Agriculture

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  • Tiny plants could cut costs, shrink environmental footprint

    Purdue Agriculture News
    15 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Tall, waving corn fields that line Midwestern roads may one day be replaced by dwarfed versions that require less water, fertilizer and other inputs, thanks to a fungicide commonly used on golf courses.

  • Any And All Toxic Materials Identified By "Dip Chip" Technology On-The-Go

    Water - Air Quality / Agriculture News From Medical News Today
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    From man-made toxic chemicals such as industrial by-products to poisons that occur naturally, a water or food supply can be easily contaminated. And for every level of toxic material ingested, there is some level of bodily response, ranging from minor illness to painful certain death. Biosensors have long been used to safeguard against exposure to toxic chemicals...

  • Animal disease research misses the human perspective, say researchers

    ScienceDaily: Agriculture and Food News
    15 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Animal disease research concentrates too much on the behavior of micro organisms while ignoring the role played by human beings; we need to take more account of the human dimension if the work of scientists is to be translated effectively into policy, according to experts.

  • Analyzing Green Tea Leaves and Supplements

    USDA Agricultural Research Service
    27 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS researchers are looking at phytochemical differences between green tea, brewed from leaves, and green tea dietary supplements. Photo courtesy of Microsoft clip art. Better analysis methods for vitamin D   Data on food antioxidants aid research   A food's composition, by any preparation method, is not the same Analyzing Green Tea Leaves and Supplements By Rosalie Marion Bliss April 27, 2012 Quality control is a key factor in making sure green tea dietary supplement products pack the same antioxidant punch as green tea leaves used for…

  • New Treatments Could Reduce Odors in Cotton Fabric

    USDA Agricultural Research Service
    10 May 2012 | 8:46 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS scientists are looking for a way to inhibit microbial growth in cotton socks, T-shirts and other clothes using silver particles ranging from 2 to 6 nanometers in size. Click the image for more information about it. Nanotech cotton opens up new possibilities for the fiber-and its fans   Cotton's potential for padding nonwovens   Cotton: a body armor for wounds? New Treatments Could Reduce Odors in Cotton Fabric By Jan Suszkiw May 10, 2012 Socks, T-shirts and other garments could become less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria, thanks to…
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    ScienceDaily: Agriculture and Food News

  • Tiny plants could cut costs, shrink environmental footprint

    15 May 2012 | 9:46 am
    Tall, waving corn fields that line Midwestern roads may one day be replaced by dwarfed versions that require less water, fertilizer and other inputs, thanks to a fungicide commonly used on golf courses.

  • Animal disease research misses the human perspective, say researchers

    15 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Animal disease research concentrates too much on the behavior of micro organisms while ignoring the role played by human beings; we need to take more account of the human dimension if the work of scientists is to be translated effectively into policy, according to experts.

  • First ever record of insect pollination from 100 million years ago

    14 May 2012 | 2:31 pm
    Amber from the Cretaceous period found in Spain has revealed the first ever fossil record of insect pollination. Scientists discovered and studied with X-rays at the ESRF a specimen of a tiny insect covered with pollen grains. This is the first record of pollen transport and social behavior in this group of animals.

  • Steelhead trout lose out when water is low in wine country

    14 May 2012 | 9:50 am
    The competition between farmers and fish for precious water in California is intensifying in wine country, suggests a new study by biologists. The study links higher death rates for threatened juvenile steelhead trout with low water levels in the summer and the acreage of vineyards upstream.

  • Plant protein discovery could boost bioeconomy

    14 May 2012 | 9:48 am
    Three proteins have been found to be involved in the accumulation of fatty acids in plants. The discovery could help plant scientists boost seed oil production in crops. And that could boost the production of biorenewable fuels and chemicals.
 
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    Water - Air Quality / Agriculture News From Medical News Today

  • Understanding The Cellular Secrets Of Plant Fatty Acid Production

    16 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    A curious twist in a family of plant proteins called chalcone-isomerase recently was discovered by Salk Institute for Biological Studies scientist Joseph Noel and colleagues at Iowa State University led by Eve Wurtele...

  • Any And All Toxic Materials Identified By "Dip Chip" Technology On-The-Go

    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    From man-made toxic chemicals such as industrial by-products to poisons that occur naturally, a water or food supply can be easily contaminated. And for every level of toxic material ingested, there is some level of bodily response, ranging from minor illness to painful certain death. Biosensors have long been used to safeguard against exposure to toxic chemicals...

  • New UV Disinfection Device

    15 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Research from North Carolina State University will allow the development of energy-efficient LED devices that use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The technology has a wide array of applications ranging from drinking-water treatment to sterilizing surgical tools...

  • Study Of Indoor Air Quality Risks In United Arab Emirates Is Culturally Sensitive

    11 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    The rapid shift from nomadic life to modern-day culture in the United Arab Emirates has exposed residents to significant indoor air quality risks that can lead to respiratory illness, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...

  • Heart Attack Death Rates Higher When Patient Lives Near Highway

    10 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    Major highways pose a considerable risk to heart attack survivors living in close vicinity. Findings of the study, published in the May 7 issue of Circulation, report that researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center conclude that housing developments need to be isolated from areas with heavy traffic...
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    USDA Agricultural Research Service

  • New Treatments Could Reduce Odors in Cotton Fabric

    10 May 2012 | 8:46 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS scientists are looking for a way to inhibit microbial growth in cotton socks, T-shirts and other clothes using silver particles ranging from 2 to 6 nanometers in size. Click the image for more information about it. Nanotech cotton opens up new possibilities for the fiber-and its fans   Cotton's potential for padding nonwovens   Cotton: a body armor for wounds? New Treatments Could Reduce Odors in Cotton Fabric By Jan Suszkiw May 10, 2012 Socks, T-shirts and other garments could become less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria, thanks to…

  • New Tool for Tracking a Voracious Pest

    8 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS scientists have developed a system using DNA "barcodes" to identify emerging biotypes of Russian wheat aphids, an insect pest that does more than $200 million in damage annually to wheat and other cereal crops in the United States. Click the image for more information about it. No mistaking this bug with new insect ID technique   ARS preserves plants and animals for future needs   New barley is bad news for Russian wheat aphids New Tool for Tracking a Voracious Pest By Dennis O'Brien May 8, 2012 Since it first appeared in Texas in 1986,…

  • Biocontrol Agent Tested to Battle Invasive Kudzu Bug

    3 May 2012 | 10:12 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS is studying a potential biological control for the kudzu bug, which does feed on the kudzu vine, but also could be a major pest of soybeans, peanuts and other legumes. Click the image for more information about it. Overseas lab seeks U.S. weed control "recruits"   Trap would help keep stink bugs outdoors Biocontrol Agent Tested to Battle Invasive Kudzu Bug By Jan Suszkiw May 3, 2012 Don't let its common name fool you: The "kudzu bug" isn't to be trusted. Sure, it will feed voraciously on the stems of kudzu, the "Vine That Ate…

  • Barcoding Insects as a Way to Track and Control Them

    30 Apr 2012 | 9:22 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS entomologist Matt Greenstone is using the Colorado potato beetle's barcoded DNA to determine how effective different predator insects are at controlling it. Click the image for more information about it. No mistaking this bug with new insect ID technique   Threat to grapevines and gardens now easier to pinpoint   Bacterium curbs several insect pests Barcoding Insects as a Way to Track and Control Them By Dennis O'Brien April 30, 2012 Barcodes may bring to mind the sales tags and scanners found in supermarkets and other stores. But U.S.

  • Analyzing Green Tea Leaves and Supplements

    27 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS researchers are looking at phytochemical differences between green tea, brewed from leaves, and green tea dietary supplements. Photo courtesy of Microsoft clip art. Better analysis methods for vitamin D   Data on food antioxidants aid research   A food's composition, by any preparation method, is not the same Analyzing Green Tea Leaves and Supplements By Rosalie Marion Bliss April 27, 2012 Quality control is a key factor in making sure green tea dietary supplement products pack the same antioxidant punch as green tea leaves used for…
 
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    USDA Economic Research Service - What's New

  • Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook

    15 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    Examines world and U.S. production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices for beet and cane sugar, and high fructose corn syrup.

  • Meat Price Spreads

    15 May 2012 | 9:00 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.

  • Aquaculture Data

    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Aquaculture is the production of aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions for all or part of their lifecycle. This data product provides statistics on domestically grown catfish and trout and U.S. imports and exports of fish and shellfish that may be products of aquaculture, such as salmon, shrimp, and oysters.

