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ASPCA assists with removal of nearly 100 birds in cockfighting raid Five arrested in Bremen on various meth charges Fire destroys barn in Walkerton You are hereHome » Horse Power Horse Power PLYMOUTH — John Childs and his wife Susan would be the first to admit that the way they operate their farm is not for everyone. It takes special people to uses horses instead of tractors. The couple has operated Childs’ Farm in Plymouth since about 2006. They settled on the property not for the house, but for the pasture and barns. Once secured, all the additional land included in the purchase was a perk. They grow a variety of certified naturally grown produce, including heirloom varieties of tomatoes, beans, melons and watermelons. These varieties may not be the pretties on the vine– heirloom varieties typically have a thinner skin than varieties grown for mass consumption – but John said the taste is much better. “We grow for taste,” he said, “not looks.” The Childs sell their produce at the Farmer’s Market, make homemade soap to sell and welcome visitors to their farm for hayrides and bobsled rides. A pumpkin patch in the fall is especially popular and the couple recently hosted a group of educators who got some lesson of their own in the 1800s lifestyle. For John and Susan, these kind of lessons come easy. The couple were historical interpreters at the Buckley Farm in Lowell, Ind. for years. In fact, that was how they were first introduced to horse farming. After taking a class, both Susan and John were hooked and soon bought a pair of Belgian draft horses to use at the historic site. Now, they use a couple of teams to do the work that is needed on their farm. “For a farm this size and for what we wanted to do with it, using horses was a natural fit,” John said. “You can’t have draft horses and not work them.” Draft horses are a taller, heavier and more powerful breed of horses used through the centuries for work and as mounts for the knights. The Childs use Belgians and Percherons, but other breeds include the Clydesdales and Shires. These horses are best purchased as a team, John said, because it takes time and effort to get to know which horse is the lead and to train the horses to pull together with the right amount of speed and effort. A good lead horse, like he has in Old Joe, is crucial. While the hay rides and sled rides resonate the best with children, the Childs’ horses do more. The couple uses horses to cut hay, plow and till the fields for their crops. For John, being out in the fields with the horses is truly an amazing thing. “The world slows down,” he said. “There are so many things – the power the horses have, the way their heads will bob in unison and the smell of the earth. the combination between all these things is [what makes it worthwhile].” An added bonus is the free fertilizer his horses provide to make the crops the Childs grow meet the specifications of certified naturally grown. These include highly restricted use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and no genetically modified seeds. These standards mirror the USDA’s reguirments for organic producers, but are farmer inspected and often have additional criteria above and beyond the government regulations, John said. Paperwork required by the government is time consuming and the Childs preferred to spend that time doing what they enjoy. Choosing to plow behind a team of horses is also a statement about modern life. “People pay too much attention to where they are going instead of where they have been,” he said. “We tend to gloss over the agricultural history of the post Civil War era, but this time was an explosion in agriculture. Horses were commonly used and made it easier for a farmer to use the new equipment of the time, lessening the demand on labor. This meant he could grow enough for his family and have product to sell. As technology improved, farmers could produce more and more because the work became less labor intensive, meaning manpower was replaced first by horsepower and then by tractors and other farm machinery. Childs said farmers are environmentalists. “If you don’t care for the land, you don’t have a crop,” he said. “Even modern farmers are interested in preserving the land and being good caretakers.” And while John is perfectly content to work his land behind his team of horses, don’t refer to it as the “old ways.” “There is a place for modern horse farming,” he said. “It’s a niche; it’s not for everyone.” With his team of horses, John said he creates less of an impact on the land. For example, when horses are used for logging, no roads are needed to haul the logs out of the woods. And while it may be a little slower pace and he doesn’t have the yield of bigger farms, that’s perfectly alright with him. Popular content

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Extras Spider Lily, a Fall-blooming Stunner! by Angela Carson (Bookerc1) August 18, 2011 Add to Bookmarks If you live in the southern part of the United States, or in certain regions of Mexico or Central America, you may be lucky enough to stumble upon a very exotic looking flower, called the Spider Lily. This delicate, ruffled beauty, which bears the scientific name Hymenocallis occidentalis (alternately, Hymenocallis caroliniana), is a late bloomer. It begins its bloom cycle in August-October, depending on the zone of growth, about the time many other bulbs are winding down and storing up fuel for the year to come. It belongs to the broad scientific family Liliaceae, specifically within the amaryllis family, and bears the same long, straplike leaves, which arise from a central bulb and fan out in an opposing pattern. You may find it in some southern gardens, though it is difficult to find a commercial vendor that offers them for sale. You'll find, at the top of the PlantFiles entry, both a link to vendors that offer the bulb for sale periodically (though they may not currently have any in stock), and also a link to other Dave's Garden members who are offering this plant for trade. This flower is actually native to North America, and can be found mostly in the southeastern states. Many similar flowers in this family can also be found throughout Mexico and Central America, those these are not reflected on the map. Choosing native plants for your garden helps ensure they will thrive, as long as you are in the proper zone. If you search for the common name, Spider Lily, you will come up with a truly fantastic array of plants. There are varieties of red Lycoris squamigera (also commonly known as Surprise Lily, Magic Lily, or Naked Ladies) that are sometimes called Spider Lilies, as well as a variety of Crinum sometimes referred to as a Spider Lily, Swamp Lily, or River Lily. Both are distantly related to the Hymenocallis occidentalis and the amaryllis family, and share some common characteristics. This only emphasizes the importance of knowing the botanical name for the plant you are seeking! My husband was recently lucky enough to stumble across some growing in the wild at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, and took these pictures for me. The park is very proud of bringing this bloom back into their woodland areas, after years of park visitors illegally removing the plants to relocate into their home gardens. It still bears the label of "endangered" within the park, though with protection it is making a comeback. It is known to prefer damp, boggy or woody areas, and grows well in partial shade, though it can be prompted to thrive in sunnier locations with a good layer of mulch. It is most common in the southern states, though it can be found as far north as southern Indiana and southern Illinois. PlantFiles lists it as hardy through zone 6a. The spider lily really is an unusual looking flower. Like its distant relative, the Lycoris squamigera (Surprise Lily, or Naked Lady, which is also in the amaryllis family), it sends up its straplike foliage very early in the season, sometimes in late winter or very early spring. In very hot climates, that foliage may die back and disappear, again like the growth habits of the Surprise Lily. In cooler, moister, or well-shaded areas, the foliage may persist past bloom time. Much later, in late summer, it sends up one or more central bloom stalks, 2 to 3 feet in length, which are topped by an umbrel bearing between 3 and 9 flowers. The blooms are a stunning, brilliant white, similar to the white you'll find in the glowing daturas and brugmansias. I think part of what made them so very appealing to me was the combination of a central cup, with long, graceful filaments that radiate outward around it. The roughly 2 inch diameter lacy-edged central staminal cup, also known as a corona, is surrounded by six long filaments that extend out in a circular pattern from the cup-shaped membrane that connects them. It is this central corona that lends its name to the plant, as Hymenocallis roughly translates to hymen, meaning membrane, and callos, meaning beauty. (p. 78, Wildflowers of Mammoth Cave National Park). The filaments are known as tepal segments (actually 3 petals and 3 sepals), and from the tip of one tepal to the tip of the opposing tepal, the flower may measure up to 7 inches! These long, drooping ribbons dance in the wind, and are quite unlike any blooms I have ever seen. It almost looks more like a bizarre form of daffodil than its actual relative, the amaryllis. As an added bonus, this flower is extremely fragrant. One source I came across, Niche Gardens, places them within the grouping of night-flowering plants, though I didn't find reference to the blooms opening at night in any other sources. I'm sure the bright white blooms would be a glowing addition to a night-blooming garden, though. The bulbs will slowly multiply, forming a clump which may be divided after bloom time, as the foliage is dying back and they are preparing to go dormant for the winter. Treat them as you would a clump of Surprise Lilies: dig up the clump, and gently separate the bulbs from each other. You can do this using either a knife, or by gently twisting with your hands to break them apart along the natural seams between the bulbs. Replant the bulbs about 4 inches deep, with a sprinkling of bone meal or bulb booster fertilizer if desired, and water in well. I want to make a special point of asking that you do not remove plants or any other natural resource from any park or wildlife preserve, or anywhere you do not have permission to dig or collect specimens. Too many of our native treasures are disappearing from the wild. I would hope that the members of Dave's Garden would be responsible gardeners, and do their utmost to protect our natural resources where they occur in the wild. Instead, find a reputable source from which to order the bulbs, or arrange a trade with a southern gardener who has these beauties in their garden already. Our family adheres to the Leave No Trace philosophy, promoted by the Boy Scouts of America: "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." All pictures for this article were taken by my husband, David Carson, at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. He holds the copyright, and pictures may not be reproduced without permission. Be sure to visit the entry in PlantFiles, here, for many more pictures of this unusual flower! Map of Hymenocallis occidentalis distribution appears courtesy of eFloras.org, the Flora of North America. As such, it only includes distribution within the United States, and doesn't show its prevalance throughout Mexico and Central America. Explanation of the scientific name was taken from:Seymour, Randy. Wildflowers of Mammoth Cave National Park. University Press of Kentucky 1998 Mail this article Read articles about: Bulbs, Fall Gardening, Hymenocallis, Wildflowers Add to Bookmarks About Angela Carson About Angela Carson Angie was bitten hard by the gardening bug when she was just a child, and has been doing her best to infect as many people as possible ever since! She particularly has a passion for spring bulbs and home-grown vegetables, which she is teaching the next generation how to preserve. Her two sons have obviously inherited her interest in growing things, and her husband is starting to see the benefits of less lawn to mow, as long as he doesn't have to do the work of digging up new beds for her latest schemes! Follow Angie on Google. More articles by Angela Carson Recommended For You Summer Bulbs for Southern Gardens: Lycoris, 'Surprise Lilies' Visiting My Garden's Wild Country Cousins A Summer Blooming Surprise: Lycoris squamigera, the Magic Lily Popular Gardening Topics Annual FlowersFall GardeningGarden HumorHouseplantsSummer GardeningWinter Gardening Perennial Flowers Ornamental Trees and Shrubs Invasives and Weeds Herbs and Herbalism Interested in becoming a DavesGarden writer? APPLY ONLINE TODAY!

