Wed.Feb 28, 2024

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US Agricultural trade balance shifts negative

Food Politics

I’m always interested in the USDA’s charts displaying food and agriculture statistics. They help to clarify complicated issues. Agricultural trade is particularly opaque, but here it is at a glance. First, what the US exports: Next, what we import: What so bizarre here is that the categories are the same; we export and import the same kinds of products.

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Wheat Pete’s Word, Feb 28: Weather swings, winter kill, help for thin wheat, and too many bushels left in the bin

Real Agriculture

Oh my goodness, what a wild swing in temperatures! Ontario hit some record high daytime temperatures for February, only to have a huge cold front move in that had already socked in the Prairies. As much as we’d all like to think this is spring, it only feels that way. The calendar still says February, Read More Oh my goodness, what a wild swing in temperatures!

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Hay, feed, fencing supplies needed to support Texas Panhandle wildfire victims

AgriLife Today

Wildfires leave damages across more than 1 million acres Donations of hay, feed, fencing supplies, cow feed and milk replacer are needed to support livestock owners impacted by the devastating wildfires that have scorched ranchland across a large portion of the Texas Panhandle. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is establishing Animal Supply Points in several.

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Walmart Heirs Bet Big on Journalism

Civil Eats

This article was co-produced and co-published with Nonprofit Quarterly. From vast riparian watersheds to fisheries to croplands, few corners of the nation’s—and the world’s—food systems have escaped the eyes of the Walton family. The children and grandchildren of Walmart co-founder Sam Walton have long embedded their interests, and, more importantly, their money, among industry groups, policymakers, academics, activists, and NGOs active in the future of food.

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Understanding the farmer protests 

Sustainable Food Trust

How can we best understand and relate to the farmer protests which are going on all over Europe, including down the road from our farm in West Wales? The regional TV news on Monday 20 th February ran a big piece featuring Mark Drakeford, the Welsh First Minister, Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and others, covering the protests and the Government’s defence of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme , with both the Welsh farmers’ unions, NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales, out on th

Food 141
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E. Kika De La Garza Fellow is a Farmer of Students

USDA Blog

I am the director of agriculture programs at the University of Arizona Yuma (UAZ Yuma), a regional Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) that offers tailored degree programs that meet regional workforce's needs. The student population is approximately 70% Hispanic and first generation.

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Texas Panhandle wildfires: Documenting agricultural losses

AgriLife Today

Digital photos, video, ownership records vital in reporting procedures Landowners who have experienced Panhandle wildfire losses to agricultural infrastructure or livestock are advised to properly document losses in preparation for filing insurance claims or qualifying for federal assistance. “It is recommended that landowners take photos of deceased livestock before burial, as well as burned equipment, Read More → The post Texas Panhandle wildfires: Documenting agricultural losses appeare

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Telling cotton’s sustainable story for 50 years

Western FarmPress

Cotton Incorporated has done a great job over the years educating brands, retailers, and consumers on the natural benefits of U.S. grown cotton.

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John Deere Announces Tech Focused 2025 Introductions

AgWeb Farm Journal

A new S7 series combine, high-horsepower 9RX tractors, C series carts and Hagie STS sprayers with factory-installed See & Spray Premium highlight a splashy group of product intros.

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Livestock loss massive in Texas Panhandle

Western FarmPress

The Texas Panhandle wildfires have consumed more than 500,000 acres. Homes and cattle have been lost as well. Donation supply points are being established.

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USDA Raises FY 2024 Ag Exports, Imports; Trade Balance Unchanged

AgWeb Farm Journal

USDA now forecasts fiscal year (FY) 2024 ag exports at $170.5 billion, up $1.0 billion from the November forecast.

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Pump vs. plug on the farm

Western FarmPress

Electrification is not expected to hit Midwest fields in the foreseeable future.

Farming 122
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What is ‘local’ food and why does it matter?

Sustainable Food Trust

What is ‘local’ food? It’s a term we’re all familiar with and something we think we’d be quite confident at explaining – until we try. From definitions based on geographical distance to defining local in terms of things like environmental performance and social value, or suggestions that local should mean what consumers think it means, this apparently common sense term has evaded being pinned down.

Food 119
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Is now the right time to price remaining 2023 crops?

Western FarmPress

Ag Marketing IQ: Consider these grain marketing strategies to protect your bottom line while still maintaining the option to participate in potential spring rallies.

Grain 119
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Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock

AgWeb Farm Journal

Devastating wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle region and the Smokehouse Creek Fire has already become the second largest in Texas history, consuming at least half a million acres.

Livestock 119
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Food-grade soybeans gain interest, premiums

Western FarmPress

Learn what it takes to become a price maker rather than a price taker.