  • Feed Outlook

    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for feed grains, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Focuses on corn; also contains information on sorghum, barley, oats, and hay.

  • Wheat Outlook

    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for wheat, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Contains data and information on U.S. wheat by class.
 
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    Global Voices » Environment

  • Taiwan: Could the Future be Nuclear-Free?

    I-fan Lin
    15 May 2012 | 8:26 pm
    Since the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in March 2011, 53 out of the 54 nuclear power plants in Japan have been shut down for security checks. On May 5, 2012, the proportion of Japan's energy supplied by nuclear power reached zero for the first time in 42 years, following the shut down of Tomari’s Unit 3 in Hokkaido. Although the Japanese government is currently seeking to restart some nuclear power plants, local representatives still have serious concerns regarding their safety. In Taiwan, many people have also started talking about the possibility of moving towards a nuclear-free…

  • Georgia: Five Dead in Flash Flood

    Onnik Krikorian
    13 May 2012 | 8:07 pm
    The Young Georgians posts video of this weekend's flash flood in Tbilisi, Georgia. Five people, including two children, are reported dead. Written by Onnik Krikorian · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter · reddit · StumbleUpon · delicious · Instapaper

  • Taiwan: Indigenous Tao People's 30 Year Nuclear ‘Nightmare'

    I-fan Lin
    10 May 2012 | 11:43 pm
    After Japan's Fukushima nuclear accident last year, more and more Taiwanese have started to become aware of the problems caused by nuclear power plants. One of the most serious issues is nuclear waste on Orchid Island, where the Tao people have lived for generations. In December 30, 2011, a group of Tao people went to Taipei to protest against [zh] the nuclear waste storage facility situated on the Orchid Island in front of the presidential building. However, the president did not respond to their protest. Another protest took place on February 20, 2012, with more than 500 Tao people…

  • Bolivia: Development at What Cost? New Conflict Over TIPNIS Road

    Pablo Andres Rivero
    10 May 2012 | 8:01 am
    This post is part of our special coverage International Relations & Security. A proposed road project in Bolivia that plans to cross right through the middle of Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS for its initials in Spanish) is once again generating conflict and protest. Indigenous organizations, TIPNIS inhabitants and their supporters began a new long march on April 27, 2012, from Trinidad to La Paz demanding an end to the road project. Plans for the 306 kilometer road are the result of an $415 million agreement [es] signed by the Presidents of Bolivia and…

  • Kenya: Chronicles of a Kenyan Farmer Online

    Ndesanjo Macha
    9 May 2012 | 7:24 am
    E.K. Kamwenji is a Kenyan blogging farmer residing in Nyeri. Kamwenji worked in different sectors unrelated to agriculture before he realised the importance of using latest technologies for networking and marketing of farm produce. He explains his journey into farming: Kenyan blogging farmer. Photo source: Kamwenji's Facebook page. Thus I am a farmer by profession. The undergraduate course took 4 years and after graduating I ventured into job hunting. Initially, I was employed in a small farm. I was in charge of production but after 14 months, I quit due to low pay which was irrespective…
 
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    Illinois IGNN: Agriculture News

  • Illinois Products Farmers' Market Announces Sponsorship As Fifth Season Opens On The State Fairgrounds

    8 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – When the Illinois Products Farmers’ Market (IPFM) opens this week on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, for the first time the popular, evening market will have a title sponsor. “I’m excited to announce a new partnership with Springfield Clinic,” Market Manager Kristi Jones said. “Springfield Clinic is widely respected for the quality of its care and its support will greatly enhance the quality of the market as well. Through this partnership, the market will be able to expand the entertainment and special programming it offers, adding to the experience that our…

  • Chicago Trade Show Represents World Of Opportunity For Illinois Food Companies - National Restaurant Association Show to bring food buyers from more than 100 countries to McCormick Place

    7 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Twenty Illinois food companies have an opportunity to increase their international sales without even leaving the state. The companies will exhibit their products in the Illinois Department of Agriculture pavilion at the National Restaurant Association Show, the world’s largest food service industry trade show. The show, which attracts 58,000 buyers, will be held May 5-8 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

  • 2012 Illinois State Fair Grandstand Entertainment Announced

    3 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert headlines a star-studded, 2012, Illinois State Fair Grandstand entertainment line-up that also features country singers Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert, pop artist Demi Lovato and rock icon Cheap Trick.“This is one of the most solid concert line-ups that we’ve assembled,” State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said. “From the first night to the last, the acts are top-notch. I’m looking forward to great shows and memorable performances.”

  • Shop For Mom Illinois Style This Mother's Day! - Illinois food companies offering unique Mother’s Day gift ideas

    2 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Looking for a unique Mother’s Day gift idea? Try surfing the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website. The department’s Bureau of Marketing, whose mission is to support small- to mid-sized Illinois food and agribusiness companies, asked these businesses whether they are offering any Mother’s Day specials this year. Their responses, which include an assortment of delectable candies and treats sure to please most any mom, are posted on the department’s website, along with links to the companies that are selling the items.

  • Metro East Warehouse Surrenders Its Operating Licenses - Grain creditors of Handy Feed Handyscape are encouraged to attend an informational meeting April 18

    12 Apr 2012 | 1:00 am
    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A St. Clair County grain warehouse surrendered its operating licenses to the Illinois Department of Agriculture today.Handy Feed Handyscape, Inc., of Millstadt, Ill., has been closed since April 2, when department staff discovered assets of the financially-troubled company were insufficient to meet the requirements of the Illinois Grain Code and took control of the firm to protect the interests of its farmer customers. The surrendering of the licenses will enable the department to liquidate those assets and pay valid grain claims.
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    ANR News Blog Feed

  • Tulare County supervisors support commercial pack animals in national parks

    11 May 2012 | 4:32 pm
    The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted to support a bill introduced by Congressman Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, allowing businesses that rent pack mules and horses to operate in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks while a new wilderness plan is implemented, according to the Visalia Times-Delta. In 2009 a High Sierra Hikers Association sued the National Park Service for failing to conduct an adequate environmental impact analysis of its wilderness plan. As a result of the suit, a judge...

  • UC Cooperative Extension advisor helped Solvang family start a new business

    10 May 2012 | 2:49 pm
    Mark Gaskell, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Santa Barbara County, is credited in the Santa Inez Valley Journal for helping a retired couple start a new business. Gaskell is an expert in small-scale farming. The article said Leonard and Nancy Morrell were unsure what to do with their 2.5-acre farm in Solvang after their kids were raised and they retired from their jobs. Leonard read a research paper by Gaskell that suggested the area provided excellent conditions to grow blackberries and...

  • 'Green' educational center constrution well underway

    9 May 2012 | 11:51 am
    Construction on the Shippey Educational Center at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center in Ukiah is in full swing, reported Carole Brodsky in the Ukiah Daily Journal. The lengthy article said ground was broken in October, and the facility is projected to be completed in the fall. "We've been a research and extension center since 1951, but have been primarily focused on research, without a strong extension component," said Hopland director Robert Timm. "Farm advisors in the extension...

  • San Joaquin Valley residents learn more about groundwater nitrate problem

    4 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    Pamela Creedon, executive officer of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, said the state of California failed to protect San Joaquin Valley residents' drinking water from fertilizer, dairy and septic contamination, according to a report in the Fresno Bee by Mark Grossi. Creedon spoke yesterday at a conference arranged by Fresno State's International Center for Water Technology. Also on the panel was Thomas Harter, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of......

  • UC Davis sends retired Nevada horticulture advisor to Afghanistan

    3 May 2012 | 1:17 pm
    Retired University of Nevada Cooperative Extension horticulture advisor Bob Morris is spending a year in Afghanistan to help establish an extension service in the war-torn country, said an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Morris is participating in a program undertaken by a consortium of U.S. universities led by UC Davis. The program, funded with a $14 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to help Afghanistan stabilize its agriculture-based economy. "Thirty years...
 