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Milk and Dairy Conventional Products Distribution Capabilities Select Dairy Products Gold Circle Farms Horizon Organic NestFresh California Ranch Fresh ABOUT EGGS: What’s the difference between white eggs and brown eggs? The color of the eggshell is determined by the breed of the hen. A hen with brown ears will produce a brown eggshell and a hen with white ears will produce a white eggshell. From a nutritional standpoint, there is no difference between a white egg and a brown egg. What is the difference between egg sizes? Eggs can come in many different sizes. Egg sizes include (from smallest to largest) Pee Wee, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, Jumbo, and Super Jumbo. The size of the egg is determined by the weight of the egg. Typically, smaller hens lay smaller eggs. As the hen grows older and larger in size, so do the eggs she produces. What is the difference between egg grades? Egg grades are based on the quality of the egg. The components of the egg that are analyzed are the shell, white and yolk portions. The size of the air cell inside of the egg is also looked at. Eggs are graded by using a candling process that looks at the inside of the egg without breaking into the shell. Egg grades include Grade AA, Grade A, and Grade B. Grade AA eggs are the highest. What is candling?Candling is the method used to study the growth and development of the inside of an egg. This method uses a bright light source behind an egg to show details through the shell. It was originally called “candling” because the original source of light used were candles. Although lights are used on a regular basis today, the method is still referred to as candling. What causes blood spots in eggs? Are they ok to eat? Blood spots are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel during the formation of the egg. A blood spot does not indicate a fertilized egg and they are completely safe for consumption. If desired, the spot can be removed with the tip of a clean knife prior to cooking. What is the white stringy part inside of an egg? Is this ok to eat? This portion of the egg is called the chalazae. The chalazae serve as an anchor to attach the yolk in the center of the white portion of the egg. Chalazae are not a sign of a bad or imperfect egg and they will not interfere with the cooking of eggs or egg whites. In fact, the more prominent the chalazae, the fresher the egg. Chalazae do not need be removed prior to cooking or eating eggs. They are perfectly safe for consumption. Is it possible to find a developing chick inside of my egg? No, it is nearly impossible to find a developing chick or embryo inside of a store bought egg for consumption. Typically, egg-laying hens are not exposed to roosters at anytime. This means that the eggs they lay are not fertilized and therefore, would never develop into a chicken. What causes a double-yolked egg? Double-yolked eggs are not extremely common although they can happen from time to time. Sometimes, a young hen whose egg production cycle is not completely synchronized may produce a double-yolked egg. In addition, hens old enough to produce Extra Large eggs may also produce a double-yolked egg. Genetics can also play a factor in the laying of double-yolked eggs. For more frequently asked questions and other egg related information please use the links below: www.aeb.org www.enc-online.org www.EggSafety.org www.incredibleegg.org Commitment To Sustainability | FAQs | Contact Us © Copyright 2010 Hidden Villa Ranch

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Sign up For E-news Alerts Subscribe/Manage Print Sub Short supply of field workers a major concern for fig growers by Rand Green | May 08, 2013 It is an inescapable irony that in the state of California, with unemployment at 9.2 percent (higher than all but two other states in the nation according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics), agricultural employees should be faced with a labor shortage. But growers of many commodities throughout the state, including figs, are expressing concerns that they may have difficulty this year finding enough help at harvest time to bring in their crops, and because of the labor shortage, California growers are concerned that they may have difficulty finding enough help to bring in their crops.many are having to pay more for the help they do get. Labor availability was a topic of discussion at a meeting of the California Fresh Fig Growers Association in early May, according to Karla Stockli, chief executive officer of the association and its sister organization, the California Fig Advisory Board in Fresno, CA. "It is a concern," she said. "We have gotten some of the labor that has worked in the fig industry consistently for years, and we that we expect to return. But some people are going to go where they get paid more, so if there is competition with some of the other crops that are going to pay more, it becomes a little bit of a bidding war for that labor. Since labor is going to be a little less available, labor is going to cost the growers more." That is just one of several increases in overhead costs growers are facing this year, along with higher water costs and higher costs of packing materials. George Kragie, president of Western Fresh Marketing in Madera, CA, concurred that "the declining labor force" is a concern and is leading to higher labor costs. That, along with such things as increasing carton costs and "increases in things like health and safety," are going to make 2013 "a challenging year" for fig growers, he said. Noting that labor is a major component in the cost of growing figs, equivalent to all other costs combined, Marc Marchini, sales and marketing manager for figs at J. Marchini Farms in Le Grand, CA, told The Produce News that whatever field workers growers are able to hire this year "will cost them 15 to 20 percent more than they paid last season." Some growers are taking figs out and replacing them with other high-value, high-demand crops such as tree nuts that are less labor intensive, he said. Videos PMA: stronger, faster, better together Cathy Burns, chief executive officer of PMA, is an avid cyclist. In this video, Burns describes how her experience on the ...Read More Sightings NWA's 103rd annual convention Art Perry of George Perry & Sons with Bob Morrissey, executive director of NWA. Markets and Trends Europe hit with epic vegetable shortageConsumers in northern Europe are seeing extremely limited availability of a number of vegetables, according to a Feb. 8 story in T...Read More THE PRODUCE NEWS | 800 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 100 | Oradell, NJ 07649 | Tel: (201) 986-7990 - Fax: (201) 986-7996 Copyright © 2016 The Produce News • Covering Fresh Produce Around the Globe Since 1897

