

    1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Subtitle:  Tips for Riding the Roller Coaster As farmland prices set new records, Ray Gaesser, an American Soybean Association director from Corning, is worried.“I was adding up some budgets and looking at the cost of production for next year,” he says. “Recent rent auctions are alarming, and land sale prices are scary.”Gaesser, who survived the farm crisis of the 1980s, wants his fellow growers to keep in mind the cyclical nature of agriculture.  Attach Image:  read more

  • Biodiesel Celebrates Record Year, Braces for Uncertain Future

    Carrie Laughlin
    1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    The biodiesel industry has shown its resilience through some turbulent, uncertain times, and at the end of last year, it was soaring. Ever since the federal tax credit was reinstated under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), biodiesel plants that were formerly shuttered or working with skeleton staff have reopened their doors, providing job opportunities for communities across the country. All of this has led to a record 1 billion gallons in 2011. Attach Image:  read more

  • Growing Iowa Agriculture:

    1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Subtitle:  New Study Offers a Business Approach What will it take to increase the size and scope of Iowa agriculture over the next two decades? A new project, Iowa AgriScope 2030, explores this question to formulate a comprehensive plan that incorporates all the key players in agriculture: growers, commodity groups, government, scientists, educators and agribusiness. Attach Image:  read more

  • Speedy Soybean Breeding

    Karen Simon
    1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Subtitle:  Year ‘Round Research Advances Variety Selection There is much talk about meeting growing global demand for protein – with soybeans playing a major role in feeding the world – but decisions by the soybean farmers of Iowa that began with a big idea from a young soybean breeder have made a marked difference in increasing soybean production in the United States.Dr. Walter Fehr joined the faculty at Iowa State University (ISU) in 1967. He brought with him an idea that changed the future of soybean breeding.  Attach Image:  read more

  • Top Tips

    1 Dec 2011 | 12:00 am
    There are many ways to take care of your soybean fields and produce the best results. Here, Dr. David Wright, ISA director of contract research, shares his top 10 guidelines for healthy, high yielding soybean production.1. Get to the root of it! Healthy roots enable the vegetative portion of the plant to take full advantage of available sunlight and moisture. Also, regularly test for soybean cyst nematode and manage populations, and use fungicide and insecticide seed treatments. Attach Image:  read more
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    Real Agriculture.com

  • Cropweek 2012 -New Holland Showcases Guardian Front Boom Sprayer

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:35 am
    Spraying your crops is a tricky job. For starters, there is always a specific window to hit that has to match your crop stage and the weather conditions. It’s also a matter of proper application. Not only are pesticides and herbicides high value products, but they have to be applied properly to work. All of this has to take place on some rough terrain. It could be wet, bumpy, hilly or all of the above, so you need a machine that can handle all of the above. It wouldn’t be so bad either if those hours spent in the sprayer were comfortable. Those are some of the thoughts that went…

  • Cropweek 2012 – New Holland Offers SmartTrax System to Provide Wider Harvest Windows

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:31 am
    At this year’s Crop Production Week Show in Saskatoon, we got to take a look at New Holland’s new SmartTrax track system. The system offers producers a number of benefits, the first of which is more power to the ground. The tracks offer a boost in pulling and climbing power when travelling or pulling larger implements across hilly land. The second benefit is better floatation. The wide surface area on the tracks makes spinning and sinking a lot harder to do. One of the other benefits of a track system is the lack of soil compaction compared to tires. This is a real benefit to no…

  • Tiffin 2012 – Temple Grandin – A Practical Approach to Improving Animal Welfare

    Shaun Haney
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:19 am
    Temple Grandin’s work in the livestock industry cannot be understated. Her designs and innovations in the areas of livestock handling revolutionized the industry and brought a more humane system into existence. Those insights and contributions are made all the more impressive by the fact that Dr. Grandin is autistic. That condition is part of the reason that she had so much success in developing systems to handle cattle. She describes herself as a visual thinker. Her mind thinks in pictures, a process that served her well when it came to implementing her designs. I highly recommend to…

  • Cropweek 2012 – Syngenta Canada Creates Scholarship to Benefit Pulse Industry In Canada