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    agriculture news from mongabay.com

  • Consumption, population, and declining Earth: wake-up call for Rio+20

    Jeremy Hance
    15 May 2012 | 4:00 pm
    Currently, human society is consuming natural resources as if there were one-and-a-half Earths, and not just a single blue planet, according to the most recent Living Planet Report released today. If governments and societies continue with 'business-as-usual' practices, we could be consuming three years of natural resources in 12 months by 2050. Already, this ecological debt is decimating wildlife populations worldwide, disproportionately hurting the world's poor and most vulnerable, threatening imperative resources like food and water, heating up the atmosphere, and risking global…

  • Terra preta found in Asia

    Jeremy Hance
    14 May 2012 | 9:59 am
    Indigenous people of the Amazon produced rich agricultural soil by adding charcoal, manure, and animal bones to the otherwise nutrient-poor dirt of the world's greatest rainforest. The inputs allowed early indigenous people to farm their terra preta, or dark earth, sustainably in the Amazon. To date such practices are only known from the the Amazon and parts of Africa. But in a recent paper in the open access journal Forests scientists in Indonesian Borneo report on the first evidence of terra preta in Asia.

  • Permaculture: a path toward a more sustainable Amazon?

    Rhett Butler
    3 May 2012 | 2:26 pm
    Communities living in and around tropical forests remain highly dependent on forest products, including nuts, resins, fruit and vegetables, oils, and medicinal plants. But relatively few of these products have been successfully commercialized in ways that generates sustained local benefits. When commercialization does happen, outsiders or a few well-placed insiders usually see the biggest windfall. Large-scale exploitation can also lead to resource depletion or conversion of forests for monoculture-based production. The ecosystem and local people lose.

  • Organic yields lag behind industrial farming, but that's not the whole story

    Jeremy Hance
    26 Apr 2012 | 12:44 pm
    In general, industrial agriculture beats organic farming in yields, according to a comprehensive new study in Nature. The study adds new data to the sometimes heated debate of organic versus conventional farming. Proponents of organic farming argue that these practices are environmentally friendly, sustainable over the long-term, and provide a number of social goods. However, critics argue that organic farming requires more land, thereby increasing global deforestation, which offsets any other environmental benefits of organic food production. At stake is whether organic or conventional is…

  • Police hired by loggers in Papua New Guinea lock locals in shipping containers

    Jeremy Hance
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:06 am
    Locals protesting the destruction of their forest in Papua New Guinea for two palm oil plantations say police have been sent in for a second time to crack-down on their activities, even as a Commission of Inquiry (COI) investigates the legality of the concession. Traditional landowners in Pomio District on the island East New Britain say police bankrolled by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau (RH) have terrorized the population, including locking people in shipping containers for three consecutive nights. The palm oil concessions belongs to a company known as Gilford Limited, which locals…
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    Blog

  • Crystal Ball Gazing:  Ethanol

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:19 am
    At the end of 2011 Congress allowed the tax credit for ethanol blending to expire, along with the tariff on imported ethanol, as well as the blenders’ credit for biodiesel fuel.  The tax credit for production of ethanol from biomass remains, but is scheduled to expire at the end of the current year.  Since the expiration of the ethanol supports, the EPA has allowed the ethanol blend in motor fuel to rise from 10% to 15%, but automaker acceptance and the needed infrastructure are dynamics that are not yet in motion to support ethanol.  Given all of those issues, what is the…

  • Does Ethanol Really Lower The Price Of Gasoline?

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    15 May 2012 | 5:16 am
    The latest USDA Supply Demand Report indicated that corn processing for ethanol purposes would not increase much from the 2011 crop to the 2012 crop.  About 5 billion bushels would be converted to ethanol.  One reason is the blend wall that serves as a maximum for the 10% fuel blend to be incorporated into the nation’s motor fuel supply.  And since the demand for gasoline is declining due to the recession, the demand for ethanol is not growing.  But while ethanol will be consuming nearly one-third of the US corn crop, it will also have another significant benefit to…

  • Crystal Ball Gazing:  Soybeans

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    13 May 2012 | 11:43 pm
    Did you increase your bean acres after the March 30 USDA planting intentions report? A significant swing in market prices has benefitted soybean production.  Fundamentals include the South American shift to corn and fewer bean acres, China’s aggressive buying of soybeans, and fewer US bean acres for 2012.  Ag economists report there was a $48 advantage for corn on March 1 which has evolved into a $78 advantage for beans on May 10.  Most farmers were planting corn for the revenue opportunities, but what is the market opportunity for soybeans?

  • USDA:  One Surpise After Another

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    10 May 2012 | 10:52 pm
    There are always surprises, and the May USDA Supply-Demand report did not disappoint anyone.  Even when you knew USDA was going to forecast a very large corn crop, the projection for 14.8 billion bushels and a 166 bushel national yield average were well over the top of expectations.  Let’s take a survey and see what the experts thought about the numbers…

  • Fasten Your Seatbelt For Today’s USDA Corn Production Forecast

    stu@farmgateblog.com
    10 May 2012 | 10:12 am
    An eye-popping forecast of 14.8 billion bushels of corn has been issued by USDA in the May Supply-Demand report, which is up 2.4 billion from the 2011-12 crop.  Even though consumption projections are raised by more than 1 billion bushels, there will be a lot left over, and while the corn market expectedly opened lower, the bean market opened strongly higher due to increased use and low ending stocks for this year and next.
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    ScienceDaily: Organic Farming News

  • Agricultural bacteria: Blowing in the wind

    9 May 2012 | 8:24 am
    The 1930s Dust Bowl proved what a disastrous effect wind can have on dry, unprotected topsoil. Now a new study has uncovered a less obvious, but equally troubling, impact of wind: Not only can it carry away soil particles, but also agriculturally important bacteria that build soil and recycle nutrients.

  • Can organic food feed the world? New study sheds light on debate over organic vs. conventional agriculture

    25 Apr 2012 | 1:01 pm
    Can organic agriculture feed the world? Although organic techniques may not be able to do the job alone, they do have an important role to play in feeding a growing global population while minimizing environmental damage, according to researchers. A new study concludes that crop yields from organic farming are generally lower than from conventional agriculture. That is particularly true for cereals, which are staples of the human diet -- yet the yield gap is much less significant for certain crops, and under certain growing conditions, according to the researchers.

  • Plant perfumes woo beneficial bugs to their roots

    24 Apr 2012 | 7:54 pm
    Scientists have discovered that maize crops emit chemical signals which attract growth-promoting microbes to live amongst their roots. This is the first chemical signal that has been shown to attract beneficial bacteria to the maize root environment.

  • Microbiologists can now measure extremely slow life, deep ocean study shows

    19 Mar 2012 | 10:17 am
    Microbiologists have developed a new method for measuring the very slow metabolism of bacteria deep down in the seabed. The results can provide knowledge about the global carbon cycle and its long-term impact on the climate.

  • Findings on biochar, greenhouse gas emissions and ethylene

    13 Dec 2011 | 10:47 am
    Adding a charred biomass material called biochar to glacial soils can help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, according to scientists.
 
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    The Ohio State University Extension News Releases - RSS feeds

  • Ohio State Involved in Gates Foundation's $8M Grant for Childhood Malnutrition

    espinoza.15
    14 May 2012 | 10:45 am
    Anastasia Vlasova and Kuldeep Chattha are two of the OARDC researchers who will be working in the childhood malnutrition project. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain) WOOSTER, Ohio -- An $8.3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund an international team of scientists focused on finding new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent a critical global health problem: malnutrition in infants and children.Linda Saif, a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), is involved…

  • Curcumin Extract Lowers Triglycerides, Boosts Antioxidant Activity: Ohio State Study

    espinoza.15
    11 May 2012 | 1:39 pm
    Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, a colorful spice commonly used in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A low dose of a curcumin extract from the spice turmeric can have a variety of positive health effects on healthy middle-aged individuals, according to an Ohio State University study presented at the 2012 Experimental Biology meeting April 23 in San Diego.Commonly used in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, turmeric -- a deep orange-yellow powder made from the roots of the Curcuma longa tropical…

  • Farmers to Learn New Strawberry Production Method that Creates Earlier and Longer Harvest

    turner.490
    11 May 2012 | 9:14 am
    PIKETON, Ohio – Strawberry growers can learn about a new production method taught by an Ohio State University Extension specialist that can help them grow larger, sweeter strawberries that can be harvested in early May and well into fall.  Thanks to a new production method called plasticulture, farmers can now grow strawberries that have better commercial attributes, including larger fruit size, higher sugar contents and better disease resistance, and that can be harvested as early as the first week of May and as late as October. That’s according to the results of an ongoing OSU…

