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Industry California agriculture faces greatest water loss ever seen By University of California, Davis July 15, 2014 | 4:02 pm EDT Managing groundwater reserves is key to the state surviving a long-term drought. Here, Senior Engineering Geologist Chris Bonds from the California Department of Water Resources monitors flow rate from a well. Photo by John Chacon/California Department of Water Resources A new report from the University of California, Davis, shows that California agriculture is weathering its worst drought in decades due to groundwater reserves, but the nation’s produce basket may come up dry in the future if it continues to treat those reserves like an unlimited savings account. The UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences study, released today at a press briefing in Washington, D.C., updates estimates on the drought’s effects on Central Valley farm production, presents new data on the state’s coastal and southern farm areas, and forecasts the drought’s economic fallout through 2016. The study found that the drought -- the third most severe on record -- is responsible for the greatest water loss ever seen in California agriculture, with river water for Central Valley farms reduced by roughly one-third. Groundwater pumping is expected to replace most river water losses, with some areas more than doubling their pumping rate over the previous year, the study said. More than 80 percent of this replacement pumping occurs in the San Joaquin Valley and Tulare Basin. The results highlight California agriculture's economic resilience and vulnerabilities to drought and underscore the state’s reliance on groundwater to cope with droughts. “California’s agricultural economy overall is doing remarkably well, thanks mostly to groundwater reserves,” said Jay Lund, a co-author of the study and director of the university’s Center for Watershed Sciences. “But we expect substantial local and regional economic and employment impacts. We need to treat that groundwater well so it will be there for future droughts.” Other key findings of the drought’s effects in 2014: Direct costs to agriculture total $1.5 billion (revenue losses of $1 billion and $0.5 billion in additional pumping costs). This net revenue loss is about 3 percent of the state’s total agricultural value. The total statewide economic cost of the 2014 drought is $2.2 billion. The loss of 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs related to agriculture represents 3.8 percent of farm unemployment. 428,000 acres, or 5 percent, of irrigated cropland is going out of production in the Central Valley, Central Coast and Southern California due to the drought. The Central Valley is hardest hit, particularly the Tulare Basin, with projected losses of $810 million, or 2.3 percent, in crop revenue; $203 million in dairy and livestock value; and $453 million in additional well-pumping costs. Agriculture on the Central Coast and in Southern California will be less affected by this year’s drought, with about 19,150 acres fallowed, $10 million in lost crop revenue and $6.3 million in additional pumping costs. Overdraft of groundwater is expected to cause additional wells in the Tulare Basin to run dry if the drought continues. The drought is likely to continue through 2015, regardless of El Niño conditions. Consumer food prices will be largely unaffected. Higher prices at the grocery store of high-value California crops like nuts, wine grapes and dairy foods are driven more by market demand than by the drought. Groundwater a “slow-moving train wreck” If the drought continues for two more years, groundwater reserves will continue to be used to replace surface water losses, the study said. Pumping ability will slowly decrease, while costs and losses will slowly increase due to groundwater depletion. California is the only state without a framework for groundwater management. “We have to do a better job of managing groundwater basins to secure the future of agriculture in California,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which largely funded the UC Davis study. “That’s why we’ve developed the California Water Action Plan and a proposal for local, sustainable groundwater management.” Failure to replenish groundwater in wet years continues to reduce groundwater availability to sustain agriculture during drought -- particularly more profitable permanent crops, like almonds and grapes -- a situation lead author Richard Howitt of UC Davis called a “slow-moving train wreck.” “A well-managed basin is used like a reserve bank account,” said Howitt, a professor emeritus of agricultural and resource economics. “We’re acting like the super rich who have so much money they don’t need to balance their checkbook.” To forecast the economic effects of the drought, the UC Davis researchers used computer models, remote satellite sensing data from NASA, and the latest estimates of State Water Project, federal Central Valley Project and local water deliveries and groundwater pumping capacities. The analysis was done at the request of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which co-funded the research with the University of California. The report’s other co-authors include UC Davis agricultural economists Josué Medellín-Azuara and Dan Sumner, and Duncan MacEwan of the ERA Economic consulting firm in Davis. California produces nearly half of U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables and nearly a quarter of the nation’s milk and cream. Across the nation, consumers regularly buy several crops grown almost entirely in California, including tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, almonds, walnuts, grapes, olives and figs. californiadroughtproduceuc davis center for watershed sciences About the Author:

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2017 Farm and Gin Show: A first look at all that’s new Know cost of growing a bushel ‘to the cent’ Jan 13, 2017 Farmers seeking real safety net in next farm bill Jan 13, 2017 Tips for negotiating new farmland leases Jan 12, 2017 Isidore makes a sloppy mess Elton Robinson | Sep 27, 2002 Missouri There’s good news and bad news about the cool weather that followed Isidore-related rains that drenched the Missouri Bootheel Thursday. The good news is that cool temperatures are not conducive to cotton germinating in the bolls, a malady which affected many Mid-South farmers in 2001. On the other hand, cool temperatures don’t dry up wet soils as quickly as growers would like. Southeast Missouri growers received only 2 inches of rain on Sept. 26, the day that Isidore rolled up through Mississippi and into west Tennessee, pushing heavy rains in front of it. But it was a slow, steady, all-day affair without much runoff. “It’s going to be about mid-week before we get back in the field,” said Bobby Phipps, Extension cotton specialist at the University of Missouri’s Delta Center in Portageville. “It’s good and wet. It’s a big setback.” USDA is projecting a 790-pound yield for the Bootheel “which is very high for us,” Phipps said. “But I think this weather has probably knocked it down a little and it’s going to spot the cotton of course. But we’ve had some reports of some good yields.” The cost of producing the Bootheel crop “has been a killer,” according to Phipps. “You go down to Mississippi and see the weeds. You come up here and we have the insects. It seems like we traded places. “We had about $80 in costs for controlling tobacco budworms and we had to make an additional spray for thrips,” the specialist said. “It’s been a really pricey year for us. But we have a nice enough crop.” “We haven’t had much Bt cotton,” Phipps added. “But there will be more next year.” Tennessee “After a 4-inch rain fell in west Tennessee on Sept. 20, our picking efficiency went down a lot,” said Chism Craig, Extension cotton specialist for west Tennessee. “It took it a while to fluff back out. After this rain (Thursday), we think growers will get back in the field Tuesday or Wednesday.” Prior to the rains, west Tennessee had classed almost 3,000 bales of cotton and “we were running 70 to 80 percent 11s and 21s,” Craig said. “But our color quality is going to go down considerably after this rain. “Another thing that scares me is we have a lot of cotton in bottoms. When rivers and tributaries like the Forked Deer and the Hatchie get out of their banks, we have a lot of cotton that gets under water. The standing water could leave some mud on the cotton.” Craig says around 10 percent of the west Tennessee crop had been picked prior to the rains. Because planting dates are staggered over a month and a half, west Tennessee will need at least a month of open weather to complete harvest. “We’re going to be picking some of this cotton for a while.” Craig says yields in west Tennessee will end up near average. “I don’t expect it to be near the crop we had last year. We have some areas of the state that are going to do well, especially in the southern part of the state. But where we have the most cotton – Crockett and Haywood – some of them hurt for rain early in the year, and they’re going to see some yield loss.” e-mail: [email protected]

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Global Soil Partnership for Food Security launched at FAO New effort to assure soils future generations Soil health vital for food security7 September 2011, Rome - FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf warned today that pressure on the world's soil resources and land degradation are threatening global food security. He called for a renewed international effort to assure sufficient fertile and healthy soils today and for future generations.Diouf was speaking here at the start of a three-day meeting to launch a new Global Soil Partnership for Food security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. "Soil is an essential component of the world's production systems and ecosystems," Diouf said. "But it is also a fragile and non-renewable resource. It is very easily degraded and it is slow, difficult and expensive to regenerate," he added. Increased pressureSoil resources across the globe are subject to increased pressure from competing land uses and are affected by extensive degradation processes that rapidly deplete the limited amounts of soils and water available for food production, Diouf noted.According to FAO, in Africa alone 6.3 million hectares of degraded farmland have lost their fertility and water-holding capacity and need to be regenerated to meet the demand for food of a population set to more than double in the next 40 years. In 1982 FAO adopted a World Soil Charter spelling out the basic principles and guidelines for sustainable soil management and soil protection to be followed by governments and international organizations. Implementation lacking"However, there have been long delays in applying the Charter in many countries and regions of the world. New efforts to implement it must be made as soon as possible," Diouf said. Besides helping implement the provisions of the World Soil Charter, the Global Soil Partnership is intended to raise awareness and motivate action by decision-makers on the importance of soils for food security and climate change adaptation and mitigation.The partnership is also aimed at providing favourable policy environment and technical solutions for soil protection and management and at helping mobilize resources and expertise for joint activities and programmes. The Global Soil Partnership will complement the 15-year-old Global Water Partnership initiated by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank in 1996 to coordinate the development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital environmental systems.Greater resilienceShort-term interventions to provide food, water and basic needs such as seeds and fertilizer to kick-start agriculture is the usual response to food crises and extreme weather events such as in the Horn of Africa. However, longer-term and large-scale measures are needed in order to build greater resilience to degradation, drought and climate change and reduce human vulnerability to disasters.The Horn of Africa crisis, with the ongoing famine in Somalia, is the most severe food security emergency in the world today. Besides issues of insecurity and governance, the crisis is caused to a large extent by inadequate soil and water management policies and practices. The Rome meeting is expected to start work on an Action Plan on sustainable soil management that will develop synergies between partners and bring together work currently being done separately on soil survey, assessment and monitoring, soil productivity, soil carbon, soil biodiversity and ecology and soil and water conservation. Share this page AudioM. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (16'06")Related linksFAO Natural Resources and Environment DepartmentLand ResourcesSoil health and sustainable agricultureWorld Soil CharterPublicationsGlobal Soil PartnershipContactChristopher MatthewsMedia Relations (Rome)(+39) 06 570 [email protected] Contact us Terms and Conditions Scam Alert Report fraud Employment Procurement Governing Bodies Office of the Inspector General Evaluation Legal and Ethics Office Departamentos e escritórios da FAO Agriculture and Consumer Protection Economic and Social Development Fisheries and Aquaculture Forestry Technical Cooperation Regional Office for AfricaRegional Office for Asia and the PacificRegional Office for Europe and Central AsiaRegional Office for Latin America and the CaribbeanRegional Office for the Near East and North AfricaCountry Offices

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dansk Deutsch español Français italiano Nederlands norsk português suomeksi svenska Gertler Family Foundation and Fleurette Group Establish Groundbreaking Agricultural Projectin the DRC from Gertler Family Foundation KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gertler Family Foundation (GFF) and the Fleurette Group have launched a multi-million dollar, sustainable agricultural scheme; aimed at creating a new generation of farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and elevating the country from severe food deficit to oversupply and export within the next decade. The DRC, a low-income food deficit country as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization, is unable to provide its growing population with sufficient food, despite possessing nearly ideal natural farming conditions. The establishment of the Kitoko Food Farm, a 600 hectare land parcel on the banks of the N'Sele River, some 50 km outside of Kinshasa, marks the first phase in the joint GFF - Fleurette Group's long-term project to help address this problem. Lead by renowned agronomists Gil Arbel and Max Muland, the Kitoko Food Farm is the first in a number of high-tech, practical and sustainable fresh food and vegetable farms to be established as part of the project. More than 90 percent of the farm's workers live in surrounding villages or were already living on the farmland. Operating in a kibbutz-style system with more than 60 families living on the grounds, the farm will also include a primary school and health clinic. By the end of 2013 it is anticipated that some 400 Congolese, including permanent and daily workers, will work at the farm. The second phase of the program will see the construction of an agriculture academy training center to foster local and national farming potential and improve the knowledge base of local agronomists, while simultaneously providing local markets with fresh quality products. "It is of vital importance for the country's economic growth and the social empowerment of its farming communities that projects such as this, which focus heavily on education, are put in place to make sustainable agriculture in the DRC a reality," explained agronomist Max Muland. Kitoko Food Farm has partnered with local and international organizations and is aiming to join forces with additional organizations to multiply the number of farms based on this unique structure and knowhow. "We have been pioneers in the DRC," said Dan Gertler, Senior Advisor to the Fleurette Group. "Our work throughout the country is multifaceted, spanning numerous sectors, and long-term. Our agricultural activities, such as Kitoko, are a keystone in our drive to encourage entrepreneurship in the region. While some exploit the richness of the local soil for foreign markets, our first and immediate goal is to produce food for local consumption in a sustainable way." "We are pleased to work closely with the Government of the DRC to create innovative solutions that are commercially and environmentally sustainable, scalable and socially inclusive." Mr. Muland added. "As a Congolese, I know first hand that the DRC needs to grow its own fresh food and we are proud to be on the forefront of helping transform the country's agriculture sector into a sustainable industrial activity." A team of Congolese and expatriate farmers, assisted by experts from abroad, are working at the Kitoko Food Farm to improve trials of vegetable production and soil quality with organic fertilizers ahead of the first major sowing and planting campaign in October 2013. A similar programme of activity is also ongoing at the Kitoko Food Farm's sister project in Lubumbashi. The Fleurette Group and the Gertler Family Foundation are committed to helping address the needs of vulnerable segments of the Congolese population. For more information about the GFF, please visit http://www.gertlerfamilyfoundation.org SOURCE Gertler Family Foundation View Table Fullscreen Preview: La Gertler Family Foundation et le groupe Fleurette mettent en place un projet agricole inédit en République démocratique du Congo

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Cattle markets adjust to larger supplies: Outlook Jan 13, 2017 Crop protection industry needs to stay united to protect products Jan 12, 2017 OUTLOOK 2017: Ag economists explore the best options for producers Jan 12, 2017 Texas Ag Commissioner hopes to talk trade initiative with Israel Jan 10, 2017 Rice industry leader: Bill tied to WTO critical Paul T. Combs | May 18, 2006 As the United States continues to pursue multilateral trade negotiations through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round, it is imperative that the United States maintains a strong negotiating position for agriculture if it is to ensure a “successful” outcome for the U.S. agricultural sector. Such an outcome can only be defined by meaningful and measurable market access improvements for U.S. farm products, including rice, that will make up for any commitments to reduce trade-distorting domestic support for U.S. farmers. It would send absolutely the wrong signal at the wrong time in the midst of these negotiations for Congress and the administration to write a new farm bill that would likely reduce the level of support for production agriculture and change the structure of farm payments. American farmers and ranchers, particularly those in Missouri, are fortunate to have two senators who recognize this key aspect of the negotiations and the importance to this nation of a strong agricultural sector. They understand the integral role the current farm bill — the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 — plays in keeping the sector strong and competitive. Sens. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., have on May 2 introduced a bill that would extend the current farm bill until there is a WTO agreement that is ratified by Congress. Only after that ratification should Congress undertake the task of writing a new farm bill to guide future agricultural policy. A WTO agreement would allow us to know what commitments on market access, domestic support and export competition our global competitors have agreed to. Other cosponsors with Sens. Talent and Lincoln include Sens. Kit Bond, R-Mo., Norm Coleman R-Minn., Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., Mary Landrieu, D-La., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and David Vitter, R-La. Sen. Talent has recognized that U.S. producers like the current farm bill. It is well balanced, equitable, and provides assistance to all segments of U.S. agriculture. For this reason and the fact that the WTO negotiations continue to slowly drag on, Sens. Talent and Lincoln have taken this step to send a strong signal to our negotiating partners in the WTO that the United States will not unilaterally disarm when it comes to our agriculture sector. The WTO negotiators missed their deadline for an agreement in December in Hong Kong. They have just missed the April 30 deadline by which “modalities” — the formulas for making reductions in domestic support programs, tariffs and export subsidies — were to have been agreed to. There has been no report of any substantial progress in the negotiations, but a new negotiating deadline has been set for the end of July. It makes perfect sense in this scenario to extend the current farm bill until the WTO Doha Round of negotiations is successfully completed. It is the right policy at the right time for U.S. agriculture, and the U.S. rice industry sincerely thanks Sens. Talent and Lincoln for their leadership on this effort. Paul T. Combs is chairman of USA Rice Producers Group

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Producers turn up the hay production in 2016 Jan 19, 2017 Weekly Cattle Market Wrap-Up | Winter storms impact feeder, slaughter receipts Jan 19, 2017 Obama’s national monument designations total 550 million acres Jan 17, 2017 Who are the biggest seedstock suppliers in the U.S.? BEEF ranks the top 100 Jan 16, 2017 Livestock>Cow-Calf The Conspiracy Theorists Run Amuck Many people are asking just when profits and political activism became bad things. Simplistically, I would argue it happened the day it was someone else’s profits, or someone who held a view contrary to our own. Troy Marshall | Oct 15, 2010 Many people are asking just when profits and political activism became bad things. Simplistically, I would argue it happened the day it was someone else’s profits, or someone who held a view contrary to our own. Realistically, I have to believe it says something about the eroding of our society and a new kind of intolerance. It’s intolerance not based on race or religion as much as just based on one’s world view. Following the letter (see it at library.constantcontact.com) sent last week by 115 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to USDA calling for a thorough economic analysis of the proposed GIPSA rule, I started to receive emails implying that all one had to do was follow the money and that these politicians were essentially purchased by the omnipresent Satan. That Satan, of course, is corporate agriculture and multi-national packers. The emails followed up with a detailed listing of the amount of campaign contributions each of the signatories had received from agricultural interests. Not surprisingly, the leadership of the House Ag Committee received more than $1 million, while others received about 20% of that or less. Other emails I received also detailed donations made by political action committees (PAC) of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), noting that many of the beneficiaries signed the letter. The initial impact when one sees dollar amounts of this size is relatively effective. Of course, when one starts to look at the numbers, the only lesson becomes just how little money agriculture spends on supporting its candidates. Not surprisingly, the members from big ag districts tend to receive more dollars from agriculture than members from non-ag districts. Details like comparing contributions made by other industries and activist groups, which make agricultural contributions look insignificant, just clutters up the case for conspiracy theorists. How dare a representative vote on an industry issue according to the desires of his/her constituency! Then, of course, there’s the issue of PAC donations, the most common donation was $1,000. Do you realize how much influence $1,000 buys you with a congressman? It doesn’t hurt, but trust me, it takes far more dollars than that to buy votes; just ask the unions, environmental groups or the auto, insurance and energy industries. Either ag doesn’t have much pull, or we’re just able to get a whole lot more bang for our buck. These numbers also lump grain production and livestock production into the same category. Certainly, they have common interests in some areas, but donations from the grain side dwarf donations on the livestock side. And, in recent years, these two ag sectors are far more likely to be on totally opposite sides of the issues (ethanol subsidies is one that comes to mind). Truth is, the great conspiracy simply doesn’t exist, and the numbers presented to make the case actually invalidate the claim instead of supporting it. If either side is right in believing that GIPSA would cost or make the industry multi-millions, even billions of dollars, it begs the question why do we spend so little? Why wouldn’t NCBA and NPPC support candidates friendly to agriculture? And, why wouldn’t these elected officials lead the charge on agricultural issues? Personally, I think the numbers indicate just how little we spend as an industry to support candidates. In reality, it’s amazing that we have the minimal influence we do. After all, specific unions and environmental groups spend far more than our entire industry. Supporting candidates isn’t a bad thing any more than corporate profits are. One makes democracies work; the other keeps the economy growing. Personally, I’m far more comfortable with a candidate who received $1,000 from NCBA’s PAC than I am with one who received $10,000 from the Humane Society of the U.S., Consumer Union or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. These groups’ numbers truly show a conspiracy but one that validates the lack of influence by corporate ag, and ag in general. It certainly doesn’t show manipulation by the evils of corporate agriculture. Less concern about mythical conspiracies and more active involvement should be the lesson we take away from these numbers. Admittedly, the numbers kind of work if one ignores their context.

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USDA announces funding for 2 Farm Bill bioenergy programs By USDA | June 16, 2014 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced up to $14.5 million in funding for two USDA bioenergy programs made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA's Rural Development announced it is accepting applications from companies seeking to offset the costs associated with converting fossil fuel systems to renewable biomass fuel systems, while USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the availability of $2.5 million in grants to enhance national energy security through the development of bio-based transportation fuels, biopower, and new bio-based products. USDA today also announced a valuable aid to those in, or interested in, starting a bio-energy business, the Bioeconomy Tool Shed. The Tool Shed is a portal offering users access to a complement of web-based tools and information, statistical data and other resources related to the sustainable production and conversion of biomass into products and fuel, a process often referred to as the bioeconomy. "These USDA investments are part of the Obama Administration's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, and they benefit our economy as well as the environment," Vilsack said. "USDA's support for bio-based technologies is good for the climate, and enhances rural economic development while it decreases our dependence on foreign sources of oil." He concluded, "These and other USDA efforts will create new products out of homegrown agriculture from this and future generations of American farmers and foresters." USDA plans to make up to $12 million in payments for eligible biorefineries through RD's Repowering Assistance Program, which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Biorefineries in existence on or before June 18, 2008 are eligible for payments to replace fossil fuels used to produce heat or power with renewable biomass. Since President Obama took office, USDA has provided $6.9 million to help biorefineries transition from fossil fuels to renewable biomass systems. The deadline for applications is September 15. For details on how to apply, see page 34280 of the June 16 Federal Register. USDA is also seeking applications for NIFA's Sun Grants program that encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. Congress authorized the Sun Grant program in the 2008 Farm Bill and reauthorized the program in 2014. The program provides grants to five grant centers and one subcenter, which then will make competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstocks. The project period will not exceed five years. The newest addition to the USDA Energy Web, the Tool Shed can help those interested in bio-energy business ventures by providing access to the data and information necessary to evaluate potential opportunities across the entire supply chain: from feedstock production, to bioenergy production, bioenergy use, and linkages between feedstock production, bioenergy production and use. The tool is designed to assist in evaluating the feasibility and opportunities for locating a new biorefinery. It provides the stakeholder access to information on demographics, land use, biomass, feedstock, economics, and financial management. The announcements were made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill Related Articles Emerson awarded contract to help convert Lynemouth to biomass MIT engineers program yeast to convert plant sugars into oilsEPA defers action on petitions regarding biomass, WtEDenmark's Biomass RebootDOE jobs report features data on bioenergy, biofuels employment Avedøre Power Station converts to biomass Join Our Mailing List

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Publications AGree envisions a world in 2030 in which people everywhere have access to affordable food that is nutritious and safe and promotes their health and well-being. Food and farming systems meet the nutritional needs of a growing global population, conserve the natural resources that sustain us, and diversify the supply of renewable energy feed stocks. Both rural and urban communities are food secure and economically robust. Farmers, ranchers, and workers throughout the food and agriculture supply chain are able to sustain the health of their families, the land, and animals, and benefit from improved access to high-quality education, health care, and career opportunities. Learn more about AGree's Vision, Mission and Principles © 2011 AGree | Site Map | Privacy | Terms

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Sage (Salvia officinalis) is an herb which has been valued for centuries for its fresh scent, the peppery depth of flavor it adds to foods and for its special constituents which help to keep skin healthy and beautiful. Sage grows as a small perennial shrub, usually no more than 24 inches tall;the oblong leaves have a slightly rough texture and hair-like growths. It is a member of the mint family and is related to rosemary. The plant is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region, but spread to northern Europe during Medieval times. It is now, of course, a treasured garden herb grown throughout the world. Salvia officinalis, usually called common sage or kitchen sage, should not be confused with Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, which has a similar scent), sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate, native to the plains region of North America) or Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa).Sage has been used as both an herb for food flavoring and as a source of healing ingredients for more than 2,000 years. The earliest records of its use show that the Egyptians prepared a tea-like beverage from its dried leaves to increase fertility. The Romans apparently introduced the plant into Europe, where it quickly found favor as both as a culinary ingredient and as a medicinal plant. The scientific name for the genus, Salvia, is taken from the Latin word meaning "healthy" and is the root of the modern English word "salve," reflecting the curative value associated with the plant. Throughout the Medieval period in Europe, sage was credited with the power to heal almost every ailment. It was even an ingredient, along with thyme, rosemary and lavender, in "vinegar of the four thieves," a concoction believed to provide protection against infection by bubonic plague. It was considered such a valuable herb that it was perhaps the only spice" that was traded to the Far East;during the 16th century

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Farmers prepare for freeze in northeast Florida Colder temperatures can affect outcome of crops Kent Justice - Reporter/11 p.m. anchor HASTINGS, Fla. - Weather plays a role in the local economy and in the success of people like farmers.While Hastings could be the oldest agricultural area in America, this weekend's cold temperatures threaten the bottom line for anyone connected to plantings and harvesting in northeast Florida."This is a good example of how weather plays a critical role in what we're doing," said Danny Johns, owner of Blue Sky Farms.As a John Deere rolls across the acres of Blue Sky Farms, it's just one of the ways growers will try to protect their crops during the upcoming cold, and possibly freezing, weekend."Right there, he's putting the dirt on. It's not just covering and protecting, you have to get the dirt off afterwards," said Johns.Johns said he has a lot of experience. He's a fourth generation potato farmer in the Hastings area of St. Johns County.Johns says when it freezes, no matter how well you prepare, you're going to lose something. He measures it at 15 to 20 percent of a farmer's yield."You can't sell out of an empty crop. We've gotta have a crop to sell," said Johns. "That's where failure is not an option. We've gotta keep trying, do the best we can. American agriculture, never bet against a farmer, because he will make it work somehow."Blue Sky Farms pull out row covers and snuggles the older plants in underneath them. It's costly, but Johns think it's worth it.As Johns points out, a potato farmer has all his hopes in what these plants produce.So that's our one shot at a paycheck a year for potato growers. Any freeze puts it at risk, late rains, seed bad, it all affects the year's paycheck," said Johns. "So if anything goes wrong with this crop, it's another 365 days we have to invest in the ground before you have a chance of getting that back out again."

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Cattle markets adjust to larger supplies: Outlook Jan 13, 2017 Crop protection industry needs to stay united to protect products Jan 12, 2017 OUTLOOK 2017: Ag economists explore the best options for producers Jan 12, 2017 Texas Ag Commissioner hopes to talk trade initiative with Israel Jan 10, 2017 D&PL officials say: Resructuring shouldn't worry farmers Charles Johnson Farm Press Editorial Staff | Sep 20, 2001 Delta and Pine Land Company's recent announcement of a delinting plant closure and staff cutbacks sends a signal that the big cottonseed company plans to run lean and tough as it fights for market share. The Scott, Miss.-based company is closing its Chandler, Ariz,. delinting plant and laying off 50 workers, including Steve Hawkins, its president and chief operating officer. Murray Robinson, the company's vice chairman and chief executive officer, will now also be its president. These changes come as a move to improve profitability and do not reflect current low cotton markets or the depressed farm economy in general, says Randy Dismuke, D&PL senior vice president responsible for all U.S. operations. “This will not impact what farmers see from the company. We will still deliver the quality product they demand in the short and long term. And in the long term it will allow us to be better positioned to move into new technologies as they become available,” Dismuke says. “It should reduce expenses and increase efficiencies,” Robinson says. Closing the Chandler plant, which employed 27 people, should not affect cottonseed supply, he says. The company still owns four delinting plants and has two others on an exclusive contract. In addition, D&PL contracts with two California delinting plants on an as-needed basis. “There will be no problem getting cottonseed ready. We did not run the Chandler plant at full capacity last year,” Dismuke says. Seed production is tending to shift eastward due to Bollgard technology, he says. “It's allowing the Arizona farmers to carry the crop longer to maximize yield, exposing the bottom part of the plant to weather longer, so that seed quality deteriorates and we're not able to use it,” Dismuke says. “They lose that bottom crop while they're making the top crop. We do still have several farmers in western Arizona and the Central Valley who are producing for us, though, on the same sort of timetable they used to.” “At the same time, Bollgard and Roundup Ready technology makes seed production more feasible in the Mid-South. “A lot of seed production has come back east because of this. They're now able to harvest earlier and miss some of the fall rains that tend to hurt seed quality in the South,” Dismuke says. With more than 70 percent share of the U.S. cottonseed market from its Deltapine and Paymaster varieties, D&PL considers itself the “gatekeeper” of cotton technology. “We are leveraging our position due to the strength of our germplasm, our market share and our know-how. We are the gatekeeper for anyone who wants to bring technology to the cotton market, and we will partner with them in any way that's beneficial,” Robinson says. D&PL already has an 85 percent share of U.S. sales of genetically altered cottonseed. “We have the relationships with farmers to get new technology into the marketplace. And we have the means to get new technology into the germplasm,” Dismuke says. The company's overseas markets are booming, as well. Doing business in 16 foreign nations accounts for 10 percent of D&PL's income, at a 35 percent annual growth rate. “It's a very, very high potential growth area for us,” Robinson says. Though biotech seeds fuel some of that growth, most noticeably in China, D&PL only sells non-transgenic varieties in some foreign markets. Some nations have not yet approved the use of genetically modified varieties, and Monsanto, the owner of that technology, handles regulatory issues for it. “Monsanto has the first right to say which market it goes into. For probably very good reasons of their own they'll say they prefer not to put Roundup Ready into a certain market. We cooperate with them on that,” Robinson says. “We have an idea but don't know which countries Monsanto intends to launch Roundup Ready and Bollgard in. It has to be approved by the countries. In some markets Roundup Ready will be important. In some it'll be stacked with Bollgard. In some Bollgard will be the important trait,” says John Stewart, D&PL vice president of international operations. During the past three years, D&PL increased sales an average of 20 percent annually, with a 142 percent average annual rise in profits. At the same time, its stock price tumbled from a high of $54 to its current level of about $20. That does concern company management. “Any business has to be interested in its value to shareholders,” Dismuke says. “It has to have that as a concern. But first and foremost it has to keep its customers' needs in mind. We have to be sure that in our on-going business long term we can deliver a product that meets customers' needs. Enhancement to shareholder value should track along behind it.” In related news, the lawsuit filed in 1999 resulting from Monsanto's thwarted takeover bid for D&PL is no closer to being resolved. When Monsanto backed out due to Justice Department anti-trust concerns, D&PL demanded Monsanto pay a breakup fee of $81 million, as required by the merger agreement. The federal judge hearing the case recently retired and assumed status as a senior judge. The new judge assigned to the case, complaining of a too-large workload, has asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to appoint the now-retired senior judge to resume work on it. A decision on that aspect of the case is expected in October. “None of this is going to have any impact on farmers” Dismuke says. “They're still going to get the product they want on a timely basis. We're in a strong position financially. “That's the reason we can look at restructuring. This will not damage our customer relationships.” [email protected]

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Can Wal-Mart Really Make Organic Food Cheap For Everyone? By Daniel Charles Apr 19, 2014 TweetShareGoogle+Email Wal-Mart is promising to drive down the prices of organic food by bringing in a new company, WildOats, to deliver a whole range of additional products. Wal-Mart/Flickr Originally published on April 19, 2014 10:40 am It could be another milestone in organic food's evolution from crunchy to commercial: Wal-Mart, the king of mass retailing, is promising to "drive down organic food prices" with a new line of organic food products. The new products will be at least 25 percent cheaper than organic food that's on Wal-Mart's shelves right now. Yet we've heard this before. Back in 2006, Wal-Mart made a similar announcement, asking some of its big suppliers to deliver organic versions of popular food items like mac-and-cheese. A Wal-Mart executive said at the time that it hoped these organic products would cost only 10 percent more than the conventional alternative. Wal-Mart has, in fact, become a big player in organic food, with some remarkable cost-cutting successes. At the new Wal-Mart just a few blocks from NPR's headquarters, I found some organic grape tomatoes on sale for exactly the same price as conventional ones. Organic "spring mix" salad was just 9 percent more expensive than the conventional package. Outside the fresh produce section, though, organic products were hard to find, and those I did spy were significantly more expensive. Organic diced tomatoes were 44 percent higher. The premium for a half-gallon of organic milk was a whopping 85 percent. Now Wal-Mart is bringing in a new company, WildOats, to deliver a whole range of additional organic products, from pasta sauce to cookies, and do it more cheaply. I asked the CEO of WildOats, Tom Casey, how he plans to do it. His answer, in a nutshell: Bigger can be better. The production and distribution of organic food is still highly fragmented, Casey says. Wal-Mart can change that, delivering organic products in through its "world-class distribution system" and giving manufacturers of, say, pasta sauce a chance to operate on a larger, more efficient scale. Charles Benbrook, a long-time proponent of organic agriculture who's now with the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University, thinks that this plan is realistic. Most organic producers have to use other companies' processing facilities, which also handle conventional food, Benbrook wrote in an e-mail. "This requires them to shut down, clean out the lines, segregate both incoming and outgoing product, and this all costs money," writes Benbrook. According to Benbrook, larger production — to supply larger customers — will allow organic food processors to run "100 percent organic all the time" and will cut costs by 20 to 30 percent. This has already happened with packaged salad greens, which is why consumers don't pay very much extra for those organic products. Benbrook does have one warning: Large scale can't be achieved overnight. It takes at least three years for farmers to get their land certified as organic, for instance. "There will be hell to pay if Wal-Mart turns mostly to imports, and they know it." If Wal-Mart sticks with this effort and creates an organic supply chain that's as efficient as the conventional one, the company could help answer an unresolved question about organic food: How much of the organic price tag is because of small-scale production, and how much is inherent in the rules that govern organic production, such as the prohibition on synthetic pesticides, and industrial fertilizer? Benbrook thinks Wal-Mart's experiment will show that organic farmers, if given an honest chance to compete, will out-produce their conventional neighbors, and that organic prices will come down. Others disagree. Todd J. Kluger, vice president of marketing for Lundberg Family Farms, told Rodale News in an interview that Wal-Mart's goal of producing food 25 percent more cheaply is "fantasy. There isn't much you can do to cut the cost of organic ingredients," Kluger said. In the same interview, Mark Kastel, an organic activist who co-founded the Cornucopia Institute, suggested that Wal-Mart's cost-cutting drive could undermine the ethical values of organic farming. "One of the reasons people are willing to pay more is that they think they're supporting a different ethic, a different animal husbandry model, and that family farmers are being fairly compensated," Kastel says. According to Kastel, organic buyers will shy away from the kind of large-scale supply chain that Wal-Mart and WildOats envision. "We want to know where our food comes from, how it's produced, and what the story behind the label is," he told Rodale News. Tom Casey, CEO of WildOats, says that the company has not yet decided whether it will disclose where it is buying its food. (That's pretty typical for supermarket brands.) "We want to be respectful of our suppliers," he told The Salt.Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript WADE GOODWYN, HOST: It's WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Wade Goodwyn. Organic food has taken another step away from its crunchy alternative routes. Walmart, the king of mass-market retail, says it will sell even more organic food, and it promises to bring down the price tag as well. Now the question is will organic producers be able to keep up with demand? Joining me talk about this is NPR's food and agricultural correspondent Dan Charles. Dan, welcome to the show. DAN CHARLES, BYLINE: Nice to be here. GOODWYN: Dan, Walmart says it's going to sell organic food more cheaply. How's it going to do this? CHARLES: Well, you know, Walmart already sells organic food. But this - they're trying to make a statement saying we're going to set up our own house brand. It's delivered by a separate company actually called Wild Oats. And they're saying we're going to organize this, and we're going to deliver organic food more cheaply. And it's a good question. How are they going to do this? I mean, I actually talked to the CEO of Wild Oats. And he said it's all about logistics. He said Walmart is the king of distribution, right. And so if we organize the production and the processing and distribution of organic foods on a large scale, there's efficiencies to be had. This is actually kind of an experiment, a test. You know, how much of the extra costs that you pay when you buy organic food - how much of that is just the fragmented nature of the business? How much of it is the small-scale aspect? And how much of it is inherent in organic production? GOODWYN: Well, there's no question that Walmart is kind of the king of logistics. But if you talk to some of their suppliers, they'll also complain that Walmart is the king of squeezing them and making them produce the product ever more cheaply at their own expense. CHARLES: Right. So you could say this is a threat to some organic producers who are used to higher margins. On the other hand, I mean, the organic production is expanding, and if Walmart wants large quantities, they may have to outbid other producers. There is a limit right now on the amount of organic food for sale. They say they want to expand that, and there's no reason why they couldn't. There's lots of land out there. Right now, organic is actually a very small part of American food production, people say 5 percent or less. So there's no reason why Walmart couldn't expand organic production if they offered a good price. The question is can they do it cheaply? GOODWYN: Part of this has to do with trust. Are people going to stop going to Whole Foods and go over to Walmart 'cause they can get the eggs $2 cheaper? I'm a little skeptical. CHARLES: OK, so this gets to this question of what is organic really because organic has an actual legal definition. You know, it's set out by the National Organic Standards, laid down by the USDA. And it has to do with how organic food is produced - no pesticides, no industrial fertilizer, certain other rules like... GOODWYN: Chickens can walk around. CHARLES: Chickens can walk around, etc. And you can do that on a large scale, and you can do it for Walmart. But organic, also, for the consumer sometimes, is cultural image. People think small-scale, local, nonindustrial, non-Walmart, right? GOODWYN: Correct. CHARLES: So, you know, so you can see the organic label kind of splitting. You can get organic eggs for $3 a dozen. You can get organic eggs for $6 a dozen. And the companies that sell them for $6 a dozen say we are the true organic. We go beyond the strict requirements of these rules. Our milk comes from small, family farms. Our chickens have lots of pasture, not just, you know, a door in the side of the chicken house. And we'll tell you where we get our products. You know, we're more true to organic roots. And maybe they will get a certain segment of the market, and the $3 eggs will get another segment. GOODWYN: NPR's food and agricultural correspondent Dan Charles. Dan, thanks. CHARLES: Enjoyed it, Wade. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2017 WKU Public Radio

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Advertisement World's Richest Men Aid 'Green Revolution' Center Fri, 02/15/2013 - 1:50pm Comments by Mark Stevenson, Associated Press TEXCOCO, Mexico (AP) -- The research center largely responsible for launching the "green revolution" of the 1960s that dramatically raised crop yields is getting support from the world's richest men to develop genetically-modified seeds to help farmers in the developing world grow more grain in the face of a changing climatic conditions and increased demand.Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim donated a total of $25 million to build a new cluster of biotechnology labs at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico.The facilities include hothouses "with high-efficiency air particle filters and a water treatment plant to prevent pollen and genetically modified material from escaping to the outdoors," according to a statement by the billionaires' foundations.Both of the philanthropists were on hand for Wednesday's inauguration of the new labs at the research center, known as CIMMYT, located just east of Mexico City.It was yet another coming of age moment for GM crops, because the nonprofit CIMMYT has become known over the last 50 years for providing low-cost, improved seeds through hybridization efforts, using its vast stockpiles of native corn and wheat genes from across the world to cross-breed the best attributes, like drought-resistance.But increasingly, genetic splicing is joining the older technique of cross-pollination as "one of the tools in the toolbox," said CIMMYT Director Thomas Lumpkin.While Lumpkin claimed that even hybridization represents a sort of genetic modification by selective planting and breeding, he noted that CIMMYT hasn't shipped any true GM seeds yet, and acknowledged that some countries might have concerns."We want to facilitate the movement of those (genetic) traits to the countries of the developing world that request them, that want them," Lumpkin said. "Nothing is being pushed, nothing is being forced, and CIMMYT will not profit."Gates noted there are "legitimate issues, but solvable issues" around wider GM crop use, and that solutions could include distributing GM crops that are patented but require no royalty payments.That alone would be a big change in the spread of GM crops, which up to now have been largely controlled by a few big biotechnology and agricultural companies that charge steep rates for GM seed and sue any farmer who uses, even accidentally, their patented GM traits, like pest resistance.CIMMYT, with its ties to farm agencies throughout the world, could be a conduit to deliver GM benefits to the developing world, which has largely been locked out of them.GM traits could be developed by the center and donated, or they could be bought cheaply. That's where Gates and his foundation could come in. With his help CIMMYT, which is known for charging farmers as little as possible, could pick up some of the older traits for low prices."Some of these traits are getting near the end of their patent life or are available from multiple entities, so that there's even some competition there," Gates noted.Lumpkin said farmers may be scared by the legal risks of GM crops, noting "you can have a law suit of a million dollars" for unauthorized use of patented crops."So CIMMYT is primarily focusing on getting tried and true GMO traits that are widely used around the world and bring them to the poor farmers of the developing world, so that the women of the developing world don't have to spend the entire cropping system pulling weeds in the field ... when there is such a simple modification used by all of the farmers in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, South Africa.""Why can't these poor farmers have these same traits that have been used for 15 years in the developed world?" he asked.Still national sensitivities in Mexico, where the CIMMYT was founded in 1963, are still strong. Mexico is the birthplace of corn, and concern that GM crops might displace or contaminate genetically-valuable native strains have so far held up large-scale planting of GM corn in Mexico, even as the country has been forced to import about half of its basic grain consumption."Under the guise of philanthropy, what they are doing is promoting the use of transgenetic crops, with rhetoric about ending hunger in the world," said Aleira Lara, of Greenpeace Mexico. "Those things are myths.""These (GM) seeds are not any kind of magic wand for increasing production, and they bring new problems to the countryside," like developing resistance among pests and weeds, Lara said.Lumpkin noted that CIMMYT is already doing some GM corn research in Africa, but not in Mexico."We are doing some research here with wheat, which is not such a sensitive issue in Mexico," he said.Lumpkin warned that the world could face a recurrence of the kind of crisis that CIMMYT was able to stave off 50 years ago, this time brought about by new plant diseases, climate change, water shortages and increasing consumption of grain-intensive foods, like meat."On one hand, there is rapidly increasing demand ... on the other hand, conditions for producing this food are deteriorating rapidly," he said.Without new research avenues, he warned, "we have all of the ingredients for a new global food crisis." Economics Advertisement Advertisement View the discussion thread. 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Perennial Plants in the Garden - Herbaceous Perennials Perennials are one of the most versatile groups of plants that can be used in the garden. Other than the range of colours in many assorted types of flowers, many perennials can be grown just for their foliage effect. Most of the Perennials used in the garden are hardy perennials - even if they die down each year. They will be back the following year - more robust and with more flowers! That is why they are known as 'Herbaceous Perennials'. Perennials have the widest range of foliage effects, so suited to all types of garden situations. They are economic - lasting for many years - often for the price of a single bedding plant, such as a geranium - or even a petunia. You do not have to be put of with visions of huge perennial borders. Even the smallest of gardens can be home to a multitude of assorted perennial plants. There are perennials for Sunny Positions - Dark Corners; Dry Banks - Boggy ground; Foliage features - Floral Display; Spring - Summer; Autumn - Winter; Tall Specimens - Low Ground Cover; Cut Flowers - Dried Flowers; Garden borders - Patio Containers. The lists simply go on and on. Such is the Versatility of Hardy Herbaceous Perennials. What is a Perennial? Information about what actually constitutes a perennial plant. Perennials A-Z - Full List of Perennials on this site Perennial vs Annual Plants - the arguments rage - we present the facts! VWXYZ Planting Perennials - Easy to do, but with basic information for those just starting out - and also for others maybe! Propagating Perennials - Once you are hooked on Perennials, there will be the urge to grow more. This is one way of doing it. Dividing Perennials - Is it necessary? If so, why, when and how? Evergreen Perennials - as distinct to 'herbaceous' perennials. Here's a list to get you started. What is a Herbaceous Plant? - Explanation of the meaning of herbaceous in relation to perennials. What is a Herbaceous Border? Herbaceous borders are not always understood. They are NOT herbs - though they can contain herbs. Confused - read here.. Making a Herbaceous Border - Now you have most of the information about the plants, it is time to set about making your very own herbaceous border. It need not be big! Weeds in Perennial Borders Weeds can be a problem - if you allow them to be so! Whilst there is nothing quite like the majestic swathe of colours and form to be seen in many of the large herbaceous perennial borders of large gardens and stately homes, there is absolutely no reason why perennials should not form the basis of successful and colourful gardening. Mix perennials with shrubs, add a few bedding plants and bulb and you have the gardening utopia - so often sought , but rarely realised - colour and interest for twelve months of the year! All manner of of plants are used these days in 'mixed borders' - including shrubs, bulbous plants, herbaceous perennials, and even some of the tender exotic plants. The shrubs, bulbous plants and the perennials will give interest and satisfaction for years. Historically, gardens were almost always 'perennial' with no access to the wide range of bedding plants now available. Perennials include bulbs and shrubs, but there are dedicated areas of the website to deal with those plants. Euphorbia Main Page Versatility of Herbaceous Perennials. The versatility of herbaceous perennials is soon appreciated when trying to draw up a list of plants for given situations. Problem situations even! We hope to have one of the largest and most informative databases of perennial plants for the uk, and have started working to that end. The writer has first hand working knowledge of many perennials, together with which he has spent many hours (years?) of his life photographing them. His photos have been and still are being used in newspapers, magazines, books and scientific tracts. Perennial Rockery Plants - Alpines. The rockery starts to become a rock garden with the planting of rock plants - almost all of which will be hardy perennials. These will range from the ubiquitous Aubrietia and Golden Alyssum, to the more choice rock garden plants which are the true 'Alpines'. Perennial Herbs Many of the plants found in the traditional - or modern - herb garden are also perennials - some are evergreen perennials, such as the Thymes and Sages. Others happily partaking in the herbaceous habit of growth, and therefore dying down each winter - to re-appear the following year. Mint and Fennel fall into this category - as does Angelica.

