November, 2024

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Proven road to farm profit in 2025

Western FarmPress

Projections show a sharp decline in net farm income in Nebraska for 2024 and into 2025, but an Ainsworth, Neb., farm family makes a strategic plan to navigate volatile markets.

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Corteva announces breakthrough in hybrid wheat technology

Real Agriculture

Corteva Agriscience has announced its intentions to take a bold step into the hybrid wheat market. After decades of tantalizing potential, many industry players have thrown in the towel on the promise of winter wheat, but Corteva says its new proprietary hybrid system marks a “crucial step-change” and is expected to deliver a “new floor… Read More Corteva Agriscience has announced its intentions to take a bold step into the hybrid wheat market.

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Weekend reading: Real Food, Real Facts

Food Politics

Charlotte Bilekoff. Real Food, Real Facts: Processed Food and the Politics of Knowledge. University of California Press, 2024. 267 pages. Food processing is a big issue these days (witness RFK Jr’s pledge to get ultra-processed foods out of school meals) and I was interested to see what food studies scholar Charlotte Biltekoff had to say about it.

Food 356
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The World Food Prize goes to genebankers

Agricultural Biodiversity

Well, it’s all over now, and very moving it was too. You can read about the 2024 World Food Prize laureates here , and also watch edited highlights of the ceremony. Wonderful to see Cary and Geoff — and genebanks — properly recognized. Me? I was taking pics of the agrobiodiversity.

Food 257
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USDA Funding Supports Northeast Native Americans

USDA Blog

The Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT) is a Tribally led nonprofit organization committed to reconnecting and empowering various Indigenous peoples throughout the Northeast. The Land Trust acts as a catalyst for change, addressing critical issues related to land reclamation and food insecurity for the Pocasset Wampanoag tribe and other marginalized communities.

Food 145
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Undercover Networks: How the Agrochemical Industry Silences Critics

Food Tank

A global team of journalists recently revealed that agrochemical industry leaders are working to downplay the risks associated with pesticides and discredit and silence critics of these chemicals. The investigation finds that the PR firm v-Fluence created profiles on 3,000 organizations and more than 500 scientists, journalists, environmentalists, and others deemed critical of the pesticide industry and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Pesticide 124
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Enumerator Spotlight: Meet Jessica Welshans

NASDA

Since 2014, Jessica Welshans has been a dedicated NASDA enumerator and supervisor in Pennsylvania. Her strong ties to her community and in-depth knowledge of the area have helped ensure reliable agricultural data for local farmers and the entire industry. Jessica’s work makes a real impact on the agricultural community, and her dedication strengthens the data that supports decision-making nationwide.

Farming 130

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This Week’s Report #2: WHO/FAO

Food Politics

What are healthy diets? Joint statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization What this is about: Healthy diets promote health, growth and development, support active lifestyles, prevent nutrient deficiencies and excesses, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, foodborne diseases and promote wellbeing.

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Guest Post: Is the Future of Organic Food at Risk? Research Funding Holds the Answer

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Photo credit: Matt Ryan/Sandra Wayman Editor’s Note: This blog post is a guest post authored by Gordon Merrick, Senior Policy and Programs Manager at the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Mark Schonbeck, Research Associate, also at OFRF, which is an NSAC member. The world is increasingly recognizing the value of sustainable food systems, and organic agriculture plays a vital role in this movement.

Food 111
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Veterans Continue to Keep Country Safe through USDA Apprenticeship

USDA Blog

To ensure that veterans have opportunities to enter high-demand career fields, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leverages apprenticeship programs. USDA recently strengthened its Commodity Food Grader’s Apprenticeship Program by expanding its scope from regional to national. As a result, transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses from across the country can now participate.

Food 145
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Op-Ed | A Case for Food Diversification

Food Tank

Diversification is the key to the resilience of our food systems. This is true around our climate-impacted world, but especially so across Africa and in my home country of Zimbabwe. Through both my academic research and my work as a farmer, I have come to understand farmers’ challenges when it comes to resilience. I have also learned about, and advocate for, opportunities.

Food 126
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NASS: Meet the People Behind the Numbers – Amy Bailey

NASDA

Amy Bailey leads the Crops and Specialty Surveys Section at USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, managing surveys that gather important data on crops across the country. She works closely with NASS Survey Administrators to make sure survey plans are solid and that the right tools reach Regional Offices and NASDA enumerators. In a recent interview, Amy talks about her role, how she tackles challenges in collecting data and her vision for the future of agricultural statistics.

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Feedlot manure and compost fuels crop performance

Real Agriculture

Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there is cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients. Producers have found many ways to handle those two truths individually, but research is showing that some things really are better together. Feedlot operators have been spreading manure… Read More Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there is cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients.