  • Wheat Growers Watching Weather in Ohio as Crops Are Ahead Two Weeks and Could Result in Strong Yields or Diseased Fields

    turner.490
    11 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    WOOSTER, Ohio --Wheat is already heading in some fields in northern and central Ohio and is flowering in some fields in the southern third of the state, some two weeks earlier than expected, according to an Ohio State University Extension wheat researcher.  But this has growers wondering if it is a good thing or bad.  Whilecool weather conditions over the last few weeks have worked to slow wheat down considerably, the development of the crop is still at least a week or two ahead of what is considered to be normal in Ohio at this time of year, said Pierce Paul, who is also a…

  • Chow Line: Lots of fruits, veggies might stem diabetes (5/11/12)

    filipic.3
    11 May 2012 | 9:04 am
    I’ve been told that I’m “pre-diabetic.” Should I cut way back on fruit? I know it contains a lot of sugar. First, for individual health-related advice, it’s always best to talk directly to your doctor or, in cases like this, a registered dietitian, who could work with you personally to examine your normal day-to-day eating patterns and help you make improvements. But if you’re like most Americans, you likely aren’t eating enough fruit. And your question indicates that you have the common misconception that eating sweets causes diabetes. It doesn’t. It’s caused by the…
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    Ed's World : Grain Marketing

  • The speculators control oil (and orange juice?) markets

    usset001
    18 Apr 2012 | 9:39 am
    My course lecture yesterday was on speculation and speculators, and the timing could not be better. It coincided with bold pronouncements concerning oil markets and prices: “Obama proposes new action on oil speculation.” On the topic of what drives oil prices, the President and Bill O’Reilly agree – the speculators are doing it. The CFTC COT (Commitments of Traders) report shows that since the start of the year, speculators – swap dealers, managed money and other reportables – have controlled 32-36% of the long positions in the crude oil futures market.

  • Grain Marketing Plans update

    usset001
    17 Apr 2012 | 3:37 pm
    I write and execute pre- and post harvest grain marketing plans for my mythical farms in Minnesota. It’s been a few months since I last posted on actions – there simply has not been much to talk about or do for some time. But spring is here and I expect to be active over the next two months. It’s a good time for an update as we enter into an active decision time (a few minor actions taken since the first of the year may not be updated on the marketing plans). Post harvest 2011 corn:  Last fall I placed a large portion of the corn crop in storage and sold the carry with the sale of May…

  • A response to my Corn & Soybean Digest column on hedging; “Hedging is more than Risk Management”

    usset001
    4 Apr 2012 | 9:20 am
    I received a very thoughtful response to my column published in the March issue of Corn & Soybean Digest. It is titled “Hedging is more than Risk Management.” In this column I discussed some timeless hedging concepts developed by the late, great Holbrook Working. Here is the note from a Nebraska commodity broker and my response (he appears to be a very thoughtful broker). Comments: After reading your article, I would like to commend you on teaching your students more than how to trade futures or to beat the market. Most people that I start working with (especially those that…

  • An analysis of soybean inverses and similar years since 1990

    usset001
    2 Apr 2012 | 8:24 pm
    Since early February, soybean futures prices have risen steadily from $12/bu. to over $14/bu. in the July contract. Not surprisingly, the inverse from old crop (Jul’12) to new crop futures (Nov’12) has also increased, from a modest 5 cent inverse to over 40 cents today. On Friday, for example, the Jul’12 contract closed at a 50 cent premium to the new crop Nov’12 contract ($14.08 vs. $13.58). Inverted futures markets in the soybean market are not rare but they are interesting. They speak to small stock levels or strong demand, or a combination of the two. I want to review the record…

  • Corn pricing before the March 30 Prospective Plantings Report

    usset001
    26 Mar 2012 | 9:22 am
    Here’s an interesting question from a producer in Kansas. Question: Ed, We raise irrigated corn here in Western Kansas.  We do not have any on-farm storage and have been relying on forward cash contracts with our local CO-OP elevator as our marketing plan. Our local basis is 30 cents under the December. Should we contract now ahead of the stocks/prospective plantings reports which come out March 30? Your advice and suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Response: You ask a difficult question. What you’re really asking is this; Is there a strong possibility that…
 
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    FarmPolicy

  • Farm Bill; Budget; Agricultural Economy; Regulations; and, Political Notes

    Keith Good
    16 May 2012 | 3:54 am
    Farm Bill Issues DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “A bipartisan group of 44 senators sent a letter Tuesday to Senate leaders calling on them to bring the farm bill to the floor. “In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., senators stated, ‘With our constant focus on job creation, we write to urge you to schedule floor consideration of the ‘Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012′ as soon as possible.’” The DTN article noted that, “An informal view of Senate Agriculture Committee…

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

    Keith Good
    15 May 2012 | 4:04 am
    Farm Bill and Policy Issues A news release yesterday from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) stated that, “As the House Agriculture Committee continues farm bill hearings this week, the [NCGA] and several other agriculture groups today sent a letter to House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson on the importance of crop insurance. “‘Federal crop insurance provides an effective risk management tool to farmers and ranchers when they are facing losses beyond their control,’ the letter stated. ‘It reduces taxpayer risk exposure; it makes hedging possible…

  • Farm Bill; Trade; and Brazil

    Keith Good
    14 May 2012 | 3:43 am
    Farm Bill Issues Pat Westhoff, the director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, noted in a column on Saturday that, “The farm bill cleared its first hurdle last month, gaining approval from a key Senate committee. There are no guarantees that all the remaining hurdles will be cleared this year.” Dr. Westhoff noted that, “Compared to simply extending current law, the bill would cut net federal spending by $23 billion over the next 10 years, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Spending is cut by reducing farm…

  • Farm Bill; Budget; and the Agricultural Economy

    Keith Good
    11 May 2012 | 4:07 am
    Farm Bill Issues DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “The crop insurance industry could benefit from ‘common sense structural changes,’ according to a pair of senators, who cite a recent government study in calling on the Senate Agriculture Committee to further investigate reducing premium subsidies to farmers. “In a bi-partisan letter, Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote earlier this week to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and ranking member Pat Roberts, R-Kan., asking them…

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

    Keith Good
    10 May 2012 | 3:32 am
    Farm Bill Issues DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday that, “All crops need a farm program that protects them from multiyear price drops, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said Tuesday, a position with which House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson agrees. “In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Hagstrom Report and DTN, Lucas, R-Okla., praised Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., for her ‘herculean efforts’ to get a bill through committee, and said that he would not underestimate her ability to convince…
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    EurekAlert! - Agriculture

  • Tiny plants could cut costs, shrink environmental footprint

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Purdue University) Tall, waving corn fields that line Midwestern roads may one day be replaced by dwarfed versions that require less water, fertilizer and other inputs, thanks to a fungicide commonly used on golf courses.

  • Sulphur and iron compounds common in old shipwrecks

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (University of Gothenburg) Sulphur and iron compounds have now been found in shipwrecks both in the Baltic and off the west coast of Sweden. The group behind the results, presented in the Journal of Archaeological Science, includes scientists from the University of Gothenburg and Stockholm University.

  • Maps of Miscanthus genome offer insight into grass evolution

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Miscanthus grasses are used in gardens, burned for heat and energy, and converted into liquid fuels. They also belong to a prominent grass family that includes corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Two new, independently produced chromosome maps of Miscanthus sinensis (an ornamental that likely is a parent of Miscanthus giganteus, a biofuels crop) are a first step toward sequencing the M. sinensis genome. The studies reveal how a new plant species with distinctive traits can arise as a result of chromosome duplications and fusions.

  • Undersea warriors, undersea medicine: The future force

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Office of Naval Research) U.S. Navy divers take on dangerous tasks every day -- and starting this week, they will be part of a multinational effort near Estonia to help clear the Baltic Sea of underwater mines left over from as long ago as the First and Second World Wars. It's all part of a day's work for US Navy divers, who in addition to hazardous missions face natural perils like oxygen toxicity and decompression sickness every day.