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Ranchers seek alternatives to expensive winter hay There's no grass for grazing on Debbie and Duane Blythe's ranch in Kansas' parched Flint Hills. Instead, their cattle nibble on the leafy tops of turnips the couple planted after harvesting their winter wheat. There's no grass for grazing on Debbie and Duane Blythe's ranch in Kansas' parched Flint Hills. Instead, their cattle nibble on the leafy tops of turnips the couple planted after harvesting their winter wheat.The Blythes are among thousands of farmers looking for alternative ways to feed their animals this winter after one of the worst droughts in the nation's history dried up grasslands in much of the country. The drought also cut hay production, making it harder and more expensive for farmers to buy supplemental feed.Many farmers and ranchers have already sold off animals they couldn't afford to feed, and they're now having to get creative in coming up with ways to feed those they have left.Turnips are nutritious, even if they seem like an odd choice for cattle feed, Debbie Blythe said.She and her husband usually grow almost all of the hay they need to feed 500 head of cows and calves on their ranch near White City. This year, however, they got only about two-thirds of the hay they normally would. To make up the difference, they planted turnips and chopped failed crops of corn and milo from their fields and those of their neighbors to make silage, a fermented feed that their cows "love to eat like candy," she said.They also cut the stalks left over after their wheat harvest for straw that they'll mix with higher quality feeds or supplements."Our cattle have been learning to eat things that they have not had to eat before," Debbie Blythe said.This year's drought covered two-thirds of the continental U.S. at one point. While about a third is still in a severe drought, conditions overall are easing.The harsh summer, however, cut into forage production across a far bigger area than even the year before, said Steve Hessman, hay market reporter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's office in Dodge City. The 2011 drought mostly affected ranchers in Texas, Oklahoma and southern Kansas, he said, but they could buy hay from states farther north, such as Nebraska.This year, Nebraska was among the states hardest hit by drought. Three-fourths of it remains in the worst of five drought stages listed by the U.S. Drought Monitor.That means little, if any, hay is being shipped south, but it's the high prices that are really forcing farmers to seek alternatives for their cattle, Hessman said."It's surprising, but we still have hay available for sale in Kansas because it is priced above what livestock producers and dairies are willing to pay for it," he said.Dairy-quality alfalfa hay is now selling for about $260 to $285 a ton, although prices can go as high as $300 a ton. Stock cow-quality hay is now averaging about $260 a ton.Hay cost even more a year ago, but that's another reason why farmers are holding off on buying now, Hessman said. They remember last year's mild winter and don't want to be caught with a lot of extra, expensive hay on hand come spring, he said. So unless they need hay right now, many ranchers aren't buying it.Meanwhile, thieves have been stealing hay bales off farms nearly every day in Butler County in central Kansas, prompting the sheriff to increase patrols on rural roads. Authorities and some farmers have even placed deer cameras near some hay stacks to catch thieves.In Missouri, many farmers are instead collecting corn stalks that are usually left in the fields. The Columbia Missourian reported that farmers' interest in harvesting the stalks prompted agricultural equipment manufacturers to build round balers specifically designed to handle the stalks, known as corn stover.A ton of corn stover is going for $60 to $100, the Missouri Department of Agriculture reported in a market survey. The agency didn't even track corn stover sales prices until this year.Brewster-area cattle producer Mike Schultz is among those baling failed corn to use as feed. He also has some hay saved from previous years.But the dual purpose forage he planted on 80 acres in July is now only a foot and a half high. He decided not cut the plants to feed his 160 heifers because he was afraid the parched soil would blow away without a cover crop. The 56 acres of oats he planted never even came up."I have people calling me wanting to buy feed from us, and we aren't selling any because I don't want to run out," Schultz said. "We have got too many cattle here to be trying to help somebody else out right now. I am kind of concerned about my own well-being."

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UN: NKorea has better harvest but faces shortages By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press ROME (AP) — North Korea increased its production of staple foods for the second year in a row, thanks in part to better use of fertilizers and plastic sheeting to protect crops, but its citizens are still suffering from a serious lack of key proteins and fats in their diets, a U.N. report said Monday. A U.N. team visited all nine agricultural provinces of the communist state in September and October during the main cereal harvest and estimated that even with the increase — a 10 percent improvement over last year — North Korea will need to import 507,000 metric tons of cereals to meet its basic food needs in 2013. With little arable land, harsh weather and chronic shortages of fuel and equipment, North Korea has struggled for decades to feed its 24 million people. Its new leader, Kim Jong Un, has made improving the economy a priority and has pledged to improve North Koreans’ standards of living. The report was the first since he assumed power following the December death of his father, Kim Jong Il, and it appeared aimed at encouraging the fledgling changes in farming that have been introduced since then. It noted, for example, that the timely arrival of fertilizers and plastic sheeting to protect rice paddies helped minimize the impact of a dry spell in spring that was followed by torrential flooding in many provinces over the summer. And it recommended that North Korean farmers be allowed to sell or barter their surplus food at market, rather than turn their excess over to the state. Such incentives, which farmers recently reported were in the works, should encourage farmers to boost production, according to the joint report from the World Food Program and U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. But the survey also made clear that the problems that have long kept North Koreas undernourished remain: insufficient and inefficient tractors and chronic shortages of fuel, spare parts and tires necessary to run them. Agriculture is North Korea’s lifeblood, contributing a quarter of the nation’s economy and engaging a third of the population. But many northern farms rely on ox and manual labor because there simply aren’t enough tractors and equipment to go around. Foreign food aid and imports make up for the shortfalls. In its eagerly anticipated report, the U.N. said it was concerned that North Korea’s soybean production fell 30 percent and that there were limited vegetables available, meaning the chronic lack of proteins, oils, fats, vitamins and micro-nutrients in the typical North Korean diet remains a problem. “The new harvest figures are good news, but the lack of proteins and fats in the diet is alarming,” Claudia von Roehl, the World Food Program’s country director for North Korea, said in a statement. While levels of acute malnutrition have declined, about 2.8 million people in five provinces of the northeast— children, the elderly and pregnant and lactating women — remain vulnerable and need fortified biscuits and other highly nutritious food, the report said in urging international aid be targeted to these groups. It noted that a national nutritional survey is expected at the end of the year. The U.N. report proposed ways to improve the North Korea diet, saying farmers there need to produce more protein-rich foods like fish and soybeans. It suggested the government increase the price for soybeans in particular to make growing them more attractive to farmers. The U.N. said household gardens could go a long way to providing a more diverse diet for ordinary North Koreans and urged Pyongyang to boost efforts to plant two rounds of crops a year rather than just one. The report said overall production for the 2012-2013 early harvest was expected to be 5.8 million metric tons. The government has set a cereal import target of 300,000 metric tons. Given the U.N. estimate that 507,000 metric tons of imported cereals are needed, the deficit is expected to be 207,000 metric tons, the lowest in many years, the statement said. ———UN report is at http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user—upload/newsroom/docs/SRDPRK1112%5B1%5D.pdf