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Engineered Poison Lurking in Your Everyday Food? Which Organic Label Should You Trust? Refined Foods are Bad, But These May Be Far Worse Next Article Eight Foods You Should Almost Never, Ever Eat Most soybean, corn, cotton and canola crops in the U.S. are genetically altered. Some experts argue that these crops could pose serious health and environmental risks, but the scientific picture is currently incomplete -- deliberately so. Agricultural corporations such as Monsanto and Syngenta have restricted independent research on the crops. They have refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or else have set restrictive conditions that severely limit research. This is legal because under U.S. law, genetically engineered crops are patentable. The Los Angeles Times reports: "Agricultural companies defend their stonewalling by saying that unrestricted research could make them vulnerable to lawsuits if an experiment somehow leads to harm, or that it could give competitors unfair insight into their products. But it's likely that the companies fear something else as well: An experiment could reveal that a genetically engineered product is hazardous or doesn't perform as promised." Even if you don't want to eat genetically engineered foods, you most likely already are doing so. Corn and soy are two of the most common food ingredients, especially in processed foods, and over 90 percent of both these crops in the US are now from GM seeds. Organic food companies and consumer groups are stepping up their efforts to get the government to exercise more oversight of engineered foods. Critics of current policy argue that the genetically modified (GM) seeds are often contaminating the nearby non-GM crops. ABC News reports: "The U.S. government has insisted there's not enough difference between the genetically modified seeds its agencies have approved and natural seeds to cause concern. But Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, more so than his predecessors in previous administrations, has acknowledged the debate over the issue and a growing chorus of consumers concerned about what they are eating." George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley, the nation's largest organic farming cooperative, which had more than $600 million in sales last year, put it succinctly in the above article from ABC news: "There is a growing awareness that our [food supply] system makes us all guinea pigs of sorts." I couldn't have said it better myself, because that statement boils down the one fundamental truth about the current (non-organic) US food supply. You and your family are being treated as guinea pigs with food ingredients that have never been tested for long-term safety. And according to the article above from the LA Times, there's a good reason these GM crops haven't been tested for safety. The companies producing the seeds won't let independent scientists test them, or if they do allow testing it is only for non-safety related studies! Biotech Hides Behind Patent Laws to Quench Independent Safety Studies Companies like Monsanto and Syngenta simply will not allow independent researchers access to their patented seeds, citing the legal protection these seeds have under patent laws. In other words, if their genetically altered seeds have something wrong with them that potentially could cause consumer illness, Monsanto and Syngenta would rather not have you find out about it. Why? You might sue them for putting your health in danger! Or a farmer using their seeds might sue them because their claims of increased crop yields is a myth. If fact, lawsuits like these have already begun appearing in court. Does this remind you of the public health debate that went on for decades over another multi-billion dollar industry -- cigarettes? For decades the companies producing this cancer-causing product denied they caused any harm, denied nicotine was addictive and even ran advertisements featuring doctors claiming cigarettes were good for your cough. They produced scientific study after study by their funded research scientists claiming there was no health threat whatsoever from cigarettes. Executives from every major cigarette company even lied to Congress under oath, claiming they had no knowledge cigarettes were addictive, when in fact they did know—they even manipulated the nicotine content of cigarettes to keep you hooked! Is it really necessary to go through the same experience again with GM crops that independent scientists are now linking to frightening and dangerous pathogens? Isn't it time to demand these crops be tested for long-term safety once and for all? If not now, when? After the population starts showing strange new health problems that no one can seemingly explain, like spontaneous abortions and infertility? Can Large Corporations Be Trusted to Put You First? One of the prime lessons that emerged from the recent home mortgage scandals, , or from our experience with the cigarette companies, just to name a few examples, is this: Major corporations operating with little or no regulation or real government oversight simply cannot be trusted to put anything above their quest for profits. Not your financial health, not your personal health, not even the law. A public corporation is a legal entity whose mandate is to produce profits for shareholders (with the exception of non-profits, which are not the same), while at the same time shielding the human beings who are running it from legal claims for the actions taken by the corporation, it's: "A body that is granted a charter recognizing it as a separate legal entity having its own rights, privileges, and liabilities distinct from those of its members." So Monsanto primary purpose is to protect its profits at the expense of everything else, and the human beings running them essentially can't be held accountable for wrongdoings in the quest for profits. In the case of Phillip Morris and other tobacco manufacturers this means employing medical professionals to produce grossly misleading PR, lying to Congress under oath, and in the case of Big Pharma, paying their researchers to produce studies that that support the idea that their product is safe. Would you really expect the corporate giants Monsanto or Syngenta to behave any differently? While I am not against corporations seeking a profit, I am quite adamantly opposed to corporations manipulating government regulators (who are nowadays simply former executives of the corporations themselves!), producing biased scientific studies that blatantly distort data and lying to the public to accomplish their goals. And until Monsanto and Syngenta submit their GM seeds to independent analysis by scientists not funded by these companies, I will remain skeptical about their safety claims. It is important to note that they are currently stonewalling ALL independent researchers from safety testing under the guise and legal excuse of "patent protection". GM Seed Producers are Already up to the Same Tricks as Big Pharma and Big Tobacco The evidence is already in against the GM seed producers, and it's quite clearly in line with what happens when the government doesn't independently evaluate, test or study a for-profit corporation's product that goes into your body and may produce some unintended consequences. According to the LA Times article above: "The dangers [of GM crops] ought to be clear. In 2001, the seed company Pioneer, owned by Dow Chemical, was developing a strain of genetically engineered corn that contained a toxin to help it resist corn rootworm, an insect pest. A group of university scientists, working at Pioneer's request, found that the corn also appeared to kill a species of beneficial ladybug, which indicated that other helpful insects might also be harmed. But, according to a report in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Dow said its own research showed no ladybug problems, and it prohibited the scientists from making the research public. Nor was it submitted to the EPA. In 2003, the EPA approved a version of the corn, known as Herculex." Also from the same article, more evidence that GM seed producers are trying to keep you from finding out some key claims they make about their products (increased yields in this case) are absolutely not true: "Research restrictions [on GM seeds] also hamper scientists' ability to assess how genetically engineered crops perform against other modified crops, traditional crops, approaches such as organic farming and the seed companies' promises. There's reason to be suspicious. Using USDA and peer-reviewed data, the Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed corn and soybean yields in the U.S. after the new seeds were introduced. We found only marginal increases due to genetically engineered traits -- not a result promoted by the industry." Christian Krupke, a Purdue University entomologist who was quoted in the above Los Angeles Times articles sums up this problem very clearly: "[The GM food] industry is completely driving the bus." GM Crops – More Widespread than you Think, and Linked to Potential Health Hazards With the vast majority of planted corn crops in the US (over 90 percent) and soy crops (over 95 percent) now being GM varieties, the American public has a right to ask producers of these foods whether they are safe for long-term consumption. And the answer these GM seed companies have consistently giving us? We don't know really know. And we aren't going to let you find out, because it might interfere with our bottom line. Just to be clear, we are talking about a food product that has been genetically altered by blasting DNA from one species into the DNA of a food crop, typically so the food crop will either resist dying from pesticide (allowing the crops to be drenched in pesticides!) or to create a new strain of food that produces its own pesticide, internally, while it grows. And guess what, this increased pesticide load on these GM food crops ends up on your dinner plate, and ends up in the feed given to feedlot animals. So your milk, eggs, chicken and beef are all likely tainted with a lifetime supply of foods either saturated in pesticides or genetically altered to internally produce pesticides. There is also evidence suggesting that this pesticide-producing corn, soybean and canola continues to produce pesticide once it's inside you (or a feedlot animal), colonizing your gut bacteria and genetically altering it to also produce pesticide within your own cells. In essence, you become a pesticide producing organism. And do I even need to tell you this pesticide is harmful to your health? This is both horrifying and perfectly legal, although it clearly violates the spirit if not that actual letter of the Delaney Clause of 1958, an amendment passed by the US Congress to protect a safe US food supply, which states: "The Secretary of the Food and Drug Administration shall not approve for use in food any chemical additive found to induce cancer in man, or, after tests, found to induce cancer in animals." Using the interpretation of "chemical additive" in the broadest sense to include living organisms whose DNA has been altered to produce pesticide (possibly inside your body) through man-made biological experimentation, then GM crops internally producing pesticides simply must fall under the purview of the Delaney Clause -- but to date GM crops have not been tested beyond a few days time and currently present absolutely zero long-term evidence that their altered DNA does not lead to cancer in either man or animals. When in fact pesticides have for years been linked to cancer, along with a host of other diseases from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's to miscarrages. Are GM Crops Contaminating Non-GM Crops? In the US, over 90 percent of all canola grown is genetically modified, compared to just over 20 percent in the rest of the world. According to Nature News, the research team discovered two varieties of transgenic canola in the wild, plus a third GM variety that is a cross of the two GM breeds. One of the transgenic varieties found was Monsanto's Roundup Ready canola, which is engineered to be resistant to glyphosate, and the other was Bayer Crop Science's Liberty Link canola, which is resistant to gluphosinate. The third variety contained transgenes from each of these, and is resistant to both types of herbicide. The truth is Monsanto and Syngenta have unleashed something into nature that will proliferate, cross-breed, and create new plants that we simply do not understand. This is particularly disturbing when it comes to food crops, such as canola, which is used in a vast number of processed food products consumed by millions of people. The fact that GM crops can infiltrate conventional crops is a concern for any food where GM experimentation is taking place. For example, in 2004, Hawaii reported widespread contamination of papaya crops by GM varieties. Even seed stocks sold as conventional were found to be contaminated, which threatened the existence of organic papaya. These types of transgene contaminations are completely unavoidable once you start growing them out in the open– including the cross-mixing of GM breeds. Science has recently revealed that the genome (whether plant, animal or human) is not constant and static, which is the scientific base for genetic engineering of plants and animals. This means that you may not necessarily get the results you think you're going to get when you insert or remove genetic material. Instead, geneticists have discovered that the genome is remarkably dynamic and changeable, and constantly 'conversing' and adapting to the environment. This interaction determines which genes are turned on, when, where, by what and how much, and for how long. They've also found that the genetic material itself has the ability to be changed according to experience, passing it on to subsequent generations. How Genetic Engineering Really Works Many people now have the flawed assumption that genetic engineering is a very precise, refined science. Not so, explains Jeffrey Smith in a previous article: "… in order to understand the risks associated with GMOs, I'm going to back up and talk about the process of creating a genetically modified organism because if we understand that, then a whole host of things that can go wrong all of a sudden become clear. … The biotech industry gives you this impression that it's a very clean process. We just take a gene from a species and carefully splice it into another, and the only thing that's different is it's producing some new beneficial protein to produces some trait. This is far from the truth. What they do is – let's say you want to create a corn plant that produces a pesticide. So you go to the soil bacterium called BT for "Bacillus thuringiensis" and you change it so it's more toxic, and you make millions of copies of the gene. You actually put a piece of a virus there which turns it on, it's called the promoter. It's the "on" switch that turns this gene on, 24/7, around the clock. You make millions of copies and you put it in a gun and you shoot that gun into a plate of millions of cells, hoping that some of the genes make it into the DNA of some of those cells. Then you clone those cells into plants. Now the process of insertion and cloning causes massive collateral damage in the DNA that could have higher levels, and do have higher levels, of allergens and toxins. … Anti-nutrients of soybeans that are genetically engineered have as much as seven times higher the amount of a known allergen cold trypsin inhibitor when compared to non-GM soy, in their cooked state. There is a new allergen in genetically modified corn. There is a new anti-nutrient in the [GM] soy which blocks the absorption of nutrients. They don't look for these things. These are found after they're on the market by some few of the independent researchers that are doing their work." Farmers have long used BT spray on crops, and because it's a natural bacterium, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the biotech companies claim it is safe for human consumption. However, this too is clearly misguided optimism. Jeffrey Smith continues: "Based on peer reviewed published studies, animals like mice that were fed BT had damaged tissues and immune responses as powerful as if they've been fed cholera toxin, and then they became multiple-chemically sensitive to where they started to react to formally harmless compounds." Can We Reverse the Trend in GM Crops? According to Jeffrey Smith, a leading opponent of GM crops who has written two books on the subject, from the ABC News article above: "We're seeing a level of reaction that is unprecedented," says Jeffrey Smith, an activist who has fought the expansion of genetically engineered foods since they were first introduced 15 years ago and written two books on the subject. "I personally think we are going to hit the tipping point of consumer rejection very soon." The silver lining in all of this is that we actually don't NEED policy changes to kick GM Foods out of the market! Like Jeffrey Smith suggests, the only requirement is getting enough people to consistently avoid buying anything containing GM ingredients, and the food manufacturers will do the rest. They WILL respond to market demands, because if they don't they go out of business. This means avoiding and boycotting every product with corn or soy as an ingredient that does not carry the USDA Organic label. It may sound like a daunting task for you as an individual shopper, but there are resource guides available. For a helpful, straightforward guide to shopping Non-GMO, please see the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, created by the Institute for Responsible Technology. You can also avoid GM foods that are not found in processed foods, if you know what to look for. There are currently eight genetically modified food crops on the market: Sugar from sugar beets Hawaiian papaya Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils) Some varieties of zucchini Canola (canola oil) This means you should avoid products with corn, soy, canola, and any of their derivatives listed as an ingredient, unless it's labeled USDA 100% Organic. 0 Los Angeles Time February 13, 2011 ABC News February 28, 2011 [+] Comments (230)

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Cattle markets adjust to larger supplies: Outlook Jan 13, 2017 Crop protection industry needs to stay united to protect products Jan 12, 2017 OUTLOOK 2017: Ag economists explore the best options for producers Jan 12, 2017 Texas Ag Commissioner hopes to talk trade initiative with Israel Jan 10, 2017 House ag committee expected to consider two farm bills Forrest Laws 1 | Jul 17, 2007 House Agriculture Committee members were expected to consider two versions of the 2007 farm bill when they held a mark-up session for the new law that is expected to guide farm policy for the next five years. Chairman Collin Peterson said the first version would be a bill that would deal with Congress’ Pay-Go requirements; that is, any increases in farm program spending in the new law will have to be offset with increased revenue or cuts in expenditures. The second would rely on the $20 billion reserve fund that was created by the House in its fiscal 2008 budget resolution for increased spending. The second bill would take effect only if Congress was able to use the reserve fund at a later date, according to the Minnesota Democrat. Peterson’s proposal, which was scheduled to be taken up during committee meetings on Capitol Hill July 17-19, has drawn the support of major farm organizations, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and the USA Rice Federation and U.S. Rice Producers Association — and sharp criticism from environmental groups. “This is where I’ve been all along,” Peterson said. “We need a bill that continues the strengths of the current programs because of the budget situation we find ourselves in.” Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said the Peterson proposal or chairman’s mark provides a strong safety net for producers while providing funding for critical conservation, rural development, nutrition and energy programs. “Farm Bureau, like Congress, must balance the interests of all sectors of American agriculture,” he said. “Farm Bureau is cognizant of that fact, and it thinks the chairman’s mark represents the largest measure of fairness to various interests represented in the bill.” The proposal, which the AFBF’s board of directors has voted to support, maintains baseline funding for both the commodity and conservation titles, reauthorizing each of the three safety net components (direct payments, counter-cyclical payments and loan payments) and increasing funding for conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. When Congress passed the 2002 law, the federal government was coming off record expenditures for farm programs because of low commodity prices and yield-reducing weather patterns. Since then, the increasing demand for ethanol and biodiesel have pushed corn and soybean prices sharply higher, reducing government outlays for counter-cyclical payments and loan deficiency payments for those crops and for wheat. Last year, USDA made $17 billion in such payments, a decrease of more than $10 billion from the 2000 fiscal year, and is projected to reduce annual outlays for commodity programs even further over the life of the new farm bill. The projected decline has created some problems for farm-state congressmen, reducing the baseline for farm program spending by $62 billion over the next 10 years, according to calculations by the Congressional Budget Office. Peterson and other lawmakers have said the baseline reductions mean Congress should continue the current programs, extending the commodity title of the farm bill for five years. Other government officials and Washington ag policy wonks have disagreed, calling for an overhaul of the farm bill. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has issued a number of suggestions for the new farm bill, including initiating a revenue-based counter-cyclical program that would compensate farmers when yields and prices fall and a new adjusted gross income limit or means test for farmers receiving farm program payments. The General Farm Commodities Subcommittee rejected those. Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., meanwhile, have introduced legislation that would do away with much of the current commodity title and replace it with savings accounts growers could use to cover losses when crop prices or yields are down. Although the House General Farm Commodities Subcommittee voted not to include the Kind-Flake legislation in the new farm bill, Kind is expected to introduce the proposal as an amendment when the House ag committee reports its farm bill on the House floor. The first Peterson bill does include a number of proposals aimed at making U.S. cotton and the U.S. textile industry more competitive in world markets. The National Cotton Council and other cotton interest groups helped draft the proposals. “When it comes to policies impacting cotton, protecting the safety net provisions contained in the current commodity title is of primary importance,” says Plains Cotton Growers Executive Vice President Steve Verett. Verett said the General Farm Commodities Subcommittee’s unanimous vote to extend the provisions of the 2002 farm bill was a strong signal to farm bill opponents in Congress and the Bush administration that U.S. agriculture strongly supports the provisions of current farm law. “The issues driving this debate are largely centered around the budget and there not being enough guaranteed money available to do all the things we would want to extend and improve on the current program,” concludes Verett. But organizations such as American Farmland Trust have issued statements highly critical of the Peterson approach, saying it would “extend the outdated, broken system of the past.” “The House ag committee proposal is moving policy in the wrong direction and making bad policy worse.” said Ralph Grossi, president of AFT and a third generation farmer. “We must create policies that provide producers with a safety net while also ensuring that farm and food policy keeps current with a changing world.” AFT and other groups contend large numbers of producers were left out of the safety net system in the 2002 farm bill and received little or no protection in times of need. “Farming is a risky business and the government should provide a safety net and tools to help producers manage risk — but extending the existing counter cyclical programs will not do that,” Grossi said. “The current system in which Congress sets support prices will encourage overproduction of certain crops, distort the marketplace and continue to leave many farmers unprotected when they face declines in yield.” Instead of following this “disastrous” path, the House should follow the lead of USDA, American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association and American Farmland Trust who have called for new safety net programs based on revenue protection, he said. e-mail: [email protected]

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Europe Faces Cereals Crop Crash http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/europe_faces_cereals_crop_crash_20140602/ By Tim Radford, Climate News Network This piece first appeared at Climate News Network. LONDON—Harvests of wheat and barley across Europe could be 20% lower by 2040 as average temperatures rise by 2°C. And by 2060, European farmers could be facing very serious losses. As the likelihood of weather extremes increases with temperature, the consequences of lower yields will be felt around the world. Europe produces, for example, 29% of the world’s wheat. Two consecutive studies in Nature Climate Change examine the challenges faced by the farmers—the first of the reports being by a team led by Miroslav Trnka, of the Czech Global Change Research Centre in Brno. They considered the impact of changing conditions in 14 very different wheat growing zones—from the Alpine north to the southern Mediterranean, from the great plains of Northern Europe to the baking uplands of the Iberian peninsula, and from the Baltic seascapes of Denmark to the fertile flood plains of the Danube. It is a given that farmers are at the mercy of the weather, and that crops are vulnerable to unseasonal conditions. But a rise in average temperatures of 2°C is likely to increase the frequency of unfavourable conditions. Incidence of drought The researchers, therefore, factored in such data as the numbers of days with very high temperatures, the incidence of drought, late spring frosts, severe winter frosts with too little snow, spells with too much rain, spells when the weather is too cool at the wrong time. Altogether, they totted up 11 sets of adverse conditions that could blight winter wheat in all 14 sample environments. They then used climate models to simulate the probability of things going wrong once, and also more than once, in any single growing season. And they found that, by 2060, the occurrence of adverse weather conditions would increase for all environments. “This is likely to result in more frequent crop failure across Europe,” they conclude. “The study provides essential information for developing adaptation strategies.” Adaptation strategies—according to Frances Moore and David Lobell, of Stanford University, California, in the second of the Nature Climate Change studies—are exactly what European cereal farmers should be thinking about. They analysed the yield and profit records from thousands of European farms between 1989 and 2009. They then matched the data with climate records to test performance under a suite of different weather histories, and ran simulations using 13 different climate models. “The results clearly showed that modest amounts of climate change can have a big impact on yields of several crops in Europe,” Moore said. “This is a little surprising because the region is fairly cool, so you might think it would benefit from moderate amounts of warming. Our next step was to measure the potential of European farmers to adapt to these impacts.” Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere should, in theory, be good for crops – fertility should increase – but a procession of recent scientific studies has painted a different picture. Plant protein levels With extra heat comes a greater likelihood of drought to slash maize yields. And even when the extra carbon dioxide increases growth, it may reduce the levels of all-important plant protein in the yield. In addition, extremes of heat at the wrong time in the growing season could devastate crops, while the change in average temperatures will open the way for invasions of new kinds of pest. The Stanford researchers argue that what matters most is how quickly farmers in Europe can adapt, and how crop yields will respond. “By adaptation, we mean a range of options based on existing technologies, such as switching varieties of a crop, installing irrigation, or growing a different crop,” Lobell said. “These things have been talked about for a long time, but the novelty of this study was using past data to quantify the actual potential of adaptation to reduce climate change impacts.” Cereal failures: Yields could be slashed from barley fields such as this one in Suffolk, England. Photo by Eileen Henderson via Wikimedia Commons.

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* A GARDENING LIFE: 1 Categories: Archive May 1, 2007 | mgodfrey Pin It Daniel J. Hinkley by THOMAS C. COOPER photograph by JERRY HARPUR When traveling in the mountains of Nepal, Dan Hinkley wakes up most mornings wondering what terrors the day holds. Hinkley hates heights, and he has plenty of stories about finding himself halfway along some precipice masquerading as a trail and deciding he cannot go forward or backward and may have to finish out his days perched there on the side of an anonymous mountain. Somehow, though, he talks himself through it, for the simple reason that he will do almost anything and go almost anywhere to see an interesting plant—and, if mere stay-at-home gardeners are lucky, to collect its seed and share the results with us. Hinkley has traveled far and wide in his search for plants, with a frequency that must warm the hearts of airline executives the world over. In the last five years, in addition to constantly traversing the United States, he has spent time in Chile, China (thrice), Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Sikkim, South Africa (twice), Taiwan, Tasmania, Turkey, Vietnam (twice), and Wales. E-mails from him are as apt to come from the comfort of a bullet train in Japan as from a hostel in Vietnam. What Hinkley has found and introduced—200 plants and counting—has earned him a reputation as one of the premier plant explorers of the modern era. It’s not the reputation, however, or the novelty that excites and motivates him; it’s “the simple pleasure of seeing a plant in the wild, in its native habitat, doing what it should.” His goal as a nurseryman is to get people to make gardens that respect and reflect their surroundings, “re-creating a feel of what plants look like in nature.rsquo; It’s this appreciation that underlies all his talks here and abroad (roughly 75 a year), his many magazine articles, his books (three so far, and two more in the offing), and his annual essays in the encyclopedic catalog of Heronswood Nursery. For as much as he is a plantsman, Hinkley is equally an educator, trying, as he puts it, “to defuse the mysteries of botany and Latin nomenclature.” Throughout the 240 unillustrated pages of this year’s catalog, he laces detailed plant descriptions with humorous asides, including unabashedly painful puns. Consider, for instance, the heading for a favorite genus, “Vy burn em ven you can just dig dem up and trow dem away,” or the description of Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, which figures prominently in a corner of the Heronswood garden: a “rambunctious, radioactive groundcover” with dimensions of “4 inches by 1.5 miles.” But do not mistake a light touch for indifference. He knows each plant better than most people know close relatives. And he is quick to discard plants that do not perform or that pose a risk to native habitats. The 51-year-old Hinkley has a quick, relaxed laugh. His speech is deliberate and gentle, his conversation, self-effacing. He grew up in a barren part of northern Michigan among nongardeners. But he started growing vegetables, “the only type of gardening Lutherans would allow—there had to be a purpose,” and just kept on going. He received a degree in ornamental horticulture and horticulture education from Michigan State University and then earned a master’s degree in urban horticulture from the University of Washington. “About the only hiatus in my passion for gardening was when I was studying horticulture,” he recalls. After a stint of formal teaching of horticulture, he and his partner, Robert Jones, moved to Kingston, Washington, in 1987 and began clearing and planting the world-famous Heronswood gardens, which now extend over seven acres and comprise roughly 10,000 plants. And they launched their nursery of the same name. Hinkley and Jones have recently moved into a new home, Wind-cliff, which sits on a bluff high above the Puget Sound (but not so close as to make Hinkley nervous). Unlike the wooded glades of Heronswood, the new property is an open, blank slate. Hinkley describes the move as “a 180 degree change. It’s a brand new palette of plants for me—full-blasting sun, and I’m planting all sorts of drought-tolerant plants: yuccas, agaves, aloes, a lot of grasses.” Many plants from earlier collecting trips will finally get a chance to play a role, and Hinkley will attempt to put into practice the lessons gleaned from a lifetime of observing nature. He will, he says, eschew contrivance and rely evermore on foliage. When he’s not gardening, he will likely be collecting. And is there a holy grail that attracts him? “No. It doesn’t matter if it’s a brand new plant. Oftentimes it’s most exciting to see a plant you’ve known before growing in a place it belongs.” And he adds, “I’m committed to being a generalist. There are too many great plants out there.” H The second in a two-part series Related Posts:No Related Posts Pin It

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Agriculture in Austria This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. (April 2009) This article needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2009) A farm in Austria The share of agriculture in Austria in the Austrian economy declined steadily after World War II, agriculture continues to represent an important element of the economy because of its social and political significance. The Chamber of Agriculture remains on an equal level with the chambers of commerce and labor, although its members produce only a fraction of the GDP that industrial and commercial workers produce.[1] Government role[edit] In Austria, as in most other Western countries, the government has played an important role in agriculture since the end of War World II. The government has concentrated on mitigating social, regional, economic, and even environmental consequences of the sector's decline, as well as delaying the decline itself.[1] Agricultural policy has been carried out with different objectives and with different laws and policies depending on the times. at the early postwar years, the most important objectives were survival and self-sufficiency. As a poor country, Austria needed to be able to feed itself if its population was to survive.[1] By the 1950s, however, the policy was changing to a more global perspective, while keeping intact the traditional form economy. The government wanted to protect domestic production, stabilize agricultural markets, protect farmers' incomes, and improve the sector's ability to compete in Austria and abroad. Increasingly, the government began to believe in the importance of maintaining rural society as an objective in its own right, for social reasons, and to protect the environment and encourage tourism. Because of these aims, agricultural policy, more than any other economic policy, reflects a mixture of economic and noneconomic objectives and concerns. The principal aim, however, is to preserve the existing number of farms as much as possible.[1] Within the structure of the social partnership, various organizations work to maintain farm incomes and thus farm existence, among them the Grain Board, the Dairy Board, and the Livestock and Meat Commission. These organizations set basic support prices, taking into account domestic costs and local supply and demand, with only weak linkages to world market prices.[1] The boards and commission use a variety of measures to achieve their broad purposes. Among these measures are import restrictions, such as border controls and entry controls—some of which may be bilaterally negotiated—and variable import duties. If import restrictions are not sufficient to maintain prices because of excess production, the surplus is exported at subsidized prices (with the subsidies usually coming from federal or provincial authorities). Authorities also apply production controls, such as sales quotas or limits, on the size and density of livestock holdings. Quotas exist for many different products, with the quotas usually fixed on the basis of past production. Price and quality controls and limits also exist, especially with respect to different prices for different grades of wheat or milk. The government can also pay direct income supplements, but these payments are generally restricted to certain mountain farming zones and other equally disadvantaged areas. Subsidies are mainly paid by the federal government but may in some instances be paid by provincial governments.[1] Because of the complex system of price supports and market access limitations, the exact share of subsidy costs to the government and to consumers is virtually impossible to calculate. Experts estimate that the total cost to the federal and other governments for agricultural and forestry support during the late 1980s was approximately S16 billion a year, a level that would have been roughly at the same level as that of many other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) governments but slightly higher than the EC average.[1] The economic research institute Österreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (WIFO) estimated after a major 1989 study that about 71 percent of the cost of agricultural support was borne by consumers in the form of higher prices, with the taxpayers carrying the remaining 29 percent through such different programs as direct and indirect federal and provincial subsidies or various kinds of market regulation.[1] Austria's decision to enter the EU will have certain effects on its agriculture and forestry. Support prices in Austria are higher than those set under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), although the two systems are in many ways similar. Austrian government-borne subsidy costs are at about the same level as those in the EU, but consumer-borne subsidy costs are higher, so food prices in Austria average about 30 percent higher than those in the EU. Full integration into the EU will thus compel a number of adjustments in Austria. These adjustments may be even more severe if they become effective at the same time that some East European countries with lower production costs enter the EU. Much depends, of course, on any reforms that may take place in the CAP.[1] Structure of Agriculture[edit] Despite the government's efforts to sustain agriculture, not one province had as much as 10 percent of the population involved in agriculture and forestry by 1991. At the beginning of the 1970s, all but two provinces (Vienna and Vorarlberg) had more than 10 percent of their populations involved in farming. This contrasted markedly to the situation in 1934, when all but those same two provinces had more than 30 percent of their populations working in agriculture. Over this period of two generations, the decline in the Austrian farm population was as fast as any in the Western world.[2] Of Austria's total area of almost 84,000 square kilometers, about 67,000 square kilometers are used for farming and forestry. Roughly half of that area is forest, and the remainder is arable land and pasture.[2] Agriculture and forestry accounted for about 280,000 enterprises in 1986, with the average holding being about twentythree hectares. There were about 4,500 corporate farms. Beyond those farms, however, only a third of all farmers were full-time farmers or farming companies. Over half the farming enterprises were smaller than ten hectares; nearly 40 percent were smaller than five hectares. Just as the number of farmers has long been in decline, so also has been the number of farms.[2] Family labor predominates, especially in mountainous areas and on smaller farms. Only a third of all farm and forestry enterprises were classified as full-time occupations in 1986. A full half of these enterprises are spare-time, that is, less than half of household labor is devoted to farming or forestry. The remainder are part-time. Farms up to ten hectares are more often tended by part-time and spare-time farmers rather than by full-time farmers. For most farm owners and workers, nonfarm income is as important, if not more important, than farm income.[2] Despite the decline in the number of farmers and agriculture's share of GDP since 1960, agricultural output has risen. As of the early 1990s, Austria was self-sufficient in all cereals and milk products as well as in red meat. This gain was achieved because of the considerable gains in agricultural labor productivity.[2] The value of agricultural and forestry output is heavily concentrated in field crops, meat, and dairy products, with most of it coming from animal husbandry. Because large parts of Austria are mountainous, only the lowland areas of eastern Austria and some smaller flat portions of western and northern Austria are suitable for crop production and more intensive forms of animal husbandry. The remainder of the land is used for forestry and less intensive animal husbandry, most of which takes advantage of mountain pasturage. [2] Agriculture in Europe ^ a b c d e f g h i Austria - The Agricultural Sector, Library of Congress, retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 ^ a b c d e f Austria - The Structure of Agriculture, Library of Congress, retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/. Austria articles Margraviate of Austria Duchy of Austria Archduchy of Austria Habsburg Monarchy Congress of Vienna German Austria First Austrian Republic Austrian Civil War Federal State of Austria Austrofascism Ostmark Allied-administered Austria Austrian people Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agriculture_in_Austria&oldid=725655192" Categories: Agriculture in AustriaHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from April 2009All articles needing additional referencesWikipedia articles in need of updating from April 2009All Wikipedia articles in need of updatingWikipedia articles incorporating text from the Library of Congress Country Studies Navigation menu БеларускаяΕλληνικάСрпски / srpskiSuomiУкраїнська Edit links This page was last modified on 17 June 2016, at 01:47.

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175 Acres In Detroit Could Be Used To Grow Timber Filed Under: agriculture, dave bing, Detroit Works Project, farming, farms, trees A vacant home in Detroit. (WWJ Photo/Mike Campbell, File) DETROIT (WWJ/AP) – A company that wants to put vacant Detroit land to agricultural use may be allowed to buy about 175 acres on which to grow and harvest timber under a plan expected to be considered soon, a city official said. The city is close to an agreement to sell the mostly vacant residential lots on the city’s east side to Hantz Farms for about $600,000, Karla Henderson, Mayor Dave Bing’s group executive for planning and facilities said. Bing hopes to present a plan to City Council for consideration this summer, Henderson said. “Part of it is looking at different uses of our vast vacant land mass with the end goal being stabilizing our neighborhoods,” she said. If the plan is approved, Hantz Farms would clean up blighted lots, remove trash and cut grass before planting trees, but the city wants to make sure residents have a chance to buy vacant property just like a company. “Basically it comes down to an equity issue, making sure this opportunity is available to all,” Henderson said. “We could put some language in the agreement where, depending on how this ends up, we could give the first option to the residents.” The land, located near Van Dyke, Mack, Saint Jean and Madison Ave., totals about a quarter square mile in size. Some neighborhood activists and nonprofit leaders have opposed Hantz Farms’ plans, saying they amount to a land grab. John Hantz, a Detroit resident who runs a network of financial services businesses, announced plans to create the world’s largest urban farm in Detroit three years ago. He has promised to invest $30 million in the project, which is aimed at creating jobs, providing fresh food to residents and making the city a leader in urban farming. Hantz Farms President Mike Score said tree planting is allowed under the city’s zoning code. But any longer-term hopes of selling fruits and vegetables, for example, would require changes in the city’s zoning rules. Hantz Farms earlier acquired 3 acres of land and planted it with trees near its Detroit headquarters. “As the city becomes more comfortable with agriculture, three to five years down the road, the city may want to work with us to develop an orchard, Christmas tree farm,” Score said. Start-up costs are estimated at $5 million, Score said. The plans have progressed slower than expected as the city draws up agriculture zoning regulations and Bing works on broader land use plans under the Detroit Works Project, which aims to strengthen the most viable neighborhoods.

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Greenville Bean Growers Association Today's photo shows the Greenville Bean Growers Association warehouse at S. Greenville St. and W. Alton Ave. in Santa Ana in 1973. For last week's Orange County Historical Society "Show & Tell" meeting, I brought a bunch of railroad spikes from this spur and shared some information about the site's history....In 1909, the Pacific Electric Railway opened a new line between Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. The "Big Red Cars" also shared the tracks with freight..The Greenville Bean Growers Association was established in 1918, and their "fireproof warehouse" (so far, so good) was built that same year. The Association's founding and long-time member families included the Borchards, the Plavans, the Tedfords and the Wakehams. It was a virtual who's-who of Gospel Swamp pioneers. Board meetings were held in the warehouse..The Greenville (a.ka. Gospel Swamp, a.k.a. Old Newport) area was chiefly known for its limas and other beans. Sugar beets were also common..In 1922, the railroad tracks washed out along the Santa Ana River in a flood. From then on, the remaining track between Greenville and Santa Ana was used for freight only. .The warehouse was still a busy operation. In 1926, about 70,000 sacks of beans were expedited through that building to market. (I suspect that quantity of beans would be expedited through anyone.) .The Association used the warehouse into the 1980s. Later, it was purchased by longtime Association members, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons..My thanks to everyone who attended the OCHS Show & Tell. It was a great program and went in fascinating directions I never would have expected. I think we'll make Show & Tell one of our annual traditions..Thanks also to those who attended the "Amazing Neutras of Orange County" program today at the Old Courthouse. I was very pleased by the large turnout, and the good questions from the audience. If you'd told me 10 years ago that I'd be sitting on a panel with Dion Neutra, Alan Hess and Barbara Lamprecht, I would have said you were crazy. In the strange world I live in, these folks are sort of the equivalent of rock stars. We moved to Costa Mesa in 1963 and for a few years after that going between CM and Santa Ana via Fairview took one through Greenville. There was open space between the two cities then. The tracks were still in place at the time. Now it is just a seamless expanse of urbanity. Very interesting. Sorry I missed the Show and Tell. bummer.... Great story. Thank you for the spurs! Disneyland: Steps In Time Apricots in Orange County Presidents at Disneyland A bit of California art history Knott's Berry Farm exhibit Anaheim's Chinatown Orange County Modernism revisited Come to O.C. History "Show & Tell" Night Reagan centennial, Tustin book, and vintage paper From Herman-Miller's 1769 catalog?

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Producers turn up the hay production in 2016 Jan 19, 2017 Weekly Cattle Market Wrap-Up | Winter storms impact feeder, slaughter receipts Jan 19, 2017 Obama’s national monument designations total 550 million acres Jan 17, 2017 Who are the biggest seedstock suppliers in the U.S.? BEEF ranks the top 100 Jan 16, 2017 Co-Product Dependent Minnesota cattle feeders Roger Gilland and Glen Graff live in the heart of ethanol country. Every other day, a truck from Minnesota Corn Processors (MCP) in nearby Marshall, pulls into Gilland's feeding operation in Morgan to deliver the wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) that makes up 40% (as-fed basis) of the finishing ration in his 2,000-head-capacity feedyard. It works out pretty well for us because Joe Roybal 1 | May 01, 2002 Minnesota cattle feeders Roger Gilland and Glen Graff live in the heart of ethanol country. Every other day, a truck from Minnesota Corn Processors (MCP) in nearby Marshall, pulls into Gilland's feeding operation in Morgan to deliver the wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) that makes up 40% (as-fed basis) of the finishing ration in his 2,000-head-capacity feedyard. “It works out pretty well for us because it's a lot of good product,” says Gilland, who's fed WCGF since 1990, mixing it in a finishing ration with 47% shelled corn and 10% earlage. “It takes a little management because of the wet product's shelf life, but the cost and performance is better than corn,” he adds. Meanwhile, Graff of nearby Sanborn utilizes a total of 75 tons/month of dry distillers grains (DDG). A couple of times each week, he hauls a 15-ton load from the Ethanol 2000 LLP plant 20 miles away in Bingham Lake to his 1,000-head capacity yard. Graff has fed DDG since the plant opened in 1998. “I've been real happy with it. Because it's a cheaper protein source, we now feed a higher level of protein, and our gains are better,” Graff says. “And, the dry product works better for me because I feed a lot of corn silage.” An Ethanol Growth Binge The two ethanol plants supplying these co-products are among a total of 14 ethanol production facilities currently operating in Minnesota. Just over the border to the south, Iowa also can claim 14 plants, nine of which are on stream and five under construction. Together, the two states comprise more than a third of the nation's total of 74 ethanol production facilities either in operation or under construction (see Figure 1). The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) estimates that by the end of 2002, total combined production capacity of fuel ethanol in the U.S. will be 2.738 billion gallons/year. And, for the first time, the majority of the production capacity will be controlled by farmer-owned plants, says Monte Shaw, RFA communications director. Ethanol production is on a growth binge. With the recent flare-up of unrest in the oil-rich Middle East serving to underscore the urgency, the U.S. is fixed on developing its domestic sources of energy. The Midwest, with its prodigious corn production capacity and a sagging farm economy, is understandably receiving a lot of attention. A coalition of renewable fuel producers and agricultural and environmental groups is urging the U.S. Senate to enact a renewable fuels standard (RFS) as part of its energy package. Such a standard would require that renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel make up a certain percentage of the nation's fuel supply. Under the legislation, the RFS requirement would increase from 2 billion gallons in 2003 to 5 billion gallons in 2012. The proponents of S.517 say such a standard would reduce the nation's reliance on foreign energy, in addition to being more environmentally friendly by reducing tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions. Besides that, they argue, it would stimulate rural economies and reduce the frequency and severity of future price spikes. “We're hopeful, and the odds are, that the RFS will be the law of the land,” says Shaw. “We think there's broad support for the bill and, while there might be some tweaks made here and there, we feel that what is there now will be the legislation at the end.” More, But At What Price? The prospect of that eventuality has some in the beef industry eagerly anticipating a plentiful supply of by-product feeds. “The state of Kansas now has five ethanol plants, and projections call for that to double within three years,” says Dale Blasi, Kansas State University Extension beef specialist in stockers and forages. “That's a great new source of by-product feeds and offers tremendous opportunities for low cost of gain.” There are also others, however, who are anxious over how the increased ethanol production will impact the price of feed corn. “A few producers see an ethanol plant as a competitor to a feedyard. But, frankly, with corn at $2, it's not number one on the plate,” says Jay Truitt, head lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Truitt says NCBA supports the RFS proposal with some minor modifications. “The concerns are much less than they were a few years ago,” Truitt adds. “Still, people realize it could have an impact on the marketplace.” Shaw says that with successful passage of the RFS, he expects to see some increase in corn acreage, as well as perhaps a bump in corn yields to meet the standard set for 2012. “But you'll also see a lot more corn go directly through an ethanol plant. The feed co-products will then go into the cattle industry, for example, as opposed to the corn going directly into the cattle industry,” he says. “I think you'll see some pretty fundamental shifts in the valuation of both corn and the feed co-products. It's a higher quality product; it will be available in greater quantities, and it would be hard to argue that it would be anything but more affordable for the beef industry,” Shaw adds. Will the price of corn go up with an RFS? Shaw says, “Probably. We hope so, and I think farmers hope so. But at the same time, you'll find that some folks currently not using the higher-value distillers grains will be able to take a look at them as the supply goes up. “You can't just look at corn price, but what happens to the distillers grain market and other co-products as well. That will be very beneficial for the cattle industry,” he says. Better Predictability Ethanol co-products were a focus of a recent Land O'Lakes Farmland Feed cattle feeding seminar in Sioux Falls, SD. Evan Vermeer, a beef technical consultant with Quality Liquid Feeds, says ethanol production co-products “are breaking into upper Midwest cattle feeding in a big way.” Vermeer says the beef industry has long used corn gluten feed and steep water from wet mill plants, so called because the corn is soaked before grinding and processing. In addition to ethanol, wet mill plants have the ability to make several edible human products such as starch, sweeteners and oils. Dry mill plants, on the other hand, grind the grain before soaking, hence the name. Such plants are cheaper to build and are geared for strict quality control for the ethanol, he adds. As a result, the inconsistency of the resulting feed products historically made it more difficult to formulate them into ruminant diets. That's changing, however, Vermeer reports, as the production facilities have begun to focus on the quality issues of the by-products. “This will increase their value to cattle feeders,” he says. Shaw agrees. “Our industry understands that with a renewable fuels standard, there's going to be a heck of a lot more distillers grains out there, and that will become a bigger part of the business,” Shaw says. “Certainly from a marketing standpoint, we're putting a lot of time and effort into looking how that end of the market is going to shape up. “When you market something, you obviously want to have a quality product to market. So the feed co-products are certainly not an afterthought,” Shaw says. Co-Product Believers Gilland contracts his WCGF on an annual basis with the price tied to the corn price. The cost of transportation is included. “We don't evaluate it on a cost basis anymore because our price is based on a percentage of the corn price. So we know we're guaranteed a savings, and we can actually get a little better performance by using it,” he says. He stores the feed in an open bunker, with a semi-load lasting about two days. No more than a four-day supply is ever kept on hand, he says, and considerably less than that in the summer. “In the winter, we'll keep a little extra on hand just in case the weather prevents delivery,” Gilland says. “In the summer, we have to manage our supply a lot tighter. The shelf life is not very long, and there's little room for error. And in feeding it to the cattle, we have to be real careful to match the cattle's consumption levels.” Gilland says he prefers the wet product to a dry form. “A lot of these dry mill plants want to dry the feed, but we went back to the old research and found that the wet feed has more feed value than the dry,” he says. “Plus, it makes more sense for these plants to sell wet feed. Drying it down wastes a lot of natural gas.” Graff says anyone considering DDG must have inside storage. “With a dry product, it will blow away if you don't have it stored inside. Plus, if you're going to feed dry, you need other feedstuffs that are wet or you'll get separation in the feed bunk,” he says. Graff contracts for his DDG but only if it works on a cost basis. “Sometimes it just doesn't work, but I've never had a problem with availability. And as we get more plants on line in Minnesota and northern Iowa, it should be even more available,” he says. Graff recommends working with a nutritionist in formulating a ration with DDG because the fermentation process alters the mineral balance. “And you have to watch the sulfur levels because the process concentrates the sulfur. If you have high sulfur levels in the water, it can multiply your problems there as well,” he says. “I think the dry product works great for smaller producers because you don't get the mold and heating that you would with wet product,” he says.

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Cattle markets adjust to larger supplies: Outlook Jan 13, 2017 Crop protection industry needs to stay united to protect products Jan 12, 2017 OUTLOOK 2017: Ag economists explore the best options for producers Jan 12, 2017 Texas Ag Commissioner hopes to talk trade initiative with Israel Jan 10, 2017 Crops>Corn Crop diagnostics, a touch of the button Wheat crop diagnostics may be as close as a cell phone in the near future from ongoing research at the Texas AgriLife Research-Amarillo, Texas AgriLife Extension Service-Dallas, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University and Colorado State University. By Kay Ledbetter, Texas AgriLife | Sep 17, 2010 Producers may soon reach for their iPhones or Droids when they find a problem in their wheat fields instead of sending clippings or dead insects to an expert, according to a Texas AgriLife Research scientist. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture is funding a four-year program under its Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program to help build a database that will give producers real-time data for diagnostics. Researchers participating in "iWheat" are AgriLife Research-Amarillo, Texas AgriLife Extension Service-Dallas, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University and Colorado State University. "The idea is to extend what we have already been working on with the former area-wide pest management for greenbugs and Russian wheat aphid project," said Dr. Jerry Michels, AgriLife Research entomologist in Amarillo. Michels was referring to a five-year program in which the group of scientists sampled wheat and did remote sensing to understand the relationship of aphids in wheat crops over the southwestern Great Plains area. "We tried to put together better management strategies for aphids with the entire area included instead of our individual regions," he said. "We looked at what the similarities and differences were and determined management strategies for the different producers depending on where they were located." Grower surveys Michels said a lot of information gathered during that study came from surveys with individual growers in the different geographic areas about how they plant wheat, rotational or continuous, and agronomic practices such as whether they were dryland or irrigated operations. "It worked fairly well, but we still ended up with five big chunks of data," he said. "We still wanted some way to put it all together." The group is looking at the abilities of the different information delivery systems such as the iPhone or Droid that will allow them to consolidate this information and make it available to a person on an interactive basis. "What we will do is put all this into a real-time database that will be made available to people who are cooperating with us for the next four years," Michels said. Michels said his work will start this fall in several experimental fields, but he’s also looking for two wheat farmers who will volunteer to be involved with the program. In addition, he will be working with 10 AgriLife Extension agents. Many producers, crop consultants and AgriLife Extension agents already use a program called Glance-N-Go to sample aphids in wheat, he said. That program came from the initial five-year study. With the new program, the idea is they can access the system in the field and the data will be entered real time, Michels said. They will be able to enter how many tillers have greenbugs on them, and the system will be able to tell them if there are enough samples to make a decision and if the number of aphids detected warrants treatment. "As time goes by, the people who are using the system will be able to enter the variety they are planting, when they planted, the fertilizer, etc.," he said. "The idea is that eventually there will be guides available to tell them when to start looking for insects and what they might be looking at in the field." Another possible option is the producer will be able to take pictures in the field and send them to the database where an expert can look at them. While some of those details are yet to be worked out, Michels said his program will monitor wheat fields and do the Glance-N-Go and other types of sampling with the producers and AgriLife Extension agents, and determine how this will work out. "Hopefully we will be able to get input and provide data by the end of the second year and then make it available to the public within four years at the end of the research," he said. Diverse practices beneficial With the initial five years of work, researchers found that farmers who used diverse practices instead of planting continuous wheat were getting better results, and while that data was reported in some areas, it wasn't consolidated and easily accessible to farmers, Michels said. "Accessibility, and even more important, the ability to get the data real time, is what we are looking for now," Michels said. "Instead of sending a picture or clippings of the wheat or an insect by mail or taking it in for an expert to analyze, the information is instantaneous. We hope some day they can take a picture and submit that for analysis." But to get to that point, it takes someone to do the "field-truthing" and see how it will work. That is why he and others will be working directly with producers to see what they want, what they need and how it should be tweaked to make sure it is something that has value. Michels said by allowing the diagnosis to take place in the field and determining an appropriate action to take in most cases, this real-time prescription application should save time and money for producers and help them schedule treatment earlier for fields that might need it, thus reducing the overall damage. RelatedCattle markets adjust to larger supplies: OutlookJan 13, 2017Will agriculture get the attention it deserves?Jan 20, 2017Water law update: Where do we stand on WOTUS?Jan 18, 2017Dow-DuPont EU merger review remains openJan 17, 2017 Load More

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banana farmer ... Agriculture Management Agriculture Monitoring Aquaculture Crop Cultivation Forestry Horticulture Irrigation Livestock Date banana farmer News Related terms for "banana farmer ": Cultural change in Kenyan banana farming Farmers in Nkubu, Meru County, central Kenya, are experimenting with a new banana production method with the help of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the Kaguri Agricultural Training Centre The introduction of laboratory grown tissue culture banana seedlings has significantly boosted the local economy. Such tissue cultures allow ... By SciDev.Net DNA of banana fungus unravelled for more sustainable banana crops An international consortium led by scientists from Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) has unravelled the DNA of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, the fungus that causes the much-feared black Sigatoka disease in bananas. The findings provide leads for increasing the sustainability of banana cultivation, for instance through the development of a resistant banana plant. The results were ... By Wageningen University and Research Centre FAO urges countries to step up action against destructive banana disease The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is warning countries to step up monitoring, reporting and prevention of one of the world’s most destructive banana diseases, Fusarium wilt, which recently spread from Asia to Africa and the Middle East, and which has the potential to affect countries in Latin America. The ... By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Banana compost could boost crop yields, a study finds Using old banana trees to make compost may help boost crop yields while cutting down water and fertiliser use, according to an Egyptian researcher. Banana-based fertiliser could cut about 20 per cent of the water used in irrigating maize and lead to better yields and improved soil properties — such as availability of ... New $13.8 million project aims to boost banana production in Uganda and Tanzania Millions of smallholder banana farmers in Tanzania and Uganda are set to benefit from a new $13.8 million project to develop and distribute higher-yielding, disease-resistant hybrid banana varieties. The effort is being funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Rony Swennen, a ... By The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Fight against Black Sigatoka must continue to save small Caribbean banana farms FAO warns that without increased commitment to combat Black Sigatoka Disease, which has ravaged banana and plantain production in the Caribbean, vulnerable people could face food insecurity if the disease situation is allowed to further deteriorate. Black Sigatoka disease is considered one of the most dangerous diseases of banana and plantain. It spread from Asia and reached the Caribbean in ... Let`s add climate knowledge to agroforestry plans We need to know more about how smallholder agroforestry can help farmers adapt to climate change, write James Roshetko and Rodel Lasco. Much is known about agroforestry — the mixing of tree species with crops and livestock to enrich farmers' livelihoods. But less is known about how it can help farmers adapt to climate change. This gap in our knowledge is increasingly ... Climate-smart farming takes root in Kenya Like most African countries, Kenya is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change. There is growing concern about potential stress on fragile ecosystems and rural communities, especially in the arid and semi-arid agro-ecological zones and some humid highland areas of the country. In keeping with the Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA) of Kenya 2010-2015 and Kenya's vision 2030, ... Plant bank to preserve biodiversity of Pacific crops The giant swamp taro, the orange-fleshed Fe'i banana and a coconut that grows to half a metre in length are among the native crop species to be saved in a major project that has begun across small islands in the Pacific. The Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) is coordinating the project in which 1,000 unique varieties of staple fruit and vegetables from 7,500 Pacific islands are being ... Targeting gaps in the food supply chain: going beyond agricultural production to achieve food security Agricultural production is only the first step in moving the world’s food from farm to fork, according to Nourishing the Planet, a project of the Worldwatch Institute. The other links in the food chain—harvesting, packaging, storing, transporting, marketing, and selling—ensure that food actually reaches consumers. Inefficiencies in these activities, rather than just low yields ... By Worldwatch Institute AgBiome Granted Multi-year Award to Discover Biological Solutions to Diseases Affecting Subsistence Crops of Sub-Saharan Africa The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded AgBiome a new multi-year grant, entitled “Broad-Spectrum Biological Control of Fungal Diseases,” which will fund the evaluation and development of lead, proprietary biological fungicides in the fields of African smallholder farmers. The aim of the project is to identify and validate biological fungicides to control one or more of ... By AgBiome, Inc. Climate change could spread major coffee pest Coffee production in parts of East Africa and South America could suffer as climate change drives up the numbers and distribution of a key pest, according to research. Scientists from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya say their study provides the first global maps of the coffee ... The dirty dozen - food you should always buy organic Intensive farming is a common practice among farmers aiming to produce more food for the growing population. Intensive farming maximizes yields through various means such as heavy use of pesticides which tend to be used untimely, in too many applications and in too high of a dosage. Although the use of pesticides has its benefits, such as controlling or killing potential disease-causing organisms ... By Agrivi Ltd Pigeon pea genome sequence could boost yields More than a billion people could soon benefit from improved yields of the important drought-resistant crop pigeon pea now that its genome has been sequenced by a global partnership. The sequence, published online in Nature Biotechnology last week (6 November), should cut the time it takes to develop higher-yielding pigeon pea varieties from the 6–10 years required for traditional breeding ... Agriculture: the unlikely earth day hero Rising temperatures, erratic weather, population growth, and scarce water resources - along with growing civil unrest and skyrocketing food prices - are putting unprecedented stress on people and the planet. For over 40 years, Earth Day has served as a call to action, mobilizing individuals and organizations around the world to address these challenges. This year, Worldwatch Institute's ... 15 Agricultural innovations protecting the environment on earth day This Earth Day, Worldwatch’s Nourishing the Planet project highlights 15 sustainable agricultural practices that are protecting the environment while also improving people’s livelihoods. For the last 40 years, Earth Day has been celebrated around the world to call attention to some of our most pressing environmental and social problems, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and ... Improving the productivity of tropical potato cultivation Potatoes thrive in tropical highlands. The tubers are healthier than rice, banana or cassava, and can play an important role in food security. Production is, however, often very low due to various diseases and farmers can struggle to generate sufficient added value. This is where Wageningen comes in.Potato specialist Anton Haverkort travels the world giving advice on how to bring cultivation ... Rising temperatures, erratic weather, population growth, and scarce water resources—along with growing civil unrest and skyrocketing food prices—are putting unprecedented stress on people and the planet. For over 40 years, Earth Day has served as a call to action, mobilizing individuals and organizations around the world to address these challenges. This year, Worldwatch ... By Praxilient Traditional farming methods in India protect birds Under the right conditions, traditional agricultural practices can support significant biodiversity in farmed areas over the long term. A new study shows that arecanut plantations combined with forest areas support bird life. The researchers studied bird communities in arecanut plantations found in southwest India to assess whether biodiversity could be sustained in an agriculturally developed ... Investment of AUS$200m to rescue the Great Barrier Reef Threats to the Great Barrier Reef, including the effects of climate change and declining water quality will be tackled by the Rudd Labor Government’s AUS$200 million reef rescue plan announced in this week's Budget. Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Tony Burke said the funding will support land management grants to farmers and community groups and ... By Australian Government

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« The New Mexico Acequia Association’s Annual Congreso de las Acequias Tres Hermanas: Educating Women to Unite Communities » Joining the Global Economy Using Ancient Systems The Cooperative Development Center of New Mexico Seth Roffman In early spring, members of the High Peaks Deep Roots Agricultural Cooperative in Truchas, New Mexico, will gather to plant organic vegetables as a team for the second season in a row. Incorporated last year as a farmer’s cooperative, High Peaks Deep Roots consists of seven farmers and their families who hope to revitalize their community and help themselves economically. In its first year, the co-op was able to find and develop a farm site, create and implement a farm plan and join four farmers’ markets in northern New Mexico. They also were able to sell their produce at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. Co-op members bought and erected a cold frame to extend the growing season; they developed and implemented a drip irrigation system, including creation of an irrigation pond; and they met regularly to build the co-op’s management capacity. With an initial organizing year under their collective belts, co-op members are now looking forward to a rewarding and productive year in the high Truchas landscape. “We have always been farmers,” said co-op member and president John Chávez. “But the co-op has given us a way to maximize what we grow and to actually help our families economically.” Incorporating as a co-op made great sense to the Trucheños, said Chávez, because the concept of working collaboratively to benefit each other is an ancient and living model in the village through its still-existing 10,000-acre land grant and its numerous acequias. Many of the original Spanish and Mexican land grants were often awarded to a collective of families who petitioned the Viceroy or the government for settlement lands across northern New Mexico. This collective model of work echoes the modern co-op system. Acequias also were—and are—cooperative economic models. Nearly 10,000 years ago, desert dwellers in what is now modern-day Yemen and Afghanistan developed communal irrigation systems that permitted them to feed themselves in a harsh and arid landscape. That communal model—imported into New Mexico by Spanish colonists—took root over centuries into a sophisticated and viable economic system in New Mexico. High Peaks Deep Roots Farmer’s Cooperative was formed with help from the Cooperative Development Center of New Mexico, said CODECE executive director Arturo Sandoval. “We expect to form another farmer’s co-op in Truchas this year,” he said. “Our model keeps co-op membership small, so that members can have full ownership of their co-op.” Sandoval said CODECE’s model seeks to ensure that control of each co-op is completely localized. “Eventually, we expect to create many, many small co-ops, each completely owned by local Hispano families,” he said. Economies of scale will be achieved by bundling their products through CODECE’s region-wide marketing expertise, he noted. Working with CODECE, the High Peaks Deep Roots Farmer’s Cooperative has joined with the Albuquerque-based Agri-Cultura Food Distribution Network to expand their organic produce markets. The Agri-Cultura Network is developing a statewide network of organic growers and plans to create a highly sophisticated marketing plan that emphasizes each of the state’s different growing seasons to maximize market impact and sales. CODECE received a USDA grant late in 2011 to purchase a state-of-the-art food catering truck. CODECE will use the truck as part of its cooperative development activities with two other new Truchas ecotourism co-ops: one providing recreation and outdoor services, the other focusing on arts and culture, especially food culture. The plan is for the two ecotourism co-ops in Truchas to provide organic meals to tourists engaged in outdoor activities on the Truchas Land Grant and in the Pecos Wilderness. Much of the food will be purchased from the High Peaks Deep Roots Farmer’s Coop during summer and fall activities. This spirit of cooperation among the three new Truchas co-ops has become contagious, said Mark Willuhn, CODECE director of ecotourism and executive director of the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance based in Managua, Nicaragua. “All three co-ops now share an office, meeting and gallery space right in the heart of the village,” Willuhn said. “All of the co-op members have pitched in to clean and repair our space and all are working closely together to help each other succeed.” This spirit of cooperation has extended to other community-based organizations in New Mexico, Willuhn noted. He said the co-ops are actively seeking collaborations with other organizations that are focused on helping revitalize villages across New Mexico. “The key for us is partnerships,” said Willuhn. “We need other groups and organizations to help us succeed and we can also help them do well. That’s our mantra.” Sandoval said CODECE just received its second year of funding from the USDA to continue its cooperative development efforts in Truchas and across other northern New Mexico Hispano villages. He noted that historical agricultural practices found in Truchas have actually positioned local farmers there to be ahead of the curve in efforts to join the organic food movement. For example, he said, “Farmers in Truchas have never used chemical fertilizers. Never. That has made it so much easier to get their lands organically certified by the New Mexico Commodities Commission.” Sandoval said Truchas in particular and northern New Mexico in general, mirrors the emerging economies in the rest of the world, including Brazil, Russia, India and China. CODECE’s senior policy and strategic development advisor Manual Montoya said, “As we begin to understand the forces that will shape the global political economy in the 21st Century, we are also beginning to understand that the success of the planet will rely on sustainable land-based practices that leverage community identity properly.” Montoya, a native of northern New Mexico, a Rhodes Scholar and professor of global structures at UNM’s Anderson School of Management, added, “What is happening in New Mexico is no different than what is happening throughout the world right now. This is the perfect opportunity for New Mexico to become a business partner with the rest of the world in a meaningful way.” Sandoval added, “We have the social and economic elements in place to succeed at a very high level in this new and emerging global economic situation. We just need to keep working hard.” CODECE uses a three-pronged economic development approach to revitalize rural villages. Those areas are organic farming, ecotourism and affordable housing. Print article This entry was posted by Green Fire Times on January 3, 2012 at 2:19 am, and is filed under January 2012. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. Comments (5) #1 written by cassie griggs about 3 years ago Quote Hi to all, it’s truly a nice for me to pay a quick visit this web page, it includes precious Information. #2 written by Marlys about 3 years ago Quote Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article! It’s the little changes that make the most significant changes. Thanks for sharing! #3 written by Jacquelyn Mosby about 3 years ago Quote Can I simply say what a relief to find an individual who actually knows what they’re discussing on the net. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you’re not more popular given that you surely possess the gift. #4 written by latisha about 4 years ago Quote I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I really hope to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own site now 😉 #5 written by Katey about 4 years ago Quote Get your facts straight! We dont need outside help with what we do best.