  • Ducks Unlimited Canada and Canadian Light Source partnership to shed light on wetlands

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    (Canadian Light Source, Inc.) Using the power of synchrotron light to better understand and protect Canada's wetlands is the objective of an agreement signed today between Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Canadian Light Source , Canada's national synchrotron facility. Under the agreement, Native Plants Solutions, DUC's environmental consulting division, will have access to the CLS's synchrotron science techniques.
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    AgWired

  • DTN/The Progressive Farmer Market Strategies App

    Chuck
    15 May 2012 | 4:22 pm
    Telvent GIT, S.A., parent company of DTN/The Progressive Farmer, just launched a new Market Strategies app. It is now available via the Apple iTunes Store and Android Market. The Market Strategies app ensures producers will have the most accurate, real-time data on commodity markets with instant alerts to changes in the market. Unlike other consumer-based applications, the app shares DTN/The Progressive Farmer’s industry leading innovative market strategies and recommendations to help producers react to volatile market changes, increasing their profits and reducing input costs. With the…

  • New Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Commercials Debut

    Melissa
    15 May 2012 | 10:35 am
    Two new checkoff-funded “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” online advertising video commercials will be making their world debut this week. The first spot called “Island” is full of sizzle and beauty shot that brings our hero – beef – to life. The intended message – that Lean Beef has the power to elevate the everyday – comes through in a clear and engaging way. The second spot called “Invitation” features a new child star who convincingly and earnestly conveys the message about beef. The spot’s message – that Lean Beef has the power to bring people together – is a…

  • USDA Celebrates 150 Years Live

    Chuck
    15 May 2012 | 10:09 am
    I’m a little late to the live webcast but right now USDA is celebrating 150 years of service. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is commemorating the event with a variety of people on stage. When President Abraham Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1862, he called it “the People’s Department,” a sentiment that still rings true today as the Department’s diverse portfolio boasts strong support for American agriculture and local and regional food systems, as well as critical nutrition assistance, food safety, conservation, rural development,…

  • Mary Geiger Moves To Kansas Dept. Of Agriculture

    Chuck
    14 May 2012 | 5:05 pm
    All I can say is congratulations to Mary Geiger who is starting a new phase of her career with the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Mary has been a bright spot in the communications department of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. (Plus, I dare say, she’s much better looking than Mike Deering!) So now what are we going to do Mike? Here are the thoughts he shared with me on Mary’s big move. Bitter-sweet is the term that can best describe the news I have to share today. Associate Director of Communications Mary Geiger will be advancing in her career by serving as the…

  • Anderson-Wise is New Dairy Council of California CEO

    Melissa
    14 May 2012 | 1:43 pm
    Tammy Anderson-Wise has been named chief executive officer of Dairy Council of California by the organization’s producer-distributor board of directors. Anderson-Wise was formerly director of program services for Dairy Council of CA, managing its school programs. She has been with the organization 15 years. She replaces Peggy Biltz, who is retiring after spending 27 years with Dairy Council of CA, 22 as chief executive officer. The organization reaches millions of children each year with a professional staff of 50 through its nutrition education programs in schools, collaboration with…
 
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    Real Agriculture.com

  • Ontario Farmers Face a Stress Free Spring

    Shaun Haney
    16 May 2012 | 12:18 am
    When you compare this year to last year, the spring of 2012 feels like a breeze for the bulk of Ontario farmers.  I have heard from several Ontario farmers that this spring has been one of the most stress free springs that they can remember.  Does that make you worry? Is this the summer that could whack us up side the head because spring has been too easy?  What is the worse that could happen, drought, flood or disease pressure or the worst insect infestation we have ever seen? Well hopefully not. I am personally hoping that the momentum of this spring leads into an optimal summer and…

  • Saiks Agri-Treks – Welcome To Fertizona

    Shaun Haney
    15 May 2012 | 2:55 pm
    Agriculture isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Arizona, in fact it may not even be the tenth thing. The climate can be harsh and unforgiving when you're lacking those essential elements. But when those missing pieces of the puzzle are provided, all that sun can be turned into growing power. The key is making those elements readily available. In a climate like Arizona's, water is that primary element, but like every agricultural area, other fertilizing inputs are needed to keep those crops thriving. SEE MORE SAIKS AGRI-TREKS. In this episode of Agri-Treks, Rob visits…

  • Wheat School – Is it Time to Prioritize a Fungicide Over Herbicide Application on Wheat?

    RealAgriculture Agronomy Team
    15 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    With all of the cold weather in April keeping a large portion of winter wheat producers out of the field for that initial herbicide/fungicide pass, it's natural to start wondering if you missed the boat on some yield potential. As worrisome as that may be to the roughly 50% of Ontario farmers that weren't able to get that first herbicide and fungicide pass in, the truth is that the cold weather may have forced producers into a more beneficial fungicide timing cycle. In the interest of saving time and money, most farmers tank mix herbicide and fungicide with a focus primarily on eliminating…

  • Canola School – Should Farmers Be Scouting for Diamondback Moth Now?

    RealAgriculture Agronomy Team
    14 May 2012 | 7:05 pm
    The diamondback moth population has arrived earlier and in greater numbers than in the past years. What does this early flight mean for producers? For starters it means that producers have to be out in their fields earlier, scouting for the pest, but it also means that producers have to adapt how they scout. An earlier flight means an earlier and potentially more vulnerable growth stage of canola will be affected by the pest. SEE MORE CANOLA SCHOOL EPISODES. In this episode of the Canola School, Alberta Agriculture Insect Management Specialist Scott Meers talks about the implications of this…

  • Canfax Cattle on Feed Report Shows Low Feedyard Placements

    Anne Dunford
    11 May 2012 | 4:12 pm
    Today’s Canfax COF report for May 1 exposes the current feedlot inventory situation. As of May 1, total numbers on feed were down 7% from last year, down 10% from 2010 and the smallest May 1 inventory other than 2008. Coincidentally, that was also a year that saw large exports of feeder cattle during the first 4 months (255,000 in 2008). This year’s feeder exports are sitting at 70,000 head to date but still larger than the 40,000 by this time last year. April placements according to today’s Canfax report are 25% smaller than last year and 30% smaller than 2010. It was also the…
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    Ajnjobs.com

  • Complete Weigh In Results For UFC On FUEL TV 3

    energy
    15 May 2012 | 5:52 pm
    By Chris Howie MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer According to a new report from MMA Junkie, number one UFC Middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen will be on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s agenda next week at their May 21st meeting. Sonnen will likely have to answers questions regarding a therapeutic use exemption he app… hcg diet plan hcg diet protocol quick weight loss

  • Dan Henderson Talks Jon Jones Title Fight At UFC 151

    energy
    14 May 2012 | 11:52 pm
    By Chris Howie MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer UFC on FUEL TV 3 is set to go Tuesday evening after all fighters on the card tipped the scales at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA today. The event will be headlined with a featherweight fight between Chan-Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier. Complete results below: Main… hcg weight loss la weight loss alli weight loss

  • UFC on FUEL 3: Jung vs. Poirier Weigh-In Results

    energy
    14 May 2012 | 10:52 pm
    By Mike Chiappetta – Senior Writer Follow , and Like MMA Fighting on Facebook. May 14, 2012 – Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier will both look to make their case as a divisional top contender at Tuesday night’s UFC on FUEL 3, but first things first, as both of the featherweights had no problems making weight on Monday’s weigh-ins. Both Jung and Poirier tipped the scales at 145 pounds for their bout, scheduled as the main event from The Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. As expected, there was little emotion displayed by either side as they shared a brief handshake…

  • Nick Diaz’s Injunction Denied, Forcing Him to Wait Until NSAC Hearing for Career Clarity

    energy
    14 May 2012 | 8:52 pm
    By Mike Chiappetta – Senior Writer Follow , and Like MMA Fighting on Facebook. May 14, 2012 – Nick Diaz will be forced to wait at least one more week before learning about the status of his stalled mixed martial arts career. In a Monday hearing in Clark County (Nevada) district court, judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned his temporary suspension by the the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from a February drug test that was positive for marijuana metabolites. The official minutes of the hearing will not be available until…

  • Jeremy Stephens Prefers to Hand Out Black Eyes, but Desires a Black Belt, Too

    energy
    14 May 2012 | 7:52 pm
    By Luke Thomas – Senior Editor Follow , and Like MMA Fighting on Facebook. May 14, 2012 – Jeremy Stephens can’t re-program himself. Even if he could, he probably wouldn’t want to. Win or lose, his style of fighting is pleasing to himself. That doesn’t mean, however, that he doesn’t recognize potential shortcomings. Having entered the UFC at age 20, Stephens’ game – which was arguably too much for his peers in regional circuit around him – simply didn’t have the time to earn the refinement it needed. Of course, his contemporaries in…
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    Free Agriculture Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com

  • Poultry International

    20 Apr 2012 | 5:50 pm
    Established in 1962, Poultry International is viewed by commercial poultry integrators as the leading international source of news, data and information for their businesses. Poultry International reaches a global audience of 20,000+ poultry decision-makers in 142 countries.Request Free!