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Home / News / News / Alliance Grain Traders eyes food processing… Alliance Grain Traders eyes food processing options Posted Apr. 3rd, 2014 by Dan Yates The pulse exporter is finding a niche in gluten-free, high fibre food ingredients Alliance Grain Traders says its focus on packaged food and food in-gredients can help shelter it from volatile commodity markets. “The customers in both of these platforms, food ingredient and packaged foods, are highly specialized and appear to be less susceptible to the cyclical patterns in the global commodity business,” Murad Al-Katib of Alliance Grain Traders said during a conference call with investors last week.
Recent moves by the company, including the purchase of Quebec-based food packager and distributor CLIC International, signal a shift from AGT’s traditional business as a commodity exporter. The special crop processor has offices and facilities in Canada, the United States, Turkey, China, Australia and South Africa and markets branded products internationally, including pasta. AGT has said the CLIC acquisition will allow it to distribute pulses and ethnic food within North America through its listings with retailers.
The company is also in the final stages of commissioning a second production line at its food ingredient production facility in Minot, North Dakota. The facility produces pulse proteins, fibres, starches and flour for food, feed and pet food. The second line doubles the plant’s production capacity, adding a further 35,000 tonnes. A third line may also be added.
ADVERTISMENT AGT is targeting food companies looking for non-genetically modified, gluten-free ingredients with attractive protein and fibre profiles. “The way this works is a food company will take one tonne and then they’ll take five tonnes and they go into a pilot production and then they take commercial quantities,” said Al-Katib.
“We’re starting to get to a point where we have a number of users that are starting to take some commercial quantities. We’re optimistic.” The company has a multi-year agreement with Cargill to supply pulse proteins for animal feed. Al-Katib said the highest profit margins will come from pet food, aquaculture and products for human consumption. “Once we have a food company that is integrating that ingredient into a formulation, we end up in a position where we have very sticky revenue and sticky margins that are not susceptible to macro-economic fluctuations,” he said.
ADVERTISMENT “It’s really only tied to the sale of the products. We like that profile compared to what we do normally.” AGT reported improved financial results last year, despite the transportation backlog that has kept much of Western Canada’s crop at the farm-gate. Al-Katib said the rail backlog experienced in Western Canada took $1.5 to $2 million from the company’s earnings at the end of last year. AGT reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $60 million for 2013, up from $39.4 million for 2012.
Al-Katib was optimistic that government mandated remedies and a resolution to the truckers strike at the Port of Vancouver would help address the backlog. “In terms of what we’ve done to mitigate, we’re using all the gateways. We have cargo moving to Montreal. We have cargo moving out of Halifax (and) Vancouver. We shipped it into the U.S. utilizing U.S. ports of Seattle and Tacoma,” he said.
ADVERTISMENT “We’re expecting an active program using Montreal, Thunder Bay and others going forward as well. We’re using all options — containers, intermodals, rail cars — to keep the factories running to the best of our ability.” Alberta town recognizes groundbreaking inventor Will wheat board politics hinder industry… Feds must compensate for CWB assets New video: Seeder’s reach stretches 160 feet FNA reveals plans to buy control of CWB Dan Yates — Reporter Also by this author Experts use rapid cooling to preserve…Large eggs in demandBill urges tax deferred transfer of… Latest opinion pieces

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Canadian hay arrives for North Carolina farmers By Jim Brumm WILMINGTON, North Carolina (Reuters) - Canadian hay began arriving in North Carolina on Monday to help farmers feed cattle and horses in the drought-stricken state, the broker who arranged the shipment said. The shipment was the first of 36 truckloads purchased by the state's agriculture department from farms near Perth, Ontario, about 50 miles southwest of Ottawa, said Don Westbrook, the owner of Mid-Atlantic Hay Co. Announcing the purchase on December 20, the N.C. Department of Agriculture said it was the initial buy under a $3.5 million program to provide emergency supplies livestock owners can tap to prevent the forced sale of horses and cattle. The U.S. Southeast is in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record, prompting water-use restrictions and forcing the governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama to work on a water-sharing agreement. North Carolina farmers have lost roughly half of the state's normal hay crop, according to a study by Dr. Ed Estes of North Carolina State University. In estimates prepared for the state, he valued the hay loss at $91 million and the total loss of North Carolina crops due to the draught at $382 million. Using an economic impact multiplier of about 1.5 for agriculture production, Estes estimated the lost crops cost the state's economy $573 million in 2007. As a result, hay prices have skyrocketed and some owners have been forced to give up their horses to animal rescue agencies. Rising Canadian home prices make new regulations more likely CN train movement in Ontario slowly resuming after power outage Canada stresses talks on NAFTA will involve all three members Exclusive: Canada's financial watchdog warns lenders against bundled loans

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Version FrançaiseVersion Anglaise Home / News News AREVA signs agreement with the State of Niger for development of the IRHAZER pastoral project Brève April 12, 2013 On April 10, AREVA, represented by Serge Martinez, the Managing Director of COMINAK and Areva’s representative in Niger, signed a financing agreement for the pilot phase of the IRHAZER project with the Nigerien Minister for Planning and Regional Development, Amadou Boubacar Cissé. The aim of this agreement is to reinforce the country’s food security by developing irrigation systems in desert areas.The signing of the agreement, which took place in Ministry offices in Niamey in the presence of the Ministers for Agriculture, Pastoral Farming and Water, the French Ambassador to Niger and the Managing Directors of the mining companies operated by AREVA in the north of the country, marks the start of the pilot phase of the irrigated agriculture program.After a 2-year experimental phase over an area of 40 hectares, the agro-pastoral project will be deployed on a large scale in the IRHAZER valley and on the TAMESNA plain. Eventually, more than 5000 hectares in the desert area of the Agadez region will be provided with irrigation infrastructure for market gardening.According to Serge Martinez: “This project aims to radically transform agricultural production systems in Niger in order to protect rural populations from the threat of famine and guarantee them the conditions for full participation in the enrichment and distribution of their country’s resources. The signing of this agreement contributes to the objectives of the government, which is seeking to strengthen food security through the 3N initiative: Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens.”The Minister of State Amadou Boubacar Cissé declared: “The signing of this agreement, which comes in addition to other recent instances of support, is a perfect illustration of the strength and vitality of the cooperation between the AREVA group and Niger.” Print Send Share Useful links Contacts