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2012 was a record year for worldwide crop insurance claims on Jan 25, 2013 Share We get so caught up in the economic damage wrought by Sandy that we forget the damage done by last year’s other major environmental crisis in America: the drought. Last year’s record dryness spurred a massive increase in crop insurance claims here — but extreme weather events dropped crop yields in other countries as well. The end result was the most expensive year in history for insurers. From Bloomberg: Global crop insurance claims were the highest ever last year after drought cut yields in the U.S., historically the biggest grower of corn and soybeans. Claims worldwide were worth about $23 billion in 2012, with $15 billion going to growers in the U.S., said Karl Murr, who heads the agriculture unit at Munich Re, the world’s biggest reinsurance company. About 85 percent of farmland is insured in the U.S., compared with 20 percent globally. … As of Jan. 21, U.S. farmers had collected about $12.35 billion in insurance claims since the marketing year began, surpassing the $10.84 billion at the same time a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency. Dry lakebed near Stull, Kan.Patrick Emerson That $15 billion is actually slightly less than was projected a few weeks ago, but still massive. Other countries experienced similar weather-related crop disasters, pushing the global bill into record territory. Dry weather also damaged crops in the past season in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Argentina and Brazil, while Poland suffered from a cold snap and the U.K. had its second-wettest year on record. Flooded fields probably cost British farmers about $2.1 billion (1.3 billion pounds) in damage, much of which wasn’t insured, Murr said. The drought in the U.S. continues. Yesterday, Reuters reported that the drought-stricken area in Kansas expanded over the last week. The entire state is experiencing severe drought conditions. Kansas is generally the top U.S. wheat-growing state, but the new crop planted last fall has been struggling with a lack of soil moisture. Without rain and/or heavy snow before spring, millions of acres of wheat could be ruined. But a new climatology report issued Thursday showed no signs of improvement for Kansas, or neighboring farm states. … Kansas typically makes up nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. wheat production with a production value that hovers around $1 billion. But many farmers worry this year that a severe shortage of soil moisture will decimate production. If that happens, insurers — namely, the Department of Agriculture — will again need to step in to provide economic support to farmers. And this drought, the worst in almost 80 years, is only the beginning of what the Plains states can expect over the next century as the country gets hotter. National Climate Assessment

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Industry OECD-FAO expect slower global agricultural production growth By FAO Global agricultural production is expected to grow 1.5 percent a year on average over the coming decade, compared with annual growth of 2.1 percent between 2003 and 2012, according to a new report published by the OECD and FAO. Limited expansion of agricultural land, rising production costs, growing resource constraints and increasing environmental pressures are the main factors behind the trend. But the report argues that farm commodity supply should keep pace with global demand. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2013-2022 expects prices to remain above historical averages over the medium term for both crop and livestock products due to a combination of slower production growth and stronger demand, including for biofuels. The report says agriculture has been turned into an increasingly market-driven sector, as opposed to policy-driven as it was in the past, thus offering developing countries important investment opportunities and economic benefits, given their growing food demand, potential for production expansion and comparative advantages in many global markets. However, production shortfalls, price volatility and trade disruption remain a threat to global food security. The OECD/FAO Outlook warns: "As long as food stocks in major producing and consuming countries remain low, the risk of price volatility is amplified. A wide-spread drought such as the one experienced in 2012, on top of low food stocks, could raise world prices by 15-40 percent." China, with one-fifth of the world's population, high income growth and a rapidly expanding agri-food sector, will have a major influence on world markets, and is the special focus of the report. China is projected to remain self-sufficient in the main food crops, although output is anticipated to slow in the next decade due to land, water and rural labour constraints. Presenting the joint report in Beijing, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said: "The outlook for global agriculture is relatively bright with strong demand, expanding trade and high prices. But this picture assumes continuing economic recovery. If we fail to turn the global economy around, investment and growth in agriculture will suffer and food security may be compromised." "Governments need to create the right enabling environment for growth and trade," he added. "Agricultural reforms have played a key role in China's remarkable progress in expanding production and improving domestic food security." FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said: "High food prices are an incentive to increase production and we need to do our best to ensure that poor farmers benefit from them. Let's not forget that 70 percent of the world's food insecure population lives in rural areas of developing countries and that many of them are small-scale and subsistence farmers themselves." He added: "China's agricultural production has been tremendously successful. Since 1978, the volume of agricultural production has grown almost five fold and the country has made significant progress towards food security. China is on track to achieving the first millennium development goal of hunger reduction. While China's production has expanded and food security has improved, resource and environmental issues need more attention. Growth in livestock production could also face a number of challenges. We are happy to work with China to find viable and lasting solutions." Developing countries to gain Driven by growing populations, higher incomes, urbanization and changing diets, consumption of the main agricultural commodities will increase most rapidly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, followed by Latin America and other Asian economies. The share of global production from developing countries will continue to increase as investment in their agricultural sectors narrows the productivity gap with advanced economies. Developing countries, for example, are expected to account for 80 percent of the growth in global meat production and capture much of the trade growth over the next 10 years. They will account for the majority of world exports of coarse grains, rice, oilseeds, vegetable oil, sugar, beef, poultry and fish by 2022. To capture a share of these economic benefits, governments will need to invest in their agricultural sectors to encourage innovation, increase productivity and improve integration in global value chains, FAO and OECD stressed. Agricultural policies need to address the inherent volatility of commodity markets with improved tools for risk management while ensuring the sustainable use of land and water resources and reducing food loss and waste. Outlook for China China's consumption growth is expected to outpace its production growth by some 0.3 percent per year, signaling a further but modest opening of China's agricultural sector, the report said. China's imports of oilseeds are expected to rise by 40 percent over the next ten years, accounting for 59 percent of global trade. Both the meat and dairy sectors will continue to expand which will result in higher imports of feed grains. China is expected to become the world's leading consumer of pigmeat on a per capita basis, surpassing the European Union by 2022. China should maintain its leading role in global aquaculture at 63 percent of global production and remain the largest fish exporter. China is projected to remain self-sufficient in the main food crops, although output growth is anticipated to slow in the next decade. Key uncertainties around the agricultural outlook for China should be closely monitored and addressed, the report said. These include the sustainability of high levels of economic growth, increasing resource constraints on production, land degradation and water depletion, and greater production variability due to climate change. According to FAO estimates, China's food security has improved with the number of undernourished falling by almost 100 million since 1990, despite adding an additional 200 million people to its population. Ensuring the food security of the estimated 158 million persons still undernourished remains a major challenge, the report said. faoAgricultureagriculture productionglobal food securityfood crops About the Author:

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Northwest produce trade weighs in on devastation in Japan by Lora Abcarian | March 15, 2011 Aftershocks, both physical and psychological, continue to be felt around the world following Japan’s devastating earthquake March 11. The quake was classified as a magnitude 9.0, making it the most powerful in the nation’s history. Dave Martin, export sales manager for Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA, was in Kobe, Japan, on March 14, traveling to Tokyo later that day. He provided The Produce News with poignant comments about the situation, and put a human face and perspective upon the tragedy. “Currently, we have nothing shipping to Japan, but we are preparing for our cherry season, which starts by May 1,” he said. “The potential effect on our business is not known at the moment. But I would definitely expect some effect and possible decrease in business in the early part of our season. “It’s a bit hard to consider our cherry business to be very important in the midst of such a devastating event,” he continued. “The situation here is so incredibly grim in the northeastern prefectures that it’s honestly a bit difficult to comprehend. There are entire cities which are now virtually wiped from the map. Some were quite literally washed out to sea.” He said that roads were blocked or completely destroyed. Grocery stores were heavily damaged, and restocking will not be an easy task, he said. “Those who have survived may spend months in emergency shelters,” he added. “The people across Japan will mourn together for quite some time, and the rest of us can only offer support as best possible and mourn along with them.” Tony Buak, director of export sales for Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, WA, said that the only commodity CMI ships to Japan is cherries. “It is a very small market for us,” he noted. Loren Queen, marketing and communications director for Domex Superfresh Growers in Yakima, WA, said that the company’s volume of cherries exported to Japan is under 5 percent of the overall program. Mr. Queen and Scott Marboe, marketing director for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, both said it is too early to determine what impact the disaster will have on cherry sales. Mac Riggan, vice president of marketing for Chelan Fresh Marketing in Chelan, WA, said that the company’s export business has not been affected by the earthquake. Looking at other commodities, Karin Gardner, marketing communications manager for The Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, BC, told The Produce News, “We have heard from our Japanese mandarin and pear grower representatives [on March 14],” she stated. “Everyone is OK and little damage was experienced, though everyone is heartbroken by what has occurred.” Matt Harris, director of trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, said that Japan is the state’s largest export market for fries and dehydrated potatoes. “It’s hard to say what actual commerce will be disrupted,” he told The Produce News March 14. A chipping exporter whom he had contacted earlier said that southern ports in Japan were still able to receive product, but it is too early to determine how commodities will actually move through the country’s damaged infrastructure. Jeff Correa, international marketing director for the Pear Bureau Northwest in Milwaukie, OR, said that USA Pears does not have any export programs in place with Japan due to issues with fire blight. “Although Japan is technically open for Washington apples, we ship zero apples to Japan and have no programs in place,” said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission.

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HomeAct: Inspiration Five great grains with promise for the future By Jenna Banning, originally published by Nourishing the Planet March 6, 2012 According to the United States Department of Agriculture, grains account for more than half of the calories consumed by people in developing countries. Yet, over the last few decades, grain production has been narrowed to only a limited number of varieties – wheat, for example, has over 200,000 varieties, yet only a few genetic lines are being used. Such dependence on a limited number of crops has proven problematic, especially because of rising food prices, climate change, and health concerns. This indigenous woman is collecting amaranth, an indigenous plant of Central and South America which is helping to provide nutrition and income for local farmers. (Photo credit: Slow Food International)Today, Nourishing the Planet highlights five grains which are not yet as well known, but provide promising alternatives. 1. Amaranth Both a grain and a green, amaranth was once as fundamental to the Central and South American diet as corn and beans. Yet after the height of its cultivation during the Aztec civilization, this food has largely disappeared. Now, the non-governmental organization Alternativas y Procesos de Participación Social (Alternatives and Projects for Civil Society) has organized over 1,100 Mexican families in the effort to recover this valuable crop. Although the plant is beautiful, with brilliantly colored flowers and large green leaves, it is also extremely hardy and able to survive in very arid conditions. Amaranth is highly nutritious, with high fiber and protein content, as well as lysine, an essential amino acid which most cereal crops lack. The plant is extremely versatile – it can be eaten as a vegetable, dried and used as a spice, or turned into a gluten-free flour. The leaves of amaranth are also edible, and possess higher levels of iron than spinach, and toasted amaranth seeds are often used to make traditional sweet foods. The native Mexicans from over sixty farming villages working with the Alternativas cooperatives have integrated amaranth into their cropping system, and have banded together to begin producing amaranth food products. Rising levels in both production and demand for this nutritious crop are promising for both local people’s incomes and the health of people worldwide. 2. Dista Rice In Madagascar, rice accounts for about 70 percent of the diet for small farmers, and plays an important part in religious and ritual activities. There are many different types of rice, but one variety, a pale pink grain discovered in only 2000, has become wildly popular and provides great potential for local Malagasy farmers. The Dista rice, named after the farmer who first discovered and cultivated it, is very rich in vitamins and produces consistently high yields. Malagasy farmers have also been using System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods to further increase their harvests. SRI, which was developed in Madagascar in the 1980s, helps farmers to grow stronger and higher-yielding crops while using less water, fertilizers and pesticides. As harvests have increased to 8-10 tons of rice per hectare (about 2.5 acres) for farmers using the SRI methods, more than 200 farmers have organized into cooperatives to sell their rice and raise money to purchase equipment. According to Slow Food International, demand for Dista rice is now equal to that of native or imported white rice. As Malagasy farmers continue to improve their production and increase harvests, they are able to improve both their lives and their environment. To learn more about SRI and Dista rice, see “Madagascar’s ‘Magic Rice ’- Dista Rice.” 3. Freekeh Freekeh (also known as farik) is a type of wheat which is harvested prematurely and roasted. It is very nutritious, with high fiber and protein content, as well as rich in nutrients such as calcium and iron. Freekeh is used in a number of dishes across the Middle East, and is beginning to see an emergence in Western markets as well. Freekeh is a specialty of the Jabal ‘Amel region of Lebanon, where the seeds have been passed down within families for generations. A combination of the area’s unique soil composition and processing methods gives the green cereal its characteristic toasted aroma. Freekeh production in Jabal ‘Amel is now being threatened however by large quantities of industrially produced freekeh from Syria and by subsidies from the Lebanese government for tobacco cultivation. In an inspiring program, Slow Food Beirut, Oxfam Italia, and the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity have partnered together to revive the production of freekeh in its native region, while also helping to improve the living conditions for the citizens of Jabal ‘Amel. This area was particularly hard hit during conflict in 2006. By working with the remaining local producers, this project aims to establish sustainable and successful freekeh production in the region, which can also improve the livelihoods of the local farmers. 4. Red Fife Wheat Red fife wheat was first introduced to the country in 1842, when a farmer from Glasgow sent some seeds to his friend in Ontario. Its adaptability to extreme weather and the Canadian cold allowed it to flourish, and within twenty years, the wheat was being grown across Canada. Over time, the popularity of the wheat diminished, as farmers shifted towards growing hybrids of the Red Fife by the 1920s. This changed in 1988, when Sharon Rempel, an environmental activist who was working at the time to recreate the wheat crops being grown during the 1880s at The Keremos Grist Mill historical site, received a pound of Red Fife seeds from a plant breeder. After planting half of the seeds in the heritage wheat garden at The Keremos Grist Mill, the benefits of the variety quickly gained attention. Besides being very adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, including the arctic cold of the Canadian plains, Red Fife is very productive without requiring high inputs of chemicals, and its flour has become very popular among bakers, who value it for its high quality and strong taste, perfect for making sourdough bread. Since being reintroduced, nearly 1 million pounds of Red Fife was harvested in Canada in 2007, from that original one pound of seeds in 1988. 5. Finger Millet Although millet is only beginning to enter Western food markets, it is already a central part of diets in Africa and Asia. Finger millet, an indigenous variety which originated in the highlands of Ethiopia and Uganda and then spread to India and South Asia approximately 4,000 years ago, is one of the most widely cultivated varieties, and one of the most nutritious grains of the world’s major cereal crops. Nearly 4.5 million tons of finger millet is produced annually, which provides important nutrients to people across East Africa and South Asia. Millet is high in starch and iron, and its proteins are easily digested. Millet survives well in dry areas and its grain is resistant to rot and insects, making it an important crop in food security strategies of many poor farming communities. It is very labor-intensive to harvest, and policymakers have recently snubbed it as a “poor person’s crop,” leading to a decline in production. It is currently undergoing a resurgence, however, as yields in India have increased by 50 percent in the past 50 years and acreage is increasing in Nepal by 8 percent annually. In Kenya, millet sells for twice the price of sorghum and maize, and half of all cropland in Uganda is currently dedicated to millet production. As awareness of this important crop and its nutritional value increase, farmers in other dry areas of the world may also be able to start cultivating it, holding great promise in helping to feed the world’s population. To read more on finger millet, see “Finger Millet: A Once and Future Staple.” Jenna Banning is a research in tern with the Nourishing the Planet project. Tags: Building Community, Food Jenna Banning Related Posts 2016: Toward the Deep Future

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South Carolina cotton, peanut meetings set for Jan. 24, 26 Jan 12, 2017 Should we rethink fertility for new, higher-yielding cotton varieties? Jan 12, 2017 Big farm-related tax changes proposed by Republicans, Trump Jan 10, 2017 Peanuts versus enough off-target dicamba can cost yield, timing matters Jan 10, 2017 Chambliss against added pesticide fees Hembree Brandon Farm Press Editorial Staff | Dec 07, 2005 The federal Office of Management and Budget “is up to its old tricks” in trying to increase fees pesticide companies pay to register their products,” says Sen. Saxby Chambliss. “Congress passed a good law in 2003, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act, which everyone seems to be satisfied with, and I want to see the law remain in place until it expires in 2008,” the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee told members of the Southern Crop Production Association at their annual meeting at Orlando, Fla. He noted also that he has co-sponsored a bill to clarify that pesticides applied according to their label are not also required to have a Clean Water Act permit. The senator, who had to cancel his appearance at the event, spoke to the group via a recorded message. He said he's also “closely watching” legal challenges to new regulations governing interactions between pesticide laws and the Endangered Species Act. Agreeing to $3 billion in cuts for agriculture program funding in order to achieve a reduction in the mushrooming federal deficit “was not easy and not something I wanted to do,” Chambliss said. “But, agriculture has always stepped up to the plate and been willing to do its fair share to reduce the federal budget deficit.” The deficit reduction package reduces spending on farm commodity programs by about $1.7 billion, he noted, while still protecting the structure of the 2002 farm bill. “That's very important. I strongly support the farm bill and believe it should remain intact until it's time for it to be rewritten in 2007.” The package, Chambliss said, helps small dairy farmers and ensures that cuts in conservation programs don't affect current contracts. “Only three conservation programs are impacted, and all it does is slow the rate of growth of those programs.” No changes would be made to the government's food stamp program. “I support needy people trying to put food on their tables,” he said, “and this also helps farmers by increasing the food-purchasing power of these families.” Overall, “the Agriculture Committee's package provides a balanced and reasonable approach (to deficit reduction).” Negotiations are under way for the next meeting of the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong, Chambliss noted, with the U.S. and the European Union floating proposals in recent weeks to jump-start the talks. “I'm very pleased that our trade ambassador, Rob Portman, understands agriculture. He has been working to ensure that U.S. agriculture receives stepped-up market access.” This country's trade commitments and the federal budget situation “will drive the next farm bill,” he said. “It's a reality we have to face, and we know we have to change (the farm program). But I can assure you that it will be Congress — not the World Trade Organization or the administration — that writes the 2007 farm bill. I'm committed to writing the best bill possible for American farmers.” Chambliss said he is “working very closely” with Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, to implement the treaty President Bush signed in 2001 on persistent organic pollutants. “We hope to introduce that bill very soon. We want our negotiators to have a seat at the table during talks about adding chemicals to the treaty.”

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Motivated by Freshness Consumer demand for locally grown food spurs farmers market growth By Jennifer Johnson Backer From (email): Message: As consumer demand for healthy, locally grown food has increased, farmers markets are cropping up all over Memphis. Produce from Jones Orchard is just one of many local products that can be found at area farmers markets, including the above Farmer’s Market at Agricenter International. (Daily News File Photos: Lance Murphey)Farmers markets provide a place for smaller producers to sell their goods, and hopefully earn a profit. But profitability can be challenging for the operators who run the markets. Some, like Agricenter International’s Farmer’s Market and the farmers market at the Memphis Botanic Garden run the markets to support their overall mission. They say the markets are about more than profitability. The oldest farmers market in Memphis, The Agricenter’s Farmer’s Market, will begin its 26th season in May. John Charles Wilson, president of Agricenter International, says he expects the market to stay busy all season long. But even with heavy foot traffic from May through October, he said the farmers market doesn’t always turn a profit. Agricenter hasn’t raised vendor rates in several years in an effort to keep the market profitable for its producers. Agricenter isn’t subsidized by the county, although it has received several government grants in recent years to help with marketing and advertising, he said. “From a revenue standpoint, you have a lot of wear and tear with the number of people that come through the market,” Wilson said. “We are trying to make it a market that is economically viable for people to sell their goods and to make it a clean market where people want to come that also meets the nutritional needs of the public.” John Freeman sells produce from Green Frog in Crockett County at the farmers market at the Memphis Botanic Garden. During the week, about 22 vendors sell everything from fruits and vegetables to chicken and beef. Wilson says most of the products sold at the market are grown or produced within a 50-mile radius of the Agricenter. On Saturdays, the number of vendors grows to about 34, when many craft vendors come to sell flowers, jewelry, artwork, woodwork and other artisan goods. Ted Perkins makes two trips a week from the Gulf Coast to Memphis to sell fresh seafood at the market. Oysters, shrimp, crab meat and a variety of fish are put on ice and brought to Memphis fresh from the Gulf all season. Perkins, who is one of the owners of Paradise Seafood, has been making the trips for more than 14 years. “We stay busy all summer long,” he said. “People love getting the fresh stuff. We’ve been living on the coast all of our lives, and my uncle who lives here thought there would be demand for fresh seafood. We’ve been doing it ever since.” Paradise Seafood also sells fresh fish at other markets in Memphis, including the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market, the Collierville Farmers Market, and the Memphis Farmers Market Downtown, which kicked off its season Saturday, April 6. While profit at Agricenter’s Farmer’s Market hasn’t necessarily grown each year, Wilson said the number of vendors and customers continue to expand. The Agricenter has adopted a lottery system to allocate vendor spaces, while giving priority to long-standing vendors. Regional Market Highlights The Agricenter’s Farmer’s MarketMonday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Saturday: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Season: May to OctoberLocation: Agricenter International The Farmers Market at Memphis Botanic Garden Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.Season: Late April to OctoberLocation: Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis Farmers Market Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Season: April 6 to October Location: Central Station Pavilion Cooper-Young Community Farmers MarketSaturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Season: Year-round Location: First Congregational Church parking lot Collierville Farmers Market Thursday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Season: May 16 to Oct. 17Location: Collierville United Methodist Church rear parking lot Whitehaven Farmer’s Market Monday: Noon to 6 p.m.Season: April 15 to Nov. 25Location: In front of the Medical Office Complex, 1251 Wesley DriveMark Hoggard, Agricenter’s farmers market manager, says Ripley Tomatoes are an annual customer favorite, as well as vendor stands that sell pecans, blueberries, farm-raised beef and organic foods. “There is huge demand for fresh, locally grown produce,” he said. “All of our vendors have their own niche.” Jana Wilson, the market manager for The Farmers Market at the Memphis Botanic Garden says the gardens began holding a farmers market about seven years ago to help connect visitors with what they are eating. “Our mission is to connect people with nature and to teach people about nature, so this was just one extension of that, which allows us to support agriculture,” she said. While many local farmers markets are held on the weekend, Wilson said the Memphis Botanic Garden chose Wednesday afternoons for two reasons: the afternoon timing allows vendors to pick produce that morning and bring it to the market for sale on the same day, and the Wednesday time slot gives producers a market for their foods during the week, rather than markets that are only held on weekends. Wilson said the market, which runs late April through October, is popular with many area chefs, as well as families with young children. “For farmers markets in general, there has been a huge boom,” she said. “For some people, it’s for health reasons, other shoppers are conscious about shopping local, and some people do it for nostalgic reasons.”

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Wetlands reduce nitrates Jan 10, 2017 Ag land values in limbo in 2017 Jan 11, 2017 We don't know what we know about Nitrogen Jan 06, 2017 Hybrid performance with and without various transgenic traits – Ohio trends Jan 12, 2017 brought to you by Corn: Knee-High By Fourth of July? Kent Thiesse 1 | Jul 02, 2013 For generations, the standard measure for corn growth was “knee-high by fourth of July,” which meant that the corn plant should be able to produce a crop for that year. Of course, most farmers a couple of generations ago had much lower yield goals for their corn than the farmers of today. Today, waist-high or highercorn by July 4 is a more typical, and has resulted in some very good corn yields in most areas in recent years. It is difficult to get exceptional corn yields in the southern half of Minnesota if corn is only knee high or smaller on July 4. In most of Minnesota and Iowa, the 2013 growing season started out later than normal, with most corn planted in the month of May; however, much of earlier planted corn has rebounded nicely with some fairly good growing conditions in mid-late June. In recent weeks, excessive rainfall and severe storms in many areas has to some crop challenges with large drown-out areas in fields, significant hail damage, and further delays with late panting of soybeans. Most corn in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa that was planted by mid-May will exceed knee high by July 4, and some will exceed waist high; however, no corn will be approaching shoulder high, which occurred in many parts of the region in 2012. In southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa and western Wisconsin, a considerable amount of 2013 corn was not planted until late May or early June, leaving the crop development well behind normal. As a result, there will be a significant amount of corn in this region that will fail to reach knee highby July 4. What this means in agronomic terms is that the corn in this region is two to three weeks or more behind normal development. This increases the likelihood that a large amount of corn could have maturity issues this fall, and that the 2013 corn crop is much more susceptible to a normal or earlier than normal first frost. It also increases the odds of wetter corn at harvest, which will likely lead to higher corn drying costs this fall. There are also thousands of prevented planting corn acres in this region that will not be planted in 2013. Corn and soybean development in most areas continues to run behind normal, due to cooler-than-normal temperatures through most of May and early June; however, conditions have improved in recent weeks. The accumulation of growing degree units (GDUs) at the U of M Southern Minnesota Research Center totaled 790 from May 1 through June 30, 2013, compared to a normal GDU accumulation of 868 on June 30, resulting in most corn development being a week or more behind normal development. By comparison, there were 994 GDUs accumulated by June 30, 2012; 837 GDUs in 2011, and 871 GDUs in 2010. GDU accumulation has been even slower in many areas of southeast Minnesota, which along with the very late planting dates, has lead to the extremely slow start for corn and soybeans in that region. June rainfalls have been quite variable across the region, with most areas of Upper Midwest receiving adequate to excessive amounts of rainfall during June. Total rainfall at the Waseca Research Center in the month of June was 6.67 in., which compares to a normal June rainfall of 4.22 in. The total precipitation for 2013 through June 30 at Waseca is now at 24.91 in., which is +8.34 in. above normal, and is about 150% of the normal rainfall amount for the first six months of the year. Many areas of Southeastern Minnesota have received more than double their normal precipitation amount from April 1 to June 30, with several locations setting all-time records. Any concerns with continuation of drought conditions into the 2013 growing season have pretty much disappeared. Some portions of Southern Minnesota have received frequent excessive rainfall amounts during the month of June, which has lead to some large drown-out areas of fields. The excessive rainfall has also lead to problems for timely applications of post-emergence herbicides for weed control, and has caused some leaching of available nitrogen in the soil profile. There are many areas with yellow, chlorotic-looking soybeans, due to the excessively wet soil conditions. Close to maximum levels of stored soil moisture exist in most areas of southern Minnesota, so any major rainfall events can quickly result in large amount of standing water in crop fields. The severe winter-kill to alfalfa fields across the Upper Midwest has been another serious problem in many areas. The shortage of hay production in 2013, combined with the late and delayed planting in some areas, could lead to some very tight feed supplies for livestock producers in the hardest hit portions of the region during the coming months TAGS: Corn 13 comments Hide comments

农业

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Home > News > IGC Conference Report IGC Conference Report - by Emily Buckley GMO concerns were high on the agenda at the International Grains Council meeting held this June in London At a time when Monsanto is pitching for government approval of its Roundup Ready wheat varieties in Canada, the U.S. and Japan, delegates at the International Grain Council’s annual conference in London heard both the Canadian and Australian Wheat Boards express their opposition to GM wheat. Adrian Measner, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Wheat Board said that "Canadian farmers are overwhelmingly opposed to Roundup Ready wheat because they can’t see a clear benefit for their bottom line and worry about the long-term agronomic and market impacts." However, they are careful not to close the door on GM wheat completely, said Measner, in case future varieties were developed with clear benefits such as disease resistance. With more than 80% of their customers unable or unwilling to accept GM wheat, the Board is determined to satisfy their requirements, he said. The CWB has asked the federal government to introduce regulatory changes that would require a cost-benefit analysis to be performed prior to approvals, including important economic factors that the current process does not adequately address. Work is underway in Canada to provide effective segregation for GM wheat, but this capability will not exist for some time. The CWB has formally requested that Monsanto withdraw its application and has said it will do everything in its power to ensure that GM wheat is not introduced in Canada until customers and farmers want it. Having worked hard to develop a customer-orientated industry worth A$4 billion, the Australian Wheat Board, is not about to do anything that would jeopardize this or Australia’s "enviable" quality reputation, said Andrew Lindberg, the AWB’s managing director and chief executive officer. "It is for these reasons," said Lindberg, "that the AWB is approaching the issue of GM foods with extreme caution and why, in the current debate in Australia, we are not supporting the commercial release of GM canola but rather supporting a moratorium on its introduction." However, the AWB is not anti-GM, said Lindberg. "We believe that there may be potential benefits from this technology and we support the on-going research and development." Like it or not, the fate of GM products will not be driven by the producers of these technologies, he said, but by the acceptance of these foods by the people who pay for and consume them. Many international consumers have concerns relating to the commercialization and subsequent sale of products made with this technology, Lindberg continued, and this concern is being expressed by AWB’s customers who are becoming increasingly wary of potential con- tamination from grain produced with GM technology. PROFOUND EFFECTS OF THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL Despite the opposition to GM wheat, other genetically modified grains are already widely traded internationally and new international rules to cover them will have a major effect on international trade, delegates were told. To safeguard the agricultural and environmental interests of individual countries, a new international agreement on the movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) came into operation on September 11. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has been ratified by 50 countries and is the first legally binding agreement governing the movement of LMOs across national borders. Although no implementation rules have been established yet, Klaus Schumacher, president of COCERAL, the European Cereals and Grains Committee, said that from the first day of operation the Protocol’s impact on the international trade in grains and oilseeds would be profound. The detailed regulations will not be finalized until a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in February 2004 but, said Schumacher, rules that come into effect immediately will force major changes. For example, countries shipping LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment are required to give importing countries advance notice, while shipments of bulk commodities for direct use for feed, food or processing would have to be accompanied by documentation saying that they may contain LMOs but are not intended for intentional introduction into the environment. The documentation will be the responsibility of both parties. Schumacher said these regulations would have huge impact on the international trade and there was an urgent need for pragmatic solutions to enable low-cost bulk handling systems to continue to provide low-cost food supplies throughout the world. It was for this reason that the International Grain Trade Coalition, representing grain trading organizations from all over the world, was formed. Its aim is to advise governments on the potential impact of different options of the protocol and to help develop a framework of regulations that would preserve biodiversity without affecting low-cost bulk handling systems for the world’s food, feed and processing industries. EUROPEAN TRACEABILITY AND LABELING HEADACHES While the new worldwide rules on the movement of GM materials will cause major changes, there will be even more for those companies trading with the European Union. Ruth Rawling, vice president, public affairs for Cargill Europe, said the proposed new rules on traceability and labeling of GMOs (which were approved by the European Parliament a few weeks after the conference) could lead to a shift to the exportation of processed foods such as meat and dairy products rather than raw materials. Identity preserved systems will become tougher and more expensive to operate, she said. While the current responsibility for labeling is with the manufacturers who put food products on the shelf, in the future every operation in the food chain will be responsible. The E.U.’s new rules mean that all feed and food products — including flavorings — produced from GM materials will have to be labeled — although meat, milk and other livestock products will not. For this reason, E.U. processors might find themselves in competition with cheaper finished products coming from countries where the traceability and labeling rules do not apply. Products not labeled as containing GM material will have to be covered by an identity preservation system to prove they are free at all stages from GM material. The rules on traceability mean that each operator will have to inform the next stage in the chain if the product contained GM material. Apart from the effects on manufacturing and trade in Western countries, the new regulations on food materials like those on GMOs and others being planned could undo all the achievements of the World Trade Organization in developing a free trading system, said Kirk Miller, general sales manager for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Miller said that some proposals on controlling food trade seemed to reject the recent progress made in trading rules using science-based risk assessments. The Precautionary Principle, which allows trade in a product to be restricted even if there is no known health danger, is a recipe for unreasonable politically based trade restrictions, he said. Now there is a danger with the new restrictions on biotechnology products that importing countries all over the world might consider adopting unreasonable restrictions that are not based on scientific fact. The world is at a crossroads, he said, with the opportunity to continue to liberalize trade or retreat into the darkness of more protectionist policies. Need for change in Algerian grain industry The grain industry in Algeria needs restructuring to enable the country to take advantage of the changes in the world grain trade, according to Mohammed Kacem, director general of OIAC, the Algerian Cereals Office, in his presentation outlining the problems of Algeria’s grain industry. The country is hoping to more than double its wheat production over the next few years in an attempt to reduce its reliance on imports and to reorganize its grain processing and marketing industries, Kacem said. Grain consumption has fallen substantially in the past 35 years from 250 kg per person in 1967-68 to 200 kg in 2002. Algeria currently imports more than 5 million of its 8 million tonnes of annual wheat requirements and is the world’s largest importer of durum wheat. Production has varied widely from a high of 2.8 million tonnes in 1995-96 to a low of less than 500,000 tonnes in 1994-95. In an attempt to improve production, a new development plan was introduced in 2000-01 to increase production to 4 million tonnes a year. The country also is moving gradually from a state-controlled system to one dominated by private companies. Kacem said that the production plan involved increasing output from the country’s 8 million hectares of useable agricultural land by making better use of natural resources. Marketing is managed nationally by the OAIC with its network of 48 co-ops. These handle about 50% of national production — averaging around 700,000 tonnes per year — while the rest goes through unofficial channels supplying small-scale mills. The OIAC also is responsible for wheat imports, but since its monopoly was removed in 1997, private operators have begun to emerge. In a series of changes, the Office is now restricted to providing financial and technical assistance to support national grain production. Its role has been defined as a statutory organization responsible for organizing, processing, regulating and stabilizing the national grains and derivatives market. It is responsibile for evaluating national resources, defining the national procurement program, harmonizing transport costs and improving distribution systems. Warehousing organizations are responsible for collecting grain and supplying producers with seeds and other inputs. Capacity in the grain processing industry has more than doubled since 1997 through the activity of private investors, said Kacem. From 98 mills with a total grinding capa-city of 4.2 mt, the number of mills has increased by 259 and processing capacity by 6.8 mt, resulting in 100% surplus capacity. Privately owned mills are more modern and cost effective and now account for more than 60% of production. The possibility of flour imports as a result of the WTO tariff changes has also increased competition in the market. Mexico sees future in flat breads sales The world market for flat and stuffing breads is growing rapidly and should provide increasing opportunities for the use of maize flour as well as wider uses for wheat. But to meet the new demand, Mexico and South American countries, which are the main producers, will have to improve production efficiency and energy usage. Lionel Garza Ramirez, chief procurement officer of the Mexican company GRUMA, said that consumption of products such as tortillas, tostadas, pupasas, wrappings, chapatis, shami and noti, was increasing in new markets as well as in countries where the products are traditional foods. Corn tortillas and pupasas are the most important sector in the Mexican and Central American food markets, with annual per capita tortilla consumption averaging 94 kg and pupasas 13 kg. In Venezuela, consumption of maize arepas averages 28 kg per year. In non-traditional markets such as the U.S., tortilla consumption is growing by 7% a year. There also is a steadily growing market for flour for "corn chips" and maize-based snacks and as a carrier for flavorings and crispers. These provide more opportunities for value-added products. Mexico is a leading producer of white maize, which is the basis for many of these products. Around 8 million ha of land in Mexico is used for maize production each year, and 99% of this is for white maize. Grain production is, however, affected by higher energy costs, which are increasing the price of fertilizers and electricity costs for processing. The country produces some 1.58 million tonnes of maize flour a year from 18 plants. This compares with 405,000 tonnes from four plants in Venezuela and 125,000 tonnes from five plants in Central America. The difference illustrates the success of Mexico’s industrialized production methods. GRUMA, which was founded in 1949, is the world’s largest producer of white maize flour with an output of 2.5 million tonnes per year from its plants worldwide and is the largest producer of tortillas, turning out 54 million per day. The company has concentrated on improving technology and vertical integration. However, Ramirez said that between 60% to 70% of the home market for tortillas was supplied from operations that were rudimentary and energy intensive. News

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Share this:FacebookTwitterGoogleLinkedInWhatsAppEmailCopy WATCH: Kansas brothers make farm parody of ‘Sexy and I Know It’ July 6, 2012 | 11:53am WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas State University student Greg Peterson and some friends were unwinding at a drive-in restaurant when LMFAO’s song “Sexy and I Know It” came on the radio. He groaned. But as the chorus droned on, the 21-year-old found inspiration. He switched “sexy” to “farming” as he began rapping. Then he started coming up with lyrics. It would be fun, he thought, to do a video parody with his brothers when he returned home to the family farm in central Kansas. Peterson said the brothers aimed the video at their city friends on Facebook because they “hardly knew anything about the farm.” They ended up educating the world. “I’m Farming and I Grow It” video has become an Internet sensation with more than 3.2 million views since it was posted June 25 on YouTube. Its success has been hailed by farm groups, documented by newspapers and even won the brothers a whirlwind trip to New York City for a television appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends.” Peterson said he and his family have been a little bit overwhelmed by all the attention and he’s doing “some normal things” now to keep sane. On a recent morning, he was out swathing — or mowing — the prairie hay used to feed the family’s cattle. “I am just trying to rest my brain a little bit and get back to, you know, this is reality,” he said by cellphone. “This is something I can understand, whereas when I was in New York, everything was just hitting my mind, and it was kind of like, ‘I can’t believe this, I can’t believe this.'” The 21-year-old Kansas State University senior isn’t the first to parody LMFAO’s club hit. Spoofs include “Elmo and I Know It,” which features the popular “Sesame Street” character, “I’m Average and I Know It,” and “Santa and I Know It.” Most have only a few thousand hits, although the Elmo version has garnered roughly 12.7 million hits in about seven months. Peterson’s 3:32-minute video begins at the break of dawn with him and his brothers, Nathan, 18, and Kendal, 15, walking across a field of golden wheat that sways gently in the wind. The scenes then shift rapidly to the song’s beat, showing the brothers doing chores, driving combines and tractors and jumping on hay bales. It ends with the three walking off into the sunset across a field where the wheat has been harvested. One scene shows Peterson feeding cattle as he raps, “When I step to the bunk, yeah, this is what I see: All the hungry cattle are staring at me. I got passion for my plants, and I ain’t afraid to show it, show it, show it. I’m farming, and I grow it.” Peterson, who’s majoring in agriculture communication and journalism and minoring in music performance at Kansas State, said the video was produced with iMovie and GarageBand software. His 11-year-old sister, Laura, shot some of it on the family farm near Assaria. Steve Baccus, the president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, said what the Peterson brothers did on their own is exactly what agriculture groups have been trying to get other farmers to do — use social media to show consumers the real faces of agriculture. Individual farmers and industry groups have started using Twitter, YouTube and other social media in recent years to counter the messages put out by tech-savvy environmental and animal rights groups concerned about everything from water quality to the size of cages chickens are kept in. “We think it is a great way to communicate with the consumer and give them an idea of what exactly goes on in agriculture on the farm,” Baccus said. “We are being painted by some different groups in a pretty nasty vein, and that is not at all true. I think we need to get the message out there is another side of agriculture.” He said he loved the Peterson brothers’ video: “I liked the way they incorporated humor into it, and I just thought they did a fantastic job.” The Peterson brothers have posted other videos about the family farm on YouTube, and Peterson said they’ll make more. He keeps his iPod Touch with him as he farms, occasionally pulling it out and filming things. “That doesn’t take any extra time, or really any extra thought,” he said. “It is just like, ‘This is what I am doing. So I will continue to make those kinds of videos.'” Romney blasts Obama for sluggish growth, only 80k jobs cre... Read Next Romney blasts Obama for sluggish growth, only 80k jobs cre... Share Selection

农业

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About ABE UF Resources « Back to Faculty Profiles Zhaohui Tong E-mail | Website Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 103 Frazier Rogers Hall, PO Box 110570 Gainesville, FL 32611 352-392-1864 ext. 103 A large portion of Zhaohui Tong's work is with UF’s biofuels program, but Tong’s vision and capabilities go beyond biofuels. She is interested in the full range of products that can be produced from biomass. Her training gives her remarkable scope to work at all stages of biomass processing -- from pretreatment to the development of novel polymer products. In addition to her work with biomass processes, Tong maintains an active research program in the area of novel polymer and nanoparticle development. Biofuels and Biomass-based Products The basic problems with petroleum are well known. Still the largest energy source in the U.S. (40%) and in the world (35%), petroleum results in many environmental problems, such as acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming, and environmental degradation. Plus, petroleum and other nonrenewable energy sources are running out and will be depleted in the future. Part of the solution to these problems is the production of biofuels, and the U.S. government has mandated the production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022 and 60 billion gallons by 2030. Two UF biofuel plants will be part of this solution. One of the plants is a state-of-the-art research-scale biofuel pilot plant located on the UF campus, and the other is a $20 million biofuel production facility, which will be located in Perry, Florida. Tong works closely with both of these facilities – she does research in the campus pilot plant and is helping to develop the biofuel production facility. Tong is also interested in modeling and computational aspects of biofuel engineering. She collaborates with Dr. Guanghui (George) Lan in UF’s Industrial Engineering Department in an interdisciplinary research effort to simulate and optimize the biofuel feedstock supply chain and biofuel process. But production of biofuels is not the whole story because petroleum is not just a fuel. Many chemicals and plastics are derived from petroleum. This is the “bioproducts” part of the program and one that Tong is eager to dig into. Replacing petroleum means both replacing petroleum-based fuels with biofuels and finding additional ways of reducing environmental pollution through complete utilization of current biomass and the production of high-value-added biomass-based products. Production of high-value-added materials from the three components of lignocellulose is a very interesting research area to Tong. She cites nanocrystalline cellulose which can dramatically strengthen plastics, oligosaccharides as growth regulators for animals and plants, and lignin-based products, such as nanolignin with its UV-blocking properties. Unique Background Tong’s preparation for her current position is unique and especially appropriate. Her primary interests in school were mathematics and chemistry, but she has always been motivated by a strong desire to find work of benefit to human health. She had thought she might accomplish this either directly by becoming a physician or indirectly by reducing the environmental impact of modern society. Despite these lofty goals, advisers directed her to Pulp and Paper Engineering as the most practical use of her skills, given the specific opportunities in the region of China she was living in. Nevertheless, what seemed like a diversion served as an unexpected, but appropriate preparation of her current position. Tong describes the many benefits gained from this training and experience. Most importantly, her education and industrial experience in pulp and paper dealt with lignocellulose and natural fibers, which are also the most interesting raw materials for biofuel production. Lignocellulosic materials are not unfamiliar. This material makes up most of the mass of the plants all around us, in fact, lignocellulose is the most abundant organic material on earth. Tong explains that lignocellulose is composed mainly of three polymers. The first is cellulose, which, in its pure state, is a fluffy, fibrous material. A cotton ball is 95% cellulose. But in combination with two other polymers, lignin and hemicellulose, a new material is formed which gives the stems of plants and the wood in trees their strength. Cellulose is the main component of woody plants (about 40-45%) with lesser amounts of lignin (20-25%) and hemicellulose (15-25%). The detailed understanding of lignocelluloses which Tong gained in working with pulp and paper is critically important for her work with products derived from biomass. Tong explains that most current biorefinery unit operations are adapted from the pulping process, including feedstock storage and transportation, preparation, size reduction, and the pretreatment process. Her industrial experience in the paper industry with different feedstocks, different processes, and different final products exposed her to a broad range of scientific and engineering aspects of pulp production, including biomass chemistry and biomass handling and processing. Knowledge of these unit operations will be very useful for Tong as she works on the scale-up and commercialization of current biofuel technologies. Beyond Biofuels Another benefit of Tong’s work in China was that, in addition to what she learned about the main product, paper, she also learned about the processing of lignocellulose for production of alternative products and byproducts. She focused on research into the chemical pretreatment and liquefaction of lignocelluloses, ranging from pure cellulose to tough woody materials. This liquefaction product can be synthesized into value-added plastics, such as polyurethane film. Tong significantly advanced her ability to develop novel products through her studies in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her training combined chemical engineering, polymerization, nanotechnology, and colloid and surface chemistry. Specifically, she worked to synthesize polymer composites with special properties, such as super barrier properties for water, grease, heat resistance and higher physical properties. In a breakthrough project, she worked to synthesize the self-assembling particles with core-shell structure and understand the polymerization mechanism to synthesize this type of particle. The particles she made could be stabilized in water to create a synthetic latex, which had certain desirable physical, thermal, and barrier properties. Technically speaking, Tong modified clay particles into exfoliated nanoclay layers and grafted a monomer-reactive group onto the clay surface; then, using a specialized process called miniemulsion polymerization, she encapsulated the nanoclay particles in polymer resulting in particles with size range of 200-400 nm. In discussing the potential for novel products derived from biomass, Tong emphasizes lignin, which is a significant portion of biomass (18%-25%) and is not used to make paper or biofuel. Lignin left over from the production of paper is often burned to offset energy costs. This is a poor use of lignin for two reasons. First, it is a very energy-intensive process and generates heat with low value. Second, it is only possible to use lignin this way when it comes from specific feedstocks and is pretreated in certain ways. Current biofuel processes start with non-woody agricultural residues and are pretreated with acid, which is not suitable for this lignin mature technology. Tong would like to isolate and purify this lignin and evaluate its function as the prepolymer to synthesize high value-added, lignin-based products or composites. Then she would like to make this process part of the current biofuel pilot plant. Through Tong’s work, the maximum possible value will be derived from the lowly biomass that the process starts with. Assistant Professor Dr. Tong specializes in sustainable biopolymer systems, bio-nanocomposite synthesis and self-assembling; the conversion of biomass to chemicals, fuels and bioproducts. Teaching ABE6933: Advanced Biobased Products Production, characterization and application of green nanocomposites Synthesis of sustainable latex of biopolymer encapsulated nanohybrid via miniemulison Development of high-value byproducts from biorefining waste and its applications in coating, packaging and agricultural areas Synthesis of cellulose-based biomimetic nanocomposite Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol Synthesis of plant-based chemicals and materials Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 2007 M.S. Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 2005 2010-Present: Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, University of Florida 2007-2010: Process Engineer, Energy and Chemicals Business Group, CH2MHILL Engineering Ltd. 2003-2007: Graduate Student Research Assistant, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology ASABE Florida Section Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2014 IFAS Early Career Scientist Seed Funding Awardee, 2014 Graduate Student Fellowship, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-2007 Six Sigma Cost-saving Award and Team Award for New Poduct Development, Sonoco Packaging Co. Ltd., China, 2002 Other Professional Activities Member, AICHE, 2008-present Member, TAPPI, 2002-2003 Member, ASABE 2010-2011 © Copyright 2011 | Site Feedback PO Box 110570 | 1741 Museum Road | Gainesville, FL | 32611-0570 Phone: 352 - 392 - 1864 | FAX: 352 - 392 - 4092

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Starting at $2.08/Week Milking the farm bill Down on the farm, the latest news is the battle over dairy policy that thwarts passage of a new five-year package of federal subsidies for agriculture -- and the nutrition aid for low-income families that is attached to the bill. The conflict pits the Democratic-majority Senate, which wants to boost dairy farm incomes in part by limiting milk supplies, against the Republican-led House, whose leader, Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, calls the Senate approach "Soviet-style."This story of partisan bickering -- true enough as far as it goes -- does not quite do justice to the wasteful absurdity of the entire dairy-subsidy effort. Start with the fact that dairy farmers are beseeching Congress now to undo damage that Congress did through past efforts to aid corn farmers -- specifically, mandating the addition of vast quantities of corn-based ethanol to the nation’s fuel supply. This forced dairy farmers to compete with ethanol producers for grain to feed their cows. Grain prices have shot up over the past half-decade or so and become more volatile. With their operating margins shrinking, dairy farmers ran to Capitol Hill -- even though the government already had helped them to the tune of $5.3 billion between 1995 and 2012, according to the Environmental Working Group. The House and the Senate obliged; each body’s version of the farm bill contains a new "margin insurance" program that pays farmers when the difference between their operating income and their operating costs goes below a certain amount. Unlike previous "safety net" programs, however, this one would cover large-scale, high-income producers; farms with more than 1,000 cows would get 36 to 43 percent of the benefits, as opposed to 6 percent under current law, according to the University of Minnesota Food Policy Research Center. How this helps mom-and-pop operations in the long term is not obvious. The Senate would add a "market stabilization program" to margin insurance. Basically, farmers who participate in the latter would agree to curtail production at times of low margins in return for full benefits. The goal, of course, is to reduce supply when farmers’ margins are low, drive up prices and help producers at less cost to the government. This is the provision Mr. Boehner decries as Soviet economics -- though it might be more accurate to call it a federally sponsored cartel. Like most cartels, to the extent that it doesn’t punish consumers, it is vulnerable to cheaters and free-riders, especially since farmers can often use modern forecasting tools to calculate market prices and operating costs in advance, as economists John Newton and Cam Thraen of Ohio State University have noted. Neither bill contains a convincing explanation of why the dairy industry deserves government-guaranteed prosperity. The industry’s real problem is that it has become phenomenally efficient at producing huge quantities of a substance Americans no longer want as much as they used to: Per-capita consumption of fluid milk is down 30 percent since 1975. The Agriculture Department expects that to continue. Congress can write all the farm bills it wants, but it can’t repeal the law of supply and demand. ~The Washington Post

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John Chhay It’s six in the morning in Banteay Meanchey Province and John Chhay (ISPP 1998-2004) is awake. He is getting ready to meet a group of Cambodian farmers. John is the Cambodia National Sales Manager of an award-winning international non-government organization, International Development Enterprises (IDE). Meeting with farmers is one of John’s favourite things about his job, especially when they have clearly benefited from the work of IDE. John gives the example of Mr. Kuy Ta who did not have enough money to cover his three children’s school fees. He planned to sell his land, but realized it would still not be enough. After going through IDE training, Mr. Kuy now generates enough profit to send all his three children to university in Phnom Penh and still owns his land! John (second from right) during a farmer training in 2012 Founded on the belief that better livelihood opportunities help reduce poverty, IDE works with rural households to improve their access to tools and knowledge that increase their incomes. John explains that across Cambodia, farmers typically lose 50-70% of their yields per year to pests, floods, and drought, which amounts to about 4 million riel ($1,000 USD) loss per family. “My goal is to get that money back for the families.” As a Senior Manager of the Farm Business Advisors (FBA) program at IDE, one of John’s primary responsibilities is to facilitate the training of smallholder farmers and local entrepreneurs to become FBAs, who sell agricultural inputs and provide technical inputs to other farmers. Under their own franchisor, Lors Thmey (meaning ‘New Growth’), IDE has built and expanded a network of 100 FBAs that work with thirty agronomists and serve more than ten thousand farmers in seven provinces of Cambodia. John oversaw the increase of total net income generated by farmers increase from $39,600 a year to over $432,000 a year. You can find out more about the program and its daily impact at the program’s website. While giving an expert and accessible explanation of the FBA program, John repeats a strongly held principle of IDE: “We don’t give handouts, we treat the farmers as clients, and it’s their own decision to buy what we offer. Farmers purchasing inputs means they’ve understood the value and potential return on investment. This is key to behavior change!” In this way, John seeks to break some of the traditional dependency behaviors that he has seen develop between communities and other NGOs in Cambodia. Convincing people to use a business approach to poverty reduction has proven to be one of John’s greatest challenges. “I try to explain to people that IDE is a social enterprise, which is like the child of a business that married an NGO.” John never thought that he would ever be able to use his strong business skills to make a difference in Cambodia. As the son of Cambodian-Canadian missionaries, John thought he was heading down a very different path to his parents when he chose to study Business at Calvin College, Michigan, USA. At 19, he ran his own business as an independent contractor for the Southwestern Advantage (formerly known as the Southwestern Company). Working eighty hours a week, he went door-to-door selling educational materials for the Summer Sales Program, a job that the company’s own president describes as “incredibly hard, frustrating work.” John’s work ethic eventually made him one of the top 100 salespeople out of thousands of university students across the world. After completing his Bachelors in 2008, John quickly took a job with CanPages in London, Canada. In this position, he began to enjoy the perks of successful business life, buying a car and earning a six-figure salary. Most importantly, John had finally saved enough money to come back to Cambodia in 2010 for the first time in three years to see his family. Little did he know, this trip home would change his life. During his trip, John met two significant people. The first was Scott Roy, a sales management expert and consultant for IDE. “Scott said to me, ‘I know you’re really comfortable with your job in Canada, but you could come back here and make a real difference, while still using your skills’. Four months later, I had resigned from my position, sold my car, and accepted a contract with IDE… and I have no regrets.” The second person that John met during his visit, was his now soon-to-be wife, Anna (who you may know as the namesake and owner of Anna’s Spa in Toul Tom Pong). Introduced by a former ISPP classmate, John and Anna will be getting married in November 2013! “I feel better than I ever felt before in my life.” Getting to feel this way in Cambodia has not only been a professional journey, but also a very personal one for John. Having grown up in Canada, he struggled with his identity when his family made the decision to move to Cambodia in 1998. “I was Cambodian ethnically, but I was Canadian in most other ways. Moving to Cambodia was difficult because I didn’t speak Khmer well, the food was unfamiliar, and I was always treated as a foreigner.” Today, John is happy to be feeling more at home, both in the city of Phnom Penh and out in the countryside. Reflecting on his growth, John leaves us with some of his personal ‘do’s and dont’s ’ that have contributed to his professional and personal fulfillment: “Don’t waste the summers between classes while at university, its what you do outside of your grades that sets you apart from your peers. Do try to always get enough sleep at night. Don’t bring your work home!” John (middle row, third from right) in a Grade 10 class photo at ISPP