  • Watt PoultryUSA

    18 Apr 2012 | 2:50 pm
    WATT PoultryUSA is the only resource focused on the entire integrated poultry market, delivering relevant and timely information to industry professionals across the poultry supply chain. WATT PoultryUSA uniquely covers the U.S. broiler and turkey markets from a global point of view while providing readers in the U.S. with a comprehensive, forward-looking perspective.Request Free!

  • Pest Management Professional

    17 Feb 2012 | 11:20 am
    Pest Management Professional believes the pest management industry is a people business and their goal is to bring all the people of the industry — pest management professionals (PMPs) and marketers — together in one information-driven community.Request Free!

  • 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!
 
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    Cooking Up a Story

  • How to Make Homemade Butter from Farm Fresh Milk (video)

    Cooking Up A Story
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Harriet Fasenfest, author of A Householder’s Guide to the Universe shares her intimate knowledge how to make fresh butter, and the different characteristics that come from milk in the Spring versus the Winter season.Please Note: Fasenfest uses raw milk in her demonstration, something she prefers, pasteurized whole milk and cream can be used as a substitute. For a wider perspective on the controversy with raw milk, check out this accompanying post on Cooking Up a Story: The Raw Milk Debate: Thorny Issues of Food Safety, Food Rights, and Public Health.How to Make Butter from Farm Fresh…

  • The Raw Milk Debate: Thorny Issues of Food Safety, Food Rights, and Public Health

    Cooking Up A Story
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    {Editor’s note: This week for our new Food.Farmer.Earth series, our intended theme was to be butter, but in the process also ended up touching upon raw milk. In the accompanying post below, noted expert David Gumpert, offers a wider perspective on this important, and very polarized food issue.Tomorrow, we see one culinary expert demonstrate how to make butter from raw milk (it can also be done using pasteurized milk), and on Wednesday we visit a diversified local farmer to learn his story; he also sells raw milk from his farm. Thursday, this soft spoken farmer minces no words as he…

  • The Pleasures of Eating Home Cooked Meals

    Cooking Up A Story
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Sometimes the foodie community is perceived as being elitist, and if we all had ample amounts of money to spend on fresh and local food, it would be easier to pay attention to where our food comes from, and perhaps to buy mostly organic food if so desired.Chef Lisa Schroeder who is no stranger to good food has a little different take on the matter. Schroeder believes that just cooking whole ingredients at home is a step up, an important step up from eating at any restaurant.This may not seem all that surprising a view, but consider, she is chef and owner of her own restaurant, and though she…

  • A Mom Teaches Her Children the Importance of Food

    Cooking Up A Story
    10 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    “Being a mom is really connected to feeding your kids”, says Sarah Gilbert, a stay-at-home working mother. As she learned from her mother growing up, Gilbert strives to educate and instill an appreciation for fresh, locally produced food with her three young boys.

  • in the Kitchen with Chef Lisa Schroeder: Mother’s Chicken Soup and More

    Cooking Up A Story
    9 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    (See main recipe below) Mother’s Bistro’ chef Lisa Schroeder shares her professional, culinary skills in the making the quintessential home-made chicken soup. Not only does Schroeder offer an easy recipe to follow, she provides shortcuts to save time and effort along the way, and delivers additional dishes (and recipes) for making so much more from the chicken soup stock, and a great way to create your own healthy fast-food alternatives.Next, in the Field: A Mom teaches Her Children the Importance of Food By Lisa Schroeder, Mother’s Bistro and Bar, PortlandMother’s Chicken and…
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    Alpaca Farm Girl

  • Welcome Our New True Black Alpaca Cria!

    Katy
    8 May 2012 | 11:41 am
    On Saturday Jim found this little beauty on his way to the barn. She is the third true black SCA Peruvian Magnum daughter we have had born here on the farm.  When Magnum adds his phenomenal fleece to this color – look out! Bella (the alpaca momma) produces wonderful black or grey cria for us every year. She’s a super mom plus her fleece has the finest handle next to Magnum on the farm, even though she’s over ten years old! We’ve decided to name her “India.” Jim thinks she’s a keeper. For years he bred some of the best black alpacas in the country so…

  • Alpaca Basic Info

    Katy
    7 May 2012 | 2:04 pm
    For those not familiar with alpacas, here is some basic information. Alpacas are very gentle animals. Alpacas have large, expressive eyes and they make a humming noise to communicate. These animals are easy on the environment because they do not pull the grass out at the roots and their soft, padded feet don’t harm the ground. Alpacas produce between 2-10 lbs. or more of luxurious fiber each year, and their manure is a great fertilizer. Alpacas grow to be about 3 feet high and about 4.5 feet high on the top of the head. They average about 150 lbs. Pregnant females (dams) bear only one…

  • Knitting with Alpaca Yarn

    Katy
    4 May 2012 | 10:41 am
    It's coming along... I have been inspired by some new friends to get back to knitting. I’m not really a new knitter. I just have zero three dimensional thinking skills. Up until now I have only made scarves with garter stitch. That’s fine, but I wanted to branch out. My friend, Tara from Blonde Chicken Boutique, recommended the book Stitch N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller. (Tara also writes and teaches about building your Crafty Business here. She has great ideas!) So, I started to read the book and got overwhelmed. But I decided not to give up. I…

  • Napster’s First Cria is Born

    Katy
    28 Apr 2012 | 3:34 pm
    Medium fawn out of a dark fawn dam Our Archangel son, Napster, is a proud pappa for the first time! Hooray! Napster has been a bit of a late bloomer so we have been waiting eagerly for his first cria to hit the ground. This little male above was recently born at Augustyn Acres to one of the Augustyn’s females. Napster Napster is co-owned by our farm, Fairhope Alpacas, and our friends Melissa and Bill Augustyn in North Carolina. Napster is currently standing stud at Augustyn Acres through November. He will be coming back to Alabama in December and will be here through the Spring of 2013.

  • Crossing the Border: Visiting Another Alpaca Farm

    Katy
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:14 am
    Can I please have one, Mom? Last weekend we crossed the Alabama/Florida border to deliver some alpacas. Only one of my children was free to go with us. She lucked out and got all the bunnies and chickens to herself. The other kids will be jealous once they see these pictures. She insisted on bringing our dog It’s always fun to visit someone else’s farm. Often they have different animals or crops that you don’t have. And everyone does things differently when it comes to how they set up their farm. Robin and Jim in the chicken coop For example, Robin has chickens on her farm…
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    AGRICULTURE GUIDE

  • Guide to Growing Peach

    Ahmet K.
    6 May 2012 | 3:22 am
    Peach is heralded as the “Queen of Fruit” and it is not exaggeration to say that Peach is the most delicious and yummy fruit. You are free to eat it as a fresh fruit or as a mixture of fresh cream, sugar and other fruit. Many kids like to eat the peach flavor ice cream, pan cakes and pies. The most popular uses of peach are jam, jellies, and fruit deserts. Although you can get the fresh fruit from the market but it is indeed exciting for you to grow it at home. Today, I’ll guide you different steps which you need to following for growing this fruit. Step No: 1 Site Selection It is the…

  • Know the various applications of Borescope

    Ahmet K.
    8 Apr 2012 | 3:05 pm
    A borescope is essentially an optical device that has eyepiece on one end of a rid or flexible tube and an objective lens on the other end. The optical system at one end has some optical fibers that are used for illumination of objects that are under scrutiny. The objective lens takes the image of the object under view, and the image is magnified with the eyepiece that offers a clear view. The view taken is used for a variety of purposes including inspection and correction. Types and advantages of borescopes This optical device used in a wide range of fields, thanks to the fine advantage of…

  • Benefits of Knowing the 2012 International Plumbing Code

    Ahmet K.
    8 Apr 2012 | 3:04 pm
    Plumbing is commercial trade that is common in all parts of the globe. No matter wherever you are located, the plumbing business holds a place in your day to day life. The 2012 international plumbing codes are standards for this particular industry for the benefits of consumers and plumbers alike. The changes in the previous unilateral international plumbing codes in the current year have been remarkable. Knowing the current changes The current list of improvements and changes lays more emphasis on eco friendly stipulations. Needless to mention, if you know the changes, you will get to know…

