October, 2023

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Farmers Weekly Awards 2023: Farmer of the Year

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly Husband and wife Craig and Claire Grant are the 2023 Farmers Weekly‘s Farmer of the Year – a credit to their innovative farming practices and remarkable work appetite. The couple are true pioneers within the farming industry.

Farming 362
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Farmers feeling the squeeze over Seaway strike

Real Agriculture

Unlike some other North American ports, the St. Lawrence Seaway shipping corridor is seasonal, and the labour dispute holding up product movement is putting serious stress on Ontario’s agriculture sector during the harvest period. An estimated $20 million per day of grain isn’t moving through the St. Lawrence Seaway after members of UNIFOR went on.

Grain 340
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Food warning labels in action: Mexico

Food Politics

I was in Mexico City last week giving the keynote at the FoodTech Summit & Expo. I could hardly wait to get to the nearby Chedraui supermarket to see what the Mexican warning labels on food packages looked like in practice. Mexico has high obesity prevalence, especially in children (~35%). Public health officials hope the warning labels will alert the public to avoid overconsuming processed foods.

Food 335
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Farewell and Thanks to Jorge, Our Headquarters People’s Gardener

USDA Blog

If you follow the #PeoplesGarden on social media, you’ve seen informative videos by Jorge Penso, the lead gardener at the national headquarters People’s Garden in Washington, D.C.

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Professor Caroline Dean awarded McClintock Prize  

Agri-tech

The ground-breaking career of Professor Dame Caroline Dean FRS has been recognised with the prestigious Barbara McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies. The international award is made to outstanding plant scientists working on genetics and genomics. “I am thrilled and honoured to receive this award in recognition of the work of my group at the John Innes Centre over many years,”.

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The Bourbon Industry Relies on White Oaks, Which Are in Decline. Now, They’re All In on Saving Them

Modern Farmer

There are five key rules to follow when making bourbon whiskey. First, it must be distilled in the United States, and it must be a grain mixture with at least 51 percent corn mash. There can be no additives for color or flavor, and the alcohol content must be at least 80 proof at the time of bottling. Most importantly, however, is that bourbon whiskey must be aged in a fresh, white oak barrel for a minimum of two years.

Ranching 140
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Chicken supplier passing off housed birds as free range

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly Meat industry insiders have been warned to look closely at the traceability of any free-range chicken in their supply chains, with one unnamed company believed to be passing off housed birds as free range.

More Trending

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A feast for the eyes: USDA’s Pomological Collection

Food Politics

I ran across a notice about this video: The USDA’s wondrous fruit watercolors. It’s only 5 minutes and a revelation. It’s just what we need this week—something lovely at a dark time. I had never heard of the USDA’s collection of 7500 hand -illustrated fruits and vegetables, most of them contributed by women. I’m happy to know about them. The illustrations are available online at the National Agricultural Library.

Food 300
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The Kitchen Sink: An Overlooked Place for Food Safety

USDA Blog

We use the kitchen sink for food preparation – rinsing produce, cleaning pots and pans, washing utensils that touch raw meat, and more. With these activities come the possibility for foodborne illness-causing bacteria to hang out in the sink too. If proper food preparation safety steps are not followed, these bacteria could cross-contaminate your food and make you sick!

Food 144
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Global Diesel Shortage Looms

AgWeb Farm Journal

Refineries worldwide are facing challenges in meeting the rising demand for diesel, exacerbated by disruptions in global oil flows caused by OPEC+ output reductions and the conflict in Ukraine.

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Producer simplifies farming by running older equipment

Western FarmPress

Oklahoma producer Marty Williams was once known as an early adopter. He's traded that status for 1990s equipment and a different perspective, a strategy that's benefitting his mental health.

Farming 134
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Jacob Rees-Mogg’s pro-Aussie beef comments spark reaction

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly Farm leader Minette Batters has accused Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg of seeking to destroy British agriculture after he backed imports of hormone-fed Australian beef. Speaking during a Rally for Growth at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Sir Jacob said: “I want hormone-injected beef from Australia.

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Consultation underway on final hurdle to approving gene edited crops in Canada

Real Agriculture

It’s been a long process, but Canada is nearing a final decision on the use of gene editing in crop development. Krista Thomas, vice president of seed innovation and trade policy with the Canada Grains Council, explains the final assessment — that of feed for livestock — is nearing completion, as the consultation wraps up. Read More It’s been a long process, but Canada is nearing a final decision on the use of gene editing in crop development.