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Newsletter Videos Subscribe Contact Us Apps Resources Naturally Sweet Give your body a boost with stevia and other natural sweeteners. By Gina Mohammed Glycyrrhizin, extracted from licorice root, often is used to sweeten diet candy — it’s 50 to 170 times sweeter than sucrose. One of my sweetest memories as a child in the tropics is biting into a fresh piece of sugar cane. I don’t even recall rinsing the cane before sinking my teeth into the juicy, fibrous stem. It was a superb sweet break that could fuel hours of running, jumping and assorted shenanigans. Nutritious? I didn’t care — it simply tasted good. Today, I no longer have the luxury of ignoring nutrition and am thus more mindful of the sweeteners I use.It’s alarming to realize that in the United States, individuals are consuming 140 pounds of sugar each year — enough calories for an extra 70 pounds of body weight! It wasn’t always this bad: Consider the typical 19th-century American pioneer, who scrimped by with a meager 12 pounds of sugar yearly. Today, we seem to be shackled to sugar, and all that sweetness can launch a bitter assault on our health. Obesity, diabetes and hyperactivity in children are just a few of the afflictions linked with excessive sugar consumption. Some argue that sugar, rather than dietary fat, is the real culprit behind heart disease.There will be many more debates about sugar’s role in disease. Meanwhile, we can do something about the amount of processed sugar we consume. Many natural alternatives can satisfy your sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on your health.Nature’s Bounty of SweetenersPlants are the original sweetener factories, making various sugars and more than 100 other sweet compounds. These include intense sweeteners, reduced-calorie sweeteners and natural sugars — the first two are generally considered safe for diabetics if used in small amounts.Stevia — The Sweet Herb of ParaguayStevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a celebrity among intense sweeteners. Natives of Paraguay have used this native South American plant for centuries as a natural sweetener, its leaves rich in several sweet compounds. Two compounds are prevalent: stevioside and rebaudioside A. Stevioside is up to 300 times sweeter than sucrose —so you need only a drop of extract in a mug of tea instead of a teaspoon of sugar. Because such teensy amounts are needed, you don’t have to worry about calories, nor about it elevating your blood sugar levels.Paradoxically, stevia can have a bitter aftertaste that many find unpleasant. That’s also from the stevioside, which has a bitter aspect to its otherwise sweet disposition. In contrast, rebaudioside A tends to be sweet without the bitter aftermath. The taste of the product you buy will depend on the balance of these two constituents. Some extracts guarantee 80 percent rebaudioside A, and these could be just your cup of tea.In other parts of North America, stevia is available as dried leaves, liquid extracts, powders or tablets. In the United States, it is marketed only as a dietary supplement, not as a commercial food additive. So you won’t find stevia in your typical grocery store products. Elsewhere, in Asia and South America, stevia is used freely in commercial food products, and it has had a sterling safety record.Is there anything you can’t do with stevia? Well, although you can bake with it, your cakes won’t turn golden brown without sugar. And stevia won’t work as a sugar substitute in yeast breads — yeast needs sugar to make bread rise, and it won’t get any from stevia. What’s Natural, What’s Not What is meant by “natural”? There’s no formal definition, but we might think of a natural sweetener as one that comes from nature and has not been chemically altered or enhanced. For example, the popular low-calorie sweetener sucralose (Splenda) is promoted as being “made from sugar” — but the sugar has chlorine bound to it via a chemical process, so it is not really natural. And the newly FDA-approved sweetener tagatose (Naturlose), made from the natural dairy byproduct whey, is a lab-produced chemical variant of fructose sugar that does not occur in nature. These are not necessarily harmful, but they are artificial. Even stevia extracts may be enzymatically treated to improve their taste. And the natural sweet proteins, thaumatins, are the target of genetic engineering programs to persuade cucumbers and other crops to make the protein. Some say honey isn’t a natural sweetener because it is chemically processed in the gut of the honeybee — so go figure! Lo Han Kuo — The New Intense SweetenerFrom the mountains of southern China comes another sweet plant — the luo han kuo (Siraitia grosvenorii). Its kiwi-like fruits contain intensely sweet substances called mogrosides, which are 250 to 425 sweeter than cane sugar, depending on the particular mogroside (mogroside V, also called mogroside 5, is considered the sweetest). The concentrated fruit has been used in China for hundreds of years to sweeten foods and beverages.Now highly purified mogroside extracts are available for use in commercial foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a product called PureLo for use by the food industry as a sweetener and flavor modifier. Consumers usually cannot purchase PureLo, but you can buy either the dried fruits (which are about 300 times sweeter than sucrose) or powdered extracts that contain about 80 percent mogrosides. You’ll see the dried fruits in Chinese shops; to use them, simply crush, or simmer to make a thick sauce for sweetening foods. Unfortunately, mogrosides can be unstable at temperatures above about 250 degrees, so they’re not suitable for baking, but they’re fine in refrigerator desserts.Stevia and Luo Han Kuo — Sweeter News YetIf you’d like more reasons to try stevia or luo han kuo, some recent research findings may interest you. Stevioside was found in a Chinese clinical study to reduce blood pressure, possibly by influencing calcium transport in the body. After three months of taking a 250-gram capsule of stevioside three times daily, patients’ systolic blood pressure dropped from 166 to 153, and diastolic from 105 to 90. The effect persisted for the full year of the study as they continued taking the herb.Both stevioside and mogroside V also might help prevent cancer caused by harmful chemical radicals. Extracts inhibited skin cancer formation in mice exposed to nitrites and nitrous oxides. Scientists suggest these extracts may be promising cancer-preventive agents. Bitter with the Sweet If you taste stevia or luo han kuo, you’ll notice a bitter taste with the sweet. That’s because their sweetener molecules belong to a chemical class known as glycosides — split-personality molecules that are part sugar, part nonsugar, the latter often bitter. Many glycosides are weapons that plants use to avoid being gobbled up by pests and bugs — and by us. Agave — Beyond TequilaThe agave plant from Mexico made its reputation as the famous tequila plant. Now Agave tequilana is enjoying a revival, this time for the sweet nectar contained in the inner core, or heart, of this gigantic succulent. A mature agave plant could literally fill a 12-foot room and produce a pineapple-sized core. About 25 percent sweeter than sugar, the nectar’s golden creamy quality makes a good substitute for honey in most cooking and baking — use about three-quarters (as compared with the honey requirement) of the volume of nectar.There’s a certain amount of snobbery among agave producers. Some say it must be the blue agave to be any good, while others use alternate Agave species. Blue agave flourishes in the rich volcanic soils that blanket the Mexican mountain ranges. Nectar from the blue agave has been rated as “low glycemic,” meaning it is generally safe for diabetics in specified amounts — but check that the product you’re buying has been tested by a reputable organization.Agave is high in fructose. The key, sweet carbohydrate in agave is inulin, a complex form of fructose consisting of long chains of sugar molecules strung together. But our bodies can’t digest inulin, so we obtain no sugar value from it and it does not destabilize blood sugar. Interestingly, the beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive tracts love inulin and digest it very well for their own use, so using it as a sweetener has the added benefit of nurturing our good intestinal flora. Inulin also is found in chicory roots, Jerusalem artichokes, dahlia tubers and many other plants. In the food industry, it is often used to confer a creamy texture and to balance the taste of more intense sweeteners, such as stevia.Natural Sweeteners in Commercial FoodsVarious naturally derived sweeteners are used to sweeten and flavor diet candies, chewing gums and breath fresheners. Diet candies often contain a licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract called glycyrrhizin, a noncaloric substance that is 50 to 170 times sweeter than sucrose. You should avoid glycyrrhizin (and licorice root products in general) if you have hypertension, heart or kidney problems or glaucoma. Research suggests that a daily upper limit for otherwise healthy individuals is about 2.3 mg of the root or 0.1 mg of glycyrrhizin extract per pound of body weight.Another sweetener comes from the fruit of the West African katemfe shrub, Thaumatococcus daniellii. It yields phenomenally sweet proteins called thaumatins — 2,000 to 3,000 times sweeter than sucrose and virtually calorie-free. In the United States, thaumatin is used commercially in chewing gum, breath fresheners and as a flavor enhancer by the food industry.Then there are the sugar alcohols (or polyols), which are neither sugar nor the kind of alcohol that makes you tipsy. An example is xylitol, originally extracted from birch wood chips and now manufactured mainly in the laboratory. Popular in sugar-free gums and candies because it doesn’t rot the teeth, xylitol is as sweet as sugar with 40 percent fewer calories. It and other sugar alcohols — mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, erythritol and maltitol — do elevate blood glucose, but less rapidly than sugar, as they’re absorbed very slowly. You can buy xylitol sweetener for your own use, but be aware that sugar alcohols sometimes can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.My Favorite SugarsMy personal favorites are the natural sugars. For example, tea sweetened with a delicate wild honey, wild blueberry sauce sweetened with maple syrup, or a favorite gingerbread laced with molasses — these are great treats to be enjoyed in moderation. And that sugar cane I loved to chew on as a child even had a good dash of riboflavin. I also like the rich spicy notes of birch syrup, perfect on pancakes, in meat marinades and in other assorted delicacies.Most of us can enjoy natural sugars with a measure of wholesome restraint, but 140 pounds of it is too much. So if we imitate those pioneers, we should hit it just about right.Gina Mohammed, Ph.D., is a plant physiologist living in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Contact her at www.HerbsForHealth.com/ contributors.The reference list for this article is extensive. If you would like a copy, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to “Sweeteners,” Herbs for Health, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609; or e-mail us at [email protected].

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2002N-0273 Animal Proteins Prohibited in Ruminant Feed Ms. Gloria Eddie Member, Farm Sanctuary Individual Consumer As you know, in early 2004, following the discovery of mad cow disease in a Washington state downed dairy cow, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) took emergency action to ban the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle for human consumption. This ban remains in effect, although it has not yet been finalized. In July 2004 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed the lead of the USDA and prohibited the use of all materials from downed cattle in FDA-regulated human food, including dietary supplements and cosmetics. Also in July 2004, the FDA announced its tentative conclusion to ban all materials from downed cattle in animal feed. But now, I understand, the FDA has reversed its earlier position on non-ambulatory animals. The agency recently announced that it plans to allow the carcasses of downed and dead animals to be rendered for animal feed as long as the brain and spinal cord have been removed. This would permit downed cattle to be killed for use in feed for birds (chickens & turkeys), pigs and companion animals. (Materials from downed cattle have been prohibited in feed for ruminants -- cattle, sheep and goats -- since 1997.) Allowing sick, non-ambulatory cattle to be killed for animal feed will result in unnecessary pain and suffering. Downed animals should be humanely euthanized immediately, not kept alive and/or transported to be killed for rendering.

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Home > News > World Grain News Groups want grain inspection reinstated at port - by World Grain Staff Search for similar articles by keyword: [NGFA] ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — Citing the “extremely troubling precedent” being set, 22 national, regional and state agricultural producer, commodity and agribusiness organizations, including U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers, have urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take immediate action to restore official grain inspection and weighing services at the Port of Vancouver, Washington, U.S. In a recent letter to the Secretary of Agriculture and other key administration officials, the organizations cited a notice by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) stating that it no longer would fulfill its obligation to provide official grain inspection and weighing services at the Port of Vancouver. WSDA had been delegated the responsibility to provide official grain inspection and weighing services at the port by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). In the July 1 notice stating that it was suspending official inspection services indefinitely, effective July 7, the director of WSDA’s grain inspection program stated as one of the reasons the belief that the “continued provision of inspection services appears to have been unhelpful in leading to any foreseeable resolution” of the labor dispute. Several organizations also met last October with GIPSA and other USDA officials to urge that the agency prepare contingency plans to ensure an “immediate and effective” program to continue official services at the port after several service interruptions. “This issue is of great concern to the wheat farmers in the Pacific Northwest as well as around the country,” said Paul Penner, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) president and wheat farmer from Hillsboro, Kansas, U.S. “If Washington state inspectors are unable to perform their duties, then the time has come for federal grain inspectors to step in and do their mandated jobs to get grain flowing out of the port of Vancouver.” Alan Tracy, president of U.S. Wheat Associates said, "With the wheat harvest season well underway and the importance of exports to our producers, we hope that official services are restored at the Port of Vancouver as quickly as possible." “To our knowledge, this latest announcement by a designated state agency declining to provide official services is unprecedented,” the groups wrote in their letter. “We believe WSDA’s actions create an extremely troubling precedent that will cause irreparable damage to the integrity and reliability of the nation’s official grain inspection system.” The organizations also cited the “uncertainty” already created within the U.S. grain export industry, as well as among U.S. agricultural producers and international buyers of U.S. commodities, regarding potential future disruptions of official services at facilities operating at other U.S. export ports. They said, “In the absence of WSDA’s reliable performance of its duties, FGIS must intervene and make the necessary arrangements to provide the mandatory official (inspection) services.” Federal law prohibits the export of U.S. grains and oilseeds unless inspected and weighed by official personnel in accordance with the U.S. grain standards. In addition, such exports are required to be accompanied by official certificates showing the grade designation and certified weight, unless the requirement is waived by the Secretary of Agriculture and the grain is not sold or exported by grade. Under the U.S. Grain Standards Act, Congress vested in USDA the responsibility and obligation to provide official inspection services to facilitate efficient and cost-effective marketing of U.S. grains and oilseeds. “To this point, confidence that the U.S. official grain inspection system will function in a continuous and consistent manner — and not be subject to unwarranted disruptions — has been instrumental in facilitating the ability of U.S. farmers and agribusinesses to reliably serve foreign customers and remain competitive in world markets,” the groups wrote. National organizations signing the letter to Vilsack were: Agricultural Retailers Association; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Soybean Association; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Corn Growers Association; National Grain and Feed Association; National Oilseed Processors Association; North American Export Grain Association; Transportation, Elevator and Grain Merchants Association; U.S. Grains Council; U.S. Soybean Export Council; and U.S. Wheat Associates. State and regional organizations signing the letter were: Idaho Grain Producers, Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, Montana Grain Growers Association, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, Oregon Wheat Growers League, South Dakota Grain and Feed Association, South Dakota Wheat Inc., Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association, and Washington Association of Wheat Growers. To read the entire letter, click here. News

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Was doing a search on what the healthiest beans are so that I could include them in a bean salad recipe I was trying to make and I came across this article so I thought I would share. Soya: The healthiest bean? Soya: The healthiest bean? 1/3/2005 2:04:00 AMSource : The Manila Times function subscribepop() No other food can be as healthy, flavorful and versatile than the veggie called soya. In terms of nutritional value, it is the “Queen of all Vegetables and Healthy Foods” for its protein-rich and cholesterol-lowering properties. Health experts have thus labeled it “the perfect food.” Those who are skeptic over the growing “soya fad” across the globe may find this information enlightening. Soya’s botanical name is Glycine max Merr. It is a native of Asia, recorded in Chinese history as early as 2838 B.C. but is now cultivated worldwide. It is an annual plant, which grows up to 150 cm in length. It is a creeping plant with hairy stems and leaves. Its pods are gray, brown or black, borne in clusters. The seeds are round with yellow, green, black or brown color. It is propagated by its seeds.Soya comes in a variety of edible forms—from the boiled green pods or roasted beans, which is eaten as a snack like boiled peanuts; to tofu (soybean curd), tokwa, tempeh, texturized soy protein and soya milk, soya flour, soya oil and to the popular tasty Filipino dessert and snack, taho, served with brown sugar syrup. The Tagalogs call soya utaw or balatong. It is also known as tonyu and bhat.Soya is a rich source of high quality protein with high biological value. It contains all of the essential amino acids needed by the human body for growth and development. Every 100 grams of soya bean contain an average of 40-percent protein, which equals in rank with milk, eggs and meat.It also has an excellent fatty acid content. It is cholesterol free but rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids composed of linoleic and linolenic acids. It is low in saturated fatty acids and moderate in mono unsaturated fatty acids. It also has phospholipids that come in the form of lecithin, which are important in brain and nerve functions.Soya is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. It is superior in calcium, phosphorus and iron. It also contains Vitamin B complex as thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic acid, panthothenic acid and pyridoxine and Vitamin E. It has almost no sodium.Its health benefits have been attributed to its phytochemicals that are mainly in the form of phytoestrogens and isoflavones. These are called genistein and daidzein, which play a major role in preventing cancer, particularly those in the breast and prostate. The body converts them into hormone-like substances that act like a weak form of estrogen. They block the body’s estrogen receptors, lowering the amount of estrogen, thus lowering the risk of breast cancer. For men, phytoestrogens reduce the harmful effects of testosterone, which is thought to fuel the growth of cancerous cells in the prostate gland.Among menopausal women, these phytoestrogens provide the “estrogen lift” that eases hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness by replacing lost estrogen during this phase of their reproductive health. An Australian research showed recently that one and a half ounces of soy flour daily for three months reduced hot flashes by 40 percent, in contrast to wheat flour which reduced them only by 25 percent.Consumption of at least 25 grams a day of soya can reduce total cholesterol by an average of 10 percent. This translates to a 30-percent reduction in heart disease risk. The low incidence of cardiovascular disease among Asians was attributed to diets high in soya beans. Asians eat an average of 50 mg of isoflavones compared to an American or European diet of only 1 to 2 mg a day. The phytosterols in soya enters into competition with bad cholesterol, thus preventing its absorption. They also lower triglycerides, acting on platelet aggregation, thus decreasing the risk of generating thrombosis.Ipriflavones, another phytochemical unique to soya, can actually increase bone density without the harsh effects of bone-building drugs. With its high calcium content, soya also stops bone loss while increasing bone density thus soya fights osteoporosis.So if you have not given soya a try, it is now the time to do so. Soya is the magic bean and the healthiest bean of all. Eat it, drink it and savor it daily and be healthy, happy and wealthy. Lui: Soya: The healthiest bean? « Kidney Health Question Nightshade Foods » Similar Forum Threads The Healthiest Foods You Can Get By aminer in forum Nutrition / Health Last Post: 11-05-2012, 09:29 AM The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet By JohnnieFreeze in forum Nutrition / Health Last Post: 02-11-2008, 06:54 PM What is the healthiest bodyfat % for a male? By pistonpump in forum Nutrition / Health Last Post: 01-02-2008, 12:10 PM Blackstrap Molasses - One of the world's healthiest foods By oldfart in forum Nutrition / Health

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Beginnings And Landmarks Army Of Men Placed On Prairie Farms By Soldier Settlement Saskatchewan Stands Second In The DominionIn The Number Of Veteran Farmers With More Than 3,000 Regina Morning LeaderSeptember 2, 1920. p.2 By C. W. Cavers, Soldier Settlement Board, Ottawa The province of Saskatchewan holds a prominent place in the activities of the Soldier Settlement Board. It is second only to Alberta among the provinces of the Dominion in the amount of money that has been loaned by the Government to returned soldiers to assist them in establishing themselves on the land. Up to the 19th of June, 4,095 loans had been approved by the Board for settlers in Saskatchewan and the total of commitments had reached the enormous sum of $16,363,585. Actually established and working their own farms are 3,251 men of the Canadian Overseas Militia Force. Of 11,231 applicants for the privileges of the Soldier Settlement Act, 9,943 have been qualified; and it is anticipated that a large proportion of this number finally will become established on the land, when they are able to locate and negotiate the purchase of farms of suitable productive quality. It is too much to expect that all those who have been assisted by the Board will prove satisfactory. There have been some cases where the men have failed to demonstrate their ability in succeed as farmers and eventually to pay back the money advanced by the government for their re-establishment. In a number of cases this failure has been due to death or ill health on the part of the settler; in some to domestic infelicity, while other failures have been because of the fact that the farms selected have not yielded expected results. Where the Board discovers that a settler has not been located to the best advantage, it loses no time in effecting a re-adjustment, placing a settler of greater promise upon the land. These re-adjustments have been for the most part attended with little or no financial loss to the public. SASKATCHEWAN SETTLERS SHOULD SUCCEED Speaking generally, however, there is every expectation that the men who have been placed on farms by the Soldier Settlement Board in the province of Saskatchewan will ultimately succeed. Saskatchewan offers a very excellent field for this great experiment. It has considerable land of good quality yet to be developed. Taking advantage of the wide powers of the Act, the Soldier Settlement Board has made progress in the direction of bringing under cultivation large areas of desirable farm land which have been contained in Indian and Forest Reserves and also portions that had been held by Doukhobors. Many of these rich agricultural lands were during the past season made available for soldier settlement. In the case of the Indian Reserves they were purchased from the Indians at a valuation, divided into farm units and sold to returned soldiers at cost. A portion of the Porcupine Forest Reserve suitable for agriculture was also made available for soldier settlement last year. The area will accommodate about 500 settlers, and on the opening day about 200 went in and established a camp. Since then a station has been built at Prairie River, and considerable work has been done in clearing the land and getting it ready for agricultural operations. In addition to these large areas which are available for soldier settlement, the Board, disposed of to returned soldiers 10,000 acres of Doukhobor lands near Kamsck, and 27,000 acres of Hudson Bay, lands in various parts of the province. The development of these tracts as well as many acres of idle lands formerly owned by private individuals means a decided fillip to the expansion of our great West and increase of the country's resources. It means that thousands of young men who would have been compelled to seek employment in the cities, which are already overcrowded to the neglect of the agricultural interests of Canada will have become producers in the truest sense because of the extremely favorable terms of the Soldier Settlement Act. The Board's records reveal many outstanding soldier settlers. Most of these boys have entered upon their new life with confidence and enthusiasm. Up to the 14th of June, 128 returned men have discharged in full their financial obligations to the Board, the figures being for all Canada. On the other hand, however, there are some who by reason of unfavorable conditions such as drought or wind storms may have to ask for some consideration when their bills become due. It has been the policy of the Board to refrain from settling men in the districts which are subject to visitations such as have been mentioned but even with these precautions isolated cases of crop failure from one cause or another are bound to result. SOME INSTANCES OF SUCCESS Saskatchewan has many instances of soldier settlers showing remarkable progress in the development of their properties. Here is the story of the success of two brothers, George R. and F. W. Laycock, each of whom took up a half-section under the Soldier Settlement Board at Browning, Sask. as late as May 1 this year. Though each is responsible to the Board for half of the purchase money for the 320 acres and the stock and equipment of the value of $3,630, they are working the half-section together.The land cost them $33 an acre and they have since been offered $55 an acre, showing that a fairly good buy was engineered for them by the Board. Between them they put in 300 acres. 130 of wheat, and 160 of oats, besides a small acreage of other crops. The value of the crop on July 3 was somewhat problematical, but the opinion of their bankers was that their prospective receipts will be $17,000. Mr. George R. Laycock makes a more moderate estimate of $10,000 "because" he says, "while we have a 40-bushel crop in sight. I am allowing for the various antics of the Weather Man and Dame Fortune. I may say we will be pleased to receive even less, as we did not at the outset expect that we would get the value of our land in one crop. Nevertheless, you can understand that the prospect of being able to pay off practically all our indebtedness in one year is very pleasing to us, as I am sure it will be to you." Mr. Laycock, in writing the Board and expressing his appreciation of the courteous treatment he and his brother have received makes this observation: "There is one side to the settlement scheme that perhaps has not occurred to you. I refer to the standing and position enjoyed by those benefiting under the Act. We are not compelled to sue for numerous favors, and the fact that the government is backing us gives us a prestige that has been surprising." FIRST CROP $3,000 The case of Andrew G. Gregga, Qu'Appelle Valley, south of Dubuc, may be mentioned in illustration of what can be done, providing the settler himself has the will to win and other conditions are right. Gregga settled in the spring of 1919 taking up a quarter-section. He put 90 acres in crop, and although 1919 was a poor year the 90 acres yielded 1,599 bushels of wheat the value of which was more than $3,000.... Without the aid of the Board he purchased a second quarter-section, and his revenue off that last year was about $3,000. He is a batchelor, and with the exception of one hired man, he had no help. About 50 acres of his land was covered with poplar and scrub. Last winter he cleared this, and broke the 50 acres this spring. To secure feed for his six horses, he managed to find time to assist a neighbor in his threshing operations, taking his pay in oats. Another hard-working settler who is bound to succeed is Ingo Benson, of Churchbridge. Previous to the war he had a half-section of homestead land, and on demobilization he secured a loan from the Board amounting to $5,100, $2,500 of which cleared his property of encumbrances, and he expended $1,500 for stock and equipment and $1,000 for improvements. During the past year he erected house, stable, two granaries, car shed and milk house, and his present assets are valued at $12,300. He broke 80 acres, had 70 acres in crop, and 10 acres in summerfallow. Through the Board he purchased 13 cows and 12 calves. His revenue from the sale of cream is $50 a month. Another important source of revenue was 100 tons of hay, valued at $20 a ton. EIGHTY ACRES BROKEN C.P. Phillips is a most promising settler, located on a quarter-section at Windthorst. He had 80 acres broken last year -- 25 acres in wheat, 40 acres in oats, and 15 acres in summerfallow. He cut 425 bushels of wheat and 995 bushels of oats. The Board purchased for him four horses and 11 cattle, and he has acquired three horses and eight head of cattle, although he started in with practically no resources of his own. He cut 25 loads of hay. He has acquired a lease of an additional quarter-section of land, purchased the fencing and proposes to develop his live stock holdings. This is a most promising settler, with the same kind of chance that hundreds of others have in these western provinces. Sergeant H. E. Banfield, located in the Lanigan district on a quarter-section, for which he paid $4,500. He sowed 120 acres in wheat this year. He is purchasing a dairy herd, and has a market in Saskatoon for all the milk he can sell at 45 cents a gallon. He is milking four cows now and disposing of his cream in Lanigan. This settler is thoroughly satisfied with his move to the farm. Previous to taking up land of his expert in connection with the Saskatoon office of the Soldier Settlement Board. A LARGE PROPORTION WILL SUCCEED These cases might be multiplied. There, is good reason to believe that a very large percentage of these men -- all of whom have been selected with the greatest care -- will be able to handle their proposition in a manner satisfactory to themselves and to the Board. They receive the benefit of careful supervision by experts, who advise them in all their farm operations. The Board's system of supervision is working out most advantageously. This is very well illustrated by the manner in which returned soldiers came through last winter with loss of very few head of live stock, although feed conditions were abnormal, and there were very heavy losses throughout the whole of the West. A recent investigation by a Parliamentary Committee disclosed that soldier settlers actually lost fewer live stock than ordinary settlers, and this was attributed altogether to the constant and active work of the Board's supervisors who were able to assist men to procure feed at critical times or to dispose of horses and cattle at advantageous prices rather than carry there through the winter. This one protection was worth many thousands of dollars to the proteges of the Board. In many other respects provision is made by the Board to save soldier settlers from financial loss.

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This insecticide is a member of the nitrogen heterocyclic class of pesticides and was introduced commercially in 1952. It subsequently has been marketed under a variety of names including Dianonr, Diazider, Diazolr, Neocidalr, and Sarolexr. Diazinon is a relatively safe insecticide that has an amazingly good track record around the home. It has been effectively utilized in a wide spectrum of applications including insects in the home, lawn, garden, ornamentals, around pets, and for fly control in stables and pet quarters. Diazinon has been successfully used in a slow-release formulation which allows the insecticide to volatilize at a much slower rate, allowing it to kill flying and crawling insects in the vicinity of application. Last modification: Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004 at 12:20 PM Access Count Since June 1, 1997: 48899

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2017 Farm and Gin Show: A first look at all that’s new Know cost of growing a bushel ‘to the cent’ Jan 13, 2017 Farmers seeking real safety net in next farm bill Jan 13, 2017 Tips for negotiating new farmland leases Jan 12, 2017 Farmers protest payment limit cuts Forrest Laws | Jun 20, 2003 “Farm payments are not gravy,” said Barry L. Heinkhouse, an irrigated corn producer from Colorado. “That’s what we need to stay in business. We can’t grow corn in our area when it’s selling for less than $2 per bushel.” Heinkhouse said the falling water table in the Ogallala aquifer that serves eastern Colorado has led to increased pumping costs on the 11,000 acres he, his father, a brother and a brother-in-law farm. “We and others like us have to farm more acres because the margins are so much smaller in an irrigated corn operation,” he noted. “Kids are leaving our part of Colorado because they can’t make a living in farming. The payment limits in the current law put a cap on what they can earn.” Corn grower Tim Hume said that if Congress continues to “ratchet down” the limits on farm program payments, it will take away opportunities for other young people to enter farming. “Without opportunities for success in agriculture, young people will choose alternative careers,” said Hume, board chairman for the National Corn Growers Association and a Colorado grower. “Overly restrictive payment limitations limit these opportunities and discourage young people from entering production agriculture.” Hume also challenged the Commission to re-evaluate the definitions frequently cited to describe the type and size of family-owned commercial farm operations. He noted that much has changed in agriculture, requiring many producers to expand in order to maintain profitability. “The Small Business Administration defines a small business as one having $2.5 million to $3 million in assets, which many small- to medium-sized farming operations have today,” he said. “It’s absurd that a farmer with an operation that size has to have a second income from off the farm to keep the farm going.” It’s not just small- to medium-sized farms that would be affected, said Paul Combs, a rice farmer from Kennett, Mo. Tighter payment limits would impact rural communities negatively, as well. “Simply put, we can’t stand any more cuts to agriculture,” said Combs, who spoke on behalf of the USA Rice Federation. “Any additional steps to limit farm program benefits will send areas like my hometown in Kennett, Mo., into a tailspin.” Combs told the Commission that any further restrictions on payment limits that they might recommend would place farmers as a substantial disadvantage domestically and in an international market that is “already unfair for our producers. “Payment limits disproportionately affect family farmers of highly capital-intensive crops, particularly rice,” he said. “Arbitrary, uniform limits across all program crops hit rice growers first and hit them hardest. And limits on marketing loan benefits are counterproductive because they hit hardest when times are toughest.” Thomas A. “Tap” Parker, a cotton producer from Lake Providence, La., told the Commission that he began farming 15 years ago with a “FHA loan, a used tractor and 200 acres of land. “My father died when I was a teen-ager, and I didn’t have any aunts or uncles to help me,” he said. “But I worked hard, and I’ve built my operation up to 4,000 acres. Now I’m having to defend the success of my business against those who want to reduce farm programs.” Parker said subsidies have become a part of farming in this country because U.S. farmers face increasing competition from subsidized growers and manufacturers in other countries. “Until this situation changes, we need subsidizes to compete on a very unlevel playing field.” Referring to comments by another speaker that farm payments were preventing young people from entering farming, Parker said, “I’m one of those guys. Changing the payment limits will actually prevent more of us from getting into farming.” e-mail: [email protected]

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Cattle markets adjust to larger supplies: Outlook Jan 13, 2017 Crop protection industry needs to stay united to protect products Jan 12, 2017 OUTLOOK 2017: Ag economists explore the best options for producers Jan 12, 2017 Texas Ag Commissioner hopes to talk trade initiative with Israel Jan 10, 2017 Value-added pushes produce purchases Ron Smith Farm Press Editorial Staff | Oct 03, 2002 The combination of an aging population, more emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and the quest for convenience will prompt consumers to increase fruit and vegetable consumption significantly. “The moon and the stars are aligned; the industry faces the opportunity of a lifetime because fruit and vegetable consumption (in the United States) could double,” says Steve Grinstead, Standard Fruit and Vegetable, Dallas. Grinstead moderated a panel discussion at the recent Texas Produce Convention in Houston and said the industry is “on the verge of having a lot of money coming in to help support marketing efforts. Elected officials have become more interested in the industry because of the national focus on obesity and other health issues. They recognize that fruit and vegetables in diets are important contributors to improved health.” He says the “billions of dollars the federal government has already spent to promote produce does not include the fruit and vegetable health message.” Better information for such opportunities as the school lunch program could mean significant increases in produce use. Grinstead said industry collaboration makes the opportunities even more realistic. “In the past individual segments of the industry worked against each other,” he said. “Now, we're working together. We've learned how important a good relationship can be. Change will take place and it can either happen to us or we can effect change. We have to grab this opportunity.” One of the major changes will be an increased demand for value-added products. Panelists Michael Marx, Kroger, Houston; Bryan Herr, Country Fresh Produce, Houston; and Steve Gill, Gill's Onions, Oxnard, Calif., looked at the industry advantages for pre-packaged products. Cut fruit may offer the best growth potential, Marx said. “Fresh cut fruit will outpace the packaged salad industry,” he said. “Cut fruit could experience a 20 percent growth rate.” That's good news for Herr, who has launched an aggressive program to provide fresh cut fruit to supermarkets. “We're adding value to a product,” Herr said, “but the value is determined by the consumer who is looking for convenience, quality and a reasonable price.” Herr said quality is paramount and believes fresh cut allows a consumer to appraise what she's buying. “It's visible, so she can check color and evaluate freshness,” he said. “She can't do that if it's still in the peel. Fresh cut builds confidence.” It's convenient because it's already cut up. “That saves time,” Herr said. “We're also focusing on different fruit mixes to provide variety and unique flavor combinations. We also hope to extend shelf life. “Currently, we expect four to five days from the time it's packaged. We'd like to extend that so the consumer has three to four days to enjoy the produce after it's bought.” Herr said growers might help improve the fresh-cut business. “We look for suppliers who can give us varieties that do well as fresh cut,” he said. “We want the proper sugar content, texture and flavor. Yield is also a factor. We need to identify the best varieties for value-added processing.” Gill said value-added meshes well with both an aging population and a young generation attuned to health benefits of fruits and vegetables. “As folks age, they use more produce in their diets,” Gill said. The convenience of value-added appeals to an aging population. “It also fits for youngsters. Pre-packaged fruits and vegetables are easy to use, they're easy to carry and they are popular, especially when packaged with a dip or sauce. It's ideal for a time-strapped consumer.” Gill said making a product easier to prepare increases demand. He said the change would alter the way farmers produce and market fruit and vegetable crops. “Prices will be more stable as growers produce on contract for specific types of fruits and vegetables. They'll miss the highs and lows. Many may grow only for contract and get out of the shipping business.” Panelists agreed that food safety has become an even more critical issue following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. “Farmers will need to keep better records of pesticide applications,” Gill said. “We'll have trace-back capabilities to identify where products originate.” Marx said other trends will include more emphasis on organic produce and innovative packaging. [email protected]

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Last Updated - 13 Jul 2016 International Fertiliser Society - Proceeding 299 (1990) ISBN 978-0-85310-917-4OLD ISBN 0 85310 917 6 Proceedings Menu Losses of Nitrogen by Denitrification and Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides from Soils K A Smith J R M Arah Summary:- Keywords: environment, N losses, denitrificationCONCLUDING REMARKSThe chemistry and biochemistry of the processes resulting in denitrification and emissions of nitrogen oxides by soils are reasonably well understood, although some of the finer details still have to be established beyond doubt. Attempts to quantify the amounts of mineral nitrogen lost to the atmosphere have met with less success.Two factors are principally responsible: the great variability - spatial and temporal - of the rates of emission and, in the case of denitrification, the difficulty of measuring what is often the major product, N2, in the presence of the atmospheric background.As methods of measuring denitrification improve (and in particular as more experience is obtained with 15N tracer methods in this area of research), we may expect to see more reliable and consistent data emerging. It will not be surprising if, then, we find in agronomic studies that a very significant proportion of the “unaccounted for” entry in nitrogen balance sheets becomes attributed unequivocally to denitrification, especially in relation to crops grown in heavy clay soils. Under such conditions gaseous losses have probably been under- rather than over-estimated, hitherto.Environmental pressures have already promoted a shift of emphasis towards the study of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions per se, rather than as a detail within the study of denitrification. As the environmental problems to which N2O contributes are truly global ones, there is a need to acquire more representative information about emissions, and the processes causing them, world-wide. Up to now, a disproportionate amount of information has come from the developed temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, compared with the rest of the world, and from managed agricultural systems compared with forests and other natural ecosystems. Enough is known, however, to conclude that increased use of nitrogen fertilisers has contributed to the increased emissions of N2O (and NO), directly from agricultural land, and indirectly following the transfer of nitrogen to other environments.Much release of N2O from soils has nothing to do with fertilisers or manures, but comes from mineralisation processes, especially in tropical forests. However, the very large reductions in emissions being called for by bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mean that no significant source can reasonably be ignored, and reductions in emissions from fertilisers will be highly desirable.The emissions of N2O from fertilisers vary greatly with fertiliser form and soil conditions, and with different combinations of these two factors. There is considerable scope for reducing them (just as nitrate leaching can be reduced) by modification to existing fertiliser use and soil management practices. The procedures which optimise crop recovery of applied N will generally also be those which minimise losses by denitrification, and more can undoubtedly be done to achieve their more widespread adoption. The effect of fertiliser form on the emission rate of N2O from nitrification appears to be a significant one, and any consequent pressures to change the balance of the products used are likely to have major implications for the international fertiliser industry. The subject promises to give rise to a lively debate during the next few years.K A Smith and J R M Arah, The Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK34 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables, 124 references Copies of all Society Proceedings are available at £12.50 ea. from International Fertiliser Society,PO Box 12220, Colchester, CO1 9PR, UK Proceedings Order Form

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Julia Shu For struggling small dairy farms, a unique new partnership – prison reform Amid crowds of shoppers out to plan their holiday meals, Tim Tonjes and his wife Mary tend their stall at the Saturday Union Square Greenmarket. Customers buying bottles of cherry and raspberry yogurt drink from Tonjes Farm Dairy may not realize that the couple drive over two hours from Calicoon, NY, to sell their products. “We end up being the farmer, the dairyman, the processor, distributor, marketer, the whole thing,” said Tonjes, 57. “It’s a lot of work, but we’re small, a family farm.” Dairy represents 51 percent of agricultural receipts in the state, according to Bruce Krupke, Executive Vice President of the Northeast Dairy Association. “And agriculture is the largest industry of the state,” said Krupke. Despite the importance of dairy farming, farmers like Tonjes struggle to make ends meet. But a small activist organization is seeking to reframe the struggles of dairy farms, and connect them with something seemingly worlds away – the prison industry. “Demand a new urban-rural relationship” is the slogan of Milk Not Jails, an organization focused on the future of both dairy and prisons. Tonjes Dairy Farm is a partner of the organization, which believes that rural areas have seen a decline in dairy farms and a simultaneous expansion of prison facilities. “We know that before the correctional officers put on the correctional suit, they had farmer suits,” said Tychist Baker, 36, co-founder of Milk Not Jails. Baker, from Brooklyn, spent time in prison before becoming a community activist. “We are a dairy marketing and distribution co-operative and we are a political campaign building an alliance for a sustainable and just regional economy,” states the organization’s website. Among other things, the group advocates an end to criminal justice practices that they believe unfairly target minorities, resulting in racial disparities in prisons. The group also believes that with consumer and government support, the rural economy would not have to rely on prisons. Tom Toigo of Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, a third generation family farm in the Hudson Valley. Photo by Julia Shu Tonjes said his involvement with Milk Not Jails came from a desire to increase his sales, not out of interest in their advocacy. His products are distributed by Milk Not Jails, expanding the reach of his business. Tonjes Farm Dairy originally only produced milk, but now processes yogurt and cheese to compensate for unpredictable milk prices. “Making cheese and processing our own just helps us even it off,” he said. Ronnybrook Farm Dairy is another partner of Milk Not Jails, a larger company with commercial success. Tom Toigo, who helps to sell Ronnybrook products at the GreenMarket, was pleased his farm got involved with Milk Not Jails. But he believes the best strategy for a small dairy is to specialize. “The way in our region that agriculture tends to survive is people tend to find little niches, that’s kind of the way to do it,” Toigo said. Baker’s goals for Milk Not Jails are focused on system-wide reform. “The prison system is very racist,” said Baker. He believes the fact that most people in prisons are black men is a sign of an institution in need of transformation, a transformation that could encourage more understanding between urban and rural areas. According to the organization, 90 percent of the state’s prisons are in rural New York, even though the vast majority of people in prison come from New York City. Milk Not Jails also advocates a continuation of the New York Farmland Protection Program, and passing policies to increase farm food in public schools. Through partnering with dairy farms, the organization gains their public endorsement. In return, Milk Not Jails markets their products at farmers markets and through a co-op distribution throughout the city. In fact, in New York State over the last few decades, most new prisons have been constructed in rural counties, according to a study by The Sentencing Project. Milk Not Jails wants to change that. “The Milk Not Jails brand of products is an alternative economic relation built to demonstrate that rural New York does not have to be dependent on the prison industry,” says the organization’s policy agenda. But outside of Milk Not Jails, some believe the connection between New York dairy farms and prisons is a stretch. Max Kenner, Executive Director of the Bard Prison Initiative, said that while there is undoubtedly a connection between the rise of the prison industry and the demise of agriculture, one should approach the organization with some skepticism. “I think the folks at Milk Not Jails are naïve about dairy farming,” he said. From the perspective of the Northwest Dairy Association, the organization draws more than just skepticism. “The connection is so far out that we’re not taking it seriously,” said Krupke of the link between dairy and prisons. “Their effort is interesting, but it’s not something that’s got much traction at all.” Either way, small dairy farms are still left with few options. “It’s a tough way to make a buck. We work very hard at it, we don’t make very much money,” Toigo said, “If you’re a mainstream dairy farm selling milk to the cooperative, you have to be very big, you have to have a lot of cows, in order to be viable.” For now, Tonjes Farm Dairy is surviving against the odds as a small operation. Tonjes is a second-generation dairy farmer, and hopes his kids will take an interest in the business. But over the years, he has witnessed the decline of the industry. “When I started I think there were about 30,000 farms in New York, now there are about 4,500,” he said, “There’s still a lot of milk in New York, but the number of farms has just decreased.” Despite the ideas advocated by Milk Not Jails, he isn’t sure what the best change in the future would be. “I have no answer other than doing what I’m doing. I take my products right to consumers and that’s it,” he said. Julia Shu diary, Farming, new york state, prisons, Racism Features, Video Related posts City’s Muslims struggle to escape the shadow of 9/11 Comments: 1 Pingback: For struggling small dairy farms, a unique new partnership – prison reform | Julia Shu Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Tags9/11

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TEMPERATURE RISING; A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself By JUSTIN GILLIS; Hari Kumar contributed reporting from Samhauta, India. CIUDAD OBREG?, Mexico -- The dun wheat field spreading out at Ravi P. Singh's feet offered a possible clue to human destiny. Baked by a desert sun and deliberately starved of water, the plants were parched and nearly dead. Dr. Singh, a wheat breeder, grabbed seed heads that should have been plump with the staff of life. His practiced fingers found empty husks. ''You're not going to feed the people with that,'' he said. But then, over in Plot 88, his eyes settled on a healthier plant, one that had managed to thrive in spite of the drought, producing plump kernels of wheat. ''This is beautiful!'' he shouted as wheat beards rustled in the wind. Hope in a stalk of grain: It is a hope the world needs these days, for the great agricultural system that feeds the human race is in trouble. The rapid growth in farm output that defined the late 20th century has slowed to the point that it is failing to keep up with the demand for food, driven by population increases and rising affluence in once-poor countries. Consumption of the four staples that supply most human calories -- wheat, rice, corn and soybeans -- has outstripped production for much of the past decade, drawing once-large stockpiles down to worrisome levels. The imbalance between supply and demand has resulted in two huge spikes in international grain prices since 2007, with some grains more than doubling in cost. Those price jumps, though felt only moderately in the West, have worsened hunger for tens of millions of poor people, destabilizing politics in scores of countries, from Mexico to Uzbekistan to Yemen. The Haitian government was ousted in 2008 amid food riots, and anger over high prices has played a role in the recent Arab uprisings. Now, the latest scientific research suggests that a previously discounted factor is helping to destabilize the food system: climate change. Many of the failed harvests of the past decade were a consequence of weather disasters, like floods in the United States, drought in Australia and blistering heat waves in Europe and Russia. Scientists believe some, though not all, of those events were caused or worsened by human-induced global warming. Temperatures are rising rapidly during the growing season in some of the most important agricultural countries, and a paper published several weeks ago found that this had shaved several percentage points off potential yields, adding to the price gyrations. For nearly two decades, scientists had predicted that climate change would be relatively manageable for agriculture, suggesting that even under worst-case assumptions, it would probably take until 2080 for food prices to double. In part, they were counting on a counterintuitive ace in the hole: that rising carbon dioxide levels, the primary contributor to global warming, would act as a powerful plant fertilizer and offset many of the ill effects of climate change. Until a few years ago, these assumptions went largely unchallenged. But lately, the destabilization of the food system and the soaring prices have rattled many leading scientists. ''The success of agriculture has been astounding,'' said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a researcher at NASA who helped pioneer the study of climate change and agriculture. ''But I think there's starting to be premonitions that it may not continue forever.'' A scramble is on to figure out whether climate science has been too sanguine about the risks. Some researchers, analyzing computer forecasts that are used to advise governments on future crop prospects, are pointing out what they consider to be gaping holes. These include a failure to consider the effects of extreme weather, like the floods and the heat waves that are increasing as the earth warms. A rising unease about the future of the world's food supply came through during interviews this year with more than 50 agricultural experts working in nine countries. These experts say that in coming decades, farmers need to withstand whatever climate shocks come their way while roughly doubling the amount of food they produce to meet rising demand. And they need to do it while reducing the considerable environmental damage caused by the business of agriculture. Agronomists emphasize that the situation is far from hopeless. Examples are already available, from the deserts of Mexico to the rice paddies of India, to show that it may be possible to make agriculture more productive and more resilient in the face of climate change. Farmers have achieved huge gains in output in the past, and rising prices are a powerful incentive to do so again. But new crop varieties and new techniques are required, far beyond those available now, scientists said. Despite the urgent need, they added, promised financing has been slow to materialize, much of the necessary work has yet to begin and, once it does, it is likely to take decades to bear results. ''There's just such a tremendous disconnect, with people not understanding the highly dangerous situation we are in,'' said Marianne B?iger, deputy chief of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, a leading research institute in Mexico. A wheat physiologist at the center, Matthew Reynolds, fretted over the potential consequences of not attacking the problem vigorously. ''What a horrible world it will be if food really becomes short from one year to the next,'' he said. ''What will that do to society?'' 'The World Is Talking' 1

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Shutdown fallout a matter of time Lee Mielke's weekly dairy wrap-up looks at the impact of the federal government's shutdown. By Lee MielkeFor the Capital Press Published on October 11, 2013 10:19AM The government shutdown and its impact on the dairy industry continues to be assessed. As I pointed out last week, USDA invoked a special rule taken from the Code of Federal Regulations titled “Equivalent Price” to calculate last week’s September Federal order milk prices. The Ag Marketing Service’s missed surveys will not be completed once funding is restored.Federal milk marketing order administrators estimated those surveyed equivalent product prices, along with earlier surveys to determine the class and component prices and they, along with any future milk price announcements, will not be revised.The Upper Midwest Milk Market Order, Federal Order 30, was tapped again to calculate and publish equivalent prices to the National Dairy Product Sales Report (NDPSR) prices, according to the Oct. 9 Daily Dairy Report (DDR). The DDR stated that “the weekly price releases are courtesy of the market administrator’s office, which is still operational due to industry funding.”The DDR added that “there was a collective sigh of relief from the industry that prices are being released, but the lack of weekly volumes is still problematic as monthly milk prices are calculated based on weighted product price averages. As a result, determining the ultimate milk price will most likely be a simple average of the equivalent NDPSR prices. Prices released Oct. 9 will also be the first of two weeks that will determine the advanced Class I milk price for November.” That price will be announced on Oct. 23. Are reports necessary? So how necessary are these reports? I posed that question to Cornell’s Andrew Novakovic. He said they’re more important and necessary than we would have imagined in September. He explained that we have changed the way we do marketing and pricing in the dairy industry and that has made the data a lot more essential, but “if it’s just a matter of a few days, we’ll get by fine. The longer this goes on the more problems are going to surface.”The mandatory price reporting that the Ag Marketing Service (AMS) is doing, (formerly done by the National Agricultural Statistics Service) is perhaps the most important missing report and “essential,” according to Novakovic, because they are used by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to settle futures contracts. That will come to the forefront at the end of the month, he warned, and they are used in the pricing formulas to establish federal order class milk prices.Determining the advanced prices (Class I) in the middle of the month, Oct. 23, will be a challenge if this issue is not resolved by then, he said, as well as the announcement of October prices (Class II,III,&IV) out on Oct. 30.Government shutdowns have happened before and have impacted NASS activities and other parts of USDA, he said, “but, in those times, not with the same consequences.” “Futures markets weren’t as important,” he explained. “We didn’t have to worry about cash settling a Class IV contract because there wasn’t any such thing and federal orders could proceed without interruption.”When asked if the industry could fund these reports, Novakovic said, “Potentially, but NASS has been very reluctant to allow users to fund major reports.” The fear is that it would “taint the perception of the bias nature of these reports.” “That may become more of an issue in the future,” he concluded, “but our problem isn’t lack of money. Our problem is lack of political will to get the job done.” Cash markets Checking the cash markets, the block cheese price closed the second Friday of October at $1.80 per pound, up 3 1/2-cents on the week but 30 cents below a year ago. The barrels closed at $1.7650, up 1 1/2-cents on the week and 29 1/2-cents below a year ago. Eight cars of block traded hands on the week and 14 of barrel. The NDPSA block price averaged $1.8036 and barrels averaged $1.7857.Cash butter lost ground for the first time in five weeks though it did regain a little on Friday from earlier week losses. The closing price was $1.5425, down 7 1/4-cents on the week and 38 3/4-cents below a year ago. Eleven cars were sold on the week. Holiday demand is slowing and, with plenty of butter in storage, no one seems worried about running out. THE NDPSA butter average was $1.5476.Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk held all week at $1.8450 but Extra Grade gained 2 cents, hitting $1.80, the first price movement since Aug. 22. The NDPSA powder average was $1.8289, and the dry whey average was 58.05 cents per pound.Evaluating the markets, Jerry Dryer wrote in his Oct. 4 Dairy and Food Market Analyst that “bulls keep talking about the holidays and export sales. Bears keep talking about huge inventories.” “With the USDA information void, figuring out where the markets might go won’t get any easier,” he said. “That said, I still think these prices have some upside for all of the reasons other bulls cite. Supply is larger than usual, but so is demand.”Dryer offered his own Dairy Products report, the first USDA report casualty from the shutdown. Based on August milk production data and Dryer speculated that production “staged a major recovery in California in August, thus supporting butter and powder production. Meanwhile, milk production gains in the Midwest and East were less robust than earlier in the year, so cheese output increases were moderated.” Double-edged sword The increasing importance of U.S. dairy exports remains a double-edged sword. Product moved offshore obviously adds strength to domestic prices here but as U.S. manufacturers start producing for the world market, what happens if and when that market slows and exports are reduced? Where does that product go?Dairy Business Update editor Dave Natzke and I discussed exports with the U.S. Dairy Export Council’s (USDEC) Alan Levitt at World Dairy Expo and, while Levitt acknowledged the potential pitfalls of dealing in the world market, he remains bullish on the export potential.He told us that more than 15 percent of U.S. milk is now exported, up from 5.7 percent 10 years ago, as the U.S. increases world market share. USDEC says this will be another record year and estimates 2013 dairy exports will reach 3.8 billion pounds milk solids, valued at $6.6 billion. Dairy imports are projected to be about 779 million pounds milk solids, and valued at $3.2 billion. Global prices remained strong in the second and third quarters and USDEC says the U.S. gained market share in the first half of 2013 in key products such as skim milk powder and cheese.He cautions that the global milk supply will come back and admits world dairy product prices could slip in 2014 but does not see anything close to a crash.The main reason? One word: China. China demand is underpinning the markets, according to Levitt, and cited as an example, that China is on pace to import more than 500 million metric tons of whole milk powder (WMP) this year, up from virtually nothing five years ago.The U.S. is beginning to produce more WMP for export instead of just nonfat powder. World importers of WMP include China, Southeast Asia, Venezuela, Algeria, Nigeria, Brazil and Sri Lanka, in that order. The top WMP exporters are New Zealand, the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay and Singapore.New market access could be in the works to Canada and Japan via the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) although Levitt stated that the U.S. dairy industry insists the TPP agreement address the anti-competitive New Zealand dairy structure before the U.S. provides additional access to the Kiwis. In addition, Canada will not give up its supply management regime easily, but if reforms can be made the Canadian market offers huge potential to the U.S. dairy industry.A fifth element in USDEC’s latest trade summary is the safety and quality factor. Consumers are highly sensitive to this, according to Levitt, and Fonterra’s recent powder issue with China was a prime example. USDEC says U.S. traceability best practices for dairy plants “should help.”Finally on the demand side of things is the fact that the global population is on track to hit 9.1 billion by 2050, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. USDEC points out that means 2.3 billion more mouths to feed than today and virtually all those additional mouths will reside in developing nations, primarily Asia and Africa. Dairy will be a big part of that food demand.Speaking of the TPP, the International Dairy Foods Association charges that the government shutdown has put a damper on U.S. trade negotiations in the TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) was already under budget constraints due to sequestration, and the shutdown further limits its capacity to negotiate and enforce trade deals as three-quarters of USTR employees are furloughed. In addition, DBU reports that President Obama canceled his trip to Bali, Indonesia, where he was scheduled to host a meeting of the TPP leaders. The agreement is set to conclude at the end of the year, but more work is needed in several key areas, and the shutdown could hinder participation by USTR officials in future negotiating sessions. Comparable problems are also affecting TTIP, according to DBU. The second round of negotiations between the U.S. and the European Union scheduled to be held this week in Brussels was also canceled due to the shutdown. A new date has not been scheduled and is unlikely until the shutdown is over. CWT OKs export aid Speaking of exports, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 32 requests for export assistance this week to sell 4.890 million pounds of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese and 7.540 million pounds of butter to customers in Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.The product will be delivered through March 2014 and raised CWT’s 2013 cheese exports to 106.900 million pounds plus 79.795 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 37 countries, the equivalent of 2.783 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.In politics, DBU reports that U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., a member of the House Ag Committee, said she has received an assurance from Speaker of the House John Boehner that he will appoint House conferees within a week to the House-Senate Farm Bill conference committee. The naming of House conferees will allow formal Farm Bill conference negotiations to begin, bringing the Farm Bill one step closer to completion.The recent blizzard in South Dakota, which killed an estimated 60,000 head of cattle, has added urgency for lawmakers in the region. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., wrote letters calling for action from Boehner and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, including reauthorization of livestock disaster programs, and opening of USDA Farm Service Agency offices to assist affected producers.World Dairy Expo attendance was just shy of 71,000 people and the top five international attendees were from Canada, Japan, Mexico, Germany and Brazil. Some 843 companies from 29 countries, 43 states, and six Canadian provinces exhibited at the show. There were 1,616 cattle exhibitors from 36 states and seven Canadian provinces. Complete details of the cattle sales and fitting and showing results are posted at www.worlddairyexpo.com.

