February, 2025

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Check snow loads, use caution in older barns and poly structures

Real Agriculture

Farmers are sounding the alarm on snow loads and structure integrity this winter, as areas of Ontario have been hard hit by lake-effect snow and large snow events. From southern Ontario, up into the Bruce Peninsula, and even in Eastern Ontario, barns and shelters have collapsed under the incredible weight of snow. Stewart Skinner, hog Read More Farmers are sounding the alarm on snow loads and structure integrity this winter, as areas of Ontario have been hard hit by lake-effect snow and large sn

Farming 290
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Most enlightening report of the week: GAO on infant formula

Food Politics

After two years of work, the Government Accountability Office has just published: WIC Infant Formula:Single-Supplier Competitive Contracts Reduce Program Costs and Modestly Increase Retail Prices. Heres its quick summary: Over half the countrys infant formula is bought through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

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An Alaska Native Chef Builds Foodways for theĀ Future

Civil Eats

As Hurricane Helene made its way up the East Coast last October, Rob Kinneen tracked the storm from his home in Durham, North Carolina. When lashing winds and heavy rains began battering the state and reports started coming in of disastrous flooding throughout Appalachia, Kinneen knew he needed to act. I drove up to this small town, Swannanoa, with my apron and my knife, he says, and within minutes of arriving at the commissary kitchen that had been set up, I was cutting up vegetables.

Food 132
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U.S. House Agriculture Committee leadership to speak to state agriculture officials

NASDA

Media Advisory WHO : U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson and Ranking Member Angie Craig will discuss the committees policy priorities with state department of agriculture leaders during the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 2025 Winter Policy Conference. Ranking Member Craig will address the conference on Tuesday, and Chairman Thompson will speak on Wednesday.

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Professor Uauy appointed as Director of the John Innes Centre

Agri-tech

Following an international search, Professor Cristbal Uauy has been appointed as the next Director of the John Innes Centre. Professor Uauy is internationally recognised for his significant contribution to the development of resources and tools available to the wheat research community which allow for the rapid identification of genes for key traits.

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Brainfood: QMS, Seed viability, Genotyping, Taxonomy, FAIR data, Evaluation data, Lentil data, Indian cryobank, Home genebank, Dry chain, Botanical gardens, Environmental monitoring, Bending the curve

Agricultural Biodiversity

Quality management in a genebank environment: Principles and experiences at the Centre for Genetic Resources, The Netherlands (CGN). Do we need a certification system for genebanks? We do have the means to put one together. A pragmatic protocol for seed viability monitoring in ex situ plant genebanks. But will genebank certification allow much-needed flexibility?

Seeding 155
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CANZA announces $4 million effort to develop and scale up tools to measure, report, and verify (MRV) soil carbon

Real Agriculture

The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA) has announced a $4 million effort, with backing from the federal government, Maple Leaf Foods, and Nutrien, to develop and scale tools to measure, report, and verify (MRV) soil carbon, potentially unlocking new sources of revenue for farmers. The development of a simple MRV system will allow farmers Read More The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA) has announced a $4 million effort, with backing from the federal government, Maple

Food 303

More Trending

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For Farmers, Fitness Programs Can Improve Mental Health,Ā Too

Civil Eats

Cynthia Flores was a farmer for twenty years, and despite doing intense physical labor every day, she never thought of herself as an athlete. It wasn’t until I got into strength training that there was a shift in my mindset, she said. With a new perspective on farming, Flores began to prioritize self-care and be more mindful of her body. As her interest in fitness grew, she began to compete in Strongman events, where athletes face off in Herculean challenges.

Farming 128
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NASDA Collects Key Farm Economic Data for USDAā€™s TOTAL/ARMS3 Survey

NASDA

News Article Starting in February, NASDA field enumerators headed to farms nationwide to conduct the TOTAL/ARMS3 survey part of USDAs Agricultural Resource Management Survey. This survey gathers important data on farm finances, including income, expenses, debt and family finances. In addition, the survey includes the Tenure, Ownership and Transition of Agricultural Land survey, which gathers detailed data on land tenure and records all land rented out for agricultural use.

Farming 148
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Farmers demand answers on funding freeze

Western FarmPress

Producers attend House Agriculture Committee meeting to underscore the devastating impacts of sudden funding cuts, leaving many with mounting debts after broken contracts.

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Brainfood: Marroon rice, Dutch aroids, Sicilian saffron, Inca agriculture, Native American agriculture, Mexican peppers, Afro-Mexican agriculture, Sahelian landraces, Small-scale fisheries, Coconut remote sensing

Agricultural Biodiversity

The Mystery of Black Rice: Food, Medicinal, and Spiritual Uses of Oryza glaberrima by Maroon Communities in Suriname and French Guiana. There’s a rich oral history of African rice in Maroon communities, but that doesn’t mean either the traditional knowledge or diversity of the crop is safe. The Invisible Tropical Tuber Crop: Edible Aroids (Araceae) Sold as Tajer in the Netherlands.

