May, 2024

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Identifying and managing stripe rust in winter wheat

Real Agriculture

Fast-moving, highly destructive stripe rust is popping up in winter wheat fields across Ontario. RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson says the disease is a significant threat to the crop and can cause up to 50 per cent yield loss if not managed properly. He stresses that timely fungicide applications are crucial for controlling the disease. In. Read More Fast-moving, highly destructive stripe rust is popping up in winter wheat fields across Ontario.

Yield 347
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Farm Bill lobbying

Food Politics

Since we are talking this week about the Farm Bill, take a look at this report from the Union of Concerned Scientists: Cultivating Control: Corporate Lobbying on the Food and Farm Bill. Its major findings: Interest groups spent more than $523 million on Farm Bill issues between 2019 and 2023. Agribusiness spends more on lobbying than the gas or oil industries. 561 groups reported lobbying on Farm Bill issues.

Farming 297
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NASDA commends progress on farm bill development and continues advocating for bipartisanship

NASDA

Press Release ARLINGTON, Va. – National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney praised U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson for releasing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 today in the following statement: “NASDA applauds Chairman Thompson for beginning the process of creating the next farm bill,” McKinney said.

Farming 246
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Nibbles: Seed info, Potato 101, Coffee 101, Rice repatriation, Iraq genebank, Use or lose, Teff breeding, Micronutrients, Agrobiodiversity, Plant a Seed Kit, WorldVeg to Svalbard, Seed Health Units

Agricultural Biodiversity

Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) launches SEED GIST , a quarterly repository of seed literature. A fun romp through potato history. A fun romp through coffee history. Hong Kong gets some rice seeds back from the IRRI genebank. No doubt Iraq will get some seeds back from the ICARDA genebank soon. Genebanks are only the beginning though.

Seeding 182
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Meet the falcons: Aurora, Eclipse, Nox and Sol

Berkeley Blog

A contest open to the public to name UC Berkeley's four falcon chicks has ended in a landslide. The post Meet the falcons: Aurora, Eclipse, Nox and Sol appeared first on Berkeley News.

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Outstanding John Innes Centre scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society

Agri-tech

Two leading John Innes Centre scientists have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society. Professor Graham Moore, who is director of the John Innes Centre and Professor Saskia Hogenhout, a group leader, are among 90 exceptional researchers from across the world elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences. Professor Hogenhout’s group at the John Innes.

Science 145
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Ag Policy Connection, Ep. 11 — The future of ag extension

Real Agriculture

The term “agricultural extension” generally refers to the process of applying new research and knowledge to help farmers improve farming methods and techniques. While this concept has existed for thousands of years, the word “extension” itself dates back to the 1860s in England when universities made an attempt to extend practical information through lectures outside.

More Trending

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Veteran Finds Healing and Prosperity Through Beekeeping With USDA Grants

USDA Blog

Just outside of Fayetteville, North Carolina, veteran farmer Jim Hartman embodies the resilience and resourcefulness of the honeybees he tends to. His success in building his honey business stems from his proactive approach of seeking out government funds, a trait that has been instrumental in his journey.

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A new treaty on genetic resources

Agricultural Biodiversity

There’s a new international treaty on the block. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) members have just approved the Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge. What does it do? It’s basically about disclosing where genetic resources came from when claiming a patent. Broadly, where a claimed invention in a patent application is based on genetic resources, each contracting party shall require applicants to disclose the country of

Food 174
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Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub: Berkeley’s new home for climate innovation

Berkeley Blog

A new incubator on the west side of campus will provide resources and support to entrepreneurs in renewable energy and clean technology. The post Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub: Berkeley’s new home for climate innovation appeared first on Berkeley News.

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Michigan bovine TB-positive deer prompt cattle testing

Western FarmPress

One area includes specific portions of Benzie and Manistee counties, and the other includes portions of Crawford and Otsego counties.