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Industry 'One of our life rafts has disappeared,' says NMPF By National Milk Producers Federation October 01, 2012 | 11:37 am EDT Dairy farmers have lost a safety net because the 2008 farm bill expired Sunday and Congress has yet to pass a new Farm Bill, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which said today that farmers need to continue to voice their dissatisfaction with the lack of action in Washington on farm policy. Members of the House left Washington last month without completing work on the 2012 Farm Bill. Although Congress is expected to return to Capitol Hill after the November elections, the status of many farm and food programs is in limbo until then, along with the rest of the pending farm bill that contains a new and better safety net for dairy farmers. “Dairy is among the first sectors in agriculture to feel the impact of Congress’s inability to reach accord on most anything, including a new Farm Bill,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “Had the House leadership brought the bipartisan farm bill to the floor, I believe we could have passed a bill containing the Dairy Security Act. Instead, we are in uncharted waters, and one of our life rafts has disappeared.” Dairy farmers continue to suffer from high feed costs, and the other program intended to serve as a safety net – the dairy product price support program – was created years before feed costs started to escalate, Kozak said. That’s why NMPF has been urging Congress to pass the Dairy Security Act, which instead of focusing simply on milk prices, takes into account the margin between farm-level milk prices and feed costs. “We strongly encourage our dairy farmer members to visit with their members of Congress during the pre-election recess to determine a path forward for the 2012 Farm Bill soon after the elections,” Kozak said. “We need a full, five-year bill to be passed in the House, sent to a conference committee, and approved before the end of the year.” dairyfarm billfarmers About the Author: National Milk Producers Federation

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Corn! August 13, 2012 Two expert agricultural economists joined this year’s gathering in Maine. Their expertise is worldwide. Each of them has years of experience forecasting various ag scenarios and resulting global impacts. One is chief economist of a major, worldwide trading company; the other is affiliated with a bank that is involved in agricultural lending. We discussed corn, soybeans, and drought effects on world prices. We examined emerging economies, where food is a large component of the price index. We talked about how food spending drives the political constituencies in those countries. Bottom line: the geopolitical risk premium rises as food prices consume increasing amounts of household budgets. The biggest take-away for me was the explanation that this decline in food production is likely to be a multi-year cycle. And this is not just in one drought-stricken region of the world. The impact of food price increases is now global. Moreover, we have run down the inventory cushions. Weather-induced price hikes are an exogenous shock, meaning that they are caused by factors from outside the system. Central bank monetary policy can do nothing about an outside shock. Central banks cannot grow corn. At a zero-bound policy interest rate, all the central bank can do is watch the price index climb above its targets. Any action it takes is likely to be counterproductive. Governments often use fiscal policy to deal with food issues. Politicians act because they feel the heat from hungry constituents. In some cases, they implement food price controls that end up exacerbating shortages. In other cases there is turmoil in the streets, and it may lead to regime change, or at least the threat of regime change. But fiscal policy is constrained by large deficits in most OECD mature economies. Agree or not, we already see it being used as a subsidy in developing countries. The outcomes of fiscal response are questionable since they amount to a forced transfer payment. The bottom line for me is to take this food price shock seriously. It flows beyond grain itself and into animal and energy feed stocks. It affects the rearing of the four-legged critters and the ubiquitous poultry found around the world. Household budgets are impacted at many levels. That causes consumer retrenchment in other spending streams. This developing food price spike piles on top of the energy shock that is also underway. In response, Cumberland Advisors is maintaining a cash reserve in our US ETF accounts. We have ratcheted back our exposure to the consumer discretionary sector. We expect food and energy costs to negatively impact household budgets in the mature economies of the world. In the frontier and emerging and developing nations, we expect food and energy costs to restrict household budgets severely. A personal note: I recall conversations several years ago with the chief economist of the Central Bank of Zambia. I met with him while planning the Global Interdependence Center conference at Victoria Falls in Livingstone. A number of sub-Saharan African nations participated in that conference. He described to me how the economy of his country was maize-based. He said, “Here I am trying to advise the governor of my central bank about what interest rate he should use for monetary policy. Half of my price index is being driven by rising corn prices.” At the time, Washington’s ethanol subsidy policy was creating those rising corn prices. He looked at me hard and said, “What would you do if you had to advise my governor on central bank policy?” The question had no clear answer, and left both of us perplexed. Today we confront a similar but even more extreme issue. Ethanol mandates still exist, although a political attack on them is gaining momentum in Washington. The outright subsidies stopped after billions were wasted by our Congress and presidents (Bush and Obama), but the mandate continues. Washington is still causing corn to burn in automobiles. Meanwhile, Washington’s politicians starve hundreds of millions of people in the developing world. Dear reader, this makes no sense and never has to this writer. But the reason the destructive policy persists is clear to me. Our American political system is corrupted by money, including contributions to politicians who put themselves ahead of most constituents and ahead of the lives of people around the world. The shock this time is not due to an extreme subsidy. Yes, the subsidy is still there in the mandate. But this time the shock is weather, and nobody can control the weather. We may debate if it is anthropogenic but, alas, we cannot control it. We may have only begun to experience the food price shocks and to see the steeper prices flow through to the entire food apparatus. Some models that we discussed in Maine indicate that corn could exceed $10 a bushel in a spike. Images: Flickr (licence details) David R. Kotok cofounded Cumberland Advisors in 1973 and has been its Chief Investment Officer since inception. He holds a B.S. in economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in organizational dynamics from The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, and a masters in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kotok’s articles and financial market commentary have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and other publications. He is a participant in Bloomberg radio programs. He is a frequent contributor to CNBC programs, including Morning Call, Power Lunch, Kudlow & Company, Squawk on the Street, Squawk Box Asia, and Worldwide Exchange. He co-authored the book Invest in Europe Now! Mr. Kotok currently serves as a Director and Program Chairman of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC) (www.interdependence.org), whose mission is to encourage the expansion of global dialogue and free trade in order to improve cooperation and understanding among nation states, with the goal of reducing international conflicts and improving worldwide living standards. Mr. Kotok chairs its Central Banking Series, and organized a five-continent dialogue held in Philadelphia, Paris, Zambia (Livingstone), Hanoi, Singapore, Prague, Capetown, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Rome, Milan, Tallinn, and Santiago, Chile. He has received the Global Citizen Award from GIC for his efforts. Mr. Kotok is a member of the National Business Economics Issues Council (NBEIC), the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), serves on the Research Advisory Board of BCA Research, and is also a member of the Philadelphia Council for Business Economics (PCBE). Mr. Kotok has served as a Commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and on the Treasury Transition Teams for New Jersey Governors Kean and Whitman. He has also served as a board member of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and as Chairman of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. Mr. Kotok hosts an annual Maine fishing trip, where, it is rumored, most of the nation’s important financial and economic decisions are actually made.

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Cherries Snokist forms alliance with L&M Cos. By Doug Ohlemeier May 17, 2011 | 9:25 pm EDT (June 12) A major Washington tree fruit grower-shipper and a relative newcomer to the region’s tree fruit deal are forming a marketing alliance to provide retail customers with a larger shopping list for Washington apples, pears and cherries.Snokist Growers, Yakima, Wash., and L&M Cos., Raleigh, N.C., which has its Northwest division office in Selah, Wash., announced June 9 that they were forming a business and product alliance.The deal provides access to cherries for L&M, a 30-year-old diversified produce marketing company that has focused on domestic vegetable sales from the Southeastern U.S. L&M has had its Northwest office since 1999.The 100-year-old Snokist, which concentrates on tree fruit exports, will benefit from L&M’s domestic produce marketing and will be able to source more fruit sizes for export, said Neil Galone, Snokist Growers’ vice president of fresh sales.The two companies, which will retain their own sales desks and packing operations, will co-pack and coordinate sales planning.“We don’t have any customers that we compete for,” Galone said. “By opening our manifests to them and theirs to us, it will give us both broader offerings and the potential for better returns to the growers.”Under the association, L&M began marketing and shipping fresh sweet bing and rainier cherries, which are being packed under L&M’s Nature’s Delight label, on June 9.When the apple and pear picking starts in late August, Snokist will pack part of its tree fruit under the L&M label as well.“We’re at a place in the Washington industry to where we have five to seven very large major marketing companies, including L&M,” said Keith Mathews, L&M’s Selah office general manager.“This supply relationship will provide absolute consistency across product mix to assure retailers consistency and quality. That’s why these sorts of alliances are continuing to build and make sense in our landscape.”The alliance will make for more unified marketing, Galone said.“One thing we’re hearing from our customers is that they miss the fact that we’re no longer coming to them as a group, as the Northwest or the Washington Apple Commission, to put together marketing programs,” he said.The commission’s domestic marketing collapse prompted formation of the alliance, said Mathews.“That left a lot of quality, middle-sized players that found themselves without a lot of the marketing and promotional support the commission delivered exceptionally well over the years,” he said.Snokist this year will ship 1.5 million 40-pound equivalent boxes of apples and pears and 600,000 20-pound equivalent boxes of cherries.L&M, which has exclusive marketing and sales contracts with four Washington apple and pear grower-shippers, will be able to ship an additional 200,000 42-pound equivalent boxes of apples this fall.From their northwest division office, L&M markets and ships 8 million 42-pound equivalent cartons of apples and pears.L&M grows, packs and markets more than 30 U.S. and international fruits and vegetables. About the Author: Doug Ohlemeier Doug Ohlemeier, who has written for The Packer since 2001, serves as eastern editor, a position he has held since August 2006. He started at The Packer as a staff writer after working for nearly a decade in commodity promotion at the Kansas Wheat Commission, where he was a marketing specialist. Doug worked in radio and television news writing, producing and reporting for seven years in Texas, Missouri and Nebraska. He graduated from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, in 1984, with a bachelor of science degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in history. He earned a master’s in corporate communications from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, in 1991. In college, he served as a news editor of the daily O’Collegian newspaper and interned in radio and television news departments. View All Posts

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Region's lone rice mill up and running after investment, expansion The region's only rice mill shipped out its first wave of grain from Mer Rouge Sunday. The region's only rice mill shipped out its first wave of grain from Mer Rouge Sunday.After nearly 17 months of work to expand an existing rice dryer facility to a start-to-finish rice mill, the Kennedy Rice Mill now begins the operations of moving between 2-3 million hundredweights (cwts) of rice annually.Meryl Kennedy, director of sales and marketing for Kennedy, which operates two other facilities in Louisiana and Arkansas, said that production "is ready to go."Final details were being completed Friday on 10 rail cars worth of production that will be transported by train.The ability to move the product by train is due, in part, to a grant for rail spurs at the site.A multi-million dollar business investment, the mill expansion was announced in February 2011 by La. Gov. Bobby Jindal, who cited economic estimates of nearly $1.2 million in new, local tax revenue over the next decade and 85 new indirect jobs generated from the mill.Kennedy said 22 full time new jobs have been added and eight more could be added as the rate of production increases.She said while corn has gained a lot of attention lately because of its spiked market price, rice remains competitive."These markets go up and down, it's nothing new," she said.While it's currently the busy harvesting time of the year for rice farmers, Kennedy said the mill will remain steady with production year-round.The new multi-story production building includes equipment that handles the cleaning, whitening and sorting of rice shipped from farmers into the site's elevators, before being then sold and sent to major food distributors, mostly domestic.Morehouse Parish Tax Assessor John Hill said while the mill's expansion is welcome news, it's unlikely to compensate for a parish that has lost more than a million dollars due to the paper mill's closing three years ago."It won't make that big an impact, except for sales tax and some jobs, because the business received a 10-year tax exemption from the state's office of community investment," he said.But for Mer Rouge, residents and village representatives will benefit."We are very excited and proud that our own residents put the investment in this here," said Mer Rouge Mayor McAdams.While Mer Rouge has "always been and continues to be the center of agriculture for the region," the mill's expansion only solidifies that, he said, including opening up more ag markets.Beyond increasing local sales taxes and visitors' traffic, the mill's expansion also enabled Mer Rouge to apply and gain a $950,000 state/federal grant to improve Boutz Lane, which connects to the mill location."We hope to go to bid on that project in 30 to 60 days," McAdams said.Kay King, executive director of the Morehouse Economic Develop Corp., said the parish is often concentrating on recruiting outside businesses."It's wonderful to see local people already here make a business investment in the community," King said. "Plus, this helps in efforts when we do bring visitors in. We can show them examples of what we've done and the potential that's here."

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Print Close Cricket energy bars aim to get more Americans to eat bugs By Kelly David Burke Published February 21, 2014 | FoxNews.com advertisement A Salt Lake City businessman is on a mission to get Americans to eat insects. Since 2012, Pat Crowley and his business partner Dan O'Neill, have been making high-protein energy bars made from ground up crickets. Crowley says eating insects are environmentally friendly and nutritious and believes his Chapul bar (chapul is the Aztec word for cricket) will help get Americans into eating bugs the way California rolls eased many of us into trying sushi. But for many, eating bugs is a hard sell. That's why Crowley came up with an innovative cricket flour. "We make this flour to address the psychological reasons so people don't have to actually see the insect when they bite into a bar." Chapul bars taste just as good as other protein bars and come in three flavors. The Aztec bar has dark chocolate, coffee and cayenne chili. The Thai bar is coconut ginger lime with almond butter and cashews. "And then we have the all American peanut butter and chocolate. Named the Chaco bar which is a Native American culture that lived in the Four Corners region." Crowley is not alone when it comes to the idea of dining on insects. A 2013 report by the The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations titled "Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security,"calls for intensive farming of insects to feed a growing global population. The report states, "It is widely accepted that by 2050 the world will host 9 billion people. To accommodate this number, current food production will need to almost double. Insects offer a significant opportunity..." Two billion people in the world already consume some of the world's nearly two thousand edible insect species. Bug dishes range from crickets, locusts and beetle larvae to scorpions and tarantulas, according to Mary Ann Hamilton, an entomologist at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. "What they eat on these guys," she points to the tarantula nestled in her hand, "are the legs and the abdomen. That's really where all the meat is." And how would one prepare tarantula? "Sometimes they flash fry them in a wok, sometimes they boil them to get all the hair off and just gobble them up. Sometimes they just roast them over a fire," Hamilton explains. While people in most parts of the world eat insects, Americans and Europeans tend to think the idea is downright disgusting. "If we were to forget that bugs were icky then we'd probably think that bugs were delicious," says Hamilton. "It was easy for us to forget that lobster and shrimp, which are really the bugs of the ocean, were icky. Now they're delicacies." As far as the taste is concerned, insects typically have subtle flavors, with some being compared to lobster or prawn. "Often times what they do is take on the flavor of whatever you're cooking, so they are kind of like insect tofu," says Hamilton. Crowley offered me a baked, whole cricket flavored with a chile lime spice. It tasted a bit like shelled sunflower seeds. If you still can't imagine yourself eating insects, Hamilton has some unsettling news. "I want to tell you a secret, we eat bugs every day. We eat bugs because we have bugs that are milled into our flour that the Food and Drug Administration can't control. Cinnamon, chocolate, those are full of bugs. Any kind of cereal or cereal grain, there is definitely a bug or two in there. Or at least a piece of one." Not to worry, insects are extremely low in fat and packed with protein, as Crowley points out when describing the cricket flour he uses in his energy bars. "On the nutritional panel it's on a par with whey protein. So it's 60 percent protein, 21 grams per 35 gram serving." Hamiliton believes one of the reasons wealthy Western societies don't eat bugs is because we don't have to. "Here in the United States we don't really need to eat bugs right now but it's looking like if we want to move successfully into the future it's something that we should start considering." The U.N.'s Edible Insects report warns that population growth coupled with climate change will make feeding the world extremely difficult in the future. That is especially true of areas like the American West where water resources are already scarce. "We're going to have to talk a little about how we use water in agriculture," points out Doug Kenney, director of the Western Water Policy Center at University of Colorado Law School. "On the Colorado River, the single greatest use of water is to grow crops for cattle feed, for hay and pasture grass, that sort of thing." Unlike large herbivores like cattle, insects require very little space and a lot less water. For example, Crowley says 10 pounds of feed will produce eight pounds of crickets but only one pound of beef. He believes the idea of eating bugs is slowly catching on. Chapul bars are now being sold in 100 health food and outdoor recreation stores across America, as well as on his website. "A year and a half ago when we launched it was blowing people's minds, like 'What? You guys are crazy!' But now it is kind of gaining some momentum and people are becoming more receptive to it." Crowley laughs while admitting that some people still buy his bars just for the gimmick. "Yeah, I'd probably say at least 25 percent of the people buy it to give to somebody else, then tell them what it was after the fact." Print Close URL http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/02/21/energy-bars-made-from-crickets/

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South Carolina cotton, peanut meetings set for Jan. 24, 26 Jan 12, 2017 Should we rethink fertility for new, higher-yielding cotton varieties? Jan 12, 2017 Big farm-related tax changes proposed by Republicans, Trump Jan 10, 2017 Peanuts versus enough off-target dicamba can cost yield, timing matters Jan 10, 2017 Alabama farmers okay checkoffs Paul L. Hollis Farm Press Editorial Staff | Sep 18, 2002 Alabama peanut and cotton producers voted to continue their checkoff assessment programs in referendums conducted this summer. Unofficial tallies indicate that 81 percent of producers voted of favor of continuing the peanut checkoff assessment, which is set at $2.50 per ton. Of the 618 votes cast, 503 voted in favor of the checkoff while 115 voted against it. The Alabama peanut checkoff funds research and promotion efforts, says Randy Griggs, executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. He says he is pleased with the support shown by producers in the recent balloting. Earlier this year, a peanut referendum was narrowly defeated. Even though a majority of farmers voted to continue the program, the referendum failed to get the two-thirds majority required for passage. In earlier balloting, landowners and quota holders were allowed to vote. However, in the recent referendum, only producers were allowed to cast ballots, says Griggs. “The farmers who actually produce peanuts and are assessed the checkoff fee voted and made the decision to continue the program,” says Griggs. Cotton producers also voted overwhelmingly to continue their 20-year-old checkoff program. Results of the balloting show 94 percent of the nearly 200 Alabama cotton producers who voted want the checkoff program to continue. The favorable vote allows the cotton checkoff program to continue for the next 10 years. The assessment for the first year will be at the current rate of 65 cents per bale. The referendum also gives authority to the Alabama Cotton Commission to change the assessment rate for the subsequent nine years. However, it cannot exceed $1 per bale during that time. “The tremendous success of the referendum shows that producers realize the importance of the checkoff program,” says Buddy Adamson, executive secretary of the Alabama Cotton Commission. “Producers see their checkoff dollars as an investment that develops new markets for cotton and helps to make it a more profitable business.” The cotton checkoff began in 1982. Assessment fees are collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries from gins throughout the state. That money is then sent to the Alabama Cotton Commission on a quarterly basis. Eleven producers who make up the commission decide how the money is allocated for education, research and promotion projects.

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South Carolina cotton, peanut meetings set for Jan. 24, 26 Jan 12, 2017 Should we rethink fertility for new, higher-yielding cotton varieties? Jan 12, 2017 Big farm-related tax changes proposed by Republicans, Trump Jan 10, 2017 Peanuts versus enough off-target dicamba can cost yield, timing matters Jan 10, 2017 Cotton industry urged to pull together Forrest Laws 1 | Jan 21, 2009 Times are tough in the cotton industry, but cotton producers have overcome challenges in the past and can do so again if they will stick together, the winner of the 2009 High Cotton Award for the Southwest says. Jimmy Dodson, a producer who farms near Corpus Christi, Texas, recalled his first experience with growing cotton when he began farming with his father, Giles, in 1974. The partners only planted 80 acres of cotton on the 1,500 they farmed that year. “Economically, it didn't make a lot of sense to plant cotton that year,” said Dodson, who accepted the High Cotton award for the Southwest at a breakfast at the National Cotton Council's Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio. “If you look back at the charts, you'll see it was not a stellar year. “But my Dad said we needed to stay hooked up with cotton because it was our future, and, really, today is not much different than that. We need to stay hooked up as an industry with the people we have in this room, at this conference and in my neighborhood back home. I feel cotton has a great future, not only in this country, but in the world.” Dodson said he owed a debt of gratitude to many people for the High Cotton award, which is presented annually to farmers in each region of the Cotton Belt who represent the best of the best in protecting the environment in their communities. “I've come to learn that farming is a team sport. I stand on a lot of people's shoulders up here today,” he noted. “You mentioned my Dad, but the rest of my family, a lot of good friends and a lot of people in this room have a lot to do with me being up here today.” This is the 15th year the Farm Press Publications have presented the High Cotton awards through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, according to Greg Frey, publisher of Southeast Farm Press, Delta Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press and Western Farm Press, which are part of the Penton Media family of publications. The High Cotton Awards were conceived with the idea of recognizing what growers are doing to achieve the goals of consistently high yields and premiere quality cotton while instituting practices that protect natural resources that enhance the environment. “Each class continues to impress with their innovative techniques to achieve high yields and quality of product while protecting the environment,” Frey said in remarks delivered at the High Cotton breakfast at the Beltwide. “We are very proud of this year's winning class and the conservation ideals they represent. Each of them is taking care of their land and the environment and leaving it better than they found it. We have always known farmers are the true stewards of the soil, air and water. This year's High Cotton winners exemplify the best of the best.” Larry McClendon, the National Cotton Council's chairman and a farmer and ginner from Arkansas, said he noticed a common theme among this year's winners: They all have the challenge of farming in close proximity to an urban area. “They say good fences make good neighbors, but these farmers recognized that isn't an option,” he said. “They haven't isolated themselves. Instead, they have gone the extra mile to be good neighbors.” McClendon said he's not familiar with the bottom lines of this year's winners, but he suspects their environmental practices have enhanced their operations viability. “I just don't think you can consistently exploit your natural resources and maintain a profitable farm,” he said. This year's winners — who also included Mike Tate from the Southeast, Jason Luckey from the Mid-South and Danny Locke from the Far West — expressed their thanks to spouses and other family members, other friends in the cotton industry and their Maker. “Anytime you go out in our fields and see a good crop, you know the good Lord blessed you with the rain,” said Dodson, who farms in an area that has little irrigation capability and has seen more than its share of dry weather in recent years. “We are dependent in our line of work on the good Lord and his blessings.” Mike Tate, who farms 5,000 acres near Huntsville in north Alabama with his father, Homer, brothers, Steve and Jeff, and cousin, Pat Brown, thanked the other family members and organizations such as the Southern-Southeastern Cotton Growers Association for the help they've provided over the years. Noting that one of his brothers keeps up with the Farm Service Agency and National Resource Conservation Service rules and another with marketing, Tate said, “What they do allows me to do what I enjoy — raising cotton,” he said. Jason Luckey, who farms with his brother, Ken, and nephew, Zac, near Humboldt, Tenn., thanked his father, Rege, and his brother and his wife, Amy, for their efforts to help make their farming operation more environmentally sustainable. “It is quite humbling to be recognized for something you love to do,” he said in accepting the coveted Cotton Boll High Cotton Award at the conference. Identified as a “man of few words,” Danny Locke of Firebaugh, Calif., simply identified each of the nine family members who attended the awards ceremony. TAGS: Cotton 0 comments Hide comments

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2017 Farm and Gin Show: A first look at all that’s new Know cost of growing a bushel ‘to the cent’ Jan 13, 2017 Farmers seeking real safety net in next farm bill Jan 13, 2017 Tips for negotiating new farmland leases Jan 12, 2017 Forestry towers economically in Arkansas Lamar James, Arkansas Extension Communications Specialist | Mar 04, 2008 When you talk about Arkansas agriculture, most people immediately think of rice, soybeans, cotton, wheat or whatever else they see growing in fields. But they don’t see the forests for the trees. Arkansas has 18 million acres of forests, about 56 percent of the state’s total land base. Farmers, ranchers, and other individuals own most of the forestland in the state, and many actively manage their forestlands. Arkansas ranks fourth in the nation in timber production, according to a 2005 University of Arkansas report. The forest products industry, including the pulp and paper industry, is the state’s largest manufacturer and directly employed 37,291 employees with a payroll of $1.51 billion, according to the 2005 report. A total of $2.63 billion was contributed in value-added dollars. “Arkansas forests provide habitat for a vast multitude of plants and wildlife,” said Tamara Walkingstick, an Extension forester with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “Our forests also provide a diversity of products and other important benefits including wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, watershed protection and aesthetic values.” Private landowners have “an incredibly diverse set of objectives in mind for using their land.” She said some are solely interested in income from their land, and some people value their land just for varied aesthetic or recreational reasons, including wildlife watching, hunting, trail riding and hiking. Walkingstick, who owns 30 acres of forestland, enjoys the wildlife and natural beauty on the land, “but I expect someday to market some of the trees and reap financial benefits while balancing that with my aesthetic needs and environmental concerns.” However, private landowners don’t always know how to reach their objectives. Some have inherited land and know nothing about taxes, how to market their trees, avoiding bad financial deals or how to manage their timber for the future. Walkingstick said the Extension service can provide that information to help landowners reach their goals. “We can help them improve wildlife habitat, or if they’re interested in selling timber, we can provide information about the best way to go about it. We teach best management practices, how to manage a forest for a healthy stand, the importance of forest management plans, and we provide education on estate planning and timber taxation.” For people interested in the latest timber prices, go to the online Arkansas Timber Report at: www.arnatural.org/News/Timber_Report/default.htm. Bobby Hall, Dallas County Extension staff chair, said Dallas, Bradley, Calhoun and Cleveland counties, are cooperating to provide a stronger, more focused educational effort for landowners in the four counties. “We want people to know that Extension is a reliable source of unbiased information on the topics they’re interested in,” he said. “From literature to on-the-ground assistance, we can help them manage their forests with such concerns as site selection, site issues, pests, species selection and wildlife management.” The Extension Service provides up-to-date information about the carbon offset program, a value-added income to forestry. “We’re also providing GPS training to help landowners better keep up with tracts of land they own,” Hall noted. “With GPS, they can give the coordinates of the tracts to timber cutters, or they can mark insect infestations and zero in on treatments.” One of Extension’s tools to help landowners is a farm market newsletter, which provides marketing information. For more information about forestland, contact your county Extension agent or visit www.uaex.edu and select Agriculture, then Forestry. Extension is an arm of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center at Monticello. Both are part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.

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RECOMMENDATIONS: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES At the World Food Summit in 1996, governments made a commitment to reduce food insecurity by 2015. We are now celebrating the World Food Summit: five years later and food insecurity data show that this commitment and its subsequent implementation have never been more urgent. The trend is that funding has been shrinking in the realms of national research and international assistance. However, to meet the Summit's commitments, it is imperative that governments provide support for agricultural research at national level and that NARS develop strategic plans for partnering with other institutions both regionally and across sectors. These collaborative efforts may draw on different capacities and compound efforts and investments to address issues of common relevance. The viability and success of such collaborative endeavours depend on an agreed framework of roles and responsibilities within a systematic strategy to achieve commonly defined objectives. Such a strategy enables partners to build on areas of comparative advantage and historical expertise while benefiting from the experience and resources of other key stakeholders. Mobilizing all relevant actors and institutions in the decision-making process, from priority setting to implementation to evaluation of results, promotes ownership and sustainability of outcomes and commitment to the ultimate goals of achieving food security by both government and civil society. National agricultural research systems National agricultural research institutions will continue to play a leadership role in mobilizing partnerships and coordinating activities. NARS will need to create mechanisms and foster a process for design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative research. In order for them to play this role effectively, significant shifts in their institutional orientation are required to increase flexibility, accountability and client responsiveness. Programmatic time frames should change, moving from the perspective of a conventional project cycle of three to five years to one of sustainable strategic interventions that may require a decade or more. An integrated approach should incorporate consideration of external factors, such as changes in the terms of trade for crops on national or export markets. Coordination with and consistent engagement of policy-makers is critical in order to achieve the necessary level of commitment and investment. There must be real institutional and professional incentives to reorient attitudes of scientists towards benefiting producers and consumers as their priority. Changes in human resource policies within the NARS must address the overemphasis on peer recognition and academic publications as keys to success and promotion. Rates of producer adoption and impacts of the new technologies should be considered as important criteria for assessing research performance. Good communication systems constitute the basis for effective coordination of policy and research. Innovation in communication technology and information exchange and in methodologies for collective decision-making and consensus building, will enable representative participation of actors and partners in the identification of challenges, design, implementation and evaluation of research. It is essential, however, that avenues for communication and mechanisms for representation be customized in ways that do not exclude those who have less familiarity with information technology or formalized procedures. The need for research institutions to collaborate and pool resources with government agencies is clear. For example, farm extension services offer a pre-existing network of contacts, experiences and information for testing, monitoring, adaptation and evaluation of research. Demographic and statistical services can furnish the kind of detailed, comparative data over time needed to judge household composition and revenues in relation to food availability and consumption. All line ministries that regulate areas concerning food security, such as health, education, transport, energy, trade, finance and economic planning, should commit to the process. However, not all governmental bodies are equipped or committed to meeting food security challenges. Some will need to broaden their mandate in order to build food security issues into its agenda. Linkages will need to be developed at local, intermediate and national levels among relevant ministries, as well as between them and research institutions and agricultural extension. Policy-makers In order to win the commitment of policy-makers who determine the level of resources made available to the NARS, research will have to demonstrate the actual and potential linkages between project results and the needs of food insecure populations. Convincing illustrations of the benefits of applied research or projections on the long-term impacts of basic research will be central to securing political favour and public support. Advocacy by producers' and community organizations and by local and international NGOs can also contribute to establishing a mandate for policy-makers to provide resources for food security research as part of an overall strategy to protect or bolster the economic viability of rural areas. An interdisciplinary approach should reinforce a balance between technical and social solutions to food security. Increases in agricultural production and greater availability of relevant technology to small producers and vulnerable groups will address some challenges. However experience has demonstrated that some low-income groups in rural areas may remain vulnerable to food insecurity, even in situations of food availability. It is important, therefore, to combine technical efforts to increase production and marketing, with attention to macro-level and microlevel economic and social issues that shape differential access to resources and food. This may entail the development and implementation of policy and actions by a range of public and private institutions to promote diversification and sustainability of incomes to include all, even the most vulnerable. In particular, policy-makers need to consider: offering policy support to NARS technical solutions which specify the beneficiaries and expected outcomes; promoting political decisions that address chronic and periodic food security problems, with particular regard to their impacts on vulnerable groups and low-resource producers (e.g. facilitating credit for low income groups without collateral and controlling staple food prices during shortages); raising general public awareness and understanding concerning prevalence, distribution and solutions to food security problems, including dismantling common myths and biases against the food insecure, in accordance with specific national and cultural contexts; and incorporating insights from special interest groups (e.g. environmental, social, etc.). NGOs, community-based organizations (CBOs), women's groups, consumer associations and others Food security is already at the heart of agendas and practices of many non-governmental and community based organizations working in rural areas or among the urban poor. These organizations can play crucial roles as avenues of communicating between researchers and civil society, as clearinghouses for information exchange and as advocates for policy change. In order to be effective, efforts need to be directed to: identifying strategies and mechanisms to canvas opinions on the impact of innovation and technology to better guide the activities of the NARS; and ensuring that representation at national level reflects the social and economic diversity of their constituencies. For-profit sector Developing mechanisms and methodologies to catalyse strategic partnerships of public and private sector institutions is a key component of a holistic approach to food security concerns. The growing emphasis by donors and governments on cost-effectiveness and accountability and on economic policy trends that favour the cost recovery and containment of public spending points to the need to actively engage business enterprises in the process of food security research. Private firms and commercial institutions can provide a wealth of resources, expertise and vision to bolster the NARS capacity to develop and implement a client-responsive agenda. However, because the private sector tends to favour short-term returns and better endowed producers, an appreciation of its potential role should be balanced with a continued commitment by the NARS to find sustainable solutions to food insecurity and to serve the needs of vulnerable groups and limited resource producers. Due to their different orientations and constituencies, mechanisms and processes need to be established to facilitate discussion and negotiation between groups such as agricultural research institutions, the private sector, civil society, producer organizations and consumer groups. Discussions between these groups should address controversial issues such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), patenting, intellectual property rights and benefit-sharing agreements for cultivated and wild resources. FAO, CGIAR, GFAR and other international institutions FAO can assemble the leadership of NARS and other international agricultural research and development agencies, as well as decision-makers who set government objectives and priorities for food security in order to share information and resources and to reach common policy positions and plans of action. In so doing, it will foster the development of an agreed mandate and framework for national, regional and international collaboration. CGIAR can mobilize experience and resources in the full range of agricultural production and integrated systems. The institutes specialized in policy and research systems (e.g. IFPRI and ISNAR) add dimensions important to advise on management, administration and coordination. The GFAR Secretariat can work with the NARS regional and subregional fora and other partners in the process of "appropriation" of these ideas by NARS fora and facilitate the interaction among stakeholders, which is critical to the implementation of these recommendations. The two most important dimensions to address are those of the NARI/NGO and the public/private sectors. As a priority, these international partners can provide: operational frameworks for implementing the E-conference recommendations with respect to organizational and programmatic changes in the NARS; mechanisms and networks for sharing information between countries on successful approaches and innovative technologies to address food security issues; and models and methods that have proven effective in enabling interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and intercountry collaboration in agricultural research.

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South Carolina cotton, peanut meetings set for Jan. 24, 26 Jan 12, 2017 Should we rethink fertility for new, higher-yielding cotton varieties? Jan 12, 2017 Big farm-related tax changes proposed by Republicans, Trump Jan 10, 2017 Peanuts versus enough off-target dicamba can cost yield, timing matters Jan 10, 2017 JUSTIN BROOKS, from left, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Jackson; Dave Sites, Mississippi State University agricultural economics research associate; and DeWitt Caillavet, MSU agricultural economist, were among those attending the annual meeting of the Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association. Crops>Vegetables Prospects improving for meaningful steps toward immigration reform • “After 10 years of waiting for comprehensive immigration reform, congressional lawmakers are starting to ask: ‘Can we fix some pieces of this now, rather than waiting for a complete remodel?’" — Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of Immigration Works USA. Hembree Brandon 1 | Nov 16, 2012 Agricultural sectors that “had been in a blood feud for more than a decade” over immigrant labor issues have, within the last year, realized that “they needed to get on the same page — that if they didn’t hang together, they would hang separately,” says Tamar Jacoby. The government’s E-Verify program for employers to check on applicant identity and work authorization — which Republican immigration hawks in the House wanted to make mandatory for all American employers — helped to coalesce various agriculture sectors and organizations toward a unified approach, she said at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association at Mississippi State University. Jacoby is president and CEO of Immigration Works USA, a national federation of 5,000 employers, including growers, working with agriculture advocates in Washington, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, to advance better immigration law. She says “the looming threat” of E-Verify “concentrated a lot of minds really fast.” With the GOP immigration hawks pushing for mandatory adoption for all employers, “Other Republicans started hearing from labor-intensive agriculture interests in their districts who were saying: ‘We’ve tried to hire Americans, and we can’t. Unauthorized immigrants are half our work force, and we have massive turnover. Bottom line — if you do this, you’ll shut down labor-intensive agriculture in America. If you do this, we’re out of business, and a lot of this business will end up somewhere outside the U.S.” The looming threat of E-Verify also concentrated a lot of grower minds, Jacoby says, and “ag factions that had been in a blood feud for more than a decade were suddenly realizing that needed to get on same page. “There were a lot of meetings, a lot of shouting, a lot of negotiations, with the upshot that the American Farm Bureau Federation has just completed a 9-month process of developing a unity plan. The hope is that unity within the 3-million member Farm Bureau organization will generate unity among the other ag groups, and intense negotiations are now under way.” Meanwhile, she says, “After 10 years of waiting for comprehensive immigration reform, congressional lawmakers are starting to ask: ‘Can we fix some pieces of this now, rather than waiting for a complete remodel?’ “Interestingly, a lot of these are Republicans, who have been resisting any movement on immigration since George W. Bush was president. There are still things they don’t like about reform — but they’re starting to realize that, for business and other reasons, it might be a good thing to do. And there’s also an eagerness (by Republicans) to take back the lead on the immigration issue.” Bottom line, Jacoby says: “In Washington there’s a whole new landscape. There’s a potential opening in Congress for unity, or at least a broader consensus among ag advocates. I don’t want to be too hopeful, but after being stuck in a frozen system for more than a decade, watching it begin to thaw is exciting.” While the American Farm Bureau Federation proposal “is still under wraps,” she says, “most of the people who’re thinking about this agree that, for a workable unity plan, there are some key elements that are needed. (See How would 'ag card' labor proposal work in Florida? and Farm Bureau unveils 'ag card' proposal for undocumented workers). Long-term, short-term solutions “Importantly, solutions are needed for both the short term and for the long term. There has to be some answer for the 1.2 million people already working on American farms, and there has to be a future flow temporary worker program that actually works, so employers can hire workers legally in the future. You shouldn’t have to hire a lawyer to hire a farm worker — there ought to be a better system. Research and Extension Center at Stoneville, visits with Gail Gillis, Mississippi State University agricultural economics research associate, and David Laughlin, retired MSU agricultural economist, at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association. “If you ask growers, most are focused on the short term more on the legalization issue. But in the long run, future flow is much more important.” Immigration is “an American workforce issue,” Jacoby says. “This workforce has been changing for several decades. American families are having fewer babies; our workforce is getting older – 75 million baby boomers are going to be retiring over the next decade. “Importantly, the workforce much better educated — in 1960, half the American-born men labor force were high school dropouts; today, less than 10 percent of the American-born men in the work force are high school dropouts. “But there still is a need for a lot of less-skilled, less-educated workers to fill a wide variety of jobs. The problem is that there are very few workable, legal avenues for unskilled foreign workers to enter the U.S. “The H2A program is an avenue — but it’s bureaucratic, unwieldy, and most growers won’t use it. Meanwhile, our better-education American workforce is less and less interested in these kinds of jobs.” If agricultural employers try to hire American workers for their jobs, but can’t, “They should be able to hire foreign workers in a quick, easy, streamlined, legal way,” Jacoby says. “We desperately need legal foreign workers, but there’s no legal way for them to come here. Yes, we agree that something needs to be done about the 11 million illegal workers in the U.S. But the most important change we have to make is to fix the legal system — to create a legal immigration system that works — so we don’t have even greater problems 20 years from now.” And in any reform, Jacoby says, there needs to be a provision for year-round workers, for enterprises such as dairies. More predictability in wages is also a need. “It’s not that wages now are too high or too low — but that they’re arbitrary and unpredictable; it’s very hard for growers to plan and budget. H2A employers want a wage level pegged to the state’s federal minimum wage, which doesn’t fluctuate very much. “One of biggest topics in debate the past year has been contract labor versus at-will labor. In the Southeast, most growers need workers all summer long; in the West, work tends to move from crop to crop, and employers want more of a market-based situation. Key to any plan is to meet both groups’ needs. Structurally, that probably means quite a change from the H2A program. One of the “big ideas” in Washington, Jacoby says, is that “we need to take immigration away from the Department of Labor and give it to the USDA. The Department of Labor basically is not on the side of employers; they don’t grasp the complexity of agriculture. This change is in almost every plan being discussed.” “If the Obama administration were to propose a comprehensive reform program, I don’t really see Republicans going for it, which would put us back in the same stalemate we’ve had for years. “I think our best hope is to play on the Republican impulse to start fixing the legal immigration system through step-by-step changes, solving some problems, building trust, and then moving from the easier problems up to the harder ones. “I think ag is well placed now for irrigation reform,” Jacoby says. “E-Verify woke a lot of people up to agriculture’s specific labor needs, and a lot of smart thinking has gone into reform. After years of bad blood, agriculture is now more unified.” TAGS: Tobacco Management Orchard Crops 0 comments Hide comments

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Rebecca Everman - Sept. 24, 2009 May We Introduce… Leave a Comment Buckeye Farm News Bill Johnson, Franklin County About 12 years ago, Bill Johnson was at the Franklin County Fair and stopped by Farm Bureau’s booth. An avid gardener in suburban Columbus, Johnson was impressed by OFBF’s efforts to promote and support agriculture and joined. He has been active with the Franklin County Farm Bureau ever since, working membership and as a trustee for the past four years. Johnson grew up in Portage County near Kent. At age 12 he started working on a nearby dairy farm, helping out not with the cows but fruit trees and the garden. Today, he lives in Upper Arlington where he has planted more than a dozen fruit trees on his 1-acre property and grows a wide variety of produce that goes to a nearby farmers market and restaurant. Johnson sells computer systems and technical services and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio University and master’s in business management from the University of Dayton. He and his wife, Denise, have three grown children and are members of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. He is an Eagle Scout and remains active with Scouts. He also is a present president of the Organic Gardening Club of Central Ohio and a member of the Ohio Ecological & Farm Association and the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association. As a small, organic grower, Johnson said he appreciates how Ohio Farm Bureau represents all sectors of agriculture. “I really believe in what Farm Bureau does,” he said. “I’m always telling people that Farm Bureau is nothing like painted in the media as being only for big businesses.” Chip Nelson, Communication Specialist Communication Specialist Chip Nelson has been with Ohio Farm Bureau since 1995 when he was hired as an organization director for Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties. He was then OFBF’s director of advisory councils for four years and director of research and program development for two years. He currently produces video segments for Farm Bureau’s Web site, YouTube site and for other projects. He also produces the award program for annual meeting and Leadership Conference. Before starting at OFBF, Nelson was an agriculture education teacher for eight years and farm director of WKFI Radio in Wilmington for three years. He has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from Wilmington College. Nelson grew up on a 10-acre farm in Warren County near Blanchester where the family raised vegetables, freezer beef and hogs. He also worked on a dairy farm while in high school and college. Nelson and his wife, Charla, live near Circleville and have two adult children. He attends Circleville Nazarene Church and is a certified instructor for Centershot Ministries, an archery based program for young people. “Farm Bureau is a great organization that truly cares for the members,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed meeting so many people from all regions of the state with various backgrounds but all with the passion to promote the agriculture industry in this state.” Volunteer_Johnson.jpg Staff_Nelson.jpg

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dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) Non-water soluble chlorinated hydrocarbon in use since Second World War (1939-1945) as an insecticide for the control of lice (that spread typhus) and mosquitoes (that spread malaria and yellow fever). But its primary use was in agriculture to control plant pests, specially those affecting cotton and tobacco. Being non-biodegradable it persists in nature and climbs up the food chain by accumulating in body fat (in which it is soluble), causing widespread poisoning of birds and other small animals and plants. Even small concentrations of DDT (0.01 part per million) retard photosynthesis in plankton by 20 percent, and one part per billion (ppb) has been known to kill 39 percent of the sea water shrimp in three weeks. Since 1970s, its manufacture and use is restricted in most countries and banned in some. Although DDT was synthesized in 1874 by the German chemist Othmar Zeidler, its pesticidal properties were discovered only in 1939 by the Swiss chemist Paul Mueller who won the 1951 Nobel Prize in physiology & medicine. Chemical formula: (ClC6H4)2CHCCl3. environment air pollution economic growth environmental s... natural environ... water pollution environmental s... chemical oxygen... environmental f... non-renewable r... cradle to grave renewable resou... triple bottom l... environmental d... You Also Might Like... Jeffrey Glen Especially vs. Specially The distinction between using especially and specially in a sentence is very slim and increasingly the inter-changeability of the two is creeping into the English language. That being said, there are some clear distinctions as to when each should be ... Read more Karen Sorensen New Age Marketing with Social Media ADVERTISEMENT Jeffrey Glen Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control Leo Sun Five Ways to Become a Multinational Company Congratulations, your small business has grown out of its tiny office block and now has enough cash to go multinational! It's time to expand into other countries and make your brand known worldwide. What are the basic options for a fledgling ... Read more

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BrightFarmsSustainability BrightFarms designs, finances, builds and operates hydroponic greenhouse farms at supermarkets – eliminating shipping, and reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions and water use. In October this year, they announced their first major deal with a U.S. grocery chain. They will build a one-acre Ultra Local greenhouse for McCaffrey’s Markets of Pennsylvania. In previous years their work included installing a demonstration scale, sustainable urban greenhouse for a new Whole Foods Market store in Millburn, New Jersey, as well as designing an environmental education center and local food production facility on the roof of the Manhattan School for Children on the Upper West Side of New York City. We talked to Benjamin Linsley, VP of Business Development and Public Affairs for BrightFarms, about the benefits of changing the produce supply chain in a way that improves the planet and a retailer’s bottom line. How does the BrightFarms program work and what was the inspiration behind its creation?BrightFarms eliminates time, distance and cost from the food supply chain. We build our greenhouses on supermarket roofs, on nearby land or at the retailer’s distribution center. There is no cost to the retailer.The supermarket only pays for the produce. They pay the same or a better price for their produce, and they sign a long term purchasing contract. We use the long-term contract to finance the capital investment.The inspiration for the business model came from scrutinizing the current food system. It makes little sense to truck lettuces and tomatoes thousands of miles, from one side of the country to another. Produce is mostly made up of water, so we are using large amounts of gasoline to truck water across the United States. We end up with a product that is low quality because it's highly perishable and not well suited to being trucked so far, and a product that places a particularly heavy burden on the environment. Supermarket customers get a fresher, better product because it was grown locally and delivered within hours, not days. It was grown for taste and not for shelf life. We like to call this, Ultra Local Produce. In the process we also save millions of tons of carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere. How have you been able to merge commerce with sustainable business practices?We want to revolutionize the food system. To do this, we need to build not one or two greenhouses, but hundreds of greenhouses across the entire North American supermarket sector. Every facility we build needs to meet our three-pronged principle of providing better food, in a way that is better for the environment, and in a way that makes better business sense for supermarkets (better profits). But to really succeed in our goal of revolutionizing the North American food system, each greenhouse needs to function as a robust, stand-alone business, which offers a great return on investment in its own right. What are the benefits of having a hydroponic greenhouse farm directly connected to a supermarket retailer?Perishable items such as tomatoes and lettuces simply do not travel well. Lettuces have a very short natural shelf life. Under the current system, where the majority of lettuces are grown in California and Arizona, they frequently arrive home with customers on the other side of the country, already turning bad. The likelihood of buying a box of salad with rotten leaves at the bottom is incredibly off-putting for consumers. Tomatoes on the other hand, can be grown – if the grower chooses to – with a greater ability to withstand time and distance as they move the thousands of miles from production greenhouses to the supermarket shelf. These tomatoes, however, can be hard, watery and tasteless. A greenhouse built on, or next to, a store, can grow produce for taste and not for shelf life. The produce is harvested only when it’s ready or ripe, and delivered to the shelf within 24 hours of harvest. The opportunity is quite simply to provide the best quality produce imaginable. What's the future of the program? Where do you think you'll have the biggest impact?Our business model has been developed to work for all grocery retailers. Our objective is to have an impact across the entire North American industry. Why does a program like yours matter to the retailer? To the consumer?Retailers routinely accept shrink rates of 8 to 10% for perishable items. We think this is unacceptable and unnecessary. By producing onsite, retailers will be able to dramatically reduce their shrink rates, which in turn improves their margins. Furthermore, the ability to provide customers with a much, much better product will improve overall sales. Low quality, high prices, and insufficient shelf life keep people from buying as much produce, as they would otherwise wish to. A better, well-priced product will sell better. In upcoming issues, we will continue to feature interviews with companies that are taking innovative steps toward the creation of sustainable products and services. If you are interested in telling us more about what your company is doing please contact Allison Bloom at [email protected].