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As Pig Virus Spreads, The Price Of Pork Continues To Rise By Abbie Fentress Swanson Michael Yezzi raises 1,000 pigs a year in Shushan, N.Y. He's worried about how to keep his farm safe from a disease that has no proven cure. Abbie Fentress Swanson for NPR At Clayton Stephens' farm, he's implemented biosecurity measures to try to keep the disease away from his hogs. Originally published on June 27, 2014 8:31 am If you're bringing home the bacon, you may have noticed a price tag inching upward. Consumers are paying nearly 13 percent more for pork at the supermarket than they were this time last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A deadly pig disease is partially to blame. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, has killed more than 7 million piglets in the past year, and the number of cases is on the rise. Many hog producers are worried about how to keep their farms immune from a disease that has no proven cure. "The disease is very serious and if it hits a farm, there is near 100 percent mortality for piglets below a certain age, which is a significant loss on any farm," says Michael Yezzi, who raises about 1,000 hogs a year at Flying Pigs Farm in Shushan, N.Y. "And while it doesn't kill the older pigs, it impacts the growth of the pigs remaining on the farm." PEDv first appeared in the U.S. in April 2013. Since then, the virus has infected more than 4,700 farms in 30 states. Scientists do not believe the disease can be transmitted to humans. But research is ongoing about the origin of the virus, whether previously infected sows can catch the disease more than once and exactly how PEDv is spread. "It's a delicate balance because you don't want to raise people's concerns, because that could have a negative impact on the market. You don't want to raise people's concerns, because export activities could be impacted," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on the USDA's daily radio report. But Vilsack said the continued spread of the disease and newly detected strains of the virus moved the USDA to take a more aggressive stance. In early June, the department announced that it would spend $26.2 million to eradicate PEDv. The USDA approved the use of a vaccine that may protect piglets from the disease, even though it's still being tested in commercial settings, and issued a federal order requiring hog producers to report new cases of PEDv or of the related disease porcine delta coronavirus. And farmers are being urged to put common-sense biosecurity measures in place, like disinfecting facilities and trucks, and ensuring workers are wearing clean clothes. "PEDv has been pretty devastating to the industry, but we have very strict biosecurity standards," said Bob Ruth, president of Country View Family Farms, which raises 1 million hogs a year in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. "One of the things we're looking to do is isolate the trucks we use to haul the animals." On the Clinton Corners, N.Y., farm where he raises show piglets, Clayton Stephens requires visitors to wear disposable plastic boots over shoes and doesn't permit visitors to enter his barn if they have recently been on other hog farms. "It's not a matter of if [hog producers] are going to get it; it's when they're going to get it," says Stephens. "I think everybody's going to end up having it. They're trying to keep it out as long as they can." More than a dozen state fairs across the country are also taking measures to slow the spread of the disease. "We did make the recommendation to the state fair that they not have nursing piglets with sows this year," says New York State Veterinarian Dave Smith. "We do know that PEDv is devastating to piglets under 10 days of age and we really do not want to see a bunch of sick and dying piglets at the fair. It's an exhibit that no one needs to see." Other states, including Virginia, South Dakota and Ohio, have canceled certain hog shows or are requiring that pigs be taken to the slaughterhouse right after the fair. But it remains to be seen whether tightening up biosecurity will keep piglets from dying from PEDv. "They don't know where this disease is coming from," says Yezzi. "Even closed operations that aren't getting pigs in from the outside have gotten this, even with the strictest biosecurity situations. So everybody's at risk." Meanwhile, economists predict that farmers will reduce the size of their herds this year to minimize costs should PEDv infect their operations. Consumers can also expect pork prices, which now average almost $4 a pound, to continue to rise during the second half of 2014. Abbie Fentress Swanson is a freelance reporter based in New York.Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+Email © 2017 Rhode Island Public Radio

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In 2002, the Rutherford Dust Society Board of Directors voted unanimously to empower a subcommittee, the Rutherford Dust (Napa River) Restoration Team (RDRT or “our dirt”), to initiate a plan to manage and restore the river. This committee is chaired by Rutherford Dust Society board member Davie Piña, owner of Piña Vineyard Management, LLC, and includes over 25 riverside property owners. Since that date, RDRT has successfully pioneered an innovative partnership with Napa County to realize this vision. Building upon over 5 years of detailed engineering and ecological studies, a comprehensive design for the entire 4.5 mile reach was released in October of 2008 for environmental and regulatory review. Project construction commenced in July 2009, starting at the upstream boundary of the project area at the Zinfandel Lane Bridge. By 2012, under the guidance of Landowner Liaison Gretchen Hayes, three Phases of the Project will have been implemented, completing the Project downstream to the Rutherford Cross Road. Restoration of the remaining reaches between the Rutherford and Oakville Cross Roads is scheduled to be complete by 2017. For California’s agricultural sector and beyond, this project provides a community-based leadership model for watershed restoration. It is arguably one of the most ambitious initiatives of its kind, and one of the few comprehensive reach-scale restoration projects in the region to move beyond just planning into on-the-ground implementation. It provides yet another example of how Napa Valley leads the way in striking a harmonious balance between economy and ecology to maintain the quality of its natural heritage. In this case, the Rutherford community is demonstrating how private initiatives can work to both enhance the quality of vineyard lands and help recover threatened aquatic species like native trout and salmon, species critical to the health and biodiversity of the San Francisco Bay estuary. Previous Project Director Dr. Lisa Micheli, who has worked in the field of river and watershed restoration for over 20 years, explains that “working with Rutherford growers and vintners on this project has been a terrific experience. They understand the need to give and take when working with natural systems. Over 18 acres of productive vineyard has been generously rededicated to the river corridor to enhance its ecological health. This is a gift of a living river for future generations.” “To repair the main stem of the Napa River, to restore habitat, we need owner commitment, a holistic approach and supportive government agencies,” said John Williams, president of Frog’s Leap Winery and original RDRT co-chair. “So far, we have all three.” RDRT is a constructive response to working in a highly regulated river environment. Historically, vineyard owners were often discouraged from pursuing their own restoration programs by the high cost and time required to coordinate with the multiple government agencies that oversee such programs. RDRT aggregates all these projects under one umbrella, which allows the group to coordinate investments and workplans more efficiently than any individual land owner could acting independently. By handling coordination with over eight regulatory agencies charged with overseeing activities within the RDRT river zone, we provide members a level of unprecedented confidence in our ability to maintain the river over the long term in full regulatory compliance. After 13 years and $21 million, restoration of 4.5 miles of Napa River banks in the heart of Napa Valley is complete, offering improved habitat and reducing flood damage. Federal, state and local leaders celebrated the accomplishment Thursday as they prepared to launch phase 2: 9 miles of bank restoration from Oakville to Oak Knoll costing another $21 million. Almost 100 people turned out for the by-invitation morning event along the rivers bank at the Opus One Winery in Oakville, including Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St Helena. “This river is part of what makes Napa County the iconic landscape that it is,” said Samuel Schuchat, executive officer of the California Coastal Conservancy. “I strongly believe this is the future of river restoration in California.” Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, praised how local people are putting aside their own agendas to restore the river. The restoration’s effects go beyond the county, he said. “We live in the Bay Area,” Blumenfeld said. “But the bay doesn’t exist by itself. All the rivers and streams that flow into it are the lifeblood of the bay.” To read more and follow the project go to the Napa River Restoration Project’s Facebook Page Davie Pina passes the Golden Shovel of Napa River Restoration on to Matt Ashby. The shovel first broke ground in 2009 to restore 4.5 miles of the Napa River through Rutherford and Oakville. This summer it will turn the first ground to be restored to healthy habitat along 9 more miles of of the Napa River between Oakville and Oak Knoll. 9x8cjs4 Toggle the Widgetbar

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Contributors Commentary: Why ag got excited about the Ram Truck ad If you’re involved with agriculture, you’ve probably seen the Ram Trucks ad that ran during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Feb. 3. The ad was titled “So God made a farmer” and featured legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey’s speech at the 1978 National FFA Convention along with a variety of images of rural America and the farming life and ended with the image of Ram Trucks. Social media exploded with messages from those in agriculture supporting the ad and its message. The ad ranked as the third highest most favored ad from the Super Bowl, according to the USA Today’s ad meter results. On Monday, Case IH announced its partnership with Ram Trucks to make donations to the FFA for the number of visits the ad receives online. Agriculture and the agriculture media have praised the ad generously. But the enthusiasm goes beyond the fact that the ad was a fist-pump to agriculture. Despite the fact that some have quibbled with particular images that were shown, which offered the stereotypical image of farmers that the industry and the agriculture media have been fighting against for many years, the ad was able to convey multiple positive messages about agriculture to a mainstream audience. There isn’t more mainstream than the Super Bowl and it’s built-in billions of people who watch. In Paul Harvey’s unique style, he was able to convey the character needed in a farmer to do all the jobs needed to run a farm or ranch. The farmer must be willing to work long hours, be hard and strong and yet soft enough to take care of his family and meet those commitments. In the end, he has to be a good example to his family so that hopefully the next generation wants to do what farmers have been doing for centuries: Working hard to feed the world. The ad was a great way to convey to urban America—a large percentage of those watching the Super Bowl—the depth of the commitment farmers make to working hard and producing food. The ad also stirred a sense of nostalgia for farming in America. But of all the emotions the ad raised, the most important, was pride. Farmers rarely pat themselves on the back. This has been a public image problem for the industry because if the industry doesn’t celebrate its virtues, the public at large won’t know. This ad cleverly demonstrated the character, humbleness and pride of being a farmer. This is an ad the majority of the ag industry can get behind and celebrate as a public image. What better time in agriculture’s history to reach such a large audience? The timing of it—during the Super Bowl, which is one of the biggest non-holiday food holidays in America—was brilliant. No one seemed to be expecting this ad. After the excitement of the power outage of the Superdome, Beyonce’s dramatic half time show and the 49s rallying to come from behind, the fourth quarter ad was as unexpected as it was touching. The two-minute ad captured America’s attention and its heart. For agriculture and rural America, it defined a way of life and affirmed the pride of a job that often goes unrecognized in our society. As the world continues to struggle for producing enough food to meet the growing demand of the rising middle class globally, the ad was timed perfectly to remind everyone of the need for farmers. For at least one moment in time, the ad reached a global audience and reminded the world that we need farmers, and that is something all of agriculture can be proud to support. Agricultureso god made a farmerpaul harveyram truckssuper bowlfarmer About the Author:

