A debate on farming’s future in no-corporate-farms Nebraska
For a generation or more, Nebraska has banned corporate farming as a way to protect small operators, says Harvest Public Media, and now the Cornhusker State is "at the center of a debate that gets to the core of what it means to be a farmer."
Deal with Mexico is cushion against sugar subsidy costs
The agreement by Mexico to limit its shipments of sugar to the U.S. market will reduce the chances of sugar program costs, says the think tank Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.
Drought cuts South Africa corn crop by a quarter from 2014
Drought will limit South Africa's corn crop to 11.5 million tonnes, nearly one-quarter less than last year's harvest, the USDA says in its monthly WASDE report. "February dryness and periodic heat, particularly in the western and central growing regions," disrupted pollination and slashed the likely yield, according to the report. South Africa is an important regional supplier and often acts as an indicator of prospects in the southern part of the continent.
Five countries that could play big role in reducing hunger
The International Food Policy Research Institute says five fast-growing, middle-income nations -- Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico -- also are home to nearly half the hungry people of the world.
Strong dollar impedes U.S. meat exports
The strong U.S. dollar will constrain beef, pork and poultry exports while encouraging imports, the USDA forecast in the monthly WASDE report.
Potlucks or pub nights, women farmers build networks
In the business of agriculture, food becomes part of networking among professionals, says Civil Eats, describing how new women farmers in Wisconsin created a grassroots network through informal potluck meals.
Found in Minnesota, Missouri, bird flu now suspected in Arkansas
The highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was confirmed in two turkey flocks in Missouri, the Agriculture Department announced, five days after the same virus was identified in a turkey flock in western Minnesota.
Small impact on red meat from bird flu export bans
Export restrictions on U.S. poultry, imposed because of outbreaks of avian influenza, are not likely to have a significant impact on the beef sector, said USDA chief economist Robert Johannson. "At this point, it doesn't appear to be an issue." A couple of dozen countries have imposed full or partial bans on U.S. poultry. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators the bans affect roughly 15 percent of poultry exports and that the USDA was to keep shipments moving.
Food-stamp enrollment is lowest in seven months
Some 46.25 million people received food stamps in the latest count, the lowest figure in seven months, said USDA. Enrollment in December 2014, the most recent month available, was 11,000 lower than the month before.
Rural counties lose population, just barely this time
"Rural America continued to lose population last year," says the Carsey School of Public Policy, after perusing the new Census Bureau report on domestic migration.
Groups want more USDA attention on water quality, wildlife
A rare coalition of grain processors, conservationists and clean-water groups asked the Agriculture Department to dedicate one-third of the Conservation Reserve to buffer strips, windbreaks and other practices that protect water quality and wildlife habitat.
Demand for fresh, local food pinches Big Food
The big-name international food companies "are in the position of having to rework, reshape and re-imagine themselves" in response to consumer demand for fresh, local and organic foods, says the Guardian.
USDA offers $66.5 million for specialty crop, organic research
A total of $66.5 million is available for work that will benefit specialty crop and organic producers, said the Agriculture Department. The money would cover the cost of research and "extension" -- activities that deliver information about improved crops...
In top U.S. yogurt state, dairy farm workers are hard to hire
California is the No. 1 dairy state, but the popularity of Greek-style yogurt has turned New York into the top state for yogurt production, with more than 40 producers including Chobani, says the Los Angeles Times.
Most expensive year for 2014 farm law will be this one
The government will pay $6.5 billion in crop subsidies for this year's grain and soybean crops because of falling commodity prices, according to an estimate by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, a think tank at the University of Missouri. The outlays would be the largest in seven years, said FAPRI, and would be well above its forecast average annual cost of $5 billion. "Payments under 2014 farm bill programs increase when crop prices fall," said FAPRI.
Lawmakers to POTUS: “Be bold” to protect monarch butterfly
In a letter, 52 House Democrats asked President Obama to "be bold" and protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act, "the last, best chance to save this amazing species and its incredible migration."
Soybean inventory expected to tighten slightly
Traders expect the USDA to lower by 2 percent its forecast of the U.S. soybean stockpile today in its monthly WASDE report. At the moment, supplies are projected to be the largest in eight years, at 385 million bushels, the result of a record-setting harvest last fall.
Senate Ag, Health leaders: More time for diet comments
The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Health and Agriculture committees asked for 30 additional days for public comments on a report that will serve as the foundation for a new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. "This advisory committee report included recommendations that are notably different from previous guidelines, which will require additional time to develop thoughtful feedback," said the letter to Health Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Idaho expands its lead as top U.S. trout farming state
Idaho accounted for 52 percent of the $102.5 million worth of trout sales in 2014, up from 42 percent in the preceding year, said the USDA's annual Trout Production report.
More signs that producers are rebuilding cattle herds
Ranchers and feeders are sending fewer beef heifers to slaughter, "likely a result of producers retaining some extra heifers for breeding purposes," said the USDA's Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, citing "further signs of cow-herd rebuilding."