Crop 316
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Annals of marketing: is “not healthy” the latest trend?

Food Politics

My distant but dearly loved cousin, Michael Kravit, has scored again: “Not Healthy.” According to the company’s website , these things are “Tasty purffs. Five flavors. No health claims…So unhealthy, I bought 15 bags for my family and friends…If you are worried about FFUPs being healthy, you’re on the wrong website. Go eat some carrots! [Not a bad idea, this last one].

Marketing 301
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International Day of Rural Women Spotlight: Indiana Soccer Moms Score Big as Global Entrepreneurs with USDA Assist

USDA Blog

For a women-owned business in rural Indiana, working with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) became a life-changing experience. Soccer moms Carol Podolak and Joy Thompkins sold homemade peanut butter as their kids’ team fundraiser to travel from Portage, Indiana to Dallas, Texas for a tournament in 2016. Customers wanted the pretzel, blueberry, and toffee peanut butter more than once a year, so Podolak and Thompkins started taking custom orders.

Ruralism 141
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Space biology and the out-of-this-world exploration of plant stress

AgriLife Today

Texas A&M AgriLife plant scientist joins a NASA-funded project to help understand how plants grow away from Earth A Texas A&M AgriLife plant scientist is joining the space race, of a sort, by helping to understand how plants can survive in space to support human space exploration. As a Texas A&M AgriLife Research crop physiologist/agroecologist and professor in.

Crop 135
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Small-Scale Farming Shouldn’t Just Be a Hobby. So Why Is It So Hard to Make a Living? 

Modern Farmer

I noticed it when first learning farming 14 years ago, traveling around small diverse vegetable farms in the US and Ecuador. Small farms that made all their household income from the farm struggled the most, despite selling something we all need—food. This especially applied if farmers weren’t wealthy beforehand, weren’t running their business like a hobby or didn’t have substantial side income.

Farming 132
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Canadian cattle groups say ’no’ to UK’s entry into CPTPP

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly The Canadian meat industry has launched a campaign demanding its government block the UK’s accession to a new trans-Pacific trade deal unless it accepts imports of Canadian hormone-fed beef.

Cattle 345
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RealAg Politics: Carbon tax exemptions, Red Seat High, and a plan for grain in Alberta

Real Agriculture

It’s time for another episode of RealAg Politics with your host, Shaun Haney! On this episode, hear from: Mike Flynn, new and first executive director of Alberta Grains, introduces himself and why he chose agriculture; Dave Carey, with the Canadian Canola Growers on the Senate holding up Bill C-234; and, Kelvin Heppner, with RealAgriculture, to.

Grain 312
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Unlocking the Power of Peas: Genetic discovery promises high-iron vegetables and cereals

Agri-tech

A genetic breakthrough has opened new opportunities for iron-fortified vegetables and cereal crops to help address the global health issue of anaemia. John Innes Centre researchers used a newly available map of the pea-genome to identify the underlying genetic sequence responsible for two high-iron mutations in peas. Professor Janneke Balk, a group leader at the John Innes Centre and an author of.

Crop 133
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South Carolina Air National Guard Veteran Topeka Ham Finds New Calling with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service

USDA Blog

Georgia native Topeka Ham found a new calling serving the American public through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) after 26 years in the South Carolina Air National Guard.

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At Just 22 Years Old, She's a Farmhand Who's Found Social Media Success In a Remarkable Way

AgWeb Farm Journal

At 22 years old, Emma decided the college life wasn't for her. She dropped out and decided to become a farmhand. With each adventure comes lessons she shares on her "Ag With Emma" social media accounts.

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Navigating the Policy Puzzle of Incoherency and Conflicting Outcomes 

Farming First

The Africa Climate Summit (ACS) and Africa Climate Week (ACW), alongside the Africa Food System Summit (AGRF), highlighted the crucial need for a sustainable and nature-positive transformation in food production. The post Navigating the Policy Puzzle of Incoherency and Conflicting Outcomes appeared first on Farming First.

Food 130
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Somerset farmers hit back at Jacob Rees-Mogg ‘hormone’ comments

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly A group of 11 Somerset farmers, who operate in the same constituency as Jacob Rees-Mogg, has written to the former minister lambasting his understanding of agriculture and accusing him of undermining British farming values.

