Prospects nil for TPP deal at early November meeting
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said "we do not expect to have a final agreement" on the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact during a meeting of U.S. and Asian leaders in early November, said Kyodo news agency.
There’s no snag in adding yarn to the “buy local” campaign
Niche marketing to nearby customers is a practical outlet for thousands of smaller-scale farmers. In northwestern Colorado, yarn is being woven into the fabric of local entrepreneurship, says Harvest Public Media.
School lunch waivers “back on the table” after election day
The Republican-backed proposal to give some schools a waiver from school lunch reforms "will probably be back on the table" in the lame duck session of Congress, write two pediatricians in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Foodmakers, allies call for rescinding parts of COOL
A coalition of foodmakers, meatpackers and allies from industry asked Congress to order an overhaul of U.S. country-of-origin meat-labeling rules.
US ag exports to TPP bloc up 5 percent if trade barriers fall
U.S. agricultural exports to the 12 nations involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks would rise by 5 percent over a decade if all agricultural tariffs and tariff-rate qoutas were eliminated, says USDA's Economic Research Service.
Heavy spending in re-election bid by food stamp critic
Some $10 million could be spent on the U.S. House race between Rep Steve Southerland and Democrat Gwen Graham in the Florida panhandle, says WTXL-TV in Tallahassee.
Orman appeals for farm vote in Kansas Senate race
Independent Greg Orman campaigned in typically Republican rural Kansas with the argument incumbent Pat Roberts doesn't keep the state's agricultural interests in mind, says the Associated Press.
Farmers get additional week to sign up for dairy subsidies
Dairy farmers can enroll in the new dairy support program, the insurance-like Margin Protection Program, until Dec 5, one more week than originally announced, said the Agriculture Department.
Harnessing Big Data to stop green slime in Lake Erie
During the summer, green slime, also known as blue-green algae, disrupted the water supply for Toledo. Nutrient runoff from farms, especially phosphorus fertilizer, gets part of the blame for feeding the algae blooms.
California drought likely to get worse
Californians are praying for rain this winter but the three-year-old drought is likely to persist or worsen in large parts of the state, says the Telegraph. Some 58 percent of the state is under "exceptional" drought, the direst rating used by the government.
Honey bee habitat program, active in Midwest, is expanded
More than $4 million in funding and expert advice will be provided to farmers and ranchers in five Midwestern states, to improve habitat for honey bees, a valuable crop pollinator that suffers high mortality rates.
Cold weather adds to Russia wheat woes
Colder-than-usual weather "is likely to spur further concerns over the condition of the winter wheat crop" in Russia, says The Crop Site. It points to uncertainties about the state of the crop.
Salt degradation affects 20 percent of irrigated land globally
From the Aral Sea basin in central Asia to the San Joaquin Valley of California, 20 percent of the world's irrigated land is degraded by salt buildup, says a study by United Nations University.
Syngenta says it won’t back down in GE corn squabble
Seed company Syngenta says it acted responsibly in selling two strains of genetically engineered corn that are approved for cultivation in the United States although not allowed for import by China, says DTN.
Up to $100 million to restore Gulf wetlands and farmland
The Agriculture Department and a congressionally created foundation will put up to $100 million into restoration of wetlands, farmland and waterways damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster of 2010.
GMO food labeling initiative trails in Oregon poll
Opponents held a 6-point advantage in a poll of 403 likely voters in Oregon on whether to require special labels on foods containing genetically modified organisms, says the Portland Oregonian, one of two news outlets that commissioned the survey by Elway Research.
As ethanol use rises, energy content of gasoline dips
The Energy Department says with ethanol and other oxygenates comprising 10 percent of the fuel supply for cars and light trucks, the energy content of gasoline has fallen by 3 percent over a 20-year period.
Soybeans more profitable this year, may be next year too
Soybeans "are projected to be more profitable than corn in 2014," a reversal from most years, but a situation that is likely to prove true again in the new year, says economist Gary Schnitkey of U-Illinois.
Food stamp critic Steve King heads for re-election in Iowa
House Agriculture subcommittee chairman Steve King leads by 12 points in a Loras College poll of 280 likely voters in the Fourth House District in northwestern Iowa.
Mississippi town sees gigabyte network as economic stimulus
With a population of 2,300, Quitman, Mississippi, will be one of 10 communities in the state to get a 1 gigabyte per second broadband network, says the Daily Yonder.