    Shaun Haney
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm
    In order for the pulse industry to grow in Canada, a number of areas have to be looked at. One of those areas is market development. The world’s food needs are growing and changing. New markets are opening up as a middle class emerges in areas of the developing world. Those people have specific end-use needs when it comes to food. The other area involves growing crops that fit those specific end-use needs. That’s where research and development on an institutional scale becomes important. Included in that is having the human resources necessary to do that, and that is why Syngenta…

  • Cropweek 2012 – 2012 Tier 4 Case IH Combine

    Shaun Haney
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am
    This year at the Crop Production Week Show in Saskatoon, we got to take a look at the 2012 Case IH Tier 4 Combine. The latest improvements on the machine are focused mainly on the engine. Fuel economy and power have been improved which is sure to be a major consideration for farmers thinking of long hours come harvest. The exhaust system has also been overhauled to meet the 2014 emission control standards, which makes for a “greener” choice. There are also some comfort and control improvements that have been made to accommodate the farmer living inside through harvest. I took a…
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    big picture agriculture

  • Cathartic Blogging: Writers, Bloggers, and Cab Drivers

    K McDonald
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:08 am
    sourceLoyal Readers,It is the beginning of a new year, and marks two years of me turning out blog posts crazily on this site, as if the site was run by five people instead of one. Quite frankly, just as the honeybees are very, very tired, so am I. Adding insult to injury, in a recent discussion with my 20 year old son over my frustrations with blogging, he told me, "Mom, bloggers are lowlier than

  • 1941 California Sheep Photo by Ansel Adams

    K McDonald
    12 Jan 2012 | 9:35 am
    Sheep "Flock in Owens Valley, 1941."by Adams, Ansel, 1902-1984Photo: U.S. National Archives

  • Agriculture News January 9, 2012

    K McDonald
    9 Jan 2012 | 12:40 am
    Flickr CC/C C ChapmanThe internet dispenses information the way a ketchup bottle dispenses ketchup. At first, there was too little; now, there is too much. In between, there was a halcyon interval of just-enoughness. For me, it lasted about 10 years. They were the best years of my life. ---Judith Rich HarrisRodale: Organic pioneer, farmer and author Gene Logsdon welcomes Susie Sutphin to

  • Noodling for Catfish in Mississippi

    K McDonald
    7 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Another great episode from the Perennial Plate . . . enjoy . . .For more on "noodling" see wikipedia here.

  • Virginia Food Documentary: The Truth on the Table

    K McDonald
    7 Jan 2012 | 9:40 am
    The Truth on the Table series by Alpha Vision Films.
 
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    John Deere MachineFinder

  • John Deere Enters The Guinness Book for Project Can-Do

    Machinefinder
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am
    After 308,448 cans of food were neatly stacked at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois, John Deere entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The record was for the largest sculpture ever created from canned foods. Although breaking the record was appreciated, the real victory was contributing to a local community in need. The following are images that depict a great architectural and civil achievement. Credit The John Deere machine replicated was the S-690 Combine, which is the world’s most powerful combine, with the ability to harvest more than 350 acres of grain a day. The…

  • Miniature Replica 1939 JD B Tractors in Mississippi

    Machinery Pete
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:46 am
    Talent, Imagination & Passion. A winning recipe for any endeavor in life. Last week in Mississippi I met two retired buddies who are high on the talent, imagination and passion scale and have produced some amazing things with their heads, hearts and hands, unique testaments to their devotion to all things John Deere. Check out the YouTube video above and you’ll be introduced to Raymond Miller of Stantonville, TN. Raymond used to work on oil rigs in South America back in the day. Lately he’s been busy crafting (3) exact replicas of his favorite tractor, his own 1939 John Deere…

  • John Deere: Running for 175 Years

    Machinefinder
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:14 pm
      In 1837 a blacksmith and inventor named John Deere set out to create a company built on integrity, quality, commitment, and innovation.  The core values he inset drove John Deere to become more than just a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, but an industry icon that is known around the world.  His core values continue in the company today, determining everything from the quality and work, to the treatment of the customers. This year, Deere & Company is celebrating their 175th anniversary.  175 years of growth, changes, and hurdles that the company has pushed through.  What…