Manure 254
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Food Politics - Untitled Article

Food Politics

A reader, Lynn Ripley, sent me a link to this article from the New York Times: What a Crackdown on Immigration Could Mean for Cheap Milk What Peter does know, however, is that without foreign-born workers, his dairy could not stay afloat. Americans are understandably reluctant to perform dirty, dangerous and demanding work — what economists call 3-D jobs — as long as they have better alternatives.

Mechanics 189
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Should We Be Farming in the Desert?

Civil Eats

Just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, California’s Imperial Valley is both a desert and an agricultural wonder. Bordered by sand dunes and barren mountains, the region receives less than three inches of rainfall per year, 27 inches less than the U.S. average. From June to September, high temperatures here often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. By most measures, the Imperial Valley is not a great place to grow food.

Farming 115
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Keep your Kitchen Clean and Sanitized this Thanksgiving

USDA Blog

Thanksgiving is a time when friends and family gather to celebrate together, and the center of the action is the kitchen. Pots and pans will be full of collard greens and gravy while a turkey cooks in the oven. With so many moving parts, it is key that the preparation and cooking areas get fully cleaned and sanitized to avoid the spread of bacteria that causes foodborne illness.

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A clue to what lies beneath the bland surfaces of Uranus and Neptune

Berkeley Blog

Layers of water and hydrocarbons that, like oil and water, don't mix can explain planets' unusual magnetic fields The post A clue to what lies beneath the bland surfaces of Uranus and Neptune appeared first on Berkeley News.

Science 142
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Hurricane Relief and Natural Disaster Resources for Farmers

Trimble Agriculture

From hurricanes to other factors beyond their control, there’s no question it takes resilience to be a farmer. When hurricanes and other natural disasters strike, farmers face significant challenges to rebuild and recover. Access to effective hurricane relief and natural disaster resources is essential to helping agricultural operations bounce back and continue feeding our communities.

Acre 105
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Bourgault targets capacity without complexity in new product roll-out

Real Agriculture

It’s no secret that farmers are looking for more productivity for their farm machinery dollar. A key part of that farming formula is capacity, specifically larger equipment that can get more done in a day and help cover the big acres that many farmers are working across vast tracks of land. Saskatchewan-based Bourgault Industries has… Read More It’s no secret that farmers are looking for more productivity for their farm machinery dollar.

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Industry-funded review of the week: strawberries (off season)

Food Politics

Thanks to Stephen Zwick of Regenetarianism for sending this one. Charoenwoodhipong, P., Zuelch, M. L., Keen, C. L., Hackman, R. M., & Holt, R. R. (2024). Strawberry (Fragaria x Ananassa) intake on human health and disease outcomes: a comprehensive literature review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition , 1–31. [link] From the Abstract Of the 60 articles included in this review, 47 were clinical trials, while 13 were observational studies.

Science 188
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Op-Ed | Reimagining Food as a Path to Health and Equity

Food Tank

America has a food problem, and it’s not just about what we’re eating—it’s about how we think about food altogether. Our relationship with food is broken, leading to an uptick in preventable diseases, soaring healthcare costs , and widening divides between those who can afford healthy food and those who can’t. For decades, short-term fixes have dominated food policy, like the infamous moment when ketchup was labeled a vegetable in school lunches—a decision so absurd it became a global punchline

Food 111
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From Military Service to Public Service, U.S. Air Force Veteran BreAnna Martinez Shares Her Path to USDA

USDA Blog

Imagine you are 18 years old, from a rural town, and figuring out your next steps. You want opportunities to learn, meet new people, and travel the world.

Ruralism 145
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AFBF votes to expel Illinois Farm Bureau

Western FarmPress

Following a membership dispute for its affiliate insurance company, Illinois Farm Bureau has been expelled from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Farming 139
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Letter supporting farm bill orphan programs

NASDA

Letter Dear Chair Thompson, Ranking Member Scott, Chair Stabenow, and Ranking Member Boozman: As you strive toward our shared goal of completing a new farm bill this year, the undersigned organizations and stakeholders write to urge you to include funding for the orphan programs in any new farm bill, or should it become necessary, a farm bill extension.