Cattle 141
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Farm Credit Canada to offer more direct venture capital funding

Real Agriculture

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is not new to the venture capital space, however a shift in focus for the Crown corp will see the lender take a more direct approach to ven cap funding in agriculture. Justine Hendricks, CEO of FCC, says the move is prompted by the changing needs of the industry. Whether driven. Read More Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is not new to the venture capital space, however a shift in focus for the Crown corp will see the lender take a more direct approach to ven cap funding in agric

Farming 325
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Uh oh. Bulk organic walnuts associated with toxic E. coli

Food Politics

I learned about this one from Bill Marler’s blog: This is Nuts – California and Washington E. coli Outbreak linked to Gibson Farms Walnuts This refers to the CDC announcement: E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts The CDC issued a warning: CDC warns of E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts sold in bulk The FDA has its own investigation: Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Bulk Organic Walnuts (April 2024): Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled organic walnuts sold in bulk bi

Harvest 278
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USDA 2501 Program Supports Hmoob Farmers

USDA Blog

Yimmuaj Yang, community director of the Wisconsin-based nonprofit and community organization Groundswell Conservancy, explains its mission in the simplest terms: “We protect special places forever.

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Seeds find a way

Agricultural Biodiversity

Jeremy’s latest newsletter is out, and has a nice piece on disobedience of the rules of the EU’s Common Catalogue. Little seed has its say The motto of the European Union on agricultural diversity, especially with regard to seeds, has long been Everything Not Permitted Is Forbidden. That is to say, only varieties registered in the Common Catalogue are permitted to be placed on the market, all others cannot be sold.

Seeding 164
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Racial resentment fueled Jan. 6 rebellion and opposition to House probe, scholars find

Berkeley Blog

New research suggests that for some white Americans, "Stop the Steal" refers not just to perceived voter fraud, but to their own loss of status in a more diverse society. The post Racial resentment fueled Jan. 6 rebellion and opposition to House probe, scholars find appeared first on Berkeley News.

Science 140
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Is your county the Best Place to Farm?

Western FarmPress

Best Places to Farm: Farm Futures ranks 3,000-plus counties on financial performance, based on the recent U.S. Ag Census and proprietary data.

Farming 139
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Profitable Practices: Greenhouse innovation with Red Sun Farms

Real Agriculture

Red Sun Farms in Kingsville, Ont., is one of 170 greenhouse vegetable farms in Ontario. Across the province, the Ontario greenhouse vegetable industry grows tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in 3,900 acres of greehhouse, producing 521 million kilograms of fresh vegetables with a farm gate value of more than $1.4 billion. On this episode of Profitable.

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Ozempic: a food marketing opportunity

Food Politics

I was thrilled to be invited to be on Oprah last week to discuss the influence of the food environment on obesity. Alas, I was disinvited when the topic switched to fat shaming. While recovering from the disappointment, I ran across this article in FoodDive: The Ozempic effect is real: Study zeroes in on GLP-1 users’ food needs. A study found people taking anti-obesity medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound to be looking for: Foods packed with protein Smaller portions Foods that help

Food 262
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Shining a Spotlight on USDA Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area Employees

USDA Blog

The first full week of May is Public Service Recognition Week—a time to honor the dedicated people who serve our country every day. USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area is home to more than 8,500 public servants, who are some of the best and brightest mind in agriculture science.

Science 141
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Brainfood: Yield gap, Domestication & breeding, TEK, Breeding gourds, Breeding pearl millet, Breeding peas, Banana seed systems, Breeding bees

Agricultural Biodiversity

Global spatially explicit yield gap time trends reveal regions at risk of future crop yield stagnation. For 8 of 10 major crops, yield gaps have widened steadily from 1975 to 2010 over most areas, and remained static for sugar cane and oil palm. Time to turbo-charge the breeding? Domestication and the evolution of crops: variable syndromes, complex genetic architectures, and ecological entanglements.

Yield 150
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Early Career Microbiologists Mini-Symposium 2024

Agri-tech

The Department of Molecular Microbiology is organising a one and a half day Early Career Microbiologists Mini-Symposium. The symposium will be held from Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 September 2024. Apply now The aim of this event is for the John Innes Centre to hear about state-of-the-art science through presentations in bacterial microbiology, to enhance our understanding of where exciting new.

Science 139
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Carol Christ: Years of challenge, years of historic progress

Berkeley Blog

In an interview before her retirement, the UC Berkeley chancellor reflected on the social turmoil of her years in office, the values that have guided her — and the essential lesson she learned from students. The post Carol Christ: Years of challenge, years of historic progress appeared first on Berkeley News.

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Delaying post-emerge weed control in corn can be costly

Real Agriculture

There are plenty of weedy corn fields across Ontario as a planting season with weather-induced stops and starts has some growers struggling to get crop in the ground and also stay ahead of the weeds. Getting the jump on those weeds, especially in fields relying on post-emergent herbicide programs is critical, says University of Guelph.