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PlantsTrees & ShrubsTrees Native Plants of the Amazon Native Plants of the Amazon Native Plants of the Amazon The Amazon is home to a wide array of plants that can make our lives easier and healthier, even if we do not necessarily know it. Over thousands of years, the indigenous people of the Amazon, who grew familiar with these plants, applied their properties to food, medicine and more. Subsequently, selected parts of some of these plants have supplemented a variety of industries all over the world. Para Rubber Tree The Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is among the most famous native plants of the Amazon. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 100 feet high, with leathery leaves and fragrant yellowish-white flowers. The para rubber tree is the primary source of latex, which is the main ingredient in rubber. The latex or tree sap can be tapped when the tree grows to be five or six years old. Rubber tapping can continue for about 25 years for the average tree. Latex collected from para trees in the Amazon played a major role in advancing the world's automobile industries. It was key to the successful functioning of the first gasoline internal combustion engines built by Wilhelm Maybach, Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in Germany in 1889, and by Henry Ford in the United States in 1896. Cacao Tree The cacao or cocoa tree (Theobrama cacao) is a very rich resource for both food and medicine. It is a member of the Sterculiaceae family. This small evergreen is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. The Incas discovered its numerous benefits and they used its seeds as currency. The tree's pods each yield between 20 and 40 seeds. Fermented seeds turn brown and produce the flavoring of chocolate. The polyphenols in chocolate work to curb heart disease. The seeds, leaves, fruit and bark of the cacao tree hold over 150 beneficial chemicals that are antidotes to nervous conditions, fatigue and coughs. Kapok Tree The kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) can be called the giant of the Amazon. It can grow to heights of around 230 feet, towering above the rainforest canopy, with trunks reaching about 10 feet in diameter. With such an imposing appearance, it is little wonder the Mayans considered the kapok tree as sacred. They believed that its branches ascended to heaven, and that its roots descended to the underworld. They called it the "tree of life." This tree is also impressive as a source of food and shelter for a wide range of rainforest insects, birds, monkeys and plants. Medicinally, its components are used to treat fevers, asthma, dysentery and kidney disease. Industrially, its fiber provides thermal insulation. It is used as filling for pillows, mattresses and life jackets. Rain-tree.com: Rubber Plant Information Thinkquest.org: Cacao Tree Information Killerplants.com: Rubber Tree Industrial Uses Amazon native plants, rubber tree, kapok tree About this Author Based in Northern California, Maureen Katemopoulos has been a freelance writer for over 25 years. Her articles on travel, the arts, cuisine and history have appeared in Stanislaus Magazine, Orientations, The Asia Magazine, and The Peninsula Group Magazine, among others. She holds a Baccalaureate degree in journalism from Stanford University. New in Trees Information About Magnolia Bark in the Relora Herb Fern Leafed Tree Identification Plant Identification of Woody Weeds Arkansas Leaf Identification Poplar Tree Bark Removal How to Plant a Queen Tree How to Flower Landscape Trees How to Plant & Grow Avocados Landscape Tree Removal Kinds of Flowering Trees

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Land Use and Condition, Toxic Releases, and Resource Use in the United States and Michigan By Dr. Steven Hayward, Elizabeth Fowler, and Laura Steadman, published on April 4, 2000 Every five years the U.S Department of Agriculture produces the National Resources Inventory (NRI), which surveys land uses and conditions on non-federal lands. The chief purpose of the NRI is to evaluate soil conditions and monitor soil erosion, but the process of sampling more than 800,000 locations, mostly in rural areas, yields considerable ancillary data. A summary (but not the complete data) of the most recent NRI was released in November 1999, and it generated considerable public attention because of its finding that the rate of urbanization has doubled over the last five years. Between 1988 and 1992, according to NRI figures, 7.3 million acres of land in the United States were developed, while between 1993 and 1997, 15.9 million acres, over 3 million a year, were developed. These findings have provided fresh fuel for the controversy over urban sprawl. More images … "These new figures confirm," Vice President Al Gore said when releasing the NRI, "what communities across America already know. Too much of our precious open space is being gobbled up by sprawl." There is little doubt that the unprecedented prosperity of the 1990s has led to an increase in land development, but there is good reason to question whether the NRI figures are accurate. Changes of this magnitude over such a short period of time—in any category of economic activity—are highly unusual absent some extraordinary factor. Until the detailed state-by-state data are released, it will be impossible to conduct a thorough analysis. A number of observations and anomalies, however, can be noted from the NRI summary. The NRI itself cautions that, "Statistics derived from the NRI database are estimates and not absolutes. This means that there is some amount of uncertainty in any result obtained using NRI data." That the degree of uncertainty may be very large is suggested by comparing some of the specific land development figures in the NRI with other sets of data. For example, one of the eye-popping findings of the NRI is that Pennsylvania, one of the slowest growing states in the nation, developed as much land (over 1.1 million acres) as fast-growing Texas and Georgia. One way of understanding the difficulty with these figures is to compare the NRI land-development estimates with population growth, which is done in Table 3. From this, a simple ratio of the land developed per new resident of the state can be calculated. By this comparison, Pennsylvania developed at a rate of 28 acres for every new resident of the state, which is far out of line even with other slow-growing northeastern states such as New York and Ohio. Other anomalies can be observed in some of the fast-growing sunbelt states. If the NRI figures are correct, California is developing its land quite efficiently, if efficiency is defined narrowly and simply as using the least amount of land per new resident, which is an inadequate definition. By these numbers, California is developing more "efficiently" than Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and even "smart growth" Maryland. Most startling of all, California used less land per person than Oregon, whose land-use planning policies are widely praised as the best in the nation. Nevada and Arizona present an especially striking anomaly. Sprawl critics have been claiming that Las Vegas is being developed at a rate of two acres an hour. Yet the NRI reports a land-use rate for the whole state of Nevada less than half of that total. Nevada's population growth was nearly twice the population growth of neighboring, and fast-growing, Arizona, yet Arizona is reported to have developed four times as much land. It should be kept in mind that ascertaining the amount of developed land is a secondary purpose of the NRI. Its primary purpose is to determine the amount and condition of various rural land resource categories, especially farmland. Most of its nearly 800,000 "sample points" are in farming and rural areas. It is true that in states with modest population growth such as Pennsylvania, land development is driven less by population growth than by people leaving cities and "spreading out" in the suburbs. Nearly half of Pennsylvania's counties, including the counties where Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are located, are losing population, while ex-urban counties are growing at a rate much faster than the state as a whole, so the simple ratio of land to population growth in Table 3 does not settle the question. A way of cross-checking the NRI figures, and generating an independent estimate of land development, is to compare other data on development activity that has actually taken place. Table 4 shows the number of single- and multi-family building permits for the two five-year periods (1988-1992 and 1993-1997), along with the square feet of commercial construction, including schools and other public buildings, and the miles of roads built. As can be seen from these figures, there was not a doubling of building activity between the two periods. Tables 5 and 6 convert these figures into acreage estimates for the amount of land developed. This technique finds that 5.5 million acres of land were developed from 1988-1992, while the NRI for those years estimated that 7.3 million acres had been developed. The difference between these two estimates is 1.8 million acres, about 33 percent. The NRI figure may well be correct; estimating land development from permits and other data sets would not capture parks and planned open space within housing and other kinds of development. Not all development is contiguous, meaning that open space between development would be considered "developed" in NRI statistics even if it is bare land. From 1993 to 1998, this technique yields an estimate of 6.1 million acres developed—a 600,000 acre increase from the previous five-year period, or more than 100,000 acres a year—versus the NRI estimate of 15.9 million acres developed. The variance between these estimates is a staggering 9.7 million acres—a 158 percent difference. It does not seem plausible that this large difference could be accounted for through non-contiguous development or other open space that would be counted as "developed" land. A large error in the NRI estimate for the amount of land developed is not unprecedented. In 1981, the Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service (SCS) estimated that three million acres a year were being developed, the same rate as is now reported in the NRI. But the SCS had to withdraw that estimate by 1984 when the persistent inquiries of various scholars concluded that the SCS had overestimated development by a factor of three. A repeat of this episode may be on the way when the final 1997 NRI data is released for review. Regardless of whether and how much the NRI estimates for the rate of land development are revised, the figures need to be put in a larger perspective. The NRI estimates that urbanized land now accounts for 105.4 million acres of land. This represents about 5.6 percent of the total land area in the continental United States (i.e., excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Most western states, where "sprawl" is said to be most rapidly occurring, are typically much less than 5 percent developed (Arizona and Nevada are only about 1 percent developed, while Utah is less than 2 percent developed) because of the large desert, mountain, and range areas in these states. Older, eastern states with more population typically have a higher proportion of their land classified as developed. Charts 19 and 20 show the proportion of various land uses in the United States and in Michigan, respectively. ISBN: 1-890624-20-9, SKU: S2000-02 Environmental Quality 2000: Michigan and America at the 30th Anniversary of Earth Day Executive SummaryIntroduction: Earth Day Thirty Years LaterThe Rise of Environmentalism and the "New Regulation"Environmentalism and Social RevolutionMichigan: Industry and EcologyAir Quality in the United States and MichiganWater Quality in the United States and MichiganLand Use and Condition, Toxic Releases, and Resource Use in the United States and MichiganSoil ErosionToxics Release InventoryThe Challenge of "Sustainable Development": From Concept to PracticeThe Relationship between Economic Growth and SustainabilityConclusion: Toward an Environmentalism of ConsensusAcknowledgementsAbout the AuthorsEndnotes Dr. Steven Hayward Economic Growth Is Key to Environmental Quality Elizabeth Fowler Laura Steadman