Farming 343
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Beef Market Update: Cattle markets steady, but with a sustained wide basis on decent supplies

Real Agriculture

There’s always something to cover in the beef and cattle markets, but this week marks a decidedly non-volatile week in trading. Anne Wasko, with the Gateway Livestock Exchange, brings an update from the south to the north and from beef prices to live weights in this episode of the Beef Market Update. The theme of. Read More There’s always something to cover in the beef and cattle markets, but this week marks a decidedly non-volatile week in trading.

Marketing 312
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What the Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill Means for Food and Agriculture

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

On October 1, 2023, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill – expired. The expiration did not come as a surprise, as Congress’ timeline for reauthorizing the 2018 Farm Bill has been increasingly drawn out for a variety of reasons such that neither the House nor Senate Agriculture Committees have yet been ready to unveil their bills.

Food 130
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USDA Makes Available More Than $60 Million in School Meals, Launches New Partnership

USDA Blog

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited Annandale Terrace Elementary School in Annandale, Virginia, where he unveiled two new grant opportunities plus a training and technical assistance partnership to help schools continue to invest in nutritious school meals.

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Livestock guardian dogs: Unsung heroes of the livestock protection business

AgriLife Today

Special canines save sheep, goats from predators Livestock guardian dogs are rockstars in the canine world, even if most people never see them perform live. These unique animals are so important to the ranching industry that the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo created an entire program dedicated to these livestock.

Livestock 132
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Now's the Time to Transition to a Vertical Farming System

AgWeb Farm Journal

What is vertical farming and how can it set you up for future government incentives? Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, explains it often requires mixing and matching tools for primary and secondary tillage.

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Video: Grower completes world’s first Capulet bean harvest

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly Lincolnshire grower Andrew Ward has successfully harvested the world’s first field-scale trial of Capulet spring beans destined for the baked bean market. Thanks to the development of a UK-specific bean variety, this could mark the beginning of a new pulse market for UK farmers, with the aim to cut food imports and increase home-grown protein.

Harvester 344
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Derkatch named as Canterra president and CEO

Real Agriculture

Brent Derkatch has been named as the new president and CEO of Canterra Seeds. Derkatch steps into the role as long-time CEO David Hansen announced his retirement earlier this year. Derkatch has been with CANTERRA SEEDS since 2001, and has served as the director, Pedigreed Seed Business Unit for the past five years. Derkatch will. Read More Brent Derkatch has been named as the new president and CEO of Canterra Seeds.

Seeding 312
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The Intricate Mechanisms of Epigenetic Silencing

Agri-tech

Epigenetic silencing, which involves the suppression of gene activity, is a fascinating and increasingly influential branch of biological sciences. It allows cells to remember and maintain specific gene expression patterns throughout development and respond to environmental cues such as winter cold in the case of vernalization in plants. The silencing activity, conserved in both animals and plants.

Mechanics 129
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A Message from USDA to Ant Keepers

USDA Blog

Ant keepers enjoy a fun and educational hobby, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has an interest in it. You might wonder what ant keeping has to do with American agriculture and natural resources. Some invertebrates that people—including ant keepers—import into the U.S. or move between states could threaten our crops, forests, and community landscapes if they escape.

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Amir Ibrahim named Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate director, chief scientific officer

AgriLife Today

Role includes leadership position in Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Amir Ibrahim, Ph.D., has been selected as the new associate director and chief scientific officer of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and associate dean for research in the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective Dec. 1. Ibrahim is a.

Science 126
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Best Practice Do’s and Don’ts for Anhydrous Ammonia Applications

AgWeb Farm Journal

Farmers applying NH3 can maximize their dollars and use of the product by not applying it until soil temperatures are no more than 50 degrees and trending lower, according to Iowa State University Extension.

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Court awards farm to son in inheritance promise dispute

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly Michael Spencer won his claim against the estate of his late father, John Spencer, on the basis that he had been promised he would inherit the family’s Lincolnshire farm. The claim in Spencer v Spencer followed the father’s death in October 2018.

Farming 325
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RealAg Markets: Blips to the high side should be viewed as selling opportunities in downward trending markets

Real Agriculture

Short-term bounces in grain prices should be viewed as selling opportunities in an overall bearish market, according to the president of grain marketing advisory firm IntelliFarm. The lack of bullish news on both the supply and demand sides of the balance sheets for most major crops has resulted in prices sliding over the last few. Read More Short-term bounces in grain prices should be viewed as selling opportunities in an overall bearish market, according to the president of grain marketing adv

Marketing 310