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Taja Sevelle Executive Director & Founder, Urban Farming www.urbanfarming.org Did you know that if all of us planted food in our home gardens, in planters, on rooftops, within corporate landscaping, at schools, in vacant lots—anyplace where there could be a healthy growing environment—that we could eradicate hunger? That’s the big idea that drives Taja Sevelle, the inexhaustible visionary behind Urban Farming, a nonprofit organization that—in less than two years—has created thriving urban gardens that feed thousands of people in a dozen major cities across the country. A true Renaissance woman, Taja was discovered by Prince, went on to write and perform several hit songs, has one novel under her belt already, an invention coming out soon, and she represents a new rap group on the rise called D.Y. But her greatest mission is ending world hunger, and that’s what keeps her going from morning to midnight. What we learned from Taja: Stay in touch with your spiritual life every day. Try your best to reserve some private time. Make sure you have fun. And trust in miracles. How One Passion Feeds Another “I was working really hard to get my invention [a butter-maker that makes fresh homemade butter in a few minutes] off the ground after it had been on the back burner for a long time. When I signed my record deal with Sony, I was able to put the invention on the front burner with the money from the advance. Later, I decided since the music biz was having a rough time, I should go full force with the butter-maker to create another income stream. When I cut a deal with investors and QVC I was able to start the charity with just $5,000. I’ve gambled everything I own on these three things: music, my invention, and Urban Farming.” Growing Big and Strong “We started with three gardens in 2005. We will have 160 gardens across America and Jamaica this year. We’ve just added Newark, New Orleans, and Atlanta. We’ve got farmers giving food away in Canada, North Carolina, and Florida, and people interested in being a part of our mission to end hunger in Belgium, Italy, England, Vietnam, and Africa.” Motown Inspiration “Being a starving artist, I’ve had really big ups and downs in my career. I’m well acquainted with not having money and having to struggle. When I relocated to the Detroit area I started to get to know the city and what had happened there in terms of poverty, job loss, and needy families. One day when a pastor’s sister told me they couldn’t keep donated food on the shelf, it really struck me that there is so much unused land in the city of Detroit—17,000 acres of it. I thought, ‘Well why don’t people just plant it?’ If they planted all this land there would be no more hunger in this city, for sure.” The Miracle Man From Brazil “The Urban Farming model was inspired by a story I saw on Jaime Learner, the mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, on a Dateline NBC special. His city was totally in poverty. He literally took that city and turned it around. Poverty, transportation, drugs, everything. Very inspiring.” What Red Tape? “How do you cut through all the red tape in a small amount of time? You can’t wait around for committees. So I just did it—I started planting gardens. In 2005, I began with $5,000 and a pamphlet. We planted three gardens, partnering with Starbucks and the city of Detroit, a great alliance. The city was thrilled. They looked at the gardens as one less plot of land they had to mow. That year we gave away one ton of food. Within months after planting the first gardens, we were on the Montel Williams show.” Bring Back Victory Gardens! “During World War II, 20 million Americans planted victory gardens and grew 40 percent of the nation’s produce supply. Now, we have a 12-13 percent hunger rate. We could easily solve our hunger problem if we encouraged everyone from the private to the corporate to the public sectors to plant edible gardens when they landscape. On rooftops. Unused land. In yards. You can create edible walls! Grow some and give some away! The seniors who’ve volunteered with us got it right away: ‘Oh yeah, like the victory gardens.'” A Model for World Peace “Our infrastructure brings the community together and strengthens those relationships. How? We get a very diverse group of people working side by side. We ask the faith-based organizations to bring their youth out twice a month. Muslims, Christians, Orthodox Jews, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4H, YMCA, corporate groups, seniors. They’re all working together. All getting along. Everyone is interested in feeding hungry people.” The “E” Word Stays In “People said to me when I was putting together the mission statement, ‘Take the word “eradicate” out.’ And I said, ‘I’m not taking the word out.’ Subsequently I heard about the victory gardens. I said, ‘It’s already been done … if you tell young people that we can do this [eradicate hunger], they believe it.'” A Miracle Is Waiting “When I get discouraged, there are always the miracles that show me I don’t have to fight this battle alone. Sometimes I throw my hands up and say a prayer—I believe in bringing in that positive energy. It’s not my own strength that puts me back in the ring every time. It’s much bigger than me, and many connections with key people who have supported the charity happen without my planning.” There’s an Angel in the Seat Next to You “On a plane once I sat next to a gentleman, Michael Travis, who had just saved a man’s life from a tanker truck explosion—no one had ever survived that. He’d won awards and been on Oprah, Maury, in People magazine. I told him all about Urban Farming and he said, ‘Sign me up.’ He’s our co-director now. “I sat next to a Land O’ Lakes executive who turned out to be an old friend of Joyce [Urban Farming’s Program Development Consultant, Joyce Lapinsky Lewis]. He’s on our board now. Joyce’s husband, the actor/comedian Richard Lewis, was in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel and the CEO of Atlantic Records, Craig Kallman, walked up to say what a big fan he was. They became friends and when Craig found out Richard and Joyce were involved with Urban Farming, he said, ‘We are going to adopt you as the official charity of Atlantic Records.’ That brought in the support of top artists like Keke Palmer. Then the Scream Tour gave part of their proceeds to Urban Farming through Hip Hop 4 Humanity.” Nurture Yourself, Then Nurture the World “I try my best to have some private time in the morning to study, to get my spiritual and meditative moments in. I don’t drink or smoke. And I love to have fun. But right now I’m in the trenches on everything I’m doing. From the moment I start to nurture myself in the morning, I am 100 percent focused on the goal, going 17-18 hours a day, making 150 to 200 phone calls. And I don’t stop until I go to sleep at night.” Your Vision Is Your Gift Alone “Don’t give up! Stick to your vision. Here’s a big one: If you were given an idea, whether by God or the universe or it came from inside you, remember—that is your vision. It may not have been given to someone else because they can’t see it. And you don’t have time to wait around for certain people to understand it. When you have a vision and a dream, you have to move on it.” Biggest Obstacle “Not having enough money. Because most of my energy goes to figuring out not only how to pay my own bills, but how to get stuff for Urban Farming, like garden supplies, proper staffing. It’s taught me to do a lot with limited resources. I have a master’s degree in limited resources.” We Are All Connected “Every inner city across America has a problem getting proper nutrition. It’s really sad, because whether people believe it or not, we are all connected. When you have a section of our society that’s suffering to that degree and not able to have access to basic things like food, a good education, and a good job, then guess what? That’s like having your foot full of gangrene. It will eventually travel up through your whole body. We can’t ignore it.” No One Goes Hungry “One of the hallmarks of Urban Farming community gardens is that you can walk on that garden if you are hungry. People can just come and get the food if they need it. As soon as we tell them the food is free, we’re met with tears, prayers, laughter, initial disbelief—everything! Thanking us, praying for us, they’re so happy. And so I’m witnessing firsthand how it’s touching people’s lives.” “We want to have successful seasons in our current gardens, and move strategically at a pace that makes sense into new cities. We’re starting to see the snowball effect—people doing it on their own, food gardens catching on around the world. We can’t put in every single garden ourselves. If you plant a garden in your backyard, give your harvest to the food bank. Ed Begley is doing that now. “Many people have fruit trees. The fruit can be donated to a food bank. We call that initiative our ‘Cooper Fruit Runs’ [after entertainment lawyer] Jay Cooper, who came up with the idea. On Hawaii’s Big Island, homeschooling groups are making Cooper Fruit Runs a part of their teaching. They’ve given away close to half a ton of food in just eight months.” Imagine No More Hunger “I know there will be a time when our kids ask us, ‘What was that like when you had hunger?’ They can’t imagine life without a cell phone—soon they won’t be able to imagine a world with hunger. We can plant on our rooftops to help with global warming. Corporations can create edible landscaping borders with purple cabbage, French onions, decorative peppers, etc., and give it to the food bank. Why not? It’s a problem we can solve. So let’s solve it and move on.” This Featured Lady was profiled by Lauri Maerov , a Los Angeles-based writer and brand-identity specialist. Posted on February 25, 2008June 10, 2011Author webmasterCategories FEATURED LADIES, FOOD/BEVERAGES, NON-PROFIT/PHILANTHROPY Post navigation Previous Previous post: Are You QVC – Ready?Next Next post: The Top 10 Issues Every Partnership Agreement Should Cover

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Barry Baillie, 1945-2012 An active life in agriculture and the country First in Barry Baillie's working life was a 30-year career with the Department of Agriculture, then, in 1997, he was nominated by the minister of agriculture to become chief executive and chairman of the NSW Meat Industry Authority.He held the position until 2000, when the authority was merged into a new body, Safe Food Production NSW. Out and about ... Barry Baillie was a keen fisherman in his spare time. Then, his close involvement in and knowledge of government played a major part in his selection as chief executive of the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW, a position he held with distinction for more than a decade until his death.Among many state and federal tourism awards that the association won during his tenure was the 2012 Australian Tourism Award for festivals and events for the association's Supershow, held in April each year. Dedicated … starting as a trainee, Barry Baillie moved up the ranks to become a prominent figure in the agricultural industry. The award, announced two days after Baillie's death, was fitting for a man who played a major part in the camping and caravan industry, one of the highest growth sectors in tourism for the past several years. Then, on March 29, at the Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia awards ceremony, Baillie was posthumously given the Eric Hayman award for contribution to the industry nationally.Barry Gavin Baillie was born on August 4, 1945, the son of Guy and Eunice Baillie. At that time, Guy was a flying officer in the RAAF and later worked as a sales representative. Barry grew up in Neutral Bay and Gordon and in 1959 was in the first intake at the newly named James Ruse Agricultural High School at Carlingford.He was then well prepared for his tertiary education at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, near Richmond. Involved ... Barry Baillie was an active member of academia and industry. He excelled as a student and played in the First XV rugby team in all three years.After completing his diploma of agriculture in 1966, Baillie joined the Department of Agriculture and was posted to Trangie Agricultural Research Station in western NSW as a trainee sheep and wool officer. He went from there to Temora, Eastwood and Cowra, and in 1972 became district sheep and wool officer at Dubbo.Later, he was posted to Gunnedah and Maitland, where in 1980 he became regional director of advisory services for the New England, Hunter and metropolitan areas.During this period he helped establish and was chairman of the Tocal Field Days, an annual event held at Tocal College near Maitland.Throughout his early country postings, Baillie played first-grade rugby union, including for Eastwood in 1969 and 1970, where he excelled as a half-back.His career highlight was being selected to represent NSW Country against the Springboks at Orange in 1971. However, to his great disappointment, he was a reserve in the match and did not play.Baillie returned to Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1975 to complete a graduate diploma in extension - the equivalent of a university degree.He maintained a long and close association with the college and, later, its successor, the University of Western Sydney.From 1998 until 2001, Baillie was chairman of the university's Hawkesbury Foundation, which established and continues to fund the Sir Vincent Fairfax Chair in Sustainable Agriculture at the university.Baillie was also an active member and past president of the ex-students' association, the Hawkesbury alumni convocation.Among several executive positions he held during his career, Baillie was director of the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute at Camden, where he managed a multimillion-dollar research budget and 160 staff.While stationed there, he developed a close affinity with the Belgenny Farm Agricultural Centre Heritage Trust, and for four years, from 1992, he was the chairman of the trust.In 1990, Baillie launched the Agview Field Days at the property, which he ran for six years until, against his wishes, the Department of Agriculture withdrew its support and the popular annual event, known as the ''family farm show'', ceased in the mid-1990s.Throughout his life, Baillie was a keen fisherman, spending many hours with family and friends in his blue rubber ducky in coastal areas of NSW.Barry Baillie, who died from complications after contracting legionnaires' disease, is survived by his former wife, Margie (nee Hughes), children Paula and Brock and grandchildren Ella and Julian.Paul Myers Renovating Can Be A White-Knuckle Ride Trump's Inaugural Speech Sounded More ... Bourke Street tragedy: Witness recalls walking into a scene of confusion and horror Bourke Street tragedy: Melbourne is shocked and broken, but the city will be the same again Not born to run. Why Springsteen was lucky Professional and cunning: why I'm now giving less to beggars Bourke Street tragedy: Witness recalls walking into a scene of confusion and horror With Sydney finally dead, Baird's work is done Honest service is all Baird should be asked for Readers react to Premier Mike Baird's surprise retirement The Sydney Morning Herald

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Cultivating Life - Bios Cultivating Life - Bios.doc Sean Conway, Host In addition to two decades working as a landscape designer and nurseryman, Sean Conway, the host of “Cultivating Life,” has worked for the past seven years as a design consultant for Target Corporation. Along with consulting on product lines for their garden and outdoor living market, Sean designed his own line of garden and outdoor living products for the company’s upscale Marshall Field stores. With this successful line under his belt, he then launched Garden Style, a more extensive brand of garden and outdoor living products at the company’s 1,400 Target stores. The line ranges from outdoor décor and colorful garden containers to patio furniture, outdoor lighting, live plants, bird feeders and houses. In addition to the in-store line, Sean has created separate lines for Target’s 300 garden centers as well as Target.com. Target’s current “Design for All” promotional campaign includes Sean as one of its featured style makers, along with Isaac Mizrahi, Thomas O’Brien, Michael Graves and other prominent designers. Sean is now working on a book, also entitled Cultivating Life, which captures how he, and others like him, is reconnecting with the land. The book is filled with simple gardening ideas, lessons on cooking straight from the garden, artisans and craftsmen who are reinventing and reinterpreting old traditions and stylish outdoor design projects. It is scheduled to be published in 2007. As a recognized authority on gardening and outdoor living, Sean has been a frequent contributor to the Today show and Martha Stewart Living, as well as a contributing editor to Horticulture magazine. In 2005, Yankee magazine listed Sean as one of the 100 most influential people in New England. Lee Buttala, Executive Producer “Cultivating Life” executive producer Lee Buttala won an Emmy Award for his work as a producer of Martha Stewart Living. A regular contributor on gardening to The New York Times, he has also written for Martha Stewart Living, New York and Metropolitan Home. As an editor, he has worked for magazines ranging from Saveur, Garden Design and Interview and for the book publisher Alfred A. Knopf. SHARE: Parent Program Cultivating Life Sign Up for Our Newsletter

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Departments > Grain Market Review Rice World Grain Staff Recent months have seen rice markets coming under pressure as crops advance, but there have been some bullish signals. Prices for white rice in Thailand saw two-year lows in March, according to the International Grains Council (IGC), but the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned about dryness in the Mekong delta that could hit production in Thailand and Vietnam, potentially cutting shipments from two of the world’s big rice exporters. The IGC also noted that weakness in Asian markets had fed through into the U.S., with milled rice prices at the Gulf, high-quality No. 2 falling to a five-month low. In Thailand, low prices and a failure to sell any old crop state reserves at auctions leading up to the preparation of the IGC’s Grain Market Report for March led the deputy prime minister to announced that there would be no further attempts to release stocks in the first half of this year, in a bid to stem further declines in price. Instead, according to the IGC, the government planned further intervention purchases from farmers, despite high state-held stocks, already estimated at more than 7 million tonnes on a milled basis. "While this provided mild support, it was outweighed by pressure from increased availabilities as harvesting in the region progressed," the IGC noted. Vietnam’s expected bumper spring crop weighed on export values, although reports that the Philippines could return to the market in May, following presidential elections, as well as an expanded Vietnam’s government stockpiling program, limited falls. More recently, however, the Reuters news agency quoted an official in the Philippines as saying that the country may have completed rice imports for 2010, given healthy stockpiles and a relatively moderate impact of dry weather on crops. Reuters said that the Philippines has ordered a record 2.45 million tonnes of rice imports for this year. "NFA has no more plans to import for 2010," Rex Estoperez, spokesman for state grain agency the National Food Authority (NFA), told Reuters. "We might import, but that would already be in preparation for 2011. NFA has enough stocks in its warehouses." IGC put Vietnamese state inventories at 26.9 million tonnes as of March 1, more than double a government target of 11.8 million tonnes, following larger-than-expected purchases from farmers. 2009-10 procurements reached 24.7 million tonnes by March 21, the IGC said. The news agency Bloomberg reported on April 7 a warning by FAO experts that drier-than-normal weather that’s cut water levels in the Mekong River could cut production. It quoted senior FAO economist Concepcion Calpe as saying the Thai harvest that began in April, which accounts for 25% of annual output, could be cut to 7 million tonnes from 8.4 million last year. "For the time being, Thailand is the only country that shows a decline in rice production," said Calpe, adding that "the decline will not have a dramatic impact on international trade as Thailand has lots of stocks." The US Rice Producers Association expressed the view that producers across the globe were getting what U.S. growers had become used to. "Asia is still very quiet and seeing price quotes slip a little more, but thankfully at a much slower rate," it said. "At some point sellers in the Far East will recognize that their price drops are not getting the attention of potential buyers who will only return when they have solid demand and/or see prices bottoming and starting to rise. "The same hand-to-mouth buying we have seen in the U.S. over the last couple of years is being seen internationally now." Chris Lyddon is World Grain’s European editor. He may be contacted at: [email protected]. Departments on LinkedIn Oilseeds Coarse grains

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APHIS implementing new requirements for the importation of fresh blueberries from Chile by Christina DiMartino | December 31, 2013 The Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare and plant health, has issued a notice that it is implementing new requirements for the importation of fresh blueberries from Chile into the United States, according to Miami-based Customized Brokers, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp. Customized Brokers noted that this action is in response to multiple detections of the European Grapevine Moth, Lobesia botrana. Shipments that are already in transit to the U.S. will not require fumigation at this time, but will go through an enhanced inspection protocol at the port of entry. Fumigation will, however, be required for shipments that are still out in the field in Chile. Fumigation for the insect will not be conducted in the U.S. because fumigation protocol is not available domestically at this time. Fumigation procedures must, therefore, occur in Chile prior to export. According to a Michigan State University's invasive species fact sheet, the Lobesia botrana, also commonly known as the European grape moth, European vine moth, grape berry moth and vine moth, occurs in central and southern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, Japan and Thailand. However, the insect was found in Chile prior to 2010. The current U.S. quarantine status is that the Lobesia botrana has been intercepted at U.S. ports of entry, including Port Huron & Detroit, 20 times between 1984 and 2003. In 2008 USDA-APHIS listed the insect as an exotic organism of high invasive risk to the United States. Although the moth is best known as a pest of grapes, it is polyphagous, in that it is able to feed on various kinds of food. It has a wide host range that spans across 27 plant families. Other plant hosts of the moth include carnations, black berries, cherries, currants, lilacs, nectarines and plums. Videos

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Related subjects: Plants About this schools Wikipedia selectionArranging a Wikipedia selection for schools in the developing world without internet was an initiative by SOS Children. See http://www.soschildren.org/sponsor-a-child to find out about child sponsorship. SorghumL. About 30 species, see text Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants, either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents in addition to the southwest Pacific and Australasia. Sorghum is in the subfamily Panicoideae and the tribe of Andropogoneae (the tribe of big bluestem and sugar cane). Cultivation and uses A sorghum field in Central America. One species, Sorghum bicolor, is an important world crop, used for food (as grain and in sorghum syrup or "sorghum molasses"), fodder, the production of alcoholic beverages, and biofuels. Most varieties are drought- and heat-tolerant, and are especially important in arid regions, where the grain is one of the staples for poor and rural people. These varieties form important components of pastures in many tropical regions. Sorghum bicolor is an important food crop in Africa, Central America, and South Asia and is the "fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world". Some species of sorghum can contain levels of hydrogen cyanide, hordenine and nitrates lethal to grazing animals in the early stages of the plant's growth. When stressed by drought or heat, plants can also contain toxic levels of cyanide and/or nitrates at later stages in growth. Another Sorghum species, Johnson grass (S. halapense), is classified as an invasive species in the US by the Department of Agriculture. Sorghum vulgare var. technicum is commonly called broomcorn. Sorghum genome In 2009, a team of international researchers announced they had sequenced the sorghum genome. Retrieved from " http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sorghum&oldid=545783739"

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Farmers urged to 'get behind 'OJD management plan The Western Australian Farmers Federation is optimistic a new management plan will improve efforts to combat ovine Johne's disease (OJD) and help remove the stigma surrounding the condition.The industry has confirmed the national management plan for the sheep intestine disease, which costs Australian producers millions of dollars a year, will come into effect in July.The plan puts the responsibility on producers to protect and manage their own flocks.The federation's Ed Rogister says the management of OJD has been historically difficult but the new plan should help unite producers."It's essential that farmers get behind this because we are trying to eliminate the spread of the disease and the key factor in minimising the spread will involve individual producers working to maximise the effectiveness of their own biosecurity measures," he said."The stigma was predominately created in the eastern seaboard of Australia, we didn't have it in Western Australia and I see no reason to have it here."It's a disease, we've got it, we've got to learn how to manage it."

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Next Indonesian forestry giants ready new peat protection projects Peat land fires associated with burning oil palm plantation development in Riau, Indonesia. Image: Wakx, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Indonesia’s largest oil palm plantation company, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd, will rehabiliate a peatland in Borneo that went up in flames during the recent fire and haze crisis. And the country’s second-biggest pulp and paper firm, Asia Pacific Resources International Limited, has announced a major new investment in a peat restoration initiative in Sumatra, another epicenter of the burning. Both projects are billed as first-of-their-kind measures to help Indonesia prevent yet another fire disaster, an annual event exacerbated by this year’s extended dry season brought on by El Niño. The underlying cause is large-scale draining of peat swamps for oil palm and acacia plantations. Though illegal, companies and farmers often use fire to clear land cheaply, and the dried peat burns uncontrollably. Like other agribusiness giants, GAR and APRIL have no-burn policies, and both are in the process of implementing pledges to purge their supply chains of peatlands conversion, which the government recently said it would make illegal for everyone. GAR’s project will focus on one of its concessions in West Kalimantan province. The 2,300-hectare area targeted for rehabilitation experienced significant burning this year. GAR sustainability chief Agus Purnomo attributed the fires to local people who encroached on the area, building canals and starting fires in order to plant the land themselves. If companies don’t set fires themselves, they often have trouble controlling their entire concessions, and disputes with communities over land rights are ubiquitous. GAR will study the local hydrology and flood areas in need of rewetting before planting endemic species to reforest the peat. The company will also conduct participatory mapping with local communities to establish who owns land where. “Basically we would like to rehabilitate everything, but it is not up to us entirely,” Agus told Mongabay. “It is also up to the agreement with the local community. If they insist to have activities, we need to find a way to accommodate it somehow.” The idea is to try to come up with peat-friendly crops that can grow in wetter conditions and provide local people with sources of income. These would exist alongside GAR’s oil palm plantations in the area. “The only way to make them sign the agreement is to come up with benefits for them in the area,” Agus said. “If it’s an oil palm plantation, they know the benefits they can get. If it’s not going to be palm oil, what would that be? So we need to develop different ways of getting the area benefits to the local community.” No palm oil company has ever tried to rehabilitate peat like this before, Agus said, adding that the project would assist the government, set an example for the industry and equip GAR with knowledge it can use to manage other areas it has earmarked for conservation. All told, GAR’s concessions contain nearly 60,000 hectares of undeveloped forest and peatland areas which the company will refrain from converting in line with its ban on deforestation and peat conversion. Another 40,000 hectares remains unplanted. Its total planted land bank is 484,000 hectares, the most of any company. APRIL’s project centers on the Kampar Peninsula, an enormous swath of peat in fire-prone Riau province that constitutes one of the world’s largest carbon stores and is home to the critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). APRIL promised to spend $100 million over 10 years to double its peat management there from 70,000 hectares to 150,000 hectares. The entire peninsula is 700,000 hectares, around half of which is still forested. Much of Kampar’s tree cover disappeared into the mills of APRIL and its competitor Asia Pulp & Paper before both corporations pledged to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains recently, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The new commitment to expand its peat management area “is believed to be the biggest investment by a private sector company in a single eco-restoration project in Indonesia,” APRIL said in a statement. The 150,000 hectares covered by APRIL’s Riau Ecosystem Restoration (RER) initiative was formerly subject to selective logging by other operators, an APRIL representative told Mongabay. Since 2013, the company has worked with the government to cover the area in ecosystem restoration licenses, which it now manages in conjunction with Flora & Fauna International and local NGO Bidara. “The partners involved in the RER project hope that it will be a living, working blueprint – an evolving example of what other public and private sector organizations can achieve more broadly through strong partnerships and bold vision,” said Tony Whitten, FFI’s Asia-Pacific director. While many concessions linked to APRIL’s supply chain experienced heavy burning during the recent disaster, APRIL’s conservation efforts helped Kampar remain “fire free,” according to the company. These efforts entail, first, protecting the area from encroachment, and then planting indigenous tree species and foster the return of wildlife. “We’d add that this is not drained peatland,” the company said. “While selected logging was undertaken by others in the past, it was not cleared and water levels will be restored with the appropriate action, which is all part of the restoration plan.”

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The International Women’s Coffee AllianceIn the News Most of us take our half calf, soy vanilla lattes for granted. But so routine is the daily trip to the local Starbucks or Peet’s or Coffee Bean that few of us think about the farmers who grow the coffee beans that provide us with our morning fuel. Even fewer still are those of us who consider the fact that about 70% of the maintenance and harvesting work on a family-owned coffee farm is done by women. Surprised? More surprising is that even as a majority of the work done on family coffee farms is done by women, women own less than 1% of the world’s titled land. The World Bank estimates that more than 500 million people throughout the world are dependent on coffee, and of that number, 25 million are coffee farmers. While conditions are typically substandard for coffee farmers, women face additional challenges – like abuse, neglect, poverty and the inability to gain economic, social or political power in their family’s business or in their community. It’s no wonder that of the world’s estimated 1 billion poor, 70% are women. That’s where The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) comes in. The IWCA strives to create a difference in the world of coffee, empowering women and promoting possibilities for women in coffee communities throughout the world. Mery Santos, IWCA Secretary, and Phyllis Johnson, IWCA Chapter Relation Chair, say that to answer the question of why women do not own the land in family owned coffee farms, you need to go deeper into not only history but culture. “Some of the land ownership goes back three or four family generations. Culture and politics have also played a big factor in why women do not own land. IWCA strategy is to build chapters in coffee producing countries where women can organize themselves as an organization with a voice that eventually can have some influence on changing the current laws and policy making that impacts them directly,” says Santos and Johnson. One thing that makes IWCA so special and unique is that it is a global network of women in coffee. As an individual, a female farmer may not be able to do or have an impact, but as an organization or a group, the community pays attention and their voices can be heard. IWCA advocates for the reduction of barriers for women in coffee producing countries, and provides access to resources while creating a forum in which to connect with other women. And the emergence of social media and the internet has become an important tool as well in bridging some of the gaps that have kept women from working together in the past. “If you take a look at a single coffee producing country, and the geography of it, it is challenging to travel around. In the past just to have a face-to-face meeting, you had to travel for days and in some places walk. Social media and technology is facilitating communication, education, networking, and more. It has made a tremendous difference on the availability of resources for the women in coffee producing countries,” says Santos and Johnson. Women continue to struggle with basic rights worldwide, especially in the coffee–producing regions of Africa and Indonesia. The IWCA seeks to provide women with leadership training, technical training, and strategic planning, while helping to create a peer network where women can learn and grow from each other. Each of their chapters is organized as legal entities so that they have a voice in their own country. “It's our job to help prepare women in coffee for advancement and it all starts with confidence and teamwork. This work helps to prepare them for the bigger issues they face on national levels. One of our many partners, The International Trade Centre, an affiliate of the World Trade Organization and United Nations, has the ability to affect policies to advance women in trade. We are seeing positive changes in many of the African countries where we work,” says Santos and Johnson. The IWCA has high hopes for the future of the alliance and for the future of women in farming. One of their goals is to have a chapter in every coffee producing country, as well as in coffee consuming countries. This model, says Santos and Johnson, allows for the development of solid and sustainable partnerships between producers and buyers. A bigger goal is to have a seat at the International Coffee Organization council where they can work together on gender initiatives that will benefit women and their families. The 3rd International Women’s Coffee Alliance Convention that took place in Guatemala Feb 7-9, 2013, had representation from over 12 countries and IWCA signed letters of understanding (LOU) with India and the Philippines, adding to a total now of 11 chapters around the world. “If women own their own land and their own businesses, it means they are in control of their lives and in control to raise a family without fears. They can grow and secure a better standard of living for the entire community in which they live,” add Santos and Johnson. Learn more about the International Women’s Coffee Alliance atwww.womenincoffee.org.

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Pre-Harvest Vaccines in the Pipeline By Michelle Greenhalgh | June 11, 2010 With the plethora of beef recalls over recent years, companies and scientists are teaming up to develop pre-harvest vaccines for livestock used for food. Pre-harvest vaccines are administered to livestock to minimize the presence of naturally occurring bacteria within the ruminants that can cause human illness. “There are animal health products under development to target organisms that may cause foodborne illness in people. Some of these products may come to market as drugs regulated by FDA and others may be biologics regulated by the USDA,” said Kent D. McClure, General Counsel for the Animal Health Institute. Pre-harvest vaccines have been discussed for years amongst animal health officials. Research and development has focused for some time in the area of animal agriculture in order to increase safe animal processing, McClure explained. Previous vaccines have failed because of the time and costs associated with research and development as well as the difficulty in creating vaccines that deal with a broad range of illnesses, explained Professor Peter Davies from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. “For a conventional animal health product, i.e. one that is developed to address an illness within livestock, it can take a pharmaceutical company six to eight years to bring the product to the marketplace,” said McClure. “It takes a $40 to $100 million investment and typically another six to eight years to recoup the investment,” he said. Davies agreed with McClure in that pre-harvest vaccines are a good idea, but explained further that vaccines are very difficult to create because of bacteria stereotypes. “Until now, there has been virtually nothing out there that will work. There are so many stereotypes of bacteria, and vaccines are specific to individual stereotypes. In the past, vaccines haven’t protected on the broad scale because of the diversity of foodborne pathogens,” Davies told Food Safety News. Examples of pre-harvest drugs currently on the market include an E.coli O157 vaccine for use in cattle and Salmonella enteritidis vaccine for use in chickens. In addition to development issues associated with pre-harvest vaccines, regulatory hurdles exist. Products that are developed for livestock, but aim to prevent illness in humans are a completely new category of drug, and therefore it is unclear if once developed, vaccines will have to undergo regulatory review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Regulatory systems that license animal health products have developed to ensure the safety and efficacy of the products. They [vaccines] are usually evaluated as stand-alone interventions and have not typically been considered as part of a chain of interventions,” McClure said. “However, pre-harvest animal health products are intended to be a tool in the chain of interventions, including the hugely successful HAACP program, to act in concert to further decrease potential human exposure to food borne pathogens,” McClure explained. The creation of vaccines deemed successful by the USDA could mean that the vaccines are given conditional licensure to address unmet needs. In order to be granted this status, a manufacturer must show the USDA that the product is safe and that it has a reasonable expectation of efficacy. The product is then marketed while field studies are conducted. McClure also stressed that the vaccines will not harm animals in any way. “They are intended to decrease the level of organisms that are often normal inhabitants of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract, but are important from a human food safety perspective,” he said. Professor Davies explained that though the vaccines do not harm the animals, the immune system is designed to keep naturally occurring bacteria in check, not eradicate it. “We’re asking the immune system to do things they’re not designed to do. We’re asking bacteria to stop invading the body.” As for the future of pre-harvest vaccines, “We are confident that over time these pre-harvest products can be developed for a range of pathogens and species. These promise to be important on-farm tools to help in the battle against foodborne illness,” said McClure. © Food Safety News More Headlines from Science & Research »Tags: E. coli, immunization, Salmonella hhamil Ms. Greenhalgh, you seem to have completely accepted the allopathic, “preventive” framing of industrial meat production. This is particularly evident from your statement, “Pre-harvest vaccines are administered to livestock to minimize the presence of naturally occurring bacteria within the ruminants that can cause human illness.” “Naturally occurring?” Excuse me. How about human pathogens which are prevalent in every CAFO in the country but NOT widespread in the cow/calf operations that supply the stock? It is also indicated by the generalized nature of the discussion when there is an O157:H7 “vaccine” that is reportedly going to be available on a limited basis within the year. Finally, you make no mention that there is clear evidence that cattle whose feed is changed from the industrial model’s corn base to grass at the end of their finishing have a similar reduction in O157:H7 bacteria to those receiving the vaccine. What an irony that this is labeled “preventive” when the appropriate, non-high tech, truly preventive methods get no mention. Well said, Mr. Hamil! I absolutely concur in your critcism of Ms. Greenhalgh’s article and would like to further query: When vaccines to eliminate (by whatever means) the “naturally occurring bacteria” in the gut of birds and animals, it would be my assumption that all those poor animals are going to get rather severe cases of diarrhea, as both people and animals do who receive antibiotic or other medical treatments which do the same thing – Assuming that to be the case, doesn’t severe diarrhea among closely confined animals qualify as a very painful condition which causes suffering and as a health risk to them as well as to those who like to eat their flesh? Personally, I consider that as harming those animals, contrary to the claims of McClure and Prof. Davies, clearly just two more minions of big agribusiness and big pharma… Finally, Mr. Hamil, of course no one is going to give anyone grass to eat when $millions if not $billions can be made by pumping these animals full of drugs, feeding them food they aren’t evolved to digest and finally ending their lives in an inhumane manner. It’s always 1930’s and 1940’s Germany for animals! And, of course, let’s not forget the $millions and $billions which are made by the allopathic medical establishment (including big pharma’s drugs to treat us!) in treating the host of ills which are engendered by the chemical-saturated foods we eat, and to which this new plan will profitably contribute. Harry Hamil Frozen turkey dog food recalled for Listeria; people also at risk Recall of ribs for no inspection; sent to Michigan restaurants

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Food No consensus from state panel on farmers market enforcement CDFA's Direct Marketing Ad Hoc Advisory Committee David Karp Final meeting of the CDFA's Direct Marketing Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. Final meeting of the CDFA's Direct Marketing Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. (David Karp) David Karp SACRAMENTO -- More than two years after reports of widespread cheating at farmers markets, the latest state group designated to solve the problem has ended its sessions without reaching a decision about crucial enforcement issues, though it may have made enough progress to help spark legislative interest.California Department of Food and Agriculture officials and farmers market subcommittee members, who invested much effort in the process, were clearly frustrated by the lack of consensus regarding farmers market enforcement. "It's been discussed to death," said Steve Patton CDFA branch chief for inspection and compliance. "Now it's up to the industry to make a decision as to the source and level of funding.""There just wasn't enough time to fully wrangle the unwieldy 30-plus years of regulations and entrenched views regarding certified farmers markets," said Amelia Saltsman, the public representative on the committee. "I hope that as the process moves forward, legislators will have the opportunity to hear what actual farmers market patrons and small producers want." The latest group, called the Direct Marketing Ad Hoc Committee, was appointed 10 months ago by the CDFA, and met for the last time on Sept. 13 in Sacramento. It was intended to expand the work of a previous Technical Planning Committee whose proposal to boost funding for farmers market enforcement did not go anywhere because market participants couldn't agree about increasing the stall fees paid by farmers to the state.To try to build consensus, the CDFA brought in a broader range of 24 participants, including regulators, market managers, nonprofit officers and even one farmer. It also broadened the scope of the discussion to include other forms of direct marketing such as farm stands and community supported agriculture (CSA). These have grown significantly in recent years, but compared to farmers markets, they have not been regulated as systematically, either to protect public health, or to make the origin of their produce clear to consumers.The Direct Marketing committee addressed these topics in subcommittees, along with related issues such as the role of community gardens, improving access to fresh produce in underserved areas, and promoting food banks. But this group did not vote on any specific recommendations on any of these matters and much of its report consists only of "considerations" -- basically possible courses of action to be considered later.The subcommittee for CSAs made the most progress, perhaps because this is a new regulatory arena in which factions have not yet become entrenched. In order to make sure consumers know where the produce in CSA boxes originates, the group suggested defining two classes of CSAs, single-farm and multiple-farm; it also devised a broader category, California-Grown, which allows produce sourced from any "registered direct marketing producers."Much of the CSA discussion was driven by food safety concerns, to ensure uniform regulation statewide. The degree of regulation of CSAs would depend on their classification and whether they are distributing just produce, relatively safe foods like jams, or potentially hazardous foods like meats.The CSA subcommittee's chair, Dave Runsten of the Community Alliance With Family Farmers said that he expects to see a bill defining CSAs introduced in the State Senate by the end of the year.Regarding farmers market enforcement, the draft report contained mostly general principles, not detailed plans. A much-discussed proposal to bar non-California produce from the non-agricultural sections of certified farmers markets was not included but is likely to be in the final report. This document, which will include final comments by committee members, will be posted on a CDFA Inspection Services web page in about a month.At a previous meeting of the Certified Farmers Market Advisory Board in March, CDFA's Patton had said that the department would soon be hiring a full-time enforcement official for the farmers market program. But at the most recent meeting in Sacramento, he said that this had not happened because of the uncertainty regarding how the farmers market industry wanted to fund and structure enforcement.A hearing of the Senate Select Committee on California Food will allow interested parties to testify and seek sponsors for proposed legislation. It will take place Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Santa Rosa City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave., and will be open to the public.***The South Pasadena farmers market, whose veteran manager, Greta Dunlap, resigned effective Sept. 13 after differences with the city's Chamber of Commerce has hired an interim manager, Carole Gallegos. Previously the manager at the Studio City Market, and currently the manager of the Encino venue, she will serve while a committee of farmers and Chamber board members considers applications for the permanent position, for which Gallegos will also be invited to apply, said Chamber CEO Scott Feldmann.***Tip of the week: From a cursory glance it's possible to confuse Mexican-race avocados with eggplants. They're small, with thin, smooth, glossy dark skin that is surprisingly edible, tasting of anise. Ripening early, from September to November, at a time when it can be difficult to find top-quality local Hass – the old Hass crop is winding down, and the new crop is still several months off – Mexican-race avocados can have high oil content and excellent flavor, and are well worth exploring during their brief season.Their thin skins make them too perishable for shipment and storage, so they're mostly available at farmers markets. Many growers such as Rancho Santa Cecilia and J.J.'s Lone Daughter Ranch have a few trees of Mexican-race types like Topa Topa and Mexicola. These varieties are used for rootstock, and sometimes bear fruit when the scion of the grafted variety dies; they are occasionally planted for their fruit. Beylik Family Farms of Fillmore also offers Stewart, an improved variety selected for its fruit quality, at the Hollywood, South Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Santa Monica [email protected] Market Fresh: Cooking through the seasons Market Watch: The latest farmers market news by David Karp Explore your local farmers market

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Cheyenne's Passive Solar Energy Community Greenhouse Relying on a passive solar energy design, the community greenhouse a local citizen's group built in Cheyenne, Wyoming provides work opportunities and supplies fresh vegetables for hundreds of people daily. By Scott Kauffman September/October 1981 The passive solar energy design of Cheyenne's community greenhouse includes double glazing. PHOTO: SCOTT KAUFFMAN Slideshow Nowadays, more and more folks are trying to achieve some independence by producing their own food, but doing so can be difficult for urban dwellers who don't have the land, time, or resources necessary to invest in full-scale gardening. The townspeople of Cheyenne, Wyoming have found one solution to that dilemma, however. Working together, they built—and now operate—a passive solar energy community greenhouse that makes fresh vegetables available to many residents of the city, with the emphasis on providing free produce to folks who otherwise couldn't afford to garden.In 1976, Community Action of Laramie County (a citizens' group incorporated to administer antipoverty programs) established a grant for the construction of an experimental community hothouse. A training program for volunteer construction workers then got under way, and the actual building was started on a donated tract of land in the summer of 1977. Most of the materials used were either recycled scrap or donations to the cause, so the overall cost of the greenhouse turned out to be quite low for a project of that size. The original $42,700 grant given by CALC was supplemented by $13,000 from the Community Services Administration and $2,000 from the county government. The final price tag, then, came to $57,700, which is quite inexpensive for a structure that serves as a large-scale food-producing "factory"! The Nuts and BoltsSince the greenhouse supplies vegetables for a great many people, it may surprise you to know that the installation's passive solar heating system consists of nothing more than the building's south-facing glazing and a number of hand-operated vents. Thermal mass for the 5,000-square-foot structure is provided by two hundred 55-gallon drums that are filled with water and painted black. The double glazing is made up of a layer of Filon plastic on the outside and Monsanto 602 on the inside. The building's walls, ceiling, and floor are all insulated: Polyurethane foam was applied around the floors, and eight to ten inches of fiberglass batting elsewhere.The setup appears to be working just fine, too. Shane Smith, a practicing horticulturist and director of the greenhouse, reports that the lowest temperature yet recorded inside the enclosure was 34°F (which did no damage to the cold-tolerant plants being grown at the time). He notes, "That low mark was registered after ten cloudy days, with wind gusts up to 50 MPH and an outside low of -15°F." Furthermore, the backup heat source—consisting of two homemade woodstoves—has never been used, even during the coldest Wyoming winter in 50 years!The gardening procedures employed in the solar arboretum are as basic and natural as is the building's solar heating system. A composting bin at the back of the structure provides a ready source of nutritious mulch for the crops ...and only biological pest control is practiced. Permanent inhabitants of the mini-ecosystem include ladybugs, lacewing flies, chameleons, praying mantises, and fireflies. Three kinds of predator mites, and a species of wasp that reduces the population of white flies, also help keep destructive insects under control. Willing Workers ... and CustomersInitially, the Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse was staffed solely by senior citizens who volunteered their labor in return for a share of the bounty produced by the facility. However, that work force has since been expanded to include volunteers of all ages (who are eager for the chance to pick up hands-on experience in gardening techniques), youthful offenders (they work off their court sentences by completing a variety of duties at the site), and handicapped individuals (who are able to combine job training and horticultural therapy).And the efforts of that diverse crew turn out a lot of food: Melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, figs, artichokes, and all kinds of flowering plants burst forth in the summer and fall. Those plants are followed in the winter by cabbage, broccoli, mustard, lettuce, and every imaginable root crop. In addition, herbs are cultivated year round. All told, the list tops 500 species of plants!So where does all that produce end up? Well, it's parceled out according to a somewhat complex system, as Director Smith explains: "Our low-income volunteers get first pick, then the rest of the staff receives a share. What's left—that is, the bulk of the harvest—is given to the local Meals on Wheels program and the community human services department, which distribute the food among low-income households." Smith also notes that —since the greenhouse's first crop was planted in 1978—yields have increased steadily each year, and the solarium now grows enough to feed about 300 people a day! Other ProjectsBut the Cheyenne Community Greenhouse does much more than produce a constant supply of homegrown vegetables. The facility also serves as a demonstration site where schools, churches, and other civic groups can see passive solar energy in operation. Gardening classes and horticultural workshops are offered at the greenhouse on a regular basis, too ...while a working apiary project shows visitors how to raise bees and harvest their own honey.In addition, low-income families are allowed to grow their own food in one of the center's 20 outdoor 10' X 30' garden plots or during cooler weather—in provided cold frames. A community root cellar in which the staff plans to store extra produce (especially root crops, which grow well in this northern climate) is also in the works. Finally, the greenhouse sponsors an annual farmers' market in the city park, where local growers can sell their fresh fruits and vegetables directly to the public.In short, the project continues to expand its usefulness, and everyone who's involved with the Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse is quite enthusiastic about sharing a concept the workers believe could be adapted successfully to any community. For this reason, they've prepared a slide and audio presentation that describes their experience and developed a national internship plan that's designed to help people from other communities learn how to plan and manage similar facilities in their own areas. Editor's Note: The Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse is now called the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens. 123 Just Choose Hope: Musings on Native Bees and Cover Crops How to Read Pet Food Labels It’s All About Building Community Hank Will Comes Home to MOTHER EARTH NEWS How Soil Erosion Contributes to Desertification and Dust Storms

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History & Legends The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye. Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude. In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings. The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful." Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820's. At the time of his appointment, Mexico was involved in a civil war. Because of his interest in botany he introduced the American elm into Mexico. During his stay in Mexico he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States. William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, was asked to give Euphorbia pulcherrima a new name as it became more popular. At that time Mr. Prescott had just published a book called the ‘Conquest of Mexico’ in which he detailed Joel Poinsett’s discovery of the plant. Prescott named the plant the poinsettia in honor of Joel Poinsett’s discovery. A nurseryman from Pennsylvania, John Bartram is credited as being the first person to sell poinsettias under its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima In the early 1900's the Ecke family of southern California grew poinsettias outdoors for use as landscape plants and as a cut flower. Eventually the family grew poinsettias in greenhouses and today is recognized as the leading producer of poinsettias in the United States.

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7 plants that could save the world under Architecture, Botanical, Climate Change, Design, Features by Brian Barth 5 by Brian Barth View Slideshow Plants feed us, clothe us, shelter us, heal us, and unendingly inspire us with their everyday miracles. But, in many ways, despite the technological advances of society, we are still at the tip of the iceberg in harnessing the potential of the plant kingdom. In recent years, researchers around the globe have unlocked more and more of the powers of the plant world, demonstrating that the solutions to some of our greatest social and environmental challenges—from hunger and poverty to pollution and global warming—may be found in their genes. Perennial Wheat Grains are the staple food of humanity: the vast majority of people on the planet eat either rice, wheat, or corn on a daily basis, and those are all annual crops. The issue with annuals, which complete their life cycle in a few months and must then be replanted, is that they require tremendous inputs of water, fertilizer and, often, pesticides, and herbicides, in order to remain productive on the same plot of land each year. The constant tillage required to plant and replant grains slowly degrades soil over time and leads to erosion by water and wind. That said, many modern plant breeders have been hard at work in recent years attempting to domesticate some of the perennial grains that are found in nature, because they require a fraction of the agricultural inputs for the amount of yield when compared to their annual cousins. Researchers at the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas are leading the way and have already developed a strain of perennial wheat called Kernza, though they say it may be another ten years before they have perfected it as a crop to replace annual wheat. Azolla is a tiny floating aquatic fern that grows naturally in wetlands all over the world. Individual azolla ferns are about the size of a thumbtack, but they are considered one of the fastest growing species on the planet, as they can double their quantity every other day in warm shallow water. The reason for this is their ability to absorb atmospheric nitrogen and convert into a form of all-natural, fast-acting fertilizer. Humans have been taking advantage of this trait for millennia, incorporating azolla as a member of aquatic polycultures, primarily in the rice padis of Asia. In recent times, azolla has been grown as a form of organic fertilizer, a source of bio-energy and as a sustainable alternative to corn and soy for use in livestock feed. Its phenomenal growth rate makes it a promising plant for the purposes of carbon sequestration, which is currently under study at the Azolla Institute. Related: INFOGRAPHIC – Edible, Medicinal, or Just Bizarre, Here are 50 Amazing Facts About Plants Algae range in size from unicellular organisms to giant kelp over a hundred feet in length. Like azolla, their aquatic nature allows an incredibly fast growth rate making them a prime target for biological research. Some species are edible, bringing micronutrients into the human diet that are deficient in modern agricultural crops. Some species are grown as organic fertilizer, while others are used in biological filtration of sewage. But the potential of algae as a fuel source is where it gets really exciting. They can grow in shallow water, even salty water, making it possible to produce fuel on land unsuitable for agriculture. Algae grows so fast, it is harvested weekly, rather than annually. It is estimated that 15,000 square miles of algae production could supply the United States with all of its fuel needs – that’s about 1/7 of the land currently planted in corn in this country. Some algae fuel is already being sold and experts predict that by 2025 the technology will be refined to the point where the price per gallon will break even with the cost of petroleum. Unlike algae and azolla, sedums like it dry. They grow naturally from cracks in the sides of cliffs, meaning they survive both intense heat and extreme cold equally well and have little need for either soil or water. These traits make sedums perfect for vegetating rooftops and walls — they are the preeminent species for living architecture and are already in widespread use for this purpose. Plus, they have beautiful succulent foliage that comes in an array of soft color tones, making it possible for buildings to become living works of art. Bamboo is probably the fastest growing terrestrial plant—some species shoot up 2 to 3 feet a day, creating enchanting groves in the process. Bamboo is edible, useful for building and can be used to make fiber, paper and a biodegradable alternative to plastic. Of course, there are many other plants that fulfill these purposes, but bamboo has the advantage of being a perennial grass. It can be harvested again and again without replanting, making it useful for reforestation projects to heal land that has been degraded by conventional forms of forestry and agriculture. Bracken Fern Some plants grow surprisingly well in conditions that are toxic to others. Bracken ferns, which are a weedy fern species growing on disturbed land all over the world, have an uncanny ability to grow in soils polluted with heavy metals, like lead, nickel, cadmium, copper and arsenic. Scientists have been experimenting with using them to remove heavy metals from contaminated industrial sites, as the ferns actually absorb them from the soil and store them in their tissues. After being allowed to mature, the ferns are then harvested and incinerated. The resulting ash contains large quantities of the precious metals which are then recycled for other uses. Related: Before Supermarkets, People Foraged for Food Out in Nature (and We Still Can) Like perennial wheat, chestnuts have the potential to serve as a staple food source that improves environmental quality rather than degrades it, as most modern agricultural systems do. They are enormous trees that live for hundreds of years, and, unlike most nut crops, they are relatively low in protein and high in carbohydrates, with a nutritional composition roughly equivalent to potatoes. Their high-calorie, low-protein nutritional profile makes them one of the only tree nuts suitable as a staple food. In fact, they were the number one staple food in the hilly regions of the Mediterranean basin in southern Europe until the early 19th century, where they were ground into flour and used for bread. Chestnut trees thrive in the dry, infertile soils of the region, where grains cannot be cultivated on a large scale. Thus, they have the potential to make marginal agricultural lands into highly productive forested landscapes, with all the benefits of natural forests and none of the environmental costs associated with the large-scale production of annual grains. Images via Shutterstock 5 thoughts on “7 plants that could save the world” ilinkeye December 16, 2016 at 12:49 pm Agree with Zillion... Hemp is the great crop hope for this planet. Companies like Victory Hemp Foods. zllion December 16, 2016 at 11:24 am how is hemp not on this list? The seeds have more digestible protein that any other seed or nut and the ideal ratio of Essential Fatty Acids. The fiber can be used to supplant petroleum commodities and tree/cotton derived fibers. The medicine from the flowers has proven efficacy in the treatment a myriad of medical conditions, all while sequestering up to 4 tons of carbon per acre PER YEAR. Either Inhabitat is asleep at the wheel, or complicit in the DEAs continued misinformation campaign that is brought to us by Big Pharma and Big Ag. signed, Sad Chad. rossdrigo August 25, 2016 at 12:35 pm what about marijuana? (not recreational uses) Rhonda Emily August 25, 2016 at 4:10 am HEMP isn't in this list???!!! For SHAME! Jeremiah Robinson August 5, 2014 at 5:33 pm Fascinating! Azolla is also known as duckweed. I wasn't aware that it fixed nitrogen though. That's awesome! The Top 10 Most Innovative Algae-Powered D... Re-discovering Perennial Vegetables GM Wheat: A Health Risk or a Way to Feed t... 7 plants that could save the world Share