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Efforts to take GMO control blocked By FRANK HARTZELL Of The Beacon -- Local food safety activists have apparently successfully led efforts to defeat a proposed new state law that would prevent other counties from following the lead of Mendocino County on genetically-modified (GM) farm crop regulation. Mendocino County was specifically exempt from the effects of Senate Bill 1056. The bill was approved last week on a 46-19 vote in the California Assembly and sent back to the Senate, where it was approved previously. While the bill needed only a simple concurrence vote in the Senate, it was apparently blocked there. State Sen. Wes Chesbro's office told pleased local activists that the bill would not get a Senate vote this week, ending its chances this year, said Els Cooperrider, a leading proponent of the controversial Mendocino county ordinance restricting GMOs. The legislative session ended Thursday, the same day this newspaper was going to press. Local activists helped lead a statewide effort to lobby Sen. Don Perata, the Senate Pro Tem. Some reports credited Perata with killing the bill. "What I know is that a bunch of us lobbied everyone we could think of. I called Mike Thompson to call Perata as well. I figured it couldn't hurt," said Cooperrider. "We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping Chesbro was right." If signed into law by the governor as all sides had expected, the bill would have prevented individual counties or cities from banning the use of GM crops. Mendocino became the first county in the United States to restrict the growing of genetically-modified organisms. Currently, there are three additional California counties and nearly 100 towns in New England which restrict the growing of GMOs, said Britt Bailey, director of Environmental Commons in Gualala. "SB1056 strips local communities of their rights to shape their food systems [so that they] reflect the unique characteristics and features of their region," Bailey said. The effect of moratoriums like the one passed in Mendocino County is precautionary in nature, Bailey explained. "These communities have in essence pro-actively protected their local food supplies from possible genetic contamination which occurs when an engineered gene enters another species of crop or wild plant through cross-pollination," she said. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a man-made plant or animal created in a laboratory using genes from other species and patented for use in agriculture. The bill would prevent local regulation of GM seed and nursery stock. Trinity and Marin counties have also passed ordinances restricting GMOs and would also have been exempt from the bill. Twelve other counties, mostly in the San Joaquin Valley, have passed ordinances in support of GMOs. Santa Cruz Count yhas backpedaled on a plan passed earlier. Media reports said most of the opposition was coming from Mendocino and other areas that have already banned GMOs and would not be affected. Supporters of SB1056 say the goal is to create guidelines for consistent statewide legislation on genetically-engineered crops. "Agribusiness lobbyists such as Dow and Monsanto claim that this statewide preemption is necessary to create uniformity and consistent statewide regulation," Bailey said. "However, the bill puts the state in the nonsensical position of preempting local authority and declaring that it occupies the entire field' on an issue ? genetically modified crops ? for which there is not one law or regulation on the books. SB1056 preempts to a statutory void," Bailey said. After Mendocino County banned GMOs, conservative think tanks in the U.S. such as the Hoover Institution launched a large-scale effort to debunk the notion that there is any threat from so-called "Frankenfoods." At the same time, Asian and European nations have been perplexed by the American enthusiasm for freshly created life forms and have restricted imports from the United States. "The agricultural industry has been pushing state bills like this across the country to preempt local municipalities from having local control over food safety," said Toni Rizzo of Fort Bragg, a supporter of the Mendocino County GMO ban. "It's another way that corporate money is used to stifle the democratic process and take away our right to control the quality of the food and environment in our communities." The Assembly passage of SB1056 was a bi-partisan effort, which included Central Valley Democrats, who normally support environmental efforts, the publication Capitol Weekly News reported. Most of the Central Valley now grows genetically-modified foods, such as tomatoes bolstered by genes from cattle. Weeds have evolved resistance to nearly all pesticides and herbicides but when combined with animal genes, more toxic sprays can be used on weeds which then don't kill the farmed crops such as rice. Genetically-modified crops can have significant impacts on the environment, the economy, and public health, Bailey claims. Several recent incidents highlight risks associated with inadequate control of genetically modified crops, she said. On Aug. 5, it was reported that genetically-engineered herbicide-resistant bentgras swere discovered in the wild in Oregon. Norman Ellstrand, University of California plant geneticist, said, "Such resistance could force land managers and government agencies ... to switch to nastier herbicides to control grasses and weeds." In another blow for GMOs, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns announced that U.S. supplies of long-grain rice have been contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption, leading Japan, South Korea, and Europe to reject all U.S. long-grain rice, according to the Washington Post. Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, whose district includes the coast, said she was disappointed that her colleagues approved SB1056 by Central Valley lawmaker Dean Florez. Berg spoke against the bill, which passed despite opposition from environmental and local government interests. "When counties in my district voted to restrict the use of GMO crops, I supported those efforts. I still support those efforts. I believe that people have a right to say what goes on in their counties, in their fields and near their homes. I oppose this bill, and I will oppose any bill that would strip from counties the right to restrict this technology," Berg said on the Assembly floor. Florez said that some of the demands made by environmentalists in negotiations have been unreasonable — most notably the suggestion that all fields with GM crops be covered in heavy plastic to prevent pollen from escaping. Much of Florez' district is already planted in genetically engineered crops, Capitol Weekly News reported. "This bill may come back next year in a new suit. I'm sure it will," said Cooperrider. For more information, see http://environmentalcommons.org/food-democracy-CA.html.

