Organic ag strongest in West Coast, Northeast, upper Midwest
Organic farms and ranches are clustered mostly on the West Coast, the Northeast and the upper Midwest, says the first USDA survey of producers since 2008.
Embrace diversity in local food production, says AGree report
Rather than argue about organic vs conventional farming or big vs small in local food production, the sector should "focus on what works best to achieve these concrete goals: Reliable and consistent production of safe, nutritious and affordable food; healthy working lands and ecosystems; and prosperous farms and communities," says the AGree farm-policy project.
Bird-flu plan relies on speedy culling, vaccine on standby
After the "incredible scope" of the worst bird flu epidemic ever to hit the nation earlier this year, the USDA's plan for reducing the risk of an outbreak this fall includes swift culling of infected flocks with a bird-flu vaccine available "as a possible adjunct to, and not a replacement for, a future eradication effort." The usual response to discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza is to quarantine the affected farm and its surroundings and kill the infected flock to prevent spread of the virus.
EPA likely to raise ethanol proposal modestly, says analyst
Higher-than-expected gasoline use will encourage the EPA to raise the ethanol mandate marginally from the levels proposed in May, says economist Scott Irwin of U-Illinois. The agency is expected to finalize the so-called Renewable Fuel Standard by Nov. 30. Irwin told Ag Insider that his expectation is an increase of 2-3 percent for each of the three years covered by the upcoming regulation - 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Contest aims to prove viability of wooden highrises
Development teams in New York City and Portland, Oregon, each won $1.5 million "to showcase the safe application, practicality and sustainability of a minimum 80-foot structure that uses mass timber, composite wood technologies and innovative building techniques."
Vice-chairman is third member of House Ag panel to retire
Texas Rep. Randy Neugebauer, vice-chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, announced that he will retire from Congress at the end of 2016.
Colorado wrangles over legalizing rain barrels
Public broadcaster KUNC says rain barrels are a touchy subject because of the larger issue of water rights "and the competition for every last bit of water" in the often-arid West.
Stabenow stands behind school-lunch reforms
The Democratic leader on the Senate Agriculture Committee won't compromise on school-food reforms as the price of an agreement within the committee on re-authorization of child-nutrition programs, said The Hagstrom Report.
Mexico buying more and more U.S. pork
Mexico is becoming more prominent as an export market for U.S. pork, says the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. One-third of U.S. export tonnage during July - the most recent data available for the report - went to Mexico.
Kids get 12 percent of daily calories from fast food
Children and teenagers get an average 12.4 percent of their daily calories from fast food, said the National Center for Health Statistics, a part of the CDC.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics rises globally
A report from the think tank Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy warns there are more and more cases of antibiotic-resistant infections around the world, "and the agricultural use of antibiotics plays a large part," says Modern Farmer.
Export inspection, price-reporting bill cleared for Senate vote
The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill to reauthorize federal inspection of export grain and the requirement that meatpackers report purchase prices of cattle, hogs and sheep. The five-year reauthorization now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. The House approved separate bills to reauthorize the programs on June 9 by voice votes.
In some cities, raiding your neighbor’s garden is encouraged
Whether Austin, Texas, or Iowa City, Iowa, there are times when it's okay to take a tomato from your neighbor's garden, says Civil Eats, describing "a new spin on the community garden."
Lowest corn and soy returns to operator and land in years
Farm Belt farmers are headed for the lowest returns in years for operator and land from their corn and soybean crops, says economist Gary Schnitkey of U-Illinois at farmdoc daily.
Key senator says he will push for more FDA food-safety money
The chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees USDA and FDA will press for money for the FDA if there is an agreement by the White House and Congress to raise spending caps, said Agri-Pulse.
U.S. launches drive to cut food waste in half
The federal government announced the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, a campaign to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the average family lets $1,500 in food go uneaten every year.
Food-stamp rolls fall by 2 percent as employment expands
With a decline in the unemployment rate, "economic improvement has started to yield decreases in participation [in food stamps] from the levels that we saw as a result of the recession," said Agriculture Undersecretary Kevin Concannon.
Poverty rate plateaus at one in six rural Americans
One out of every six rural Americans - more than 8.2 million people - lives in poverty, according to a report by the Census Bureau. The rural poverty rate of 16.5 percent for 2014 was not statistically different than the 2013 rate. As usual, the rural rate was higher than the rate in cities, which was 14.5 percent, and the overall U.S. rate of 14.8 percent.
First U.S. finding of tar spot fungus in corn crop
Tar spot, a fungal disease of corn, was confirmed in north central Indiana, the first known instance of the disease in the U.S.
Higher costs for farmers when interest rates rise
If the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, "it will mean higher costs for many producers" at a point when farm income is falling and growers are making increased use of credit, says Brent Gloy at Agricultural Economic Insights.