  • 21 Ways to Maximize The Life of Your John Deere Machine

    Machinefinder
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:03 am
      The engineers at John Deere continue make the best quality machines on the market and stay true to a tradition of creating lasting value. It is very rewarding to witness tractors decades old which still perform for the farmers that rely on them. In this week’s spotlight we would like to share 23 ways in which you can get the most from your John Deere machine. Regular care and maintenance are essential components of this process as well. John Deere owners recognize (and often pride themselves) on diligent upkeep. In this week’s spotlight, we would like to share 21 ways in which…

  • Old John Deere Combines Draw High Interest

    Machinery Pete
    13 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pm
    Richard Vaughan of Rich and Rich Auctioneers said he fielded a phone call from a group of Liberian farmers interested in this 1984 Deere 4420 combine on a January 28, 2012 auction in Stoney Creek, VA. Another view of the Deere combine collection of Bob Cooper of South Wayne, WI. (3) generations of used Deere combines owned by Bob Cooper of South Wayne, WI captured last Fall in the field together. From L-R, Deere 9660 STS, Deere 3300, Deere 42 pull type. The Deere combine collection of Bob Cooper of South Wayne, WI. From L-R, Deere 42 pull type, Deere 3300 and Deere 9660 STS. Couple…
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    Viktor E. Bengtsson

  • West-Africa Consultancy Services/PHI

    Viktor Bengtsson
    9 Jan 2012 | 9:29 am
    The way forward. I’ve been away from blogging for a while. 2011 was a challenging year to be an entrepreneur in Liberia and there just wasn’t any time left over for blogging. I hope to change this in 2012, starting now. We just launched a new website for one of our ventures: www.westafricaconsultancy.com We’ve been doing independent management and business consultancy for a couple of years now and always treated it as a side activity. Well, the side activity has grown enough in importance that we think it merits its own brand and organization, that’s why we launched…

  • Old update: Visit by UNMIL SRSG Løj and U.S. Ambassador Greenfield, 2009

    Viktor Bengtsson
    28 May 2011 | 7:20 pm
    This post describes the end of year activities and visit by the U.S. ambassador and UNMIL SRSG to the ADA/LAP farm in Foya, Liberia (West Africa). It is the last of three blog posts describing activities I undertook in 2009 and posted here as I’ve closed down an older blog where these photos were posted. The photos are old (courtesy of the PRO of ADA/LAP) but the text is new. One of the best and worst aspects of doing agriculture in Liberia is that people care about it. The general picture is that starting a big farm is big news in a country where the vast majority still do farming in some…

  • Old update: first ADA/LAP rice harvest 2009

    Viktor Bengtsson
    1 Apr 2011 | 9:36 am
    This post describes the first rice harvest of ADA/LAP in Foya, Liberia (West Africa). It is the second of three blog posts describing activities I undertook in 2009 and posted here as I’ve closed down an older blog where these photos were posted. The photos are old (courtesy of the PRO of ADA/LAP) but the text is new. I came back to Foya in September 2009, now as the head of all field operations (during my previous visit in Foya I had been just that, a visitor). It fell to me to plan and prepare harvest, among other things, which was about two months off. At this point we had never run…

  • Old update: first rice planting 2009

    Viktor Bengtsson
    21 Mar 2011 | 8:12 pm
    I’ve closed down an older photo blog and will transfer some photos over to this blog in 3 posts. The photos are old (and comes courtesy of the PRO of ADA/LAP), the text is new. This is the first post which describes my involvement in the first planting of rice at the ADA/LAP farm in Foya, Lofa county, Liberia. I made my first trip (of many) up to Foya in June, 2009, to help calibrate the grain drills and get the planting operation started. We started our trip early in the morning on day one and arrived late in the evening the same day. Experiencing the road from Monrovia to Foya can be…

  • Joe goes to the cocoa farm

    Viktor Bengtsson
    17 Mar 2011 | 2:02 am
    While I spent the weekend in Monrovia catching up on 3 weeks of minimal sleep, my stalwart business partner Joe went up to the LibSwe Cocoa nursery to see how things were coming along. Unlike me (a lazy swine) who prefer a car to carry myself and my portable office, Joe (a cheap bastard) takes a motorbike from Totota (where the asphalt road ends) to Sanoyie. Joe enjoying the dry season road dust I’m encouraged to see some solid road construction going on in Liberia this dry season. It seems that the Government of Liberia along with international partners have finally stumbled upon the…
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