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Pineapple Del Monte testing genetically modified pineapple By Coral Beach Genetically modified pineapple grown in Costa Rica by Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. Inc. gained the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year. However, according to a statement from Del Monte officials April 26, the new pineapple variety — dubbed Rosé — is “in a testing phase.” “The USDA’s decision does not mean that Rosé is in commercial distribution; it is in a testing phase. Del Monte intends to continue to test Rosé and will communicate more details when appropriate,” according to the statement from Dennis Christou, vice president of marketing in North America for the Coral Gables, Fla., produce company. “Del Monte Fresh Produce has a very active research and development program designed to explore new varieties and new agricultural techniques. The results of these research projects may or may not lead to commercialization depending on many factors including regulatory approvals by the relevant governmental authorities where and when applicable.” Del Monte officials wrote to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in July 2012 seeking approval for its patent-pending Rosé pineapple. Michael Gregoire, deputy administrator of biotechnology regulatory services at APHIS responded with the agency’s OK on Jan. 25, but the response was not made public until late April. Before the new pineapple can be imported to the U.S., Del Monte must complete a food safety consultation with the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s website listing approved consultations did not show any pineapple reqults as of April 26. “APHIS confirms that the harvested Del Monte Rosé pineapple as described in your documentation does not require an importation or interstate movement permit under (federal code),” according to Gregoire’s letter. “… fruit from the Del Monte Rosé pineapple cultivar does not have the ability to propagate and persist in the environment once they have been harvested.” In its request to APHIS, Del Monte described the new pineapple variety as having rose-colored flesh. “To achieve its novel fruit color, Del Monte Fresh has altered expression of genes involved in lycopene biosynthesis to increase levels in edible tissues of pineapple fruit,” according to Del Monte’s request. “The genes of interest are derived from edible plant species, pineapple and tangerine.” Various Costa Rican media report the Coral Gables, Fla.-based fresh produce company has been working with Costa Rican growers to develop the new pineapple variety since 2005. When the Costa Rican government OK’d expanded plantings in 2011, some environmental groups in the country expressed concerns. According to its letter to APHIS, 65% of the pineapple Del Monte imports to the U.S. is sold to the fresh sector. Another 15% goes to fresh cut, with the remainder going to juice and frozen products. The new genetically modified variety would be sold in the same channels and at about the same percentages as Del Monte Gold pineapple, according to the letter. The 2012 financial report from Del Monte showed about a third of the company’s fresh produce sales are from commodities grown in Costa Rica. del montegenetically modified pineapplecosta rican growers About the Author: Coral Beach Coral Beach joined The Packer newsroom in February 2011, bringing more than 30 years of experience at daily newspapers, trade magazines and online publications. Beach earned a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Kansas School of Journalism in 1982. e-mail: cbeach@thepacker.com phone: 913-438-0781 Follow @@Coral_TheBeach Log in to comment Farm Journal Media

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House Farm Bill Would Cut $6 Billion From Conservation Programs Over 10 Years House Agriculture Committee Draft Farm Bill Key Development: The House Agriculture Committee releases its draft 2012 farm bill, which would cut $6 billion over 10 years from conservation programs and save $500 million by eliminating mandatory energy spending and reducing discretionary energy spending. What's Next: The committee plans to hold a markup July 11. By Amena H. Saiyid Agriculture conservation programs face spending cuts of at least $6 billion over the next 10 years under a draft version of the 2012 farm bill that the House Agriculture Committee released July 5. Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) justified the cuts to the conservation programs in the draft Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM). They said the draft bill takes a comprehensive look, as opposed to a “piecemeal approach,” to conservation programs. The draft bill also would eliminate mandatory funding for energy programs and would reauthorize programs at reduced discretionary funding levels that will save taxpayers more than $500 million, according to a summary released by the committee. The draft bill would streamline current energy programs and repeal five that have outlived their usefulness, the summary said. They are the Repowering Assistance Program, the Biofuels Infrastructure Study, and the Renewable Fertilizer Study, the Rural Energy Self-sufficiency Initiative, and the Forest Biomass for Energy Programs. On the issue of conservation, Lucas and Peterson said Congress has created more than 20 farm bill conservation programs since 1985, “some of which are regional initiatives and many of them have overlapping functions or goals.” Both lawmakers described the draft legislation as “a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers billions, reduces the nation's deficit, and repeals outdated policies while reforming, streamlining, and consolidating others.” The draft bill would reauthorize agriculture and conservation programs for fiscal years 2013 through 2017. It also would reauthorize funding for renewable energy programs Markup Expected July 11. The Agriculture Committee is expected to mark up the bill July 11. The current five-year farm bill, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110-234), authorized conservation programs on farmlands and rangelands and renewable energy programs through Sept. 30, 2012. The House bill's conservation title is largely similar to the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 3240) that the Senate passed June 21 (120 DEN A-13, 6/22/12). The House bill, like S. 3240, achieves $6 billion in savings over 10 years by streamlining and consolidating existing conservation programs and capping acreage enrollment. Like S. 33240, the House bill has proposed to cap acreage enrollment under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) at 25 million acres in 2017, down from the existing 32 million acres authorized under the 2008 farm bill. Also under the House bill, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) would see its enrollment capped at 9 million acres, down from the nearly 13 million acres currently allowed. S. 3240 allowed 10.3 million acres. Two Conservation Programs. Under CRP, the Agriculture Department makes annual payments to farmers and ranchers and provides them with cost-share assistance to use certain plants to improve water quality and control soil erosion, which USDA said leads to better wildlife habitat. In the CSP, the department pays farmers and ranchers to undertake conservation activities, such as improving drainage and reducing erosion, that the states have identified as priorities on working lands. CRP is run by USDA's Farm Service Agency, while the CSP is run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Like S. 3240, the House bill would consolidate existing easement programs into one program, the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program. And like S. 3240, it would take four regional initiatives, including the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes initiatives, and turn them into a single program, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. On energy programs, the draft bill provides loan guarantees for farmers and ranchers under the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, for renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters, solar or wind projects, and energy efficiency measures. Loans under REAP also would be available for energy audits. In an effort to target funding, the authority for feasibility studies under REAP would be eliminated and a new definition for renewable energy systems would be created to clarify congressional intent by eliminating funding for ethanol blender pumps, according to the summary of the bill. The bill also would authorize loan guarantees for the Biorefinery Assistance Program, targeting the construction or retrofitting of biorefineries that will enable the commercial-scale production of advanced biofuels. The bill would eliminate grant authority for demonstration facilities, the summary said. A summary of the FARRM bill is available at http://agriculture.house.gov/pdf/FARRM_Summary.pdf. The text of the draft FARRM bill is available at http://agriculture.house.gov/pdf/legislation/FARRMDiscussionDraft.pdf. Try Daily Environment Report™ now

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AllAboutFeed - PEOPLE: Jack Algeo Inducted into Liquid Feed Hall of Fame last update:6 Aug 2012 PEOPLE: Jack Algeo Inducted into Liquid Feed Hall of Fame Former department head of Animal Science and Industry at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Jack