  • 2012 International Plumbing Code

    Ahmet K.
    5 Apr 2012 | 9:40 am
    2012 International plumbing code brings new acts, working on sewer,water, toilet,wc facility systems in commercial areas are responsible to make the work  safe manner to avoid diseases, of course they are important on agricultural areas. Listed below are the code editions in effect as of January 1, 2012: International Building Code 2006 Edition International Fuel Gas Code 2006 Edition International Mechanical Code 2006 Edition International Plumbing Code 2006 Edition National Electrical Code 2011 Edition International Fire Code 2006 Edition International Energy Conservation Code 2009 Edition…

  • High Definition Wireless Articulating Borescope

    Ahmet K.
    2 Apr 2012 | 9:33 am
    An optical instrument the borescope used for seeing inside tight spaces, consisting of a rigid or flexible tube with an optical relay inside so that the view through a lens or window at one end of the tube may be seen from a lens or eyepiece in the opposite end of the tube . Borescopes also useful in agricultural purposes, underground soil investigations. Borescopes often used in such applications like: • Home inspection: Inspect in walls for mold, insect infestation, electrical wire or water pipe location • HVAC: Inspect inside ducts, behind motors and compressors • Automotive: View…
 
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    Texas Ag Talks

  • Farming is a little like skydiving

    nsmith
    14 May 2012 | 11:21 am
    By Nathan Smith, Field Editor Last week I saw miles and miles of Texas. I traveled to West Texas to visit with cotton farmers about the crop that’s going in the ground as we speak. They are pouring seed into planter boxes and rolling across the freshly prepared ground. They plant with an optimism that [...]

  • Making up numbers–the stats of a sport called ‘Attack the Farmer’

    Gene Hall
    10 May 2012 | 11:26 am
    When it comes to antibiotic use in livestock, activists like to fudge the numbers.

  • Domino’s Pizza ‘just says no’ to Humane Society of the United States

    Mike Barnett
    7 May 2012 | 1:50 pm
    Domino’s Pizza refuses to play follow-the-leader in fast food follies, rejecting HSUS proposal on gestation stalls.

  • ‘Vegan is Love,’ unless you eat meat

    Gene Hall
    3 May 2012 | 11:20 am
    The new kids’ book, ‘Vegan is Love,’ spews a lot of hatred toward meat eaters.

  • A grassroots win for the good guys

    nsmith
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:46 pm
    By Nathan Smith, Field Editor It’s a case study in grassroots power. A half-cocked rule aimed at restricting young people’s activity on the farm was shot down last week when the Labor Department (DOL) withdrew the proposal. It’s nothing new to hear of an agency changing their mind, but this time the DOL had help. [...]
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    AGCO Blog

  • The World’s Longest Yacht Race – Heather’s Update 6

    acorten
    15 May 2012 | 7:41 am
      Transiting through the Panama Canal was quite a unique experience! We sailed through the two sets of gates, filled with rivets that slowly opened. This transit took one day, and in passing through, we had crossed over from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side of the world. The lock itself was quite impressive, especially considering it was constructed almost 100 years ago. There are 3 locks, each with either 2 or 3 sets of gates in each. It was like walking up and over a bridge as the Pacific locks brought us higher and the Caribbean locks brought us back down. What an amazing feat of…

  • AGWN Kicks Off in Australia

    Silvia
    14 May 2012 | 7:27 am
    As part of a worldwide AGCO initiative, AGWN (AGCO Global Women’s Network) was officially launched in Australia last month.   AGWN is a women’s network established for the staff of AGCO, designed to support the women within the organisation, in achieving their professional goals through development and career advancement.   Up to 20 staff members from the Sunshine office were introduced to the initiative by Warwick McCormick (Vice President & Managing Director, ANZ & FE), Luke Harrop (HR Manager, ANZ & Far East) and Linn Warzelhan (Director HR, APAC) in a two hour…

  • Safe Play Areas on Your Farm

    acorten
    11 May 2012 | 1:09 pm
    Children are naturally curious, especially younger children. And there are a lot of things to be curious about on the farm! But that curiosity can unknowingly lead them into dangerous places. A safe play area is a great way to ensure the safety of kids on the farm. Here are a few tips to help you establish a safe play area. • Separated from traffic and work areas. • Easily identifiable boundaries. Fences are ideal. • An area easily supervised, such as looking out a back window. • Free from dangerous debris. • Plenty of room to run and explore. • Safe and age-appropriate play…

  • Big Red Event Shares MF Expertise

    May Norris
    8 May 2012 | 7:23 am
    Massey Ferguson distributors and dealers from all over Europe converged on Wroclaw, Poland for the latest Big Red training event. “This major event is a key opportunity for our dealer sales people to test-drive our latest tractors in the field and benefit from the know-how of MF technical experts,” says Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson Brand Development Manager. “Here, they can drive the machines in real conditions and fully understand the customer experience.” Among the machines showing their paces were the new MF 7600 Series, MF 6400 Series and MF 3600 Series tractors. “Wherever…

  • Connectivity in the Field – Bluetooth or WiFi?

    Calder Justice
    7 May 2012 | 1:24 pm
    Do you ever have issues with your Bluetooth head set not getting the best reception, even though your phone is in your pocket?!? Have you ever had your smart phone run out of batteries before your day is over? Are you worried about other people accessing information you are transmitting between your devices via Bluetooth or Wifi? Below you will find  Pros and Cons of the two different ways for devices to communicate with each other. For wireless machine to machine communication – Bluetooth is the easiest and least expensive way for seamless communication. Bluetooth is secure as you have to…
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    Beef Matters

  • I thought this day would never come

    beefmatters
    8 May 2012 | 11:07 pm
    This morning we gathered a large field of cow-calf pairs and brought them to a small holding pen where we could sort them into different groups. We sorted out the cows that didn’t have calves this year (dry cows). The older cows were sorted into a different group; they have high nutrition requirements and by keeping them together it is easier for us to make sure they get the nutrients that they need. Have a look at this photo, please. Do you happen to notice anything interesting in it? Figured it out yet? Yes! This is my three year old riding by himself. Hallelujah! This may be one of…

  • Breeding Program

    beefmatters
    3 May 2012 | 11:05 pm
    Our AI program has kept us busy the past couple of weeks. This year we are AI’ing (artificially inseminating) our first-calf and second-calf heifers. An AI program works well for us because it allows us to quickly and efficiently improve the genetics of our cow herd. The entire AI process requires working the heifer in the chute three different times in about two weeks, so it is fairly labor intensive on those three days. However, it will pay off for us when these high-quality calves hit the ground next spring. We are halfway through with this spring’s AI program; next week we…

  • Processing Steers

    beefmatters
    18 Apr 2012 | 10:07 pm
    We are scheduled to ship steers to Nevada to our summer range later this week. In preparation, the cowboys spent yesterday processing steers. Each steer needed a booster shot and a fly tag. (How do you like the fancy table we have at our chute? Empty 50 gallon drums come in very handy around here. We much prefer if they are rusty in places and covered in mud or manure, as it adds to the ambiance of processing.) Processing is a fairly quick job. These steers are waiting their turn to walk down the alley and into the chute. Our goal is to make the entire process as calm as possible. Things go…

  • Contest Winner!

    beefmatters
    16 Apr 2012 | 2:22 pm
    Thanks for the great name suggestions! The kids slowly, and quite democratically, worked their way through the list of names. There was a fair amount of lobbying the three-year old, I believe there were even a few bribes offered in exchange for his vote. A couple of times there was a demand for a re-count, but in the end they finally, finally, selected a winner.   This filly now has a name: Rusty The winner of the Cuisinart Grill Set is Amie! Congratulations Amie! Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. My family and I enjoyed going through all of the entires.  