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Provincial canola groups select 11 agronomic research projects to receive $3.4 million

Real Agriculture

Eleven canola research projects will receive a total of $3.4 million in funding as part of the 2025 intake of the Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP). The three Prairie provincial canola grower associations Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, and Manitoba Canola Growers Association are contributing over $2.3 million. Another $764,000 is coming from the Western Read More Eleven canola research projects will receive a total of $3.4 million in funding as part of the 2025 intake of the Canola Agron

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Avoiding toxic metals in baby foods

Food Politics

A reader, William Haaf, alerted me to this one: California companies required to disclose heavy metal content in baby food As of January 2025, baby food manufacturers selling in California must disclose test results for four heavy metals arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury via an on-pack QR code. The law, Assembly Bill 899 (AB 899), was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023 and requires monthly testing of baby food for the specified contaminants.

Food 133
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FOREIGN AID ISN'T

The Lunatic Farmer

Here are two personal stories about foreign aid. Some 20 years ago when Slow Food asked me to be part of the U.S. delegation attending the International Slow Food Convivium in Turin, Italy hosted by Carlo Petrini, I went with Michael Pollan. Every time I wasn't speaking, I attended presentations by a delegation from an African country. Every single one started with something like this: "We have plenty of resources.

Food 115
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NASA Satellite Technology Advances NASS Agricultural Data Collection

NASDA

News Article National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney and NASDA staff recently visited the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to learn how satellite technology supports agricultural monitoring and strengthens the need for agricultural data collection. NASAs Earth-observing satellites, including Landsat, MODIS and SMAP provide critical insights throughout the growing season.

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Avian flu explodes in Ohio

Western FarmPress

More than 10 million birds have been affected in the past 45 days.

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Brooke Rollins ā€™94 to lead U.S. Department of Agriculture

AgriLife Today

Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences former student confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture The post Brooke Rollins 94 to lead U.S. Department of Agriculture appeared first on AgriLife Today.

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AI counts flea beetles in real-time

Real Agriculture

Understanding the prevalence of flea beetles in a canola field can make a big difference when it comes to management decisions in a field. This number-one insect pest of canola can quickly multiply in number and with the right environmental conditions move from below to well-above an economic threshold in a single day. Read More Understanding the prevalence of flea beetles in a canola field can make a big difference when it comes to management decisions in a field.

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Future reading: The Fish Counter!

Food Politics

My next forthcoming book is now available for preorder. I say next, because this one is a bit of a surprise, even to me. Its a spinoff from my forthcoming (in September, I think) new and thoroughly revised edition of What to Eat, retitled What to Eat Now the book Ive been working on for the last three years. Heres what the publisher says about The Fish Counter : A standalone extract from the newly revised edition of her groundbreaking What to Eat (which is being reissued as What to Eat Now ).

Food 130
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Objectives of Farm Management

Agric4profits

In this article, the objectives of farm management are discussed. The central issue in any economic analysis is the problem of limited resources, or resource scarcity. The ability of any society or producer to produce depends on the availability of resources.

Farming 116
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Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture to speak to state agriculture officials

NASDA

Media Advisory WHO : Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison will speak to the Marketing and International Trade Committee during the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 2025 Winter Policy Conference (NASDA). The committee of NASDA members plays a key role in supporting the development of NASDAs international agricultural marketing strategies.

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Which NFL players also play a role in agriculture?

Western FarmPress

FP Next, Ep.3: The NFL is home to farming and ranching contributions.

Ranching 132
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Opinion: The US Doesnā€™t Grow Enough Food ā€“ But We Could

Modern Farmer

Despite having nearly a billion acres of prime farmland and a population of only 330 million people, the U.S. agriculture system, often claimed to be able to feed the world, can no longer feed its own population. The number of U.S. farms producing food for consumption has been steadily declining for years, making us more reliant on other countries as we resort to importing necessary foods.

Food 121
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The Agronomists, Ep 185: Outsmarting weeds through herbicide layering with Rachel Evans and Dr. Joe Ikley

Real Agriculture

Keeping fields clean is job one, especially with less competitive crops, such as pulses or even corn. But flushing weeds and herbicide-resistant weeds create headaches for growers every spring. Is there a better option than in-crop control? Ladies and gentleman, herbicide layering has entered the chat. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith Read More Keeping fields clean is job one, especially with less competitive crops, such as pulses or even corn.

Crop 308
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The GAO on food safety: a problem that still needs solving

Food Politics

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued: Food Safety: Status of Foodborne Illness in the U.S. This one sounds much like GAO reports Ive been reading since the early 1990s. We have long reported that the fragmented nature of the federal food safety oversight system causes inconsistent oversight, ineffective coordination, and inefficient use of resources.