Crop 321
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Weekend reading: microplastics and nanoplastics

Food Politics

Here’s something I haven’t yet written about but I’m seeing so much on the topic that it’s due. Microplastics are small (5 millimeters and much, much smaller) particles that come off of plastic containers, wrappings, and waste. They are now everywhere and in everything, including oceans, water supplies, food, animals, and us. Not nearly enough is known about their effects, but early signs are not reassuring.

Beverage 247
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Top barbecue tips from the ‘Three Brisketeers’

AgriLife Today

Texas A&M AgriLife experts share four tidbits every barbecue lover should know The post Top barbecue tips from the ‘Three Brisketeers’ appeared first on AgriLife Today.

Science 137
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A census of seed libraries

Agricultural Biodiversity

Is your seed library on here ?

Seeding 147
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USDA Supports Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders with Site Visit

USDA Blog

Guam is often called “where America’s day begins” as the sun rises 14 hours earlier than the nation’s capital. USDA Program Coordinator Lihan Wei recently traveled to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to visit these underserved communities and engage in outreach and partnerships.

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2024 Wheat Tour: Rice County, Kansas

Western FarmPress

Kansas Farmer stopped by Doug Keesling’s farm, between Chase and Lyons, in Rice County, Kan. and along the blue/black route, to discuss his wheat crop and the conditions he’s faced this growing season.

Crop 136
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APAS: The Bunge-Viterra merger may not be the golden grain deal for farmers

Real Agriculture

Op-ed submitted byy Ian Boxall, president of Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan In a recent op-ed, Gregory Heckman, CEO of Bunge, defended the proposed merger between Bunge and Viterra, arguing that the combination would mean investment and growth for Canadian agriculture, particularly in Saskatchewan. While the optimism from a corporate standpoint is expected, given that.

Grain 321
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What’s new in food tech? A few that caught my fancy

Food Politics

I’m a food technology skeptic but I do enjoy keeping an eye on what food scientists and innovators are coming up with. Just what we need! ‘We made the first female arousal drink’: How G Spot leans into functionality for women: Award winning actor Gillian Anderson is harnessing the power of botanicals to cater to an underserved market. We ask which ingredients align to which need state….

Food 229
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Berkeley’s ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship combats climate change

Berkeley Blog

UC Berkeley faculty are fast-tracking the development of new and creative climate solutions. The post Berkeley’s ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship combats climate change appeared first on Berkeley News.

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Leaders of crop diversity conservation land World Food Prize

Agricultural Biodiversity

Great to see a couple of my former bosses recognized for their exceptional contributions to the conservation on crop diversity. I like this quote from Geoff : This is really a chance to get that message out and say, look, this relatively small amount of money is our insurance policy, our insurance policy that we’re going to be able to feed the world in 50 years.

Crop 147
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Op-Ed | Unintended Consequences of Environmentally Friendly Diets

Food Tank

As the world grapples with the urgent need to protect human health, combat climate change, and protect biodiversity, the foods we eat have come under scrutiny. Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to the global burden of disease. And food systems are a major contributor to climate change and environmental destruction. Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals (often called micronutrients) are widespread globally.

Food 135
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Is no-till farming more profitable?

Western FarmPress

Over 20 years, University of Missouri research shows no-till offers the highest return for corn and soybeans.

Farming 136
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Winter canola creating a buzz in Ontario

Real Agriculture

Winter canola fields are popping up all over Ontario. Across the province, acreage for the entire oilseed crop typically checks in around 40,000 acres, with about one third of the crop being planted in the fall, the rest being spring canola. Over the past five year years, however, winter canola has been gaining momentum in. Read More Winter canola fields are popping up all over Ontario.

Acre 321
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The latest on the forthcoming (eventually) farm bill

Food Politics

Every five years or so, we have to deal with another farm bill. Like the dietary guidelines, also every five years, the farm bill doesn’t really change much. The arguments about both don’t change either. So here we go again. And just so you know where i”m coming from on this, here are my classic thoughts on the matter: “ The farm bill drove me insane. ” A quick summary of why it does: it’s a collection of dozens if not hundreds, of programs, each with its own constituency and lobbyists, and

Farming 229