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Debating the Local Food Movement A new book argues that locavores are terrible for the environment, the economy and global food security. Emily Badger Matthew Benson Pierre Desrochers gleefully introduces himself as the bête noir of Canadian local-food activists. An economic geographer at the University of Toronto Mississauga, he has written a book (co-authored with his wife, Hiroko Shimizu), that attempts to eviscerate the movement’s main arguments, from its economic rationale to its environmental one. Even the book's title is an upper cut aimed at local food’s leading "agri-intellectual," the prolific Michael Pollan. The Locavore’s Dilemma, Desrochers has styled his counterargument, with this baiting subtitle: In Praise of the 10,000-mile diet. A libertarian-leaning academic with a thick French-Canadian accent, Desrochers was in Washington, D.C., last week to present the book to what has undoubtedly been one of his friendlier audiences thus far, at the libertarian Cato Institute. He is particularly bemused by the notion that anyone would try to produce local food "when it makes no economic sense," when we have developed over the course of centuries an international and increasingly efficient system for feeding the world affordable bananas and blueberries and lamb year-round. Locavores – and their kind have popped up throughout history – have traditionally championed local food, he says, for no reason other than that it’s local. He is essentially arguing that local food is fundamentally incompatible with urbanism. "Over the last few years, the local food movement has become something more," he then warns the Cato crowd. "In a way it’s also a rebellion against globalization, against big agri-business, against the way food is produced." Several dozen heads nod in assent. To this crowd, locavores aren’t mere silly liberals. They’re a menace. In fact, the people in this room, led by Desrochers, view locavores with about the same conspiratorial alarm with which some food activists view Monsanto. Desrochers’ argument begins with this question: If things were so great when food was produced locally, why did people bother developing a globalized food chain in the first place? And why haven’t history’s many local food movements ("urban potato patches," "liberty gardens," "relief gardens," "victory gardens!") ever lasted? As late as the 1880s, one-sixth of Paris was still devoted to food production. But even that foodie capital has long since given up on the practice (one contributor: the advent of the automobile meant no one got around on horses anymore, which meant there was no longer enough horse manure around to fertilize urban farms). "You cannot have economic growth without urbanization. And you cannot have urbanization without long-distance trade," Desrochers tells us. We also cannot, he says, increase food production and urban density at the same time. "You cannot square a circle." He is essentially arguing that local food is fundamentally incompatible with urbanism. Urbanization isn’t possible without imported food. And urbanization is what makes it possible to raise standards of living everywhere. Historically, we have pushed the production of food out of cities as subsistence farmers have moved in. Now, instead of each tending our own plot of rural land for a living, cities have enabled us to specialize as lawyers and bakers and engineers, while we’ve turned farming itself into a specialty. In the process, Desrochers points out, we’ve learned to produce more food on less land, the price of it has fallen, the range of it available at your local store has increased, and the malnourished percentage of the world population has declined. The problem with locavores, as he sees it, is that they want to undo all of this progress, with terrible consequences. The most environmentally friendly food policy, Desrochers argues, is the one where agriculture consumes the least amount of land globally, and only agri-business can deliver this efficiency. Producing food also requires more energy than transporting it, he adds. He dismisses the concept of "food miles," which he says fails to take into account the mode of transit on which our bananas travel. The 2,000 miles your produce travels from Latin America to Los Angeles by freight, he suggests, may be associated (per banana) with fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the 10 miles it travels home in your car from the supermarket. He also argues that it’s less energy-intensive to produce food where regions best specialize in it, than it is to try to coax those same products out of ill-suited soil elsewhere, even if that means shipping apples from New Zealand to the U.K. Desrochers’ environmental arguments are the most interesting. But he has equal faith that these same economies of scale deliver us safer food, food that’s engineered to be more nutritious, and a more secure global supply of it – all benefits that locavores threaten. He sums all of this up with a dramatic slide warning that locavorism will lead inevitably to higher costs and greater poverty, no environmental and social benefits, less food security and nutrition, and significant penalties for developing economies. In the audience afterward, one man raises his hand and wants to know what concerned citizens can possibly do about all these urban chickens reintroducing disease into the city. "In the end, I throw up my hands in despair," Desrochers says. "In the end, someone will have to die." Desrochers' book takes aim at locavorism in all its forms: the "100-mile diet," the Community Supported Agriculture share, the neighborhood farmer’s market (chief among his indictments: they never have enough parking!). But is this really what most locavores think they’re doing: feeding the world, taking down agribusiness, farming at such a scale that it would be fundamentally at odds with urbanization? Sarah Rich’s new book, simply titled Urban Farms, offers an interesting reading companion to Desrochers’. While he broadly paints the motives of locavores, Rich actually visits them, alongside photographer Matthew Benson. Politics are all but absent from Rich’s interviews. She visits one urban farmer in Detroit who comes the closest to voicing revolutionary motives. He is concerned about a trash incinerator in his neighborhood, and he views his backyard farm partly as a defiant form of environmental remediation. "That’s what he’s thinking about, his local garbage system and how messed up it is," Rich says. "He wasn’t talking to me about Monsanto, or industrial agriculture." Throughout her 16 urban farm profiles, Rich found what she describes as very local initiatives, where agriculture just happened to be the medium for doing something positive in the city. "There is an underlying question from a lot of people: Well, can urban farming really feed a city, or do cities have to be self-sufficient in the future? Is urban farming really the solution to that?" she says. Rich doesn’t set out to address these questions, and she isn’t particularly convinced herself of the answers. "But that being said, there are many, many great reasons for there to be agriculture in cities now. And feeding the city of the future is really only just one reason we might pursue this." Her book is about all of these other reasons. Urban farms can serve as a social anchor for communities. They can beautify blighted neighborhoods. They can create jobs for the unemployed and safe spaces for children. They provide outdoor classrooms for students to learn about where food comes from, but also how producing it is related to geography, math and science. Urban farms yield fresh produce to communities with scant access to it. Three of the farms Rich and Benson visit are in Detroit, a city without a single major supermarket chain. Rich suspects that what she’s seen is no fleeting trend, as Desrochers describes past locavore movements. And urban farms don’t have to be incompatible with density, she argues. Thinking of this, she recounts a recent flight into the Los Angeles airport. "The way we’re flying in, I was coming over this area where I was looking at just ungodly acres of flat rooftops that are just sitting there in LA.," she says. "The sun is shining. I see that, and I do have the thought that man, we could really be using that space for something." In the language of economics, one way to look at locavorism is that it tries to address the market failures of the food system Desrochers celebrates. Even for all of its benefits, industrial agriculture isn’t a perfect market (particularly with the distortion of government subsidies that funnel more money into corn byproducts than the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” USDA program Desrochers warns us about). Progress and innovation have made the food industry more productive and efficient, but so too have its unintended consequences grown over time. Desrochers derides locavorism as a philosophy that "simply amounts to saying backward is the new forward." Food economist Gary Blumenthal, who also spoke at Cato, goes even further: "I equate it to fundamental Islam – this rejection of modernity." But instead of asking, "why have locavore movements always disappeared?" it may also be worth pondering the inverse: Why do they keep cropping up? In her introduction, Rich mentions one obvious market failure of the industrial food system, although she doesn't frame it in such terms. In "food deserts," she writes, it's often easier to plant vegetables than it is to get corner stores to start carrying them, or to convince full-service supermarkets to move in. If our industrial food system does such a good job of feeding ever more of the world’s population at ever-lower prices, with a growing mastery over seasonality, why is it so hard to find a tomato in July in Detroit? Why is it easier for a shopper on food stamps to purchase 1,000 calories in candy bars than 1,000 calories in canned soup? These are the unanticipated consequences of our food system that some locavores think they can address. Desrochers only allows for the coexistence of locavores and agribusiness, of urban farmers and urbanization, in one place: the production of niche products for rich folks. He leaves no room for many of the benefits that Rich documents are already taking place, and he sidesteps some of the biggest problems these urban farmers think need addressing. Flip to the back of Desrochers’ book, and the topic of obesity gets this meager entry: "145, 146, 166" (Michael Pollan, on the other hand, gets 16 pages). Surely locavores have their extremists, just as any other movement does. But if Michael Pollan himself has never advocated a full-scale return to pre-industrial agrarianism, is there really such a menace? Both images, by Matthew Benson, reprinted with permission from Sarah Rich's Urban Farms (Abrams, 2012). What Really Happens After You Flush the Toilet What Critics Get Wrong About the Creative Class and Economic Development Emily Badger is a former staff writer at CityLab. Her work has previously appeared in Pacific Standard, GOOD, The Christian Science Monitor, and The New York Times. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Protesters Descend on D.C. for Day One of the Trump Era Does Urbanization Drive Southeast Asia's Development? Germany Has the World's First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Train

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A new way to tell your story By Megan Pierce, Dairy Herd Management January 17, 2011 | 10:42 pm EST Have you tweeted, posted something to YouTube, or updated your Facebook status lately? These terms are not teen and tween gibberish. These applications, each a form of social media, are having a profound impact on your dairy business, even if you don’t know it yet. Much like a megaphone, social media applications let users broadcast a message to thousands of people in an instant. You can upload a photo, send video footage and tell your friends what you’re doing or share thoughts on a subject instantaneously. It’s much faster than sending an e-mail or making a phone call. And, it allows you to connect with people you might not communicate with regularly. Statistics on social media use are astounding. There are 300 million Facebook users, 17 million Twitter users, and 20 hours of YouTube video are uploaded every minute of every day. Here is a look at why the dairy industry should use social media to reconnect with consumers. Social media is powerful More and more people are turning to the Internet for their news and information. And, the social media provide real information in real time, says David Pelzer, senior vice president of industry image and relations at Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy-checkoff program. For example, earlier this year when a US Airways flight crashed into the Hudson River, within 10 minutes of the aircraft touching the water, a consumer-generated photo and headline were circulating on Twitter. One eyewitness, @jkrums, posted “There’s a plane in the Hudson. I’m on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy.” This was before traditional news outlets broke the story and 36 minutes before US Airways made a statement. You may argue that this is merely a fad. But it’s not going away. “Even if it is a fad, we (as an industry) will be out much more if we don’t embrace social media while it’s popular and use it to our full advantage,” says Ray Prock Jr., owner of Ray-Lin Dairy in Denair, Calif. Admittedly there is plenty of noise when it comes to social media. Twitter users send 2 million tweets per day. While studies show 40 percent of it is noise (e.g., what someone ate for lunch), the majority is newsworthy information. Activists love social media Animal-rights activists have found social media a beneficial tool to spread their propaganda and misinformation about agriculture. Since January 2009, the Humane Society of the United States has increased its Twitter following 25-fold. In the same time period, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals upped its Facebook fans list 26-fold, reports Cause Matters Corp. According to Twitterholic.com, Ellen DeGeneres, an active advocate for the Humane Society of the United States, is ranked No. 2 on Twitter for the number of followers — 3,202,820. If nearly six in 10 Americans younger than 30 say they get most of their national and international news online, and the activists are the only ones who are online, then consumers have only one choice, says Dino Giacomazzi, manager of Giacomazzi Dairy in Hanford, Calif. “We need to use social media to allow consumers access to the real story.” Put a face on the plate “If we don’t get out there and tell people what we’re doing, who do you think is going to?” asks Barbara Martin, co-owner of Tony Martin Dairy in Lemoore, Calif. The majority of consumers are three to four generations removed from the farm and don’t know where their food comes from. There is no connection to the farm. Martin uses Facebook to communicate regularly with family and friends about the dairy industry. “When I first started using Facebook, I would post facts about milk, and I would get questions back from people I had been friends with for years. I made the assumption that they knew,” says Martin. “I’ve had many conversations with people on Twitter who actually thought there were antibiotics in milk,” says Prock. He tweets daily about what he’s doing on the dairy, and now has more than 1,500 followers, 60 percent of whom are not employed in agriculture. Shannon Seifert, owner of Orange Patch Dairy in Sleepy Eye, Minn., uses a digital video camera to shoot videos around the dairy and load them on YouTube. Her most recent video was on making hay and the importance of quality feeds. Seifert has also used social media to connect with parents of preschoolers who visited the farm this year. “We gave each of the kids a flyer to take home with our blog on it. The kids can go online and track the life of “Joey” the calf, whom they met in person.” She says quite a few people have followed “Joey’s” progress. People are hungry for information about food, says Michele Payn-Knoper, principal of Cause-Matters Corp., a professional agricultural speaker and social media advocate. She notes the day the Los Angeles Times food section began following her on Twitter, it really hit home to her what a powerful tool Twitter could be for agriculture. Social media let consumers engage with those who produce the food that they consume. On Twitter, for example, a message exchange can take place between a consumer who is interested in how livestock are cared for on a farm and a farmer who actually works with the animals on a daily basis. “You never know when you may give someone a nugget that will change the way they look at food production or act as a defense mechanism when an anti-agriculture group attacks,” says Payn-Knoper. It’s easy It’s a whole lot easier to spend 30 to 45 minutes a day utilizing Facebook or Twitter to communicate with consumers than it is to stand in the grocery store for eight hours a day, notes Prock. Like many others, Prock, Martin and Giacomazzi tweet regularly from their cell phones while working on the dairy. It’s as simple as letting people know what you’re doing and that we care about our animals, community and family, says Martin. Tools like these put a face back on the farmer, and shows that we are real and that we do care. If we could get every dairyman to have 20 or 30 followers on Twitter, this would be huge, notes Martin. “The speed information travels with social media is amazing,” she says, recalling the day a tornado touched down somewhere in the Midwest and someone was tweeting a play-by-play description of what was happening with the tornado. “It was like you were right there.” Find a way to integrate social media into your life and into your schedule, says Giacomazzi. “I have to keep the cows eating, feed them, milk them, pay my bills and I have to advocate for my industry,” he says. “It has to become a necessary part of my job and my routine because no one out there is doing it for me. “The public has changed its perception. Consumers don’t want to hear from trade associations; they want to know we’re people and we’re taking care of our animals to the best of our abilities. They want to be assured they can buy something from us that’s being treated fairly, handled properly, that it’s safe and that it’s good. That information doesn’t work coming from a trade association. The message has to be delivered by the people on the ground, doing the work and taking care of the animals. “Right now, we’re all distracted by milk prices. But any of us who hope to be around in the future have to get involved and put a face on our product,” says Giacomazzi. “The animal-welfare battle is at our door. And, if we’re going to win the battle, we need to give access to our customers. Social media is one way to give them access to our operations. If we don’t get involved, we may lose our ability to choose how we farm.” This is exactly why earlier this year the dairy checkoff launched myDairy, a new program to mobilize dairy producers and industry leaders to help tell the positive on-farm story of milk production through the social media. (For more information on myDairy, see the sidebar below) Social media applications Here are some statistics and use-data for some of the most commonly used social media applications: No. 7 Web site in the world. Estimated 300 million users. Networks based on company, region, high school or college. Facebook provides opportunities to answer questions about dairy by commenting via wall posts. Twitter is a service for friends, family and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Find and follow influencers and advocates: journalists, analysts, business leaders, policy makers, academics. Follow links in tweets to interesting news stories and blog posts. Listen to and participate in a global conversation on news topics. Create relationships and build a network of influential people. Twitter provides a platform to update followers with brief (140 words or less) postings about daily dairy activities. More than 17 million people currently use Twitter, more than doubling from a year ago. Users upload most of the content and make the site usable by: Tagging videos Ranking videos “Friending” others Recommending videos You Tube provides opportunities to answer questions through discussion boards found on each channel. More than 20 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute of every day. More than 133 million bloggers. A personal online journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Topics sometimes include brief philosophical musings, commentary on Internet and other social issues and links to other sites the author favors, especially those that support a point being made on a post. The author of the blog is referred to as a blogger. www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com More than 40 million users. Business-oriented social networking site for professionals. Allows you to maintain a list of “Connections” you know and trust. LinkedIn provides avenue to answer questions about dairy by joining existing discussion groups or forming your own. 3 billion photos loaded as of November 2008. Enables users to upload their own photos. Users tag their photos to make them searchable. Meritocracy – the good photos get spread around. Enables sharing with friends and family. Social media and you Social media is having a profound impact on your dairy business. The advent of this new technology has opened up a direct line between consumers and the farm gate. Plus, social media has opened another means of direct communication between farmers. “I started using Twitter earlier this year to connect with consumers. What I didn’t expect was the opportunity to better connect with farmers. I now correspond with farmers from across the country on a regular basis,” says Ray Prock, Jr., owner of Ray-Lin Dairy in Denair, Calif. “Social media has given agriculture a water cooler of sorts to talk about our jobs,” he adds. “I can get a first-hand look at the corn crop in Nebraska from the farmer who is growing the crop. It happens in real-time, instead of waiting for a crop progress report to be released by USDA.” Access to information like this plays a role when Prock makes feed-purchase decisions for his dairy. In addition, the media tools mean that users can quickly compare notes on new technology, weather and farming practices. “Twitter is a fast and simple way to check with other farmers who have experience on an issue that might be perplexing you,” notes Prock. “It’s much easier than e-mail.” myDairy, a social media program for dairy advocates Building a strong, positive online presence for the dairy industry helps counter negative attacks and maintains public confidence in dairy foods and the people who produce them. myDairy encourages dairy enthusiastis to use the social media applications they are most comfortable with to share their personal dairy stories with consumers. This program has mobilized dairy enthusiasts across the country. For more information or to join the program, contact [email protected]. Dairy industry blogs: Check out what these dairy producers are saying: Dairy Goddess Ray-Lin Dairy Giacomazzi Dairy Orange Patch Dairy Gilmer Dairy Farm social mediatwittermydairyagricultural activists About the Author: Megan Pierce, Dairy Herd Management

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Blog: Soybeans could be made more resistant to nematodes Researchers have made a breakthrough that could strengthen the soybean plant's resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Research funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff has made a breakthrough that could strengthen the soybean plant's resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). This disease is U.S. soy's biggest yield robber, causing more than $1 billion worth of yield losses annually."SCN has been devastating soybeans ever since I've been involved in the industry," says Jim Schriver, chair of USB's production program and a farmer from Indiana. "This is a great use of biotechnology that can help farmers break through yield barriers so we can continue to increase production and meet demand."For years farmers have been planting soybeans containing a genetic structure called Rhg1, the top defense against SCN. But ways to further improve that resistance have eluded plant scientists. In a study recently published in the journal Science, however, researchers reveal that Rhg1 is actually three genes located next to each other on the chromosome, that work together to make a plant more resistant to SCN. Even more intriguing, SCN-resistant varieties carry multiple copies of this multi-gene block. This discovery allows researchers to quickly find soybean varieties that include these repeated three-gene blocks. It also allows researchers to work with those genes to develop new SCN-resistant varieties.Andrew Bent, professor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the finding "opens the gate for us to walk in" and take SCN resistance to the next level."It's been a goal of biologists for nearly 20 years to identify this Rhg1 gene," says Bent, who has been working on the project for about six years. "The United Soybean Board knew it was important work, and they were very supportive. The real value of the work will be seen in the next few years."Bent, who collaborated on the study with several other researchers, including Matthew Hudson of the University of Illinois, said funding from the soy checkoff was vital to the research.

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story clearinghouse green routes farm to child care new organic stewards women in agriculture specialty crop program on farm food service farm to institution slow money minnesota FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace Map of My Kingdom Play Renewing the Countryside strengthens rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects. We do this by sharing stories of rural renewal, building awareness and support for sustainable endeavors, connecting people interested in sustainable rural development to each other, providing practical assistance and networking opportunities for those working to improve rural America, and fostering connections between urban and rural people. The Renewing the Countryside Project (RTC Project) began in 1998 as a partnership of a few individuals and organizations who, inspired by a publications from the Netherlands that showcased rural renewal across the Dutch countryside, set out to develop a similar project in Minnesota. In 2000, the RTC Project published a book and website that showcased “stories” of people and community groups in rural Minnesota who were finding ways to “renew the countryside” through endeavors that had positive environmental, economic, and social benefits. The book and website became the foundation of a national education campaign that uses real life examples to give people hope, inspiration, and practical ideas for strengthening their own rural communities. In 2002, Renewing the Countryside was incorporated as non-profit organization whose mission is to provide inspiration, ideas and assistance to individuals and communities who are looking for sustainable ways to strengthen their rural communities and reduce poverty. Our primary strategies are 1) to foster the development of sustainable rural communities and landscapes that balance environmental, social, and economic needs; and 2) to educate the larger public of the value of these sustainable rural endeavors to society and the planet and to engage their help in “renewing the countryside.” Do you like this page? © Copyright 2016 Renewing the Countryside | 2637 27th Avenue South, Suite 17, Minneapolis, MN 55406 | [email protected] | 612.910.7601 Sign in with Facebook, Twitter or email.

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Farm assistance doesn't go far enough: Jacobs Jo Prendergast, Tuesday August 6, 2013 - 17:45 EST Member for Eyre Graham Jacobs says the WA State Government's farm assistance package hasn't reached some farmers in need. - ABC Farmers who have given up hope of harvesting a crop this year have been unable to access the State Government's farm assistance grants because of the eligibility criteria.That's according to Member for Eyre Doctor Graham Jacobs, who says the requirement to have equity in farm businesses of between 55 and 65 % has meant many farmers are unable get the government's $25,000 financial support grant. Speaking after a breakfast barbeque for growers and industry leaders held in Southern Cross yesterday, Dr Jacobs says he will ask Agriculture Minister Ken Baston to consider giving some sort of other help to farmers in the Yilgarn region."I've not heard of any farmer in the Yilgarn that has been able to access the $25,000, which is really quite sad because the $25,000 wouldn't' solve all their issues but would help," he says. "I've been to the Minister and the minister's office about that equity band, one of the answers is that it's (farm assistance grants) obviously been over-subscribed already ... but look that may be but I think it shows that the farm assistance package didn't hit the mark as it should have for this area." In a written statement, a spokesperson from Ken Baston's office disputed Dr Jacobs claims, saying seven farmers in the Yilgarn region had received the $25,000 grant. "With limited funds of $5m available the package was never going to be able to assist every single farm business so the Government had to make a decision on eligibility criteria," the statement says. "The minimum equity level of 55% was based on advice that farm businesses with below 55% equity were at a level where unless they had special circumstances were unlikely to be able to continue to operate in the long term. From the data available it was assessed that around 200 successful applications would take the upper limit to 65%." "The deadline for applications has now closed with hundreds of applications received. More than 200 (which was the original amount initially budgeted for under the first-in, first-funded program) have already been paid $25,000 grants and another $1.5m has been reallocated from other parts of the farm assistance package so up to 60 more eligible businesses can receive grants."Meanwhile the WA State Government says it now cannot sign up to the Federal Government's farm finance package due to the federal election being called and the Federal Government moving into caretaker mode. Minister Baston's office says it has not received any paperwork to sign up to the scheme. - ABC

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Wednesday, 06 May 2009 16:05 CSA programs bring together consumers and the hands that feed them Written by Julia Merchant Walk among the rows and rows of hydroponic butter leaf lettuce growing in William Shelton’s greenhouse, and you’ll notice a distinctive dark green patch that seems out of place. While the butter leaf is destined to be neatly packed in a clamshell case and shipped to a Food Lion or Ingles somewhere, the variety of dark, mixed greens are headed somewhere totally different, a place Shelton’s veggies have typically not gone before — a local family’s dinner plate. Shelton, who has spent 25 farming years selling his lettuce and a handful of other crops to big-name retailers, is making his initial foray into Community Supported Agriculture. For the first time in his career, Shelton won’t just know what town his produce is destined for — he’ll know the name of the person eating it. Customers who pay Shelton $500 at the beginning of the growing season — right around now, or earlier in many cases — will receive a box of fresh vegetables each week for six months. They’ll start off with early spring greens; then transition to strawberries, zucchini, and tomatoes; then eggplant and okra; and finally, as the season winds down, root vegetables like acorn squash and pumpkins. Shelton appears to have his plan down pat, but in reality, he says he has no idea what to expect — whether customers will like the vegetables he’s chosen; whether many people at all will sign up for his CSA test run. “I feel like I’m looking into the abyss in a way,” Shelton says. “I’m stepping into uncharted territory.” It may be an abyss, but he’s not alone in taking the plunge. CSA’s have experienced a surge in popularity with the growing local food movement. In 2008, the nonprofit Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program’s Local Food Guide listed 28 CSA’s within 100 miles of Asheville. This season, there are 42. “It’s relatively new in this region, and it’s something I’ve really seen take off in the last few years,” says Rose McLarney, communications director for ASAP. “A lot of farms are realizing that people are interested in that direct connection.” Loving local The connection with local consumers is a whole new experience for farmers like Shelton. “My focus has been on wholesale markets,” Shelton says. “I’ve been resistant to CSA because I’ve been a little intimidated by the prospect of direct marketing.” But the wholesale markets haven’t been kind in recent years. “The market pressures have gotten worse instead of better,” says Shelton. “We’ve been overproducing a small variety of traditional crops like tomatoes, and it’s just cutthroat supply and demand. For the last couple of years, the markets have just been horrible in the summer.” Typically, Shelton says, with every spring comes renewed hope that somehow, the next season will be better. Sometimes it is. Lately, it hasn’t been. At the same time market prices are plummeting, however, the interest in local food is rising. The priorities of consumers are shifting, says McLarney. It’s less about getting any kind of food anytime you want it, even if it means it has to come from thousands of miles away; and more about knowing where food comes from. “I think people are really interested in different qualities than looking for the exotic,” McLarney says. “I think knowing that the flavor comes from things that haven’t traveled as far is of more interest to people than being able to eat tropical year round.” Cathy Arps, a Jackson County grower, has seen that trend emerge firsthand. She and her husband Ron have run a CSA for 11 years. “That freshness is one of the things that has sold people on the idea of local food,” says Cathy. “It’s just so good, and most people think it’s fun to learn how to eat what’s really growing, and to know something about their food.” The Arps’ were overjoyed to hear a fellow farmer was starting up a CSA. Theirs has been so popular that the coveted 21 spots fill quickly year after year and they’re forced to turn many people away. More CSAs haven’t popped up to meet the growing demand. “When William called me and said he was starting a CSA, I practically jumped up and down,” Ron says. “We’ve been talking to people for years about getting more CSAs going, because we’ve always had to turn so many people down.” Julie Mansfield, owner of Mountain Harvest Organics in Madison County, was also happy to hear of Shelton’s plan. She and her husband started a CSA in Haywood County nine years ago when they saw locals were having to drive to Asheville for consistent access to local produce. Today, they’re still one of the few CSA programs west of Asheville, and they deliver to customers each week at the Waynesville tailgate market. Earning one of the Mansfield’s 50 slots is difficult, because customers return year after year. “We have a really high retention rate, and so we haven’t been able to add new members for a long time,” Mansfield says. “We have a waiting list every year, so I’m very excited that other people are doing it.” Haywood County grower Danny Barrett is another farmer jumping on the CSA bandwagon this year. Like Shelton, Barrett had sold his crops wholesale for nearly his entire career. One day several years ago, his daughter convinced him to put up a produce stand. “So we threw in some heirloom tomatoes and decided to put up signs on the road and sell them for a quarter a piece,” Barrett remembers. “And it just kinda boomed.” The response was so great that Barrett switched from growing peppers and tomatoes for wholesale markets to mainly selling from his produce stand. Now, he hopes to have the same success with a CSA. Barrett, like many CSA farmers, is attracted to the idea of getting paid for his crop at the start of the growing season. “I gotta look at it from the benefits at my end, which is it gives me some early startup money,” Barrett says. “Instead of going to the bank and having to borrow enough money because it’s so expensive to put a crop in, you have that money to start with, and you won’t have to pay it back at the end of the year.” Traditionally, farmers have had the burden of getting the money together to start their crop, then hoping they can make that money back as the season progresses. “Usually if you’re growing a produce, you make all the investments, take it to the market, and hope somebody buys it, and if they don’t, you’ll lose money,” says McLarney. The CSA model gives farmers a leg up at the start of the growing season. “The upfront money that people pay, it’s like seed money, because it pays for our seeds and our fertilizers,” Mansfield says. “You don’t get that money up front from the market. If we have a crop failure, we still have income coming in no matter what.” That’s another reason CSAs are attractive to farmers — they provide assurance that, “customers will stick with them throughout the season,” McLarney says. The model creates a deeply personal connection between customers of a CSA and the farmer. If the farm has a tough season, the customer feels it directly in the form of smaller boxes of produce each week — and if the season is plentiful, customers reap the rewards. “They invest in a farm and share in the risk of that farm, but they also get to share in the bounty of the crop,” Shelton says. The personal connection a CSA forms between a farmer and customer is deepened by the fact that the experience is often a learning curve for both. For instance, to entice customers, farmers tend to plant a much more diverse array of crops than they have in the past. “It allows farmers to grow a variety of crops, because people like to see different things in their box,” says McLarney. “Whereas farmers in recent years may have been encouraged to specialize in one thing and sell it wholesale.” That’s the experience Shelton is going through. Last year, he grew strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and squash. This year, “I’m doing a whole lot of different things for CSA, some for the first time,” Shelton says. “It’s kind of reintroduced me to gardening.” As he walks through his greenhouses and fields, Shelton points out the wide array of things he’s planted this year: mixed greens, okra, cantaloupe, soybeans, broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens, turnips, zucchini, sweet corn, eggplant, blueberries and chard. “This is the first time I’ve grown shallots in my life,” Shelton laughs, gesturing to a row of small green shoots. For Cathy Arps, “the category of food that has been a learning experience is greens,” she says. The Arps’ will sift through a seed catalog, picking out as many edible greens as they can find in order to give their customers some variety in early spring. “We grow all kinds of greens that people can’t even pronounce the names of,” Cathy chuckles. The wide variety of produce offered through a CSA encourages customers like Larissa Miller, a longtime member of the Arps’ program, to be inventive in the kitchen. “Lots of times we’d get things I wouldn’t typically grow in the garden,” Miller says. “It forces me out of my normal paradigm of cooking to try some things a little different.” After a while, customers get good at figuring out what to do with the weekly bounty of produce. “A lot of members said the first year, it was challenging to eat all the food,” Mansfield says. “You accumulate a repertoire of recipes, so you might have 50 ways to cook kale.” The Mansfields have created an online collection of member-submitted recipes, which can be accessed at www.mountainharvestorganic.com/recipes.html. Planting a seed Shelton is working hard to make his CSA succeed. He’s had a crash course in direct marketing to the consumer, creating a new Web site, distributing brochures, setting up a booth at Greening up the Mountains and joining the local Chamber of Commerce. He hopes to snag between 100 and 200 customers this season. Though Shelton says the learning curve is steep, he’s undoubtedly committed — not just to his CSA, but to the larger idea of eating locally. “I’ve decided that if the idea is to connect local food to local people, and I have the capacity to grow a good volume of food, it’s a good route to take,” he says. “Ideally, I think I’m going to try to build this community around my farm.” Interested in purchasing a CSA share from one of the farmers in this article? • The Arps are already full for the season. • William Shelton’s CSA is $500 per share for a 24-week season. The cost can be paid up front, or half now and half Aug. 1. Shelton Family Farm is located in Whittier, but Shelton is considering possible pick-up locations in Sylva, Bryson City, Cullowhee, and Waynesville. To sign up, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.sheltonfamilyfarm.com. • Danny Barrett, owner of Ten-Acre Garden in Haywood County, is offering 21-week shares for $300. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Shares in both CSAs are limited, so register as soon as possible. Shares can be split, so if the weekly produce box seems a bit daunting, feel free to invite friends, neighbors, or family to take part. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Read 4691 times Last modified on Friday, 19 November 2010 21:29 Tagged under Latest from Julia Merchant Barker visits WNC in campaign to help bears Clean energy future may be blowing in the wind PETA targets bear zoos in national campaign Stimulus funds boost WNC mass transit Downtown merchants anticipate homecoming for county workforce Farmers and tailgate markets The ingredients of the good life Giving new farmers a boost Haywood farmers market now more accessible to low-income people Down by the river: Swain farmers market makes a move Growing Season: New farmers markets to bring local focus to Cowee, Maggie Valley Coffee shop owner launches farmers market sans permit Hops growing on the minds of Appalachian agriculture « Library bids come in well under budget Spot land-use plan to mark first forray into zoning » back to top Travel Resources Four rides for two wheels WNC museums Theaters and playhouses WNC galleries WNC Fly Fishing Trail Kid-rated adventures Calendar of regional events Breweries west of Asheville The Blue Ridge Parkway Biking hot spots Find a Christmas tree

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Step Aside, Gents. Witness The Rise Of Women In Coffee By Allison Aubrey Three women in coffee leading the way: Stephanie Backus of Portland Roasting, coffee farmer Miguelina Villatoro of Guatemala, and coffee exporter/processor Loyreth Sosa. Here they discuss coffee prices as they survey beans ready for milling. Margaret Swallow co-founded the International Women's Coffee Alliance a decade ago. Originally published on January 9, 2014 2:49 pm The inspiration for NPR's Coffee Week arrived in an email last summer. I had just reported on the growing Third-Wave Movement in Coffee, and the burgeoning interest in coffee cuppings. One listener, Margaret Swallow, who'd heard the story on her local station, WVXU in Cincinnati, reached out to me with the story of 30-plus years in coffee — which culminated in the founding of the International Women's Coffee Alliance, a group with chapters from Kenya to Costa Rica. Its mission (as this video helps explain) is to help bolster women in coffee-producing countries — in part, by helping them find ways to start their own businesses and bring more resources back to their communities. Stories like that of these four female coffee growers in Africa, whom we profiled last November, represent the vanguard of change and hope in the industry. Swallow began her career in 1979. Back then, she was marketing the coffee that lots of us grew up with. Fresh out of Harvard Business School, she was hired by Proctor & Gamble as a brand assistant on Folgers Coffee. If you listen to my story, you'll hear how she had an aha moment when she traveled to a coffee farm in Africa. The images she encountered of women and children working long hours in poor conditions, amid crushing poverty, stayed with her. She knew she wanted to make a difference. The IWCA, now in its 10th year, has grown into a powerful networking organization. But there's still a long way to go. As the International Trade Centre has documented, women on family-owned coffee plants in African countries take on about 70 percent of maintenance and harvesting work. Yet they tend to have little or no control over their farms' finances, and they typically do not own land or have easy access to credit. But change is coming. Increasingly in Central and South America, women are making progress. On Tuesday, we documented the story of Guatemalan farmer Miguelina Villatoro. In Colombia, 47 percent of the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers' members are female. In fact, one-fifth of that country's farms are owned and operated by women, according to the federation. So what's next? One new initiative underway is the creation of a Women's Harvest brand of coffee. Nancy Moore of the Almana Harvest Fund is collaborating with the Costa Rican chapter of the IWCA. They're hoping to launch a pilot soon.Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: It's Coffee Week here on MORNING EDITION. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG "COFFEE TIME") NATALIE COLE: (Singing) Coffee time, let's listen to some jazz and rhyme and have a cup of coffee. MONTAGNE: For those of you out there sipping coffee, chances are your cup of Joe was brewed from beans that were handpicked or processed by women. Women can be found at every point of coffee production. Often those jobs still leave those women terribly poor. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports on efforts to change that. ALLISON AUBREY, BYLINE: When Margaret Swallow graduated from Harvard Business School back in 1979, she was hired by Procter and Gamble in Cincinnati to market the coffee that lots of us grew up with. (SOUNDBITE OF AD) UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: (Singing) The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup. AUBREY: Swallow was very successful. Coffee was profitable. But Margaret's job was an office job. She had no idea what life was like for people who grew coffee beans. She'd never been to the countries or farms that produced coffee. But as her career advanced, she got the chance to do this, and it changed her life. MARGARET SWALLOW: We would go way off the beaten path, very remote areas and - eastern Africa, Central America. And I recall being stunned by seeing children and women. AUBREY: Who were picking the beans and processing the coffee, working long hours for very little pay. The poverty was crushing. Sometimes families didn't even have the basics, such as clean water or a stove to cook. SWALLOW: It makes you very sad. AUBREY: Margaret came back determined to do something. She teamed up with a friend named Karen Cebreros, who'd also built a successful career in coffee. And they decided to bring together a bunch of other powerful women working in the coffee industry. Karen had one idea. KAREN CEBREROS: What if we just took a busload, literally, of all women and they saw the situation of how we're living so well in consumer countries and growers are really suffering. AUBREY: She bet they'd want to push for change too. Now, the first stop on the bus tour was a village in a coffee-growing region of Nicaragua. CEBREROS: Before we got off the bus, we saw the little schoolhouse that they were trying to build. And it had no roof, no doors, no windows, no floor - just a little façade - a chalkboard and no chalk. And within 10 minutes we passed a hat around the bus and we collected $500 and we handed it to them and said, here, will this help you finish your school? And of course it did. AUBREY: But Cebreros says they all knew it was not a solution - it was just a Band-Aid. CEBREROS: It was just going to be a cycle of poverty over and over again. AUBREY: The group of women on that bus knew that they needed to do something really different. You see, the reason coffee and poverty are so inextricably linked is because the people who do the back-breaking labor, handpicking the beans, have always been many, many steps removed from us, the consumers, who actually drink coffee. Their work is invisible to us. In the coffee supply chain there are brokers, exporters, millers, roasters. And as each takes a little cut of the deal, precious little goes back to farm communities. Now, Karen and Margaret knew that to change things, the women farmers had to learn to set up coffee businesses. They needed direct access to brokers and buyers. They needed to learn to make the deals. CEBREROS: The idea is, don't give a man a fish or a woman to fish, teach them to fish. AUBREY: So what happened next is that they chartered a new organization, the International Women's Coffee Alliance. It's based on the Rotary Club model of local chapters. There are mentorship programs, opportunities for women to learn from each other and connect with key players along the supply chain. That was about a decade ago, and the organization was slow to start. But now there are 15 chapters, from Kenya to Costa Rica. (SOUNDBITE OF CROWD CHATTER) AUBREY: And this spring, hundreds of women gathered at a conference in Guatemala City. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: We are ready to start the conference. Please, everyone join us on the second floor... AUBREY: There were farmers, co-op managers, roasters and importantly buyers from the U.S. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: Good to see you. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #3: Yeah. AUBREY: In a small tasting room, coffee exporter Loyreth Sosa pours samples of eight coffees from different farms in Guatemala for buyers to taste. She gives each one a number. LOYRETH SOSA: El cinco. Number five. You like it? AUBREY: Sosa works for a family business in Guatemala City that's been handed down from father to son for generations. Now she's the one stepping up to make deals. SOSA: Yes. This is 100 percent (unintelligible) coffee. STEPHANIE BACCHUS: Very good coffee. I mean, very balanced, sweet. AUBREY: Stephanie Bacchus is a buyer from Oregon. She's slurping and spitting the coffee to evaluate the characteristics of the beans. (SOUNDBITE OF SNIFFING) BACCHUS: I like all of these. SOSA: Yes. They are very good coffees. AUBREY: Direct relationships like this between small growers, exporters and roasters are part of the expanding world of specialty coffee. But here's the deal: more than two-thirds of all the coffee in the U.S. is marketed and sold by big corporations, giants like Kraft, McDonalds, as well as big institutional players who supply coffee to hotels, hospitals and offices. NANCY MOORE: Coffee is a business of volume. You know, it's a $40 billion marketplace in the U.S. - coffee. AUBREY: That's corporate dealmaker Nancy Moore of Sausalito, California. And she believes it's time for women in coffee to get into this corporate space. And how? Well, she says there's Fair Trade coffee, Rain Forest Alliance certified - why not create a women's harvest certification or brand? MOORE: Women's issues are very big right now. AUBREY: Increasingly, big companies are making commitments to their shareholders to invest in sustainable and socially responsible projects. So Moore is calling on all her contacts in the corporate world to build support and launch a woman's brand of coffee. MOORE: I brought in a team. Part of my team was the former of head of Marriott North America. AUBREY: And now they're in the process of launching a pilot with Marriott Hotels in the Caribbean. The coffee will come from women's cooperatives in Costa Rica. And once it's up and running, it means that as Marriott customers sip their coffee, a few more cents per pound will go directly back to the women who produced it. MOORE: What we're doing is facilitating change through social responsibility purchasing. AUBREY: Initiatives like this won't change the lives of women coffee producers overnight, but Moore says they can over time. She points to studies that show there are differences between men and women entrepreneurs. Women tend to invest more profits back into their communities. MOORE: By building the women and empowering them economically, you're building the whole community. (SOUNDBITE OF CHILDREN) AUBREY: Take, for instance, this farmer in Guatemala, Miguelina Villatoro. MIGUELINA VILLATORO: Good morning. AUBREY: She supports the school in her village. VILLATORO: Every year I do something for them, I try to help them. AUBREY: So last spring when the roof sprang a leak... VILLATORO: I helped them to fix up the ceiling over there. AUBREY: Villatoro says it's one little step to building a strong community. Allison Aubrey, NPR News. MONTAGNE: Miguelina's story was featured earlier this week, and if you missed it, you can find it by going to NPR's food blog, The Salt. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2017 Texas Public Radio

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Tomatoes New Jersey officials feel need to add value for fresh produce customers The economic crisis is changing customer and consumer habits while making growers and suppliers look for new efficiencies. Many in the New Jersey produce industry say simply finding internal savings isn’t enough — they must also create value for their customers in order to retain them. “You have to realize that when your customer base has less money to spend, we have to try to facilitate them,” said Bill Nardelli, president of Nardelli Bros. Inc., Cedarville, N.J. “We’ve got a little break on fuel and fertilizer and (wax-coated) boxes, so we’re trying to pass that on to our customer base.” Nardelli said Nardelli Bros. is also taking advantage of its close-to-market customer base to reduce freight costs. “We are trying to operate as close to the chest and as economically as we can,” he said. “The items that we have are reasonably priced for the consumer. That’s something that we are really trying to achieve this year.” Pete Macrie, president of Paul J. Macrie Inc., Hammonton, N.J., said customers simply do not have the “gotta have it” attitude they had in the past. “When something gets to a point for the chain stores, the retail is so high that they won’t need it. You find out there won’t be a demand for it,” he said. “They saw it out of Chile with these blueberries in the winter. They started them off too strong and people didn’t want to pay big money. A lot of these items that aren’t your staple items, people aren’t excited about. They’re going to be smarter shoppers.” Jim Donio, treasurer of Frank Donio Inc., Hammonton, said customers are looking for stability and close partnerships that stress security during uncertain times. “We feel that in uncertain economic times, consumers and retailer customers want a level of stability, security and safety,” said Donio, who described how Frank Donio Inc. tours customers through its facilities and farms and considers customers to be partners. “That partnership creates a great sense of security and comfort so that they know they can count on us in very difficult times,” he said. Peter Bylone, general manager for the Vineland Cooperative Produce Auction Association Inc., Vineland, N.J., said he is saving money by working with growers who are mostly 10-15 minutes away. “The furthest farmers are in the Salem area, Swedesboro, 45 minutes away,” he said, adding that suppliers like him are looking for bigger deliveries from growers in order to cut back on a high number of low volume farm trips. Sam Burleson, vice president of sales and marketing for F&S Produce Co., Rosenhayn, N.J., stressed not that he is saving his customers money, but that he is helping to make them money. “We have some new customers that are new to the New Jersey area. They are not retail but industrial customers,” he said. Sam Pipitone, president of F&S Produce Co., agreed there is a lot of room for profit for those willing to take the risk, especially at a time when many growers and suppliers are acting conservatively. “We expect the window to be quite significant,” Pipitone said of the New Jersey spinach deal that he is re-entering after a lapse of several years. “We found an opportunity for us to have raw material again, sourced nearby and able to market.” Pipitone said the spinach crop has an early start this year from about mid-April to June, a break in the middle of the summer, and then will pick up again in the fall. He is working with a private label and he said the company seized this opportunity because of the guarantee of support and encouragement from its partner, providing “a nice extension to our product line.” Chris Cunnane, national sales director for Santa Sweets, Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., Philadelphia, said despite the downturn and across-the-board search for savings and efficiency, the demand for flavorful tomatoes has not subsided. “There are people that are connoisseurs of tomatoes and they know flavor for this Ugly Ripe in particular. It almost has a romantic connection for a lot of people,” Cunnane said of Procacci Bros.’ “old fashioned” tomato seed variety based on calls, letters and e-mails. Cunnane said the variety is not typically grown commercially because of its low yields, but he supplies the tomatoes to select stores where a loyal following will pay for the premium produce. “There’s definitely a percentage of the population that loves tomatoes,” he said. “If they love it and perceive it as something that is worth the money, they’ll buy it.” Topics: new jerseyn.j. producenew jersey economyproduce merchandisingnew jersey cropsnardelli bros.santa sweetsf&s producepaul j. macrie inc.frank donio inc. About the Author:

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The Climate Desk Corporations love to talk about going green, but not many are planning for a changing climate By Felix Salmon on Apr 19, 2010 Share About a decade ago, Miguel Torres planted 104 hectares of pinot noir grapes in the Spanish Pyrenees, 3,300 feet above sea level. It’s cold up there and not much good for grapes — at least not these days. But Torres, the head of one of Spain’s foremost wine families, knows that the climate is changing. His company’s scientists reckon that the Rioja wine region could be unviable within 40 to 70 years, as temperatures increase and Europe’s wine belt moves north by up to 25 miles per decade. Other winemakers are talking about growing grapes as far north as Scandinavia and southern England. Torres’ Pyrenees vineyards are a hedge and may not be necessary. But if climate change redraws the map of Europe’s wine world, he will be prepared. And his company will be one of a very few taking steps to adapt to the future effects of climate change. How companies are preparing for these changes is a pressing topic, but when I agreed to write this piece I knew I was no expert. I set out to educate myself by posting open requests on my finance blog at Reuters, asking my eager-to-comment audience of business wonks to tell me stories of how big corporations are getting ready. The idea was that my readers and other bloggers would cheerfully provide me with examples of how companies are preparing for the downsides — not to mention the opportunities — of climate change. I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of responses; what I got was a shocking lack of evidence that the corporate sector is doing much of anything. Most companies seem to focus solely on mitigating changes to the climate: reducing carbon emissions, improving environmental sustainability, and striving to be an enlightened steward of the planet. Adaptation is the opposite, more pessimistic approach: It is about ensuring survival in the exceedingly likely event that climate change occurs. The U.S. government is trying to create incentives for businesses and their investors to plan ahead. Newly issued SEC regulations mandate that any material risk connected to climate change has to be revealed, in an attempt to bring these issues out into the open and to allow investors to compare the ways that companies see climate risks and adapt their strategies accordingly. There are, to be sure, a few examples of corporations that are treating climate change as an ominous reality, or even as an opportunity. The biggest funders of Brazilian agricultural projects, state-owned banks BNDES and Banco do Brasil, are looking carefully at whether it makes sense to support projects which might not be viable in 20 or 30 years’ time. Agribusiness giants like Cargill and Monsanto are developing hardier crops, global shipping firms are planning for an ice-free Arctic passage [Clive link TK], and power company TransAlta has scrapped potential new plants in the American West because it couldn’t ensure that water rights would be available for the next 40 years. But those are at the margins. In the mainstream business world, climate change adaptation strategies are scant. The reasons for inaction are sometimes simple, but also counter-intuitively complex. Start with the superficial: Adaptation strategies have essentially zero PR value. They have nothing to do with saving the planet. Instead, they’re all about trying to thrive if and when the planet starts to fall apart. That’s not something any savvy company wants to trumpet to the world. Then there is the mismatch of time horizons. Climate change takes place over decades, and corporate timescales generally max out in the five to seven year range. Businesses typically won’t spend significant money planning beyond that period, especially because the effects on business models and future profitability are so difficult to predict. It’s easy to talk about how hotel companies with coastal property might have to face more hurricanes, or rising sea levels. But it’s quite hard to know what is going to happen to any given beachfront resort with a sufficiently high degree of certainty. Given the enormous amount of variability in any complex model, if a company spent a lot of money carefully mitigating the risk of X, it could end up getting blindsided by Y instead. “There are very difficult models to develop, with more rain here, less rain there,” says Andy Hoffman, associate director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan. Finally, even if the effects of climate change are foreseeable, they can be impossible to hedge. Say you’re an electronics manufacturer who is pretty sure that climate change is going to wallop Bolivia, resulting in political unrest and a spike in the price of lithium. All your devices run on lithium batteries, so this is a serious risk, but it’s far from obvious what you can do about it. It’s silly to start stockpiling lithium, and you can’t even bet on rising lithium prices 10 years from now, since it’s not a metal that is heavily traded in the futures markets. Essentially all that you can do is be very clear about the risk in your SEC filings, and go about your business as normal. And identifying a risk is not the same thing as being able to negate it. A classic business hedging strategy is to buy insurance. Reinsurance companies have expensive and sophisticated climate-change models. Pricing such risk is what they do. In many cases, they will make more money as the effects of climate change become increasingly visible and expensive, since they’ll simply raise premiums on everybody while refusing to insure the most vulnerable at any price. But insurance doesn’t work very well as an adaptation strategy. Policies only last for one year, or at most two. The insurance companies don’t need to charge higher rates now if they see big and nasty things happening to the global climate in 20 years’ time — they can continue more or less as they are for the time being. It’s easy to forget that if you’re simply renewing an insurance policy every year: the existence of the insurance market gives companies a sense of false security that their risks are hedged. To put it another way, insurance is a highly imperfect hedge for climate change, because it can go away or rise in cost very suddenly. After the Bhopal disaster in 1984, pollution liability insurance first disappeared entirely, and then, when it came back, cost ten times as much. The risk of rising insurance costs — or insurance becoming impossible to buy at any price — is something so inherently difficult to protect against, most companies don’t even bother trying. The behavioral economist Dan Ariely, author of “Predictably Irrational,” likes to say that climate change is a problem that is perfectly designed to make people do nothing: It happens far in the future; its effects will be felt most greatly by other people; and the efforts of any one individual are minuscule. Companies too tend to behave in predictably irrational ways. Executives should try to imagine their companies 30 years down the line, struggling with the deleterious effects of climate change on profitability and corporate survival. But they don’t. That’s a job for the next CEO’s successor’s successor. Right now there are a million other things that seem much more urgent, starting with this quarter’s earnings. More stories in this series: Did we learn anything from the BP oil spill? The National Oil Spill Commission has given marching orders on how to prevent another disaster. But will Congress listen? Flashback: Bachmann called for 'armed and dangerous' citzenry on climate bill In the wake of the Arizona shootings, there has been a lot of talk about the influence of political rhetoric. Here are some climate-oriented examples. What does the Bible have to say about climate change? [AUDIO] There's an emerging environmental movement among faith-based communities in the U.S., but still considerable disagreement about climate change. Cancun climate breakthrough: It's not perfect, but it's a deal The Cancun climate conference came to an end with standing ovations for the host country and concurrence among countries to approve an agreement. More in The Climate Desk

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Just peachy enough Rosa Parra, 9, helps fill a bin of an early variety of local peach at the Mt. Garfield Fruits and Vegetables stand near Palisade. The stand enjoyed brisk business this past weekend after cherries, apricots — and peaches — arrived. It’s no secret: We love peaches. So when a cruel cold snap this spring wiped out many of this year’s early peaches, folks took notice. As other more cold-hardy peach varieties begin to hit roadside market stands and farmers markets in the next couple weeks, some growers hope those sales can make up for a slow start to the fruit and vegetable selling season. Bruce Herman of Herman Produce, 753 Elberta Ave. in Palisade, said their cotton-candy pink stand just off Interstate 70 hasn’t yet received the influx of visitors as in years past. While they have a limited amount of early peaches, the good news is there will be plenty of the luscious fruits for locals in coming weeks. The company is not selling peaches to wholesale distributors this year because of the shortages. “We have high hopes. It’s going to be a better year than we thought,” he said. “We’ll have a good local crop here in a couple weeks.” The dozens of fruit and veggie stands around the Grand Valley rely on the draw from peaches and tomatoes to get folks in the door. Once there, buyers tend to shop around for other fruits and veggies. It also isn’t helpful that most of area’s cherries and apricots succumbed to the frost. Those fruits are usually in abundance this time of year. However, some local stands feature those treats after purchasing them from orchards in areas around Delta and Paonia. On Saturday, Mt. Garfield Fruit and Vegetable Stand, 3371 Front St., finally saw a healthy dose of customers come through. The stand has cherries and apricots and a limited selection of Paul Friday peaches, an early variety. “Everything’s late because of the weather,” said a woman who was working there. “I was getting worried,” she added, about a lack of customers recently. Alida Helmer of Alida’s Fruits, 3402 C 1/2 Road, said the stand had some early peaches earlier this week, but sold out. Tomatoes should be for sale there this week. “I think it’s been a littler slower, but I’ve had a lot of people stop here today,” she said from her stand. “I can’t say that we’ve been swamped.” Lee DeVries of DeVries Farm Market, 31 1/2 C Road, confirmed that most people first seek peaches when out shopping for local produce. They will have them soon. “That is the draw,” DeVries said. “Then they pick up other stuff.”

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Clark family named Pope Co. Farm Family of Year Shane Crabtree 11:15 AM, Monday, June 09 2014 | 3423 views | 0 | 18 | | The Clarks are this year's recipients of the Arkansas Farm Bureau's Pope County Farm Family of the Year award. (THE COURIER / Shane Crabtree) POTTSVILLE — In an out-of-the-way corner of Crow Mountain near Pottsville sits a farm of 450-plus acres. If you asked Randy Clark and his family, they would say the farm is just an average family farm.They would show you their garden where they grow uncountable forms of fruits and vegetables, their pastures dotted with roaming herds of cattle and their large reserves of bailed hay, yet they will humbly reference themselves as living on their little family farm.The Clarks are the recipients of the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Pope County Farm Family of the Year award.Randy Clark, a third-generation farmer, began his life-long career by working on the farm part-time alongside his grandfather after school hours.“I got out of school and went straight to the farm,” Randy said. “Even back then, it’s what I wanted to do. I’ve been on the mountain all my life.”It was on the mountain that Randy set his life goal of taking over his grandfather’s farm, and it was on the mountain where he met his wife, Laura, who lived on the Atkins side of Crow Mountain.“I would come over to Randy’s farm and make a nuisance of myself,” Laura said. “Randy’s mother used to cook lunch for them every day at noon. I’d come over and just get in the tractor with Randy and ride around with him.”In 1988, Randy and Laura were married, and that same year they took over the farm’s day-to-day operation. Now, the Clark children Nathan, 22, and Ashlyn, 20, assist in the daily chores.The Clarks initially started by raising herds of beef cattle, but later changed their operation into beef cattle feeding.“We are a feeder operation,” Randy said. “We buy the cattle, mostly locally, each one weighing in at about 300-600 pounds. We give them all their shots, keep them clean, feed them and get their weight up to about 700-800 pounds. At that point, we sell them off to the feed lots.”Randy said the farm holds, on average, 740 head of cattle per year. The Clarks hope to expand in the future.Along side the Clarks’ cattle operation, they use approximately 230 acres for hay production. Randy and his son, Nathan, share the majority of the responsibility.“We sow a rye grass mix,” Randy said. “It takes to growing well in the summer. We usually get three to four cuts per year, averaging out to about 900 bails each year.”Randy said the hay season is off to a slow start due to the sudden return of cold weather in March, but that it is gradually picking up speed. But hay is not the only seed sown on the Clark family farm. Randy tends a large backyard garden that grows more fruits and vegetables than the Clarks can count.“We grow a lot in the garden,” Randy said. “We grow corn, squash, tomato, cabbage, eggplant, watermelon, cantaloupe, onions, okra and some other things. There’s a lot in there.“I do the garden as a slow-down at the end of my day. It relaxes me, and I enjoy doing that before calling it a night.”The Clark family is involved in many farm-based organizations. Randy is a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Board, the Pope County Extension Office Agri Committee and the Cattlemen’s Association. Laura is a member of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. Nathan and Ashlyn were members of 4-H until they graduated from high school and are also members of the Pottsville Future Farmer’s of America. Nathan also serves as a captain on the Pottsville Fire Department.Ashlyn, who works as a hair and nail technician along side her full-time job at Friendship Community Care, said being on a farm has always been normal to her.“I think it’s fun that we got the award,” Ashlyn said. “Nobody ever cares about farms or anything and then boom, you’re farm family of the year and everyone wants to know about it.”Regardless of awards, normality of life and work on the Clark farm will continue. There will still be cattle to tend, gardens to cultivate and hayfields to cut. Perhaps Randy Clark said it best:“There’s nothing like working on the farm,” Randy said. “It’s interesting, there is no routine. You can’t have plans because they’ll get changed every day. And when you’re out on the farm, you’re never actually done working.“But I enjoy it. All this is natural.”