Food 130
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Nibbles: Genebanks in South Africa, Ethiopia, Cherokee Nation, China, India, The Netherlandsā€¦

Agricultural Biodiversity

South Africa ratifies the Plant Treaty. Hope its genebank goes from strength to strength. Ethiopia ratified a long time ago, and its genebank is going strong. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Cherokee Nation could ratify the Plant Treaty? Want to build a community genebank like the Cherokee Nation’s? Here’s a resource. China hasn’t ratified, but that hasn’t stopped it building genebanks.

Forage 133
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NASDA congratulates Secretary Rollins on confirmation and stands ready to work on shared responsibilities

NASDA

Press Release ARLINGTON, Va. “The National Association of State Departments of Agriculturecongratulates the HonorableBrooke Rollins onher confirmationto lead USDA as the 33rdU.S. agriculture secretary.Rollins policy crafting experience and passion for opportunities for agriculture will contribute tangible impactsfor American farmers and ranchers and people around the globe who enjoy U.S. food products.

Food 148
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6 secrets to growing 80-bushel soybeans

Western FarmPress

Agronomist Fred Below outlines which factors are most important in soybean production and why including how many bushels each contributes.

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Farm Income Outlook for 2025Ā 

Trimble Agriculture

Farm income is expected to take a turn in 2025, after two years of consecutive decline. Its no secret that the U.S. agricultural economy faced financial headwinds in 2024, but new USDA farm income projections indicate that net farm income will increase in 2025, largely due to the substantial rise in government payments. While encouraging, farmers should remain focused on strategic risk management rather than counting on these subsidiesespecially with so much still in the air.

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Bunge, Viterra awaiting final blessing from Chinese authorities

Real Agriculture

The head of Bunge says the company is ready to integrate Viterra into its business, while awaiting final approval from authorities in China. The combination of the two multi-national agribusinesses cleared a major hurdle last month when the Canadian government gave it a green light, with a list of conditions that included the sale of Read More The head of Bunge says the company is ready to integrate Viterra into its business, while awaiting final approval from authorities in China.

Grain 272
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How GLP-1 drugs are likely to affect the food industry

Food Politics

I am fortunate to be on the mailing list for Nicholas Feredays always-worth-reading Rabobanks RaboResearch. This one is especially worth sharing: Talking Points: Anti-obesity medicationsWill the food industry be the biggest loser? It has been oer a year since the food industry finally woke up to the threats and opportunities of the new class of Anti-Obesity Medications (AOMs) such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.

Food 133
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Nibbles: Genebanks in the US, CIAT, Egypt, Cambridge Botanic Garden, Chilean wild tomato, Kenyan veggies, PNG diet, PGRFA course

Agricultural Biodiversity

The USDA genebank is in the news. But will that save it? The CIAT genebank in on a podcast. Can’t hurt, I guess. The Egyptian genebank is in the news. And on a new website, apparently. Good to see botanic gardens in the news too. I wonder which genebank or botanic gardens this apparently re-discovered endemic Chilean wild tomato will end up in.

Marketing 115
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Coalition Letter regarding hearing on ā€œImproving the Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Processesā€

NASDA

Letter Dear Chairman Capito and Ranking Member Whitehouse: The Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) applauds your leadership in holding todays hearing on Improving the Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Processes. WAC represents a large and diverse cross-section of the nations broad business community, including the construction, transportation, real estate, recreation, mining, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, energy, wildlife conservation, and public health and safety sectors.

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Dairy replacement heifers tumble to 47-year low

Western FarmPress

Dairy Outlook: Prices for heifers hit record highs. CoBanks Corey Geiger explains why this is happening and what to expect going forward.

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Meaning of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture

Agric4profits

Entrepreneur or Enterprise or Organization describes the function of taking decisions about what to produce and combining the other factors of production to produce what has been decided on. The entrepreneur combines and organizes land, labour, and capital in such a way as to obtain maximum production of goods and services at minimum costs.

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SDF to build utility tractors for Massey Ferguson brand

Real Agriculture

Agricultural machinery giant AGCO has entered into a supply agreement to have Massey Ferguson tractors built by SDF, the Italian tractor company that makes SAME and Deutz-Fahr machines. The partnership will see SDF produce low to mid-horsepower Massey Ferguson tractors up to 85 horsepower for most global markets beginning in mid-2025. AGCO says Read More Agricultural machinery giant AGCO has entered into a supply agreement to have Massey Ferguson tractors built by SDF, the Italian tractor comp

Tractor 279
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Brazil tax reform!

Food Politics

At the end of December, I received an email from Paula Johns, director of ACT Health Promotion in Brazil. Today we are celebrating the approval of the tax reform in Brazil. This Tuesday, Dec 17th, the text was approved by the National Congress!! The tax reform is a historic achievement for Brazil and we celebrate the fact that products harmful to health, such as tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks, are included in the selective tax.