Farming 130
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Agfinity declares bankruptcy, owing at least $5 million to 181 creditors

Real Agriculture

Alberta-based grain buyer Agfinity Inc. formally declared bankruptcy this week, owing more than $5.06 million to 181 creditors, according to bankruptcy filings released Nov. 26. Farmers’ concerns about not getting paid for grain that was sold and picked up by the company started surfacing on social media and elsewhere in early 2024. Agfinity’s operations, headquartered… Read More Alberta-based grain buyer Agfinity Inc. formally declared bankruptcy this week, owing more than $5.06 million to 181

Grain 260
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This Week’s Report #3: Food Foundation’s State of the UK’s Food Industry

Food Politics

From the report’s introduction THE UK’S FOOD SYSTEM ISN’T WORKING. It is unsustainable, unhealthy, and unfair. Deep rooted power imbalances mean that profits and power are concentrated in the middle of the food chain, leaving farmers and citizens feeling the squeeze. Among the poorest fifth of the population, households with children would need to spend 70% of their disposable income on food just to afford the government’s recommended healthy diet….

Food 130
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Harvesting Solutions: How Food Systems Can Unlock Progress on Climate and Biodiversity

Food Tank

This is the first part of an articles series based on based on conversations held during COP16 (Cali) and COP29 (Baku) side events by leading food system actors, who explored solutions provided by agroecology. Learn why t his fall is crucial for food systems governance as world leaders and food system actors gather to discuss solutions to biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation.

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Veteran’s Creativity Turns a Shipping Container into a Farm

USDA Blog

“I had a plan, or maybe it was more of a dream,” said Brad Fourby, Navy veteran and owner of Leafy Green Farms. “The moment I saw a shipping container farm is how the idea for my farm started.” Leafy Green Farms is in southeast Kansas, where the population is 20,000 — a big difference from Brad’s hometown of Sacramento, California.

Farming 136
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Take advice in ag downturn from this 80-year-old farmer

Western FarmPress

Longtime farmers share their advice on making it through tough times, especially when it comes to equipment.

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NASDA Pilot Regions Workshop: Building Skills & Strategies for Success

NASDA

NASDA recently hosted a training workshop in Sioux City, Iowa, for our Northern Plains and Upper Midwest pilot regions. This event brought together new coaches, managers, trainers and supervisors to help them get ready for their roles within NASDA’s updated management structure. The workshop focused on teamwork, supporting enumerators in the field and improving communication and data collection strategies.

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Corn School: Tackling tar spot with disease tracking technology

Real Agriculture

Genetics and fungicides are the two pillars of disease defence when it comes to yield robbers like tar spot. But weather and technology also play a key role in helping growers defend their crops against the foliar disease. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Agribusiness pathologist Albert… Read More Genetics and fungicides are the two pillars of disease defence when it comes to yield robbers like tar spot.

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Commentary: Why Doesn’t NYC Have an Agriculture Show?

Daily Yonder

A poignant and repeated question from @NYFarmer on X is to ask why New York City does not have an annual agricultural show like Paris. For the last half century the Paris International Agricultural Show draws farmers, breeders, producers, and a heady mix of industry and institutional players from across France and its territories. They put on a nine-day spectacular that draws in hundreds of thousands of visitors.

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Sustainability Means ‘Freedom to Really Farm How We Should Be Farming’

Food Tank

Trisha and Nolan Zachman farm in a small town two hours west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They grow a variety of crops including corn, soybeans, rye, wheat, sorghum, and peas; pasture-raise pigs for specialty meat company Niman Ranch; and care for chickens, sheep, ducks, geese, alpacas, and numerous cats—in addition to raising two young children and running a farm stay experience.

Farming 116
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California’s Public Higher Education Leaders Reassure Communities After Presidential Election

Berkeley Blog

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred García, and California Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian released the following statement today, Wednesday, Nov.

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Will Illinois Farm Bureau be kicked out of AFBF?

Western FarmPress

When IFB affiliate Country Financial decided to no longer require nonfarm policy memberships earlier this fall, the decision rippled to the national level and could result in the American Farm Bureau Federation expelling IFB from membership.

Farming 132
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Meet the Native American Farmer Promoting Northern New Mexico’s Indigenous Foodways

Modern Farmer

The aroma of cedar smoke fills the early autumn air, punctuated by the crackle of wood as Norma Naranjo rakes out hot ashes from the horno, a beehive-shaped adobe oven, with a long wooden paddle. She piles the ashes on the ground and tops them with glossy green chiles from her garden; the heat will concentrate their flavor for later use in a stew. Naranjo is the founder of The Feasting Place , a culinary and cultural program based out of her home on the Ohkay Owingeh (“Place of Strong People”) P

Food 94
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Soybean School: Feeding a hidden hunger for nitrogen

Real Agriculture

Those healthy looking soybeans may be hiding a hunger for nitrogen that could deliver higher yields. The oilseed’s nitrogen needs have been much studied over the years with researchers generally agreeing higher rates of nitrogen don’t pay, but that may not be the case when growers push for higher yields. On this episode of the. Read More Those healthy looking soybeans may be hiding a hunger for nitrogen that could deliver higher yields.

Yield 280