  • Name this Colt Contest!

    beefmatters
    9 Apr 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Remember these little cuties? I can’t believe how much they have changed in the past couple of months. Changing color, getting bigger and gaining a little confidence. The little blue roan belongs to my oldest son and he has named her Twink. The red roan filly, however, does not have a name. We have bounced around a few ideas, but nothing seems to fit her. There is no way I am letting my husband make this decision alone! (The last time he was given this responsibility he named the horse Toad. I kid you not.) Will you help me out? Leave your suggested name(s) in the comments on this post…
 
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    Real Agriculture.com

  • Ontario Farmers Face a Stress Free Spring

    Shaun Haney
    16 May 2012 | 12:18 am
    When you compare this year to last year, the spring of 2012 feels like a breeze for the bulk of Ontario farmers.  I have heard from several Ontario farmers that this spring has been one of the most stress free springs that they can remember.  Does that make you worry? Is this the summer that could whack us up side the head because spring has been too easy?  What is the worse that could happen, drought, flood or disease pressure or the worst insect infestation we have ever seen? Well hopefully not. I am personally hoping that the momentum of this spring leads into an optimal summer and…

  • Saiks Agri-Treks – Welcome To Fertizona

    Shaun Haney
    15 May 2012 | 2:55 pm
    Agriculture isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Arizona, in fact it may not even be the tenth thing. The climate can be harsh and unforgiving when you're lacking those essential elements. But when those missing pieces of the puzzle are provided, all that sun can be turned into growing power. The key is making those elements readily available. In a climate like Arizona's, water is that primary element, but like every agricultural area, other fertilizing inputs are needed to keep those crops thriving. SEE MORE SAIKS AGRI-TREKS. In this episode of Agri-Treks, Rob visits…

  • Wheat School – Is it Time to Prioritize a Fungicide Over Herbicide Application on Wheat?

    RealAgriculture Agronomy Team
    15 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    With all of the cold weather in April keeping a large portion of winter wheat producers out of the field for that initial herbicide/fungicide pass, it's natural to start wondering if you missed the boat on some yield potential. As worrisome as that may be to the roughly 50% of Ontario farmers that weren't able to get that first herbicide and fungicide pass in, the truth is that the cold weather may have forced producers into a more beneficial fungicide timing cycle. In the interest of saving time and money, most farmers tank mix herbicide and fungicide with a focus primarily on eliminating…

  • Canola School – Should Farmers Be Scouting for Diamondback Moth Now?

    RealAgriculture Agronomy Team
    14 May 2012 | 7:05 pm
    The diamondback moth population has arrived earlier and in greater numbers than in the past years. What does this early flight mean for producers? For starters it means that producers have to be out in their fields earlier, scouting for the pest, but it also means that producers have to adapt how they scout. An earlier flight means an earlier and potentially more vulnerable growth stage of canola will be affected by the pest. SEE MORE CANOLA SCHOOL EPISODES. In this episode of the Canola School, Alberta Agriculture Insect Management Specialist Scott Meers talks about the implications of this…

  • Canfax Cattle on Feed Report Shows Low Feedyard Placements

    Anne Dunford
    11 May 2012 | 4:12 pm
    Today’s Canfax COF report for May 1 exposes the current feedlot inventory situation. As of May 1, total numbers on feed were down 7% from last year, down 10% from 2010 and the smallest May 1 inventory other than 2008. Coincidentally, that was also a year that saw large exports of feeder cattle during the first 4 months (255,000 in 2008). This year’s feeder exports are sitting at 70,000 head to date but still larger than the 40,000 by this time last year. April placements according to today’s Canfax report are 25% smaller than last year and 30% smaller than 2010. It was also the…
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    Big Picture Agriculture

  • Stocks-to-Use Ratio Updates for Corn, Wheat, Rice, Soybeans, Cotton and Sugar

    K.M.
    15 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    Table 1. Projected stocks-to-use ratios (in %) for Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Cotton, Sugar and Rice for the 2012/13 Marketing Season: Note that the above numbers are projected for the 2012/13 marketing season “under normal weather conditions” and are highly subject to change. The 2012/13 marketing season for corn and soybeans begins September 1, 2012 but [...]

  • Agriculture News May 13, 2012

    K.M.
    13 May 2012 | 11:41 am
    First Steps by Vincent van Gogh 1890PZMRFC2ACCPP Happy Mom’s Day to all fellow-mothers who might happen to read here. Special days are best when nothing is planned or anticipated, and that helped make today special for me. I was gifted with breakfast at a reverse snob type of place whose motto is “890 square feet [...]

  • Agriculture News May 10, 2012

    K.M.
    10 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    Cal Poly Sign at April 2012 Farmers Market in San Luis Obispo, California photo credit: Kay McDonald The migration to this site from Blogspot went fairly smoothly except that the comments didn’t migrate from the old posts and there are a few posts that now have illogical URLs. I hope that everyone likes the new [...]

  • EIA Chart of U.S. Biodiesel Production from 2009 through 2011

    K.M.
    8 May 2012 | 10:50 am
    U.S. production of biodiesel was a record 109 million gallons in December 2011, according to new data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Production came from 113 active biodiesel plants. Biodiesel production for all of 2011 was 967 million gallons, which was the highest level recorded since EIA began tracking this data. Biodiesel [...]

  • Agriculture News May 6, 2012

    K.M.
    7 May 2012 | 12:01 am
    A booth at the April 2012 Santa Barbara Farmers Marketphoto credit: Kay McDonaldIn other news you’ve no doubt heard by now that the famous bear falling from the tree here in Boulder was killed by a car soon after she was tranquilized and relocated. Too many people. Too little bear habitat.Kay ● Alan Guebert criticizes [...]
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    John Deere MachineFinder

  • New John Deere180G LC Hydraulic Excavator Comes to Market

    Machinefinder
    11 May 2012 | 9:42 am
    While some companies note that they value customer feedback, this notion may not always be reflected in their products. However, firms like John Deere actually use this input to shape their newest models, as they known that users can help the company achieve better results with their equipment. The company announced on April 10, 2012, the release of the customer-inspired John Deere 180G LC hydraulic excavator. This 18-metric ton model gives contractors a chance to meet emissions requirements with the new Interim Tier4-certified engine while also providing them with enough power to finish the…

  • John Deere Tractor Restorer has an Affinity for Nature

    Machinefinder
    10 May 2012 | 9:48 am
    The process of restoring a used John Deere tractor is something that many farming and brand enthusiasts are familiar with, but certain members of the agricultural community take their projects to entirely new levels. For some, tractor restoration simply begins as a hobby, as they wish to see their favorite old models of John Deere equipment returned to its original glory. Time is spent reconfiguring certain parts, cleaning the external chassis and ensuring that it runs as smoothly as possible. However, sometimes the love for John Deere tractors can manifest itself in a unique way. The Fence…

  • John Deere Employees Help Provide Meals For Children

    Machinefinder
    9 May 2012 | 8:39 am
    Iconic American brands like John Deere have always maintained a significant presence in communities across the country, as workers from the company help citizens in their area with a variety of philanthropic events. John Deere began this tradition during the Great Depression, a time when many Americans could not make ends meet. Farmers who had purchased equipment from the company and could not meet their obligations were accommodated, as the brand decided to extend its financing options and delayed payments, despite a loss in revenue. The company has continued this philanthropic spirit…

  • Old John Deere Manure Spreader Sold for Record Price

    Machinery Pete
    8 May 2012 | 9:32 am
    This John Deere 34 manure spreader sold for a new record high auction sale price of $2,700 on an April 13, 2012 farm auction in east-central Nebraska Time to show a little love to the old manure spreader. My last blog post here for Machinefinder.com focused on a sweet 1995 John Deere 7800 2WD tractor sold for a record auction price of $71,000 on a recent southwest Indiana consignment auction. I talked of how “beautiful” this used tractor was. Well guess what…old used manure spreaders can be easy on the eyes too. Don’t believe me? Check out the John Deere No. 34 manure…

  • Product Spotlight: The John Deere 1590 No Till Drill

    Machinefinder
    4 May 2012 | 8:02 am
    No till drilling has evolved over the course of the last 50 years, as the creation practice has been credited to a farmer from North Carolina in 1962. John Deere equipment has mirrored and led the evolution of the no till drills, and its latest products represent the pinnacle of innovation and efficiency. The practice has changed over the course of these 50 years in part because of a transition in the thinking of farmers across the country. A move away from deep plowing and cultivation was essential to better preserve lands, but this is not a completely extinct form of agriculture. No till…
 
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    Cause Matters

  • Is social media dead in the food & farming discussion?

    Michele Payn-Knoper
    9 May 2012 | 8:17 pm
    Are these productive communities or center pivots pouring out information and drowning people? An article caught my eye yesterday. Funny thing is, I can’t remember if it was on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin. I don’t remember a picture, so I know it wasn’t on Pinterest. And there wasn’t a technology geek involved, so it wasn’t Google+. Seems to be the way it goes these days as information comes at us through center pivots (a volume that’s worthy of multiple fire hoses, for my non-farm readers). We don’t always remember where information came from or…
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