Food 116
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Next-Gen Spotlight: Illinois Siblings Capitalize On Their Location to Expand Their Farm Revenue

AgWeb Farm Journal

Wayne Gehrke and Carolyn Brummel share how they diversified beyond corn and soybeans and made the most of what they already had so they both could farm full time.

Farming 113
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Rising temps threaten High Plains cropping systems

Western FarmPress

As temperatures increase so does water demand, causing dryland farming to become more challenging and irrigated land to be short of water. What does the future hold for High Plains producers?

Crop 116
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Cattle surviving the devastating Texas Panhandle wildfires need immediate care

AgriLife Today

AgriLife Extension offers cattle owners assessing livestock after wildfires ripped across the Texas Panhandle tips to consider.

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2024 USDA Agriculture Census: lots of numbers

Western FarmPress

The ag census breaks down the demographics of American farmers.

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Poultry Line Speed Lawsuit Dismissed Against USDA

AgWeb Farm Journal

A U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, dismissed a lawsuit filed four years ago against the USDA regarding its decision to increase line speeds at poultry plants.

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UC offers water measurement workshop

Western FarmPress

State law requires right holders to report the water they divert.

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Department of Agricultural Economics adds to roster of experienced professionals

AgriLife Today

New educators will focus on agricultural and corporate finance and financial planning The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Agricultural Economics has added two faculty members. “We are glad to have Ronald Crowe and David Roach as new additions to the department,” said Rudy Nayga, Ph.D., head of the Department of.

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Commercial solar facility set for Dodge City

Western FarmPress

Kansas Digest: Range and forage education programs planned; hemp apprenticeships offered.

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What Does it Take to Become an Organic Farmer?

Modern Farmer

Even though organic farming makes up less than one percent of US farmland , it’s still a multi-billion-dollar industry. Becoming certified organic, however, is not an overnight process for farmers. Adopting approved organic practices is only part of it. For a food to become certified organic, the farmland must be proven to have not received any pesticides or unapproved substances for at least three years.

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Beck’s Hybrids flexes high-oleic soybean muscle

Western FarmPress

An agreement with Missouri Soybeans expands Soyleic reach to farmers in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

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Is China Really Buying U.S. Corn and Can That Finally Bottom the Market?

AgWeb Farm Journal

Corn closes higher with China talk but is the market finally bottoming? Matt Bennett, AgMarket, provides insight.

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Researchers keep targeting downy mildew in spinach

Western FarmPress

The uncharacteristic wet winter this year in the desert hasn’t been all bad.

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DC Central Kitchen Healthy Corners: Urban Food Access

Food Tank

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK), located in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit and social enterprise that is working to end hunger through community-based programs and job training and creation. The organization recently received a four-year grant to make nutritious foods more accessible through their Healthy Corners program. Launched in 2011, the Healthy Corners program is designed to increase accessibility to healthier food options in areas without grocery stores, particularly neighborhoods affected

Food 73
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Farm-to-table via petri dish

Western FarmPress

What the heck should we call lab-grown meat?

Farming 111
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What's New In U.S. Agriculture--Tales from the 2022 Census of Agriculture

AgWeb Farm Journal

The 2022 Census of Agriculture continues the trend of declining number of farms and increasing average age of farmers. I also shows mixed results in terms of farmers adopting conserving agricultural practices.

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Selecting replacement heifers for your herd

Western FarmPress

What should we consider when selecting yearling heifers as replacements?

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AgDay TV Markets Now: Matt Bennett says Corn Higher for Third Day but How Big Will the Recovery Rally Be?

AgWeb Farm Journal

AgDay TV Markets Now: Matt Bennett, AgMarket.Net, says corn is up for a third day despite a down day in wheat. Is it bottoming action and what kind of recovery rally can we expect?

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High school seniors: Apply for Husker Harvest Days ag scholarships

Western FarmPress

All applications must be postmarked by March 8, and no late applications will be accepted.

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Plantwise programme made considerable progress to help strengthen plant health systems in Burundi

CABI

The CABI-led Plantwise programme made considerable progress to help strengthen plant health systems, livelihoods, and food security in Burundi, according to the end evaluation report published by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) based in The Netherlands. Investigators Boudy van Schagen, Senior Advisor Agriculture and Seed Systems at KIT, and Dr Nicodème Nimenya, an agricultural economist… The post Plantwise programme made considerable progress to help strengthen plant health systems in B

Seeding 59
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Alfalfa’s untold virtues

Western FarmPress

In a head-to-head comparison, alfalfa still beats grass for dairy rations.

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The Arrowroot Petals: Economic Importance, Uses, and By-Products

Agric4profits

Arrowroot petals refer to the delicate, translucent flowers of the arrowroot plant, scientifically known as Maranta arundinacea.