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Blues Blowout 2017 Congress still playing the farm bill game By Amy Mayer In the Facebook game Farmville 2, players create their own farms. Like real farmers, players plan their moves based on policy. courtesy of Zynga Blogger and farmer Val Wagner lives in North Dakota. She says Farmville features its own sort of farm bill. courtesy of Val Wagner Farmer Seth Watkins is one of many Midwestern farmers left in limbo without clarity in agricultural policy. Amy Mayer/IPR Rep. Bruce Braley heard from many frustrated constituents at town hall meetings in his northeastern Iowa district. Amy Mayer/IPR Listen Listening... / 4:18 What the game Farmville teaches players about the real life farm bill. The farm bill is, once again, entering a critical stretch. As was the case last year, the current law expires at the end of September. There’s no election to dissuade elected officials from tackling the major piece of agriculture and nutrition policy—but Congress does have a pretty full plate, with the crisis in Syria, immigration reform and a measure to continue funding federal government programs all set to come to a head. The farm bill may be buried under competing priorities, but it’s a massive bill that charts policy for everything from farm subsidies to food stamps. To get non-farmers up to speed on the farm bill, blogger Val Wagner wrote “If Farmville had a Farm Bill” from her farm in North Dakota. Farmville is the Facebook game that six million people play every day, clicking the mouse to plant some seeds and water them. Then players watch the crops roll in. “If you look at the basic premise behind the game, it’s set-up very similar to some of the farm bill’s provisions,” Wagner said. “I mean, very, very basic, but at least it gives them an idea of where it all comes from and the whole point behind it.” Wagner says safeguards are one parallel between the game and farming under the farm bill. If you follow the rules and check in on your farm, at least sparingly, you don’t get obliterated from the game. “If you come back within the amount of time that they allot, you’re guaranteed at least a partial of what you were expecting,” Wagner said. Similarly, the real farm bill’s crop insurance provisions give real-life farmers something to fall back on after a bad season. And that’s how, for decades, the farm bill has used policies that help farmers stay in business to encourage domestic food production. Now, though, the rules of the game are unclear. The House andSenate have different ideas about conservation requirements. They are billions of dollars apart on nutrition assistance—in fact, the House completely separated farm policy from food stamps. Details about crop insurance subsidies, target prices and programs for new farmers all remain in flux. “If our current farm bill situation was a game,” Wagner said, “you [would] basically have the developers saying, ‘Hey, we know you need to play the game and we want you to be here to play the game, but we’re not going to tell you how you’re going to play the game, and what it’s going to cost to play the game. And whether or not we’re actually going to have rules in place that will work for you.’” Who wants to play such a game? Gamers would be outraged if Farmville changed its rules without warning and Wagner says farmers would rather not put up with it. But now they are heading into the harvest without knowing what the rules will be in 2014 and beyond. Wagner said that makes it difficult to know what to do with certain acres this fall, since she and her husband don’t have all the information they need to decide what they will plant come spring. During the August Congressional recess, voters in farm country gave elected officials an earful on the subject. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-IA, held constituent meetings in several towns in his northeastern Iowa district. “One of the biggest concerns people expressed is frustration that Congress can’t get a farm bill passed,” he said during a stop in Marshalltown. “And I understand that frustration. I’m frustrated.” Iowa farmer Seth Watkins is one of the many Midwest farmers left in limbo. Dickcissels, field sparrows and common yellow throats chirp and fly over Watkins’ farm in the rolling hills of southwest Iowa, where Watkins has a cow-calf operation and grows corn, soybeans and a little wheat. Watkins is waiting on Congress because he will have to manage his farm under its new rules. “Watching the farm bill, there’re certainly some things I don’t understand and might not even agree with,” Watkins said. “But there’s some things that I think benefit all of us.” He cites the farm bill’s conservation reserve program as an example of a public-private partnership that works. But will it exist next year? Congress could axe it. And that would make Watkins’ decision to take land out of production more expensive. You won’t find that level of detail in Farmville. But the game’s makers hope people do learn that a farm is a living entity and that farmers rely on their wits and hard work, on their neighbors, and on rules that make sense. Daryl Anselmo, a creative director at Farmville’s parent company Zynga, understands something that Congress seems to be ignoring. “Players, when they come in, they want to understand the rules of the game,” he said. “And they want to be able to trust that certain decisions that they make will yield certain outcomes.” If players don’t like what happens, they can easily leave the game. In real life, farmers take on plenty of risks, including losing their livelihood if things go terribly wrong. But federal policy is supposed to be something they can count on—because walking away from a real farm carries many more consequences than quitting a game. Tags: Farm Billsocial mediaTweetShareGoogle+Email © 2017 Iowa Public Radio

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U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Announces First Chief Executive National Agricultural Alliance Selects Recognized Industry Veteran Randy Krotz as CEO CHESTERFIELD, Mo., March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) announced that its board of directors has appointed Randy Krotz as chief executive officer, effective immediately. A recognized leader in the agribusiness community and active on his family farm in Kansas, Krotz joined USFRA as vice president of development in 2013 and most recently served as executive director. "U.S. agriculture is at an important crossroads, and with Randy's decades of experience and relationships across the agricultural industry, he is the right person to cement USFRA's role as the unifying voice of farmers and ranchers to consumer audiences," Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said. "Randy's deep background in food, farming and agribusiness will play a key role in further establishing USFRA as a thought leader on food issues and a guidepost for the next generation of farmers and ranchers." In 2013, the USFRA board set to create a long-term vision for the movement including structuring the alliance for new leadership. After a national search, USFRA board of directors decided to hire the organization's first chief executive officer in its three-year history from within its own ranks. Since joining the organization, Krotz has helped build the national prominence of USFRA, with specific focus on consumer-facing initiatives such as its signature series The Food Dialogues® that provides a forum for open conversation around some of the most important food issues today. He has overseen day-to-day management and performance of USFRA focusing on organizational and staff management, as well as outreach to the agricultural industry. Krotz brings vast experience from the food and agricultural industries, including seed and biotechnology, digital marketing and agriculture innovation to his new role as chief executive. His forward-thinking approach and lifelong commitment to farming and ranching will define the organization as it strives to increase consumer confidence in modern agriculture. Krotz has nearly 25 years of experience in agribusiness leadership, public relations, product management, branding, online marketing, advocacy management and communications. He has previously worked for and has represented many well-known food and agribusiness companies and associations across the industry. Krotz is a graduate of Kansas State University, and he continues his role in the diversified family farm in North Central Kansas, on which he was raised.About U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®)USFRA consists of nearly 80 farmer - and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture. It works to engage in dialogues with consumers who have questions about how today's food is grown and raised. USFRA is committed to continuous improvement and supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers efforts to increase consumer confidence and trust in today's agriculture.SOURCE U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Published March 18, 2014 – Reads 143 Copyright © 2014 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.

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Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Career center expo sheds light on importance of local agriculture By Cory Smith • Last Updated 3:27 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Tweet The Montcalm Area Career Center greenhouse featured dozens of plants for people to check out at the “All Things Green” Expo on Tuesday. At top, locally grown herbs raised by agriculture students in the MACC greenhouse were available for purchase. — Daily News/Cory Smith SIDNEY — With 60 degree temperatures and the sun in the sky, it was a perfect day Tuesday to take a tour through the Montcalm Area Career Center (MACC) greenhouse during the fourth annual “All Things Green” Expo. Students and area residents toured the greenhouse as well as 27 vender booths from area agricultural specialist at the MACC, featuring products grown right in Montcalm County. “This is our fourth year of a collaboration between the Montcalm Area Career Center Agricultural Science Program and the Montcalm Master Gardeners,” said Merry Kim Meyers of the MACC Future Farmers of America Chapter. “We wanted something that would showcase what we are doing in our county that is reflecting the new trends towards sustainable agriculture. It’s an opportunity for people to come and see and participate and for my students to see what is out there. They are our future leaders.” Candice Fishburn, 10, of Vestaburg, holds a baby chick in her hands during the “All Things Green” Expo. — Daily News/Cory Smith One of Meyers’ students in the Montcalm Community College animal science class, Tiffany Fishburn, stressed the importance of spreading the knowledge of the impact agriculture has in the local area. “We have different agricultural businesses set up, just to educate the community,” Fishburn said. “Agriculture is rather big in this area and people need to be more aware of this. People need to realize agriculture is more than what you think it is. It isn’t just about farming, it involves greenhouses and environmental and other things like that.” Another student, and current senior at Central Montcalm High School, Mitchell Beach, took the time to create a brochure that was on display to educate people about the seriousness of oak wilt in Montcalm County. “It was in The Daily News a few months ago so I decided to provide a little information about it to everyone,” Beach said. “It’s not very common in Montcalm County or Michigan for that matter, so I thought it was very important to get people educated on the issue.” Jeremy Sova, district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, said he was very impressed with Beach’s drive to educate at such a young age. “We love to see the youth getting involved in natural resources and taking some pride, furthering their own knowledge,” Sova said. “He’s giving back in a big way. There was not a lot of information out there on this. Most land owners didn’t know what was going on with their trees. This brochure is now something we have available on our counter. The symptoms, the effects, it’s all there.” According to Meyers, the expo has grown significantly now in its fourth year and she hopes for an even bigger turnout next year. “If we don’t stand up and say what we are doing is important, no one else will,” she said. “Every year the event grows. We had someone here who makes soap with their own goat milk. It’s just incredible what so many of these people do here locally.” At the conclusion of the event, all guests and venders were invited to listen to Brad Morgan, a dairy farmer from Evart, who spoke on the importance of agriculture. “Make sure you realize there have been major changes in agriculture throughout the years,” he said. “It’s incredibly important to keep agriculture close to heart as it has more of an impact in all of our lives than anyone could know.” Guest speaker Brad Morgan, a dairy farmer from Evart, stressed the importance of local agriculture to visitors of the fourth annual “All Things Green” Expo. — Daily News/Cory Smith Cory Smith Cory is the Greenville beat reporter for The Daily News. He also covers the Carson City area and specializes in photography and multimedia. Cory is a hometown kid, having graduated from Greenville High School in 2004. He then went on to study journalism at Michigan State University where he also played trumpet and marched as a member of the Spartan Marching Band for four years. Cory Smith has written Montcalm County commissioners look for ways to save court security Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 Posted in: Local, News Top Story, S.Slider Two weeks after a countywide law enforcement millage vote failed, the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners is still trying to find a way to retain court security. A 1 mill property tax increase which would have generated $1.564 million over five years for the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office failed on Feb. 28 with 4,205 “no” votes and 4,085 “yes” votes — a difference of 120 votes. Winter clothing drive aims to keep Montcalm County children warm Monday, January 16th, 2012 Posted in: Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, News Top Story, S.Slider Thus far, winter has been mild and it is a good thing due to the number of Montcalm County children lacking warm winter wear. Evi Petersen of Great Start Collaborative and a group of parents recognized the need and joined forces with Terry King of the Ionia/Montcalm County Department of Human Services with the goal in mind to provide local youths in need with proper winter wear. Teenager arrested after confessing to stealing car Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 Posted in: Local, News Top Story, S.Slider A 14-year-old male was arrested for unlawful driving away of an automobile early Monday morning after authorities responded to the Half Moon Lake Hotel on a report of a stolen vehicle. While Montcalm County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating the incident at the hotel around 2:30 a.m., a caller reported a male subject, described as wearing a black hoodie, and said he was running eastbound in the area of Janet Drive. Local artists to compete in ArtPrize Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 Posted in: Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, Local, News Top Story Seventeen local artists will be competing in the third annual ArtPrize, which gets under way Wednesday in Grand Rapids

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PlantsTrees & ShrubsTree & Shrub Care Are Azaleas Trimmed Back in Spring or Summer? Are Azaleas Trimmed Back in Spring or Summer? According to the Azaleas Society of America, the best time to prune your azalea is in early spring before it begins to put out new growth. While this means you will be cutting off this year's blooms, it will give your shrub a full growing season to fill out and mature. If you don't want to lose a year's worth of flowers, prune as soon as the azalea finishes blooming. pruning azalea shrubs, pruning in spring, trimming plants About this Author Aileen Clarkson has been an award-winning editor and reporter for more than 20 years, earning three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. She has worked for several newspapers, including "The Washington Post" and "The Charlotte Observer." Clarkson earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Florida. New in Tree & Shrub Care

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Kelowna: Failure on vote for apple levy the result of poor communication by - Kelowna Capital News posted Mar 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM— updated Mar 18, 2014 at 3:47 PM Fred Steele, newly elected president of the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association, says orchardists likely didn't fully understand the ramifications of the vote to create an Apple Research and Promotion Agency.— image credit: Contributed Communication errors are likely at the root of a confusing vote B.C. orchardists turned in this winter, dousing plans for an Apple Research and Promotion Agency in B.C. From November to mid-February, growers were given mailed ballots and asked to vote on whether to accept a levy of $1.60 per apple bin to establish the agency, which could then join counterparts in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to collect levies from all imported apples and fund national promotion efforts highlighting the benefits of apples. “I think people just didn’t understand some of the ramifications of what was being proposed,” said Fred Steele, president of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association and an apple orchardist. Officially, the vote was deemed a draw. While the mandated minimum of 42 per cent of growers did turn in a ballot, the results were split 50/50 for and against establishing the new agency. Ultimately, the BCFGA decided it could not proceed. Ballots cast were tracked throughout the process and the votes collected earlier from those attending meetings and responding to the mail-out were just as divided as those who filed last minute at the BCFGA convention mid-February. For apple associations in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, it’s not good news. “We’re disappointed in the vote because it means we can’t have a national research and promotion agency,” said Cathy McKay, Ontario Apple Growers research chairperson. “…We’re hoping that the British Columbia growers will hold another vote, possibly when more information is available.” In order for counterpart associations to successfully lobby the federal government for a national agency and draw funds from an import levy on international fruit, every growing province must establish a levy. In Ontario, a $25-an-acre levy has been in place for years. It’s mandatory for all farms over 10 acres and the proceeds already go to research and promotion. The monthly levy supports everything from graduate student research on resistant codling moth to the Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation. The extra money from an import levy could have helped. “(The other associations) were concerned that the growers weren’t aware that they are leaving a million dollars behind in import levies in not approving it,” said Glen Lucas, BCFGA manager. He has been asked to view the issue as alive and to keep working on it. In retrospect, Lucas said the BCFGA executive realizes growers likely didn’t understand the extend to which government was in support of the plan. He said the leadership now recognizes that presenting it in isolation, rather than as a component of a long-range plan for the industry, was likely a mistake. “Without connecting it to other organizations and to future goals, I think growers had uncertainty about it,” he said. A bin of apples is minimally worth 100 times what the levy was to take, at $160 a bin, although the BCFGA wants to see most varietals receive an average of $240 a bin. Promoting apples in general, as opposed to marketing different varietals, is seen as the best approach to boosting sales nationwide. This would mean picking up on research like the apple-a-day study published out of Ohio State University last month, which found eating just one apple a day for four weeks lowered blood levels of oxidized LDL, or bad cholesterol, by 40 per cent. It seems not all antioxidants are equal and the particular antioxidants in apples have a profound effect on artery health. “That’s a message to get out there right now and the U.S. apple (industry) is doing that to some extent. I think they need to do a better job and we need to get started,” said Lucas. Letter: Ghomeshi trial exposes systemic judicial failure (March 30, 2016) Kelowna Apple Triathlon crowns provincial champs (August 21, 2016) Kelowna skaters get results in Kamloops (October 29, 2016) Baltimore police to tackle deep, systemic failures (January 13, 2017) Waters: West Kelowna referendum result reveals community divide (September 20, 2016) Minister acknowledges privacy protection failure (January 29, 2016) Kelowna junior rowers medal in Nelson (September 08, 2016)

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New Jersey Produce Growers hope for more Jersey Fresh funds The Jersey Fresh marketing program run by the state’s agriculture department suffered heavy cuts last year and has had to make big adjustments to keep recognition of the label growing. Facing another tight fiscal year, officials say funding will remain steady this year, but produce suppliers are hoping for more.“As far as this season goes, Jersey Fresh is a big concern,” said Ben Casella, field representative for the New Jersey Farm Bureau, Trenton.“They don’t have quite the resources that they’ve had in the past due to the state budgets over the years, but hopefully the name and some local promotion will keep the product in demand.”The Jersey Fresh budget, which once topped $1.2 million, has been slashed over recent years to its current low point of $150,000.“It was a breathtaking cut, but Gov. Christie shows signs of being pro-agriculture,” said Peter Furey, executive director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau.Furey said that in an atmosphere of “absolute fiscal austerity” throughout the state’s budget, many in the department are thankful that further cuts have not been made.“It was cut severely in the previous two or three years,” he said. “What that $150,000 allows is enforcement upgrading and some limited continuity with point-of-sales materials, which is important to keep that continuity in the program.”Casella agreed that the new administration of Gov. Chris Christie has expressed support for the Department of Agriculture. “The agricultural aspect of the operations budget wasn’t cut as drastically as it has been in the past, and he has made comments that he would like to restore the Jersey Fresh funding,” Casella said. “I’m not really optimistic that it’s going to return, but I definitely think we have the governor’s support.”Casella explained the state has been successful getting the Jersey Fresh program to the point of being an icon for the country, but he said continued funding is needed to keep the public aware that Jersey Fresh produce is available.“It’s a program that needs constant monitoring, funding and plain advertising to the public that it’s available,” he said. “There is a big push for local produce but that is … not really clearly defined, whereas ‘Jersey Fresh’ specifically describes it as from New Jersey.”Casella said that translates to cuts in advertising, principally on television.“That was scaled back to radio. Now the radio has been scaled back to some print media,” he said, noting that the program still participates in some regional trade shows in New England and the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.Furey offered some hope that the state could again win funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grant program for specialty crops. “Traditionally, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has created opportunities for fruit and vegetable nurseries from New Jersey’s share of that on the order of $400,000,” he said. Furey said in years past, the department has kept about half of the appropriations, and given the other half in matching grants to local commodity associations who in turn have used it for Jersey Fresh-type initiatives.“Between escaping the scalpel further on the $150,000 and the money from the specialty crops, we think we are holding our own with an eye on future restoration in upcoming years,” he said. Growers weigh inNew Jersey suppliers are big proponents of the Jersey Fresh program, which they say has been especially helpful as consumers look for more locally grown products.“We think there’s some good recognition, particularly in the Northeast. People really look for the Jersey Fresh logo,” said Art Galletta, president and co-owner of Atlantic Blueberry Co. Inc., Hammonton, N.J. “Consumers ask for Jersey Fresh produce because they know it’s fresher.”J.M. Procacci, chief operationing officer in the Cedarville, N.J., office of Plant City, Fla.-based Santa Sweets Inc. said that, as one of the top marketers for Jersey Fresh products in the state, the logo goes a long way for his business.“We put Jersey Fresh on everything we grow,” he said. Tim Wetherbee, sales manager for Diamond Blueberry Inc., Hammonton, N.J., said cash-strapped farmers rely on the state’s marketing efforts to supplement advertising that they themselves or their suppliers cannot afford.“It still helps, all the promoting that they do with the advertising,” he said. “Last year, there were programs that we generally benefit from that were cut or were limited, but one way or another they try to make an attempt to promote the product.”Wetherbee said the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council helps somewhat, but a combined effort of multiple parties makes a greater effect.“We have our own council and do our own promotion as well, but the Jersey Fresh program has always been a big plus for us,” he said. “Farmers are up for anything that puts an extra dollar in their pocket,” said Peter Bylone, general manager of the Vineland Cooperative Produce Auction Association Inc., Vineland, N.J. Topics: the jersey fresh marketing programsuffered heavy cuts last year About the Author:

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Home > News > Features Global grain trade review - by Chris Lyddon Volatility has become the norm in the grain market in recent years, but what drives that volatility seems to change year to year. This year Russia is back as a big exporter, having shocked the market with an export ban last season. China is still a massive driver of demand for meat, with price volatility spilling into pork, and therefore feed. But it is maize stocks in the U.S. that are driving thinking and keeping markets nervous this year. Price declines since early September have also reminded everyone involved in the grain supply chain that volatility can head both ways, while a background of economic woes in some countries, though not all, has added to a messy cocktail of factors which can result in the unexpected. “After a period of sustained market strength in July and August, grain prices reversed direction in early September, even though there was little change in global supply fundamentals,” the International Grains Council (IGC) said. “IGC’s daily Grains & Oilseeds Index (GOI) retreated by 9% from an end-August peak, to 274, its lowest since July 4.” “Markets were mostly responding to global financial developments, including the U.S. dollar’s renewed strength, especially against the euro,” it said. “Some underlying seasonal patterns were also discernible, while sizeable grain shipments from Russia and other Black Sea origins further contributed to the bearish tone.” The FAO has predicted tight markets. In its quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation (CPFS) report, it forecast world cereal production will total 2.31 billion tonnes this marketing season, 3% or 68 million tonnes higher than in 2010-11. “This was three million tonnes more than FAO forecast last month, largely because of improved expectations for wheat and rice crop,” it said. “The overall year-on-year increase includes a 4.6% (30 million tonnes) rise in global wheat production, a 3% (14 million tonnes) rise in the rice harvest and a 2.1% (24 million tonnes) hike for coarse grains,” the report said. “Total cereal utilization in 2011-12 is also forecast to increase slightly at 2.302 billion tonnes, 1.3% up from 2010-11. “Because of the slowdown in the global economic recovery and increased risks of recession, there is uncertainty in regard to the impact on world food security. Worsening economic conditions could result in higher unemployment and lower incomes for the vulnerable and needy in the developing countries.” The FAO report said the anticipated recovery in global cereal production combined with lower than anticipated demand, including for ethanol, are contributing to a decline in prices. FAO’s monthly Food Price Index fell 2% in September compared to August, to 225 points, “mostly on lower international prices of grains, sugar and oils.” “The Index is now 13 points below the peak of 238 reached in February 2011, but it is still higher than its September 2010 value of 195 points,” FAO said. FAO also forecast global cereal stocks by the close of seasons in 2012 at 494 million tonnes, 7 million tonnes up from their opening level. “The increase would principally stem from a 10-million-tonne build-up of world rice inventories, as wheat stocks are anticipated to grow only marginally and, in the case of coarse grains, to contract by 4 million tonnes to 161 million tonnes, the lowest level since 2007,” it said. “Overall, the stock-to-use ratio for cereals is expected to remain low at around 21%.” Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) senior analyst Jack Watts stressed the importance of maize to the HGCA’s Outlook Conference in London, England in early October. “Maize remains massively tight and is the big concern for the world now that the stocks-to-use ratio has plunged below 15%,” he said. “Never before have we seen such a difference between stock levels.” “The maize market is trying to push demand, particularly for feed into the wheat market,” he told World Grain in an interview before the conference. “It needs to regulate demand. Maize demand growth is still quite strong. It’s being fueled by feed demand in Asia, rather than ethanol demand in the U.S.,” he said. “Ethanol demand growth is slow if not slightly negative into 2011-12. “The world is expected to use record amounts of wheat to feed to animals in 2011-12,” he said. “But if we delve below the surface of the wheat market, we can still see that there are some underlying longer term issues that probably won’t flag up this season but can rear their heads in later seasons.” One of those issues was that although the world apparently had plentiful wheat stocks of around 200 million tonnes, over half of that is not exportable. “Most of it is held in China and other places where they’re not going to be exporting,” he said. “Exporter stock levels of wheat are actually still quite delicate. It’s masked by the fact that we’ve got a much more apparent problem coming from the maize market.” Economic woes are not going to slow China’s appetite for meat. “The world hasn’t got an economic problem,” he said. “The western world has got an economic problem. In Asia it is pretty much business as usual. It’s still growing, and so demand for animal products is still growing and global demand for feed grain is growing. “We have strong fundamentals supporting the grain market, but those fundamentals are staggering into a headwind of very negative macroeconomic information in Europe and in the U.S.” he said. “It has actually nothing to do with demand. It makes it difficult for everyone, because if it was just being driven by supply and demand it would be a lot clearer. The whole waters have just been muddied.” At the conference he highlighted the potential for more wheat usage and, longer term, greater maize production in China. “We will consider China as being home to the second Corn Belt,” he said. “China has a maize area very similar to that in the U.S., with yields around half what they achieve in the U.S. I believe over the next decade you will see a continued adoption of GM technology to try and make those advances and meet those domestic requirements for feed maize.” “The world is demanding more meat,” he added. “Pork and poultry demand are the big drivers of this. Price volatility continues to spread from the grains to the livestock products. FIVE SEASONS OF VOLATILITY Jack Watts reminded the HGCA Conference delegates that this is the fifth season of volatility. “This new era of grain price volatility started in 2007 and was very much a wheat-led issue,” he said. “It followed a decade of uninspiring wheat prices for global producers. “The next bout of volatility followed in 2010, driven mainly by the Russian export ban, but also by growing concerns that the availability of the world’s main feed grain — maize,” he said. “2011, so far, has seen an increasing shift toward maize as the driver. Wheat so far has taken a back seat.” Russia is back and making a difference. “Russia did make an aggressive return to the grain markets following a year of absence from exports,” he said. “What was maybe surprising to some was the rate at which importers continued to buy Russian supplies. That’s a classic example of the price talking.” Jon Duffy, trading director at Frontier Agriculture, Britain’s biggest grain trader, also stressed the importance of maize. “Unlike the recent past, we do not have a wheat problem either in the U.K., Europe or the world,” he told World Grain. “Wheat stocks are good. The Northern Hemisphere harvest has been fine. Russia is back in the marketplace. Ukraine is making noises that it wants to export. “However, you have got two other things that are happening at the moment, clouding the issue. The first one is that there is a corn problem. There is not enough maize in the world. That problem is mainly in the United States.” High maize prices would mean demand switching. “They switch into wheat,” he said. “Add in the increase in the demand for wheat and the wheat picture doesn’t look quite so clear. You need to be very bullish on a corn story.” LOW U.S. OILSEEDS STOCKS The U.S. has low stocks of oilseeds, down to 19 days of demand, echoing the situation with maize. But it won’t have such an overshadowing effect on the market, analyst David Eudall explained at the HGCA’s Outlook Conference. “You see a greater competition for area in the U.S., which is then creating this longer-term volatility in soybeans,” he said. However, with soybeans, other suppliers could fill the gap. “If there is a problem, you always have the South American crop coming online a few weeks later,” he said. “There’s always a backup supply.” South America has been rebuilding stocks. “In the last couple of years there has been a strong incentive to plant soybeans,” he said. “South American soybean stocks are forecast at a record being carried into this season.” Eudall said he foresaw relatively slow growth in demand for soy, with demand in China, for example, up about 500,000 tonnes less than predicted. “They have been reducing their domestic stock levels as well,” he said. “So for the short term, the global supply of soybeans is relatively favorable.” There would be a change as the South American crop, currently forecast at a record of just over 137.5 million tonnes, would put pressure on prices in the New Year. “It will impact on the incentive that U.S. farmers have to grow soybeans,” he said. News

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Hasta la vista, cattle Mama Cow Bridget and baby Ciara last summer I finally did it. I really did eliminate a species from Antiquity Oaks. I know you didn't think I'd ever do it. I've been talking about selling the cattle or the sheep for the last two years, but I haven't really put any effort into it. And I still didn't put much effort into it, but it happened. More than a month ago, I got an email from someone asking if I knew where they could buy a couple of feeder Irish Dexters -- feeders are cattle raised just for meat. I said that I didn't know anyone who sold feeder Dexters, but I was selling my two cows and the heifer. A few more emails and a month later, and we found ourselves loading up the cattle. Molly with her little bull, which we called Sir Loin We still had the little dun bull and the yearling bull that we had bought for breeding, and we wanted to take them to the locker for processing because we love our grassfed beef. I coordinated schedules so that we could take the bulls to the locker the same morning that the cows were leaving so that the boys would not have to deal with the stress of losing the girls before heading off to meet their destiny. No one could remember how we had loaded up the bulls the year before, so we all came to the conclusion that it must have been easy and unremarkable. But no one really believed it could have been that easy. We knew we would have to move them all into a small pen and then get the bulls separated from the cows and loaded onto a tiny two-horse trailer. My job was to keep the girls occupied with alfalfa while Mike and Jonathan lured the bulls into the trailer with alfalfa. And to our complete shock, it actually worked. And it worked quickly! Both bulls were loaded and ready to leave in less than ten minutes. When the buyer came to get the girls a couple hours later, things did not go quite as smoothly. Bridget, being the most outgoing of the cows, was quick to follow whomever was offering her alfalfa, and she'd even follow him into the trailer ... but only her front half. As soon as her rear legs touched the trailer floor, she'd back out. This little dance went on for about half an hour, but finally she decided the lure of the alfalfa was stronger than her fear of lifting up those rear legs and putting her whole body into the trailer. There is a part of me that really misses the cows, but there is a bigger part of me that is relieved. I will definitely miss the grassfed beef, but the bulls dressed out at 384 and 346 pounds, and we're keeping the 384 pounder, so we'll continue to enjoy the beef for another year or two. I am relieved, however, that we will never again discover that we have to retrieve cows from someone else's yard a mile away. And luckily, Mike and our children were always home when that happened. My big fear was that I would be home alone someday and get one of those phone calls. I really don't know how I would have ever brought the cows home if they had escaped when I was home alone. I suppose it was hard for me to sell the cattle because it felt like admitting defeat. I had so wanted to milk them and make cheese and other dairy products from their milk as we do with the goats. But we never got set up to milk cows. We didn't have a head gate or stanchion for milking them, and we couldn't even keep the cows separated from their calves successfully overnight. Moving Bridget the horned black cow from pasture to barn and back again was scary, even though I'm sure she would never intentionally try to hurt us. It is unnerving to see two big swords moving towards your chest propelled by 800 pounds of muscle. My youngest daughter who is home for a couple of days asked, "So, does this mean you'll never have cows again?" "I never say never," I said with a smile. That was the same relief I felt when my attack turkeys were rehomed. Whew. July 26, 2013 at 1:11:00 PM CDT Three months gone Our new canoe

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Search News Russia halts meat imports for ractopamine concerns By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICHIndiana CorrespondentWASHINGTON, D.C. — Russia’s suspension of beef, pork and turkey exports from the United States is about trade issues and not food safety, according to an official with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. (NCBA).The ban went into effect Feb. 11. Russian officials have said they took the action because of their concerns over the use of the feed additive ractopamine in U.S. meat exported to their country.“There’s no logical reason why they have done this,” said Kent Bacus, NCBA’s director of legislative affairs. “This product (ractopamine) is safe and has been approved by an international body, Codex (the Codex Alimentarius Commission).“For us, it’s a matter of having objective scientific standards in place rather than caving to other countries. We prefer decisions based on science and market demands and not on politics.”U.S. beef exports to Russia totaled more than $300 million in 2012, he added.Ractopamine converts energy into muscle instead of fat, Bacus stated, noting the additive has been around for several years. By the time an animal is taken to slaughter the additive has already passed out of its system, he said.Ractopamine is a safe additive that is used in 27 countries, according to a statement by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Russia is requiring a zero tolerance for the presence of the additive, the statement explained. U.S. meat is produced to the highest safety standards in the world and the United States is disappointed in the action taken by Russia, it continued.“Russia has disregarded the extensive and expert scientific studies conducted by the international food safety standards body, Codex, which has repeatedly concluded that animal feed containing the additive ractopamine is completely safe for livestock and for humans that consume their meat,” the statement said.“Russia’s failure to adopt the Codex standards raises questions about its commitment to the global trading system. Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has refused to engage in any constructive dialogue and, instead, has simply suspended U.S. meat imports.”U.S. pork exports to Russia totaled about $268 million last year, up 24 percent from 2011, according to figures provided by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). The move by Russia was not a surprise, said Nicholas D. Giordano, NPPC’s vice president and counsel for international affairs.“Russia has used a series of barriers in recent years to limit pork exports from the United States,” he said. “Ractopamine is the issue du jour. There are other issues as well. The common thread is that none of these barriers are legitimate. They are not based on science.”Russia has not conducted a risk assessment regarding any of these barriers, which are at odds with Russia’s World Trade Organization commitments, Giordano noted. NPPC is working closely with other industry groups and the U.S. government in an attempt to get the situation resolved, he added.The announcement that turkey would be included in the ban caught the industry by surprise because none of the major U.S. companies approved to export turkey to Russia use ractopamine, said Toby Moore, vice president of communications for the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.These companies have assured the National Turkey Federation they don’t use ractopamine, even though the additive is fully approved for use by the U.S. government, he noted. Under a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia, all U.S. plants that process turkey or chicken must undergo inspection by Russian veterinarians in order to be approved to export.Russian officials have said they included turkey in the ban because “our government cannot provide them the assurance that ractopamine is not used,” he added.The Russian market for U.S. turkey is small compared to some other countries, Moore stated. Last year, the United States exported more than $8 million worth of turkey to Russia, $372 million to Mexico and $71 million to China. Most of the product exported is mechanically separated turkey meat that is used by meat processors in the other countries, he said.Moore said he doesn’t know the status of talks designed to resolve the dispute between the two countries. “They want our government to provide them with the assurance (that ractopamine is not used),” he said. “We’re hopeful they’ll be able to work out some sort of way to provide them with that assurance.”Bacus said he has heard a couple of different reasons as to why Russia may have decided on the ban. Some people see it as retaliation to human rights legislation the Congress approved last year as a part of granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to Russia, he said. The legislation bars Russian human rights violators from visiting the United States and freezes any assets they may have in U.S. banks.Russia may also be trying to establish its own herds and is attempting to protect its domestic market as it’s growing those herds, Bacus said. The ban also applies to meat products from Mexico, Canada and Brazil, he stated.“We’ve been selling U.S. beef into Russia for several years without any trouble,” he said. “It’s been a positive market for us. We’ve had no issues or complaints from our customers. They’re trying to restrict areas for our products. It’s very frustrating.”Russia is the sixth-largest market for U.S. beef, Bacus said.“This will disrupt our export market,” he explained. “But there has been a lot of growth in Asian markets. This is a very unfortunate situation. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.” 2/21/2013

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Poultry Depopulation The AVMA supports the use of water-based foam as a method of mass depopulation for poultry in accord with the conditions and performance standards outlined by the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). The following summarizes the conditions under which USDA-APHIS has approved the use of water-based foam for depopulation of poultry: Use of water-based foam is considered an appropriate method of depopulation of floor-reared poultry (i.e., broiler chickens and turkeys) in accord with USDA-APHIS performance standards ("USDA-APHIS Performance Standards for the Use of Water-Based Foam as a Method of Mass Depopulation of Domestic Poultry" [Attachment A]); and Animals are infected with a potentially zoonotic disease; or Animals are experiencing an outbreak of a rapidly spreading infectious disease that, in the opinion of state or federal regulatory officials, cannot be contained by conventional or currently accepted means of depopulation; or Animals are housed in structurally unsound buildings that would be hazardous for human entry, such as those that may result from a natural disaster. Mass depopulation refers to methods by which large numbers of animals must be destroyed quickly and efficiently with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable, but where the circumstances and tasks facing those doing the depopulation are understood to be extenuating. Euthanasia involves transitioning an animal to death in a manner that is as painless and stress-free as possible. The AVMA currently considers that destruction of poultry using water-based foam is a method of mass depopulation and not a form of euthanasia. The AVMA supports additional research to evaluate whether water-based foam can be accepted as a form of euthanasia. USDA APHIS Performance Standards for the Use of Water-based Foam as a Method of Mass Depopulation of Domestic Poultry (These dynamic Performance Standards are currently based on objective and subjective measurement. They are intended to be guidelines used to evaluate any type of water-based foam and foam delivery system used for depopulation of poultry until such time that sufficient biometric, engineering, and welfare data can be gathered to establish thorough performance standards.) In order to comply with current animal welfare considerations and optimal operating procedures, USDA APHIS has developed these minimum standards which all water-based foam systems used for mass depopulation of poultry must meet or exceed by performance measurement until further notice. The field application of water-based foam used for depopulation as stipulated by these standards is currently approved for use with floor-reared poultry and as conditionally stipulated in Standard 11. Floor-reared poultry is defined as poultry not housed in cages (e.g. broiler chickens and turkeys), but may not necessarily include all types of poultry (e.g. waterfowl, see Standard 11). Approved experimental protocols to adapt this method for use in caged poultry (e.g. laying hens) and broaden its application to other poultry types are not restricted by the official position of USDA APHIS on the use of water-based foam for depopulation of poultry nor these standards. Note that these standards will be revised as further information becomes available. Water-based foams used for depopulation must be:readily available; environmentally safe; biodegradable; compatible with carcass disposal methods; as non-irritating as possible to poultry mucosa; and of no significant risk to human health Foam delivery systems must produce foam that is of the appropriate consistency and density to completely occlude the upper airway of domestic poultry; so that when immersed in the foam, airway occlusion occurs in a rapid and overwhelming manner such that birds do not unduly struggle. At this time, the desired bubble size from water-based foam used for poultry depopulation should not exceed 0.625 inches (1.58 cm) and preferably should be smaller. Note: Bubble diameters exceeding 0.33 inches (0.84 cm) may not be appropriate for the depopulation of all types of poultry or may not provide 100% depopulation of the target birds. It is intended that systems developed pursuant to this Standard will provide broad species depopulation capability, but may be limited by the developer to specific species or applications. If the foam used to depopulate does not meet the requirements as stipulated in Standard 9, then its use must be limited to those types of poultry where it has been shown to meet the criteria in Standard 9. The water-based foam must be fluid enough:to engulf or negotiate any building supports or structures, to surround the birds without cavitations that may be generated by bird movement, and be of a consistency (fluidity) that is readily inspired by the birds. Fluidity in foam is equated to the expansion ratio and the moisture content; to be suitable for depopulation of poultry, the expansion ratio required ranges from 25:1 to 140:1. Note that foams exhibiting expansion ratios exceeding 120:1 may not be appropriate for depopulating all types of floor-reared poultry. Importantly, foam exhibiting expansion ratios below approximately 35:1 may not accumulate to sufficient depth to cover the target species. If the foam used to depopulate does not meet the requirements as stipulated in Standard 9, then its use must be limited to those types of poultry where it has been shown to meet the criteria stipulated in Standard 9. The water-based foam must have sufficient body to be able to accumulate to at least 6 inches (15 cm) over the mean height of the types of poultry being depopulated. In cases such as full grown turkeys depths up to at least 54 inches (137 cm) may be required. The application of the water-based foam must be performed in a manner that disturbs the birds as little as possible and avoids panic, "piling" or overcrowding. Water-based foam of the proper consistency as outlined in sections 2-4 must be capable of being generated using a wide variety of water qualities across a broad range of dissolved solids, salinities, pH, and hardness factors. It is important to note that at present, the primary limiting factor of the speed at which the depopulation event can be conducted, is the availability of an adequate water supply at the site of depopulation. Water-based foam must demonstrate a residency time (persistence) of no less than 30 minutes (regardless of climatic conditions or solar exposure) to ensure that all birds have been properly dispatched. In terms of the time to death and total percentage of the population killed when water-based foam is used on any type or age of poultry, the foam system employed must result in the death of 95% of the birds within 7 minutes or less after the birds have been completely submerged in the foam. If 100% of the birds have not been depopulated after 15 minutes post-submergence, then contingencies must exist to dispatch the birds as humanely and quickly as possible in accordance to currently accepted euthanasia methods. Water-based foam delivery systems must perform reliably and reproducibly in accordance with the criteria detailed in performance Standards 2-9 under a wide range of climatic and operating conditions. Climatic conditions may include ambient indoor temperatures ranging from 0° C (32° F) to 44° C (110° F) and relative humidity ranging from 10% to 100%. Poultry housing situations vary widely including large surface areas and multistory housing. Strategies must be developed to address these variances before attempting to depopulate with foam. There are many species of fowl, including waterfowl (e.g. ducks and geese) and other gallinaceous birds (e.g. guineas and quail) used for food, eggs, or other purposes where current data on the use of water-based foam for depopulation are lacking. However, water-based foam may be conditionally used in depopulating these particular types of fowl if:the foam and delivery system meets the criteria detailed in Standards 2-10 and, the system demonstrates killing times, killing rates, behavioral responses, and physiological responses comparable to those which would normally be observed when water-based foam is used to depopulate common farm-reared poultry where foaming has been shown to be effective (i.e. broiler chickens and turkeys). However during the foaming of species where reaction to foam is unknown, if adverse reactions are observed that are more extreme than those seen with farm-reared poultry (i.e. broiler chickens or turkeys), or prolonged killing times or killing rates not consistent with Standard 9 are encountered, then foam should not be used to depopulate that particular species of fowl. If a question of suitability on the use of foam in a particular species arises, then the determination of whether foam may be applied to a particular species will be made by the USDA Incident Commander and the ranking USDA Animal Welfare officer detailed to the outbreak, or the State Veterinarian. Components of water-based foam delivery systems must be able to withstand chemical disinfection, and all parts of the water-based foam delivery system that enter contaminated houses must be able to withstand stringent cleaning and decontamination measures. In some cases the water-based foam may also be used for decontamination purposes. Water-based foam delivery systems should either be adaptable for multiple types of poultry housing or be marketed for use that is limited to specific types of poultry and/or housing. Water-based foam delivery systems should be portable and constructed of components that are easily serviceable and/or replaceable. Portable by this standard is intended to mean easily transportable from one site to another by any conventional means.

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2017-04/2289/en_head.json.gz/15061

Contributors One report says global grain at record high By Rich Keller As most of the reports circulating in the United States are about anticipated grain shortages in meeting demand, a report came out this week from one organization that was headlined: “Global grain production at record high despite extreme climatic events.” Highlights were pulled from a new Worldwatch Institute report that examines rising rates of global grain production and consumption, the institute noted as it explained the headline. “Global grain production is expected to reach a record high of 2.4 billion tons in 2012, an increase of 1 percent from 2011 levels,” according to the research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project (www.worldwatch.org). The institute jumped from reporting on 2011 grain volumes to projected 2012 volumes and from numbers it compiled to those of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Grains Council. Per numbers reportedly pulled from the FAO, the production of grain for animal feed has been growing the fastest—a 2.1 percent increase from 2011 during 2012. Grain for direct human consumption grew 1.1 percent from 2011 during this year. “In 2011, the amount of grain used for food totaled 571 million tons, with India consuming 89 million tons, China 87 million tons, and the United States 28 million tons, according to the International Grains Council. The world relies heavily on wheat, maize (corn), and rice for daily sustenance: of the 50,000 edible plants in the world, these three grains account for two-thirds of global food energy intake. Grains provide the majority of calories in diets worldwide, ranging from a 23 percent share in the United States to 60 percent in Asia and 62 percent in North Africa. Maize production in the United States—the largest producer—as expected to reach a record 345 million tons in 2012; however, drought in the Great Plains has altered this estimate severely. Maize yields for the 2012-13 growing season are now expected to decrease 13 percent from 2011 production, for a total production of 274.3 million tons,” according to the Worldwatch report authors Danielle Nierenberg and Katie Spoden. In line with Worldwatch’s activist point of view, the institute uses the crop and grain numbers to warn about climate change impact in the future. It pulled numbers from sources that claim “some 375 million people will be affected by climate change-related disasters by 2015.” By 2050, the report says FAO contends that 10-20 percent more people will be subject to hunger “based on the changing climate's effects on agriculture, and 24 million more children are expected to be malnourished—21 percent more than if there were no climate change.” "The relationship between food security, grain production, and climate change is especially important in 2012," said Nierenberg, a Worldwatch senior researcher and Nourishing the Planet project director. "The recent drought affecting the United States and the rest of the world show the need to reduce price volatility, move away from fossil fuel-based agriculture and recognize the importance of women farmers to increase resilience to climate change." The discussion about the U.S. drought is more about how grain price fluctuations will inevitably affect food security around the globe. “The global market will be most affected by this drought, as so much of the developing world relies on U.S. corn and soybean production. How such concerns match with the headline of global grain production being at a record high isn’t explained in the information released by Worldwatch. Further highlights from the report related to 2012 grain production as issued by Worldwatch are as follows: • The FAO expects global maize production to increase 4.1 percent from 2011, reaching an estimated 916 million tons in 2012. • Global rice production achieved an all-time high of 480 million tons in 2011, a 2.6 percent increase from 2010 (explanation of 2012 connection not included). • World wheat production is projected to drop to 675.1 million tons in 2012, down 3.6 percent from 2011, with the largest declines in feed and biofuel utilization. • Since 1961, grain production has increased 269 percent and grain yield has increased 157 percent, while the grain harvest area has increased only 25 percent. This is due largely to the Green Revolution and the introduction of high-yielding grain varieties. Worldwatch proclaims itself to be an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource and environmental issues and distributes the annual State of the World report in more than 18 languages. grain shortagesfood crisisdroughtfao About the Author: Rich Keller

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2017-04/2289/en_head.json.gz/15062

Agweb HomeDrovers HomeNewsFarmland Values: Boom or Bubble? Farmland Values: Boom or Bubble? By Jason Vance, University of Missouri Low interest rates and record income per acre have driven farmland values much higher over the last decade. The increase has led to concerns of a repeat of the farm crisis of the 1980s. "Back in the 1970s we got way above trend growth, and it looks like that is what is happening again," said University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist Ron Plain. "Last year we were more than $500 per acre above trend for the average acre of Missouri farmland." The 1970s run-up of land values ended in the early 1980s with a collapse of farmland prices. While Plain says there is a possibility of a land price bubble in the future, a drop in farmland value today would not have the same catastrophic impact it had 30 years ago. "In 1981 Missouri farmland prices were 150% above trend, with the trend going up 6% per year," he said. "Without a price drop, it would have taken a long time to close that gap." Today, Missouri farmland values are 22-25% above a 6% growth trend. It would take only four years of steady land prices for the trend to catch up with actual prices. "So we are not nearly as vulnerable," Plain said. "The downside risk isn’t anywhere near what it was in the early 1980s." A factor in the 1980s bubble popping was a huge increase in interest rates. Plain says many farmers took on a lot of debt and became heavily leveraged. This time around, farmers aren’t relying so much on borrowed money to buy land. "But my prediction is we’ll set a new record in values in 2013 and we’ll sell more land, so that leverage number is likely to increase," he said. "Keep an eye on that if you are bidding for land. And by all means, stay away from variable-interest-rate loans. When you are at a 60-year low in interest rates, you can bet the next big move is going to be up." Plain says that crop values have probably peaked and we should expect declining prices for corn, soybean and wheat going forward. That will reduce income per acre and make people a little less aggressive in chasing farmland. If inflation increases, Plain says it’s a good bet the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. "If you combine falling crop prices with rising interest rates, we could see a decline or at least stabilization in farmland prices very quickly," he said. Pastureland hasn’t seen nearly the run-up in prices that cropland has in recent years, but Plain says that may change. "We have the smallest cattle inventory this year since 1952," he said. "It looks like we are going to see some increases in cattle prices that will probably push pasture values up in the next few years." Plain says the same rules apply for pastureland: Be wary of variable-interest-rate loans and avoid getting heavily leveraged with a small down payment or you can quickly find yourself in a difficult situation. Read more land news. Farmland v. Stock Market? Nod Goes to Farmland but There Are Warning Signs 4/8/2013 2:00:00 PM Land Values Booms, Bubbles and Busts 1/25/2013 4:26:00 AM $16,000 for Central Illinois Farmland! 4/5/2013 4:06:00 AM Comments

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2017-04/2289/en_head.json.gz/15251

Three Pricing Alternatives For Farmers Source: Purdue University | Apr 22, 2008 Grain buyers and elevators, like producers, can’t afford to take all the risk and some have stopped offering cash-forward contracts to price new-crop corn, soybeans and wheat, says Chris Hurt, a Purdue University agricultural economist. Because wet spring weather is delaying the start of Midwest corn planting, Hurt expects to see some good pricing opportunities early this spring for corn and says farmers need to be thinking about new-crop pricing alternatives. Hurt explains the three primary pricing strategies a broker may outline when pricing 2008 crops. The first is a simple futures hedge, which involves selling futures as an alternative to a cash contract with the elevator. For example, Hurt says a producer could sell December corn futures for $6/bu. and lock in that futures price. The disadvantage is that producers must deposit a margin and meet margin calls if necessary, without knowing the final basis. "Margins are like a security deposit," Hurt says. "It's not a cost, it's just a deposit to assure a producer's performance to the broker and the market. It's money that must be deposited and maintained to keep the financial integrity of the contract." The value of the futures contract is updated daily and all accounts are brought to a zero balance, which is called "mark to the market." "So, if corn prices rise to $7, the producer has to deposit an additional $1/bu. of margin, which is maintained through the brokerage firm," Hurt says. "On the flipside, if prices were to drop from the original $6 down to $5, the producer would receive $1/bu. of credit in their margin account." Thus, a producer is obligated to pay for an increase in price or receive benefits from a decrease in price. The advantage, compared to a cash contract at the elevator, is that a decision can be made later as to which elevator has the best bids, Hurt says. In addition, the basis or range of sale prices is not established until a decision is made of which location to sell to, which means the producer takes a risk. “Elevators that are still offering new-crop cash contracts have very wide basis bids,” he says. “This may be an advantage of using futures through a broker if those current wide-basis bids improve by the fall.” The second alternative is to buy put options. Buying put options establishes the right to receive a minimum futures price, but leaves the opportunity for futures price improvement in place, Hurt says. “This establishes a floor for future prices, but farmers still have the opportunity to receive higher prices if futures move up,” he says. “The primary disadvantage is that producers have to pay a premium to reduce one’s downside price risk, while leaving the upside price opportunity in place. “Brokers will be able to discuss various levels of downside price protection and outline the costs of this type of strategy.” For example, December futures for new-crop corn is at $6. A producer would establish a floor at $6 in the futures market by purchasing a $6 put, Hurt says. A put is the guaranteed right to sell at that price without the obligation. "So if prices go up to $7-8 they can sell at the higher price," Hurt explains. "If prices were to decrease to $5.50, the producer can still sell at $6 futures because that floor was established." The disadvantage to this option is that a premium must be paid to get that guaranteed price. "It's like insurance," Hurt says. "The premium is based on the risk in the markets just like car insurance is based on the risk of the driver. A 16-year-old male will have to pay a much higher premium than a 40-year-old woman. Today the markets are very volatile and there is a lot of market risk, so premiums from any historical perspective are going to be high, but we think they are fairly priced." The third strategy is called fencing. "Most people think of a fence as a boundary to keep cattle in, but in this case it is a boundary for prices," Hurt explains. "It establishes a floor for the futures price and a ceiling futures price for upside opportunity." It combines buying a put for downside futures price protection and selling a call to establish the ceiling futures price. A call is the right to buy at a certain price, which is also known as the strike price. "The advantage is that producers receive a premium when they sell a call which helps to reduce the cost of this strategy," Hurt says. "The downside is they give away the opportunity to receive a futures price higher than the ceiling." For example, with December corn futures at $6, a producer might establish a floor on their futures price at $5.80 by buying a $5.80 put, and a ceiling price at $7/bu. by selling a $7 call. This means they are protected on futures prices if they drop 20¢/bu. and more from their current level, but retain opportunity to gain $1/bu. if futures prices move up to $7, he explains. This strategy also involves a premium. The lower the floor, the lower the premium and if a producer accepts a ceiling, it too will help lower the premium and reduce the cost of this strategy. Hurt can't stress enough how important it is for growers to work with their commodity advisor and lender to clearly understand the different pricing alternatives. “Producers need to look at the possibility of having lower prices and higher prices and figuring how they will come out,” he says. “There’s a lot of risk in markets this year and we suggest that producers look at diversified strategies and not bet all of their crop on one strategy – diversify through time and diversify through different types of strategies. “This will help bring producers back toward the middle. We would all like to be at the top, but this year, with so much uncertainty, we definitely want to avoid the bottom.” Given the current volatile market swings, prices can change sharply from where producers might sell futures to price their new-crop production and it’s possible producers using futures markets could have large amounts of margin money to deposit. For this reason, Hurt says it’s imperative for producers who use futures or options markets with a broker to set up a hedging line of credit with their lenders just to cover potential margin calls. “This line of credit is an assurance that the lender will provide additional funds to meet margin calls if needed,” he says. “This three-way relationship is established between the producer, broker and lender such that each will have all information regarding marketing positions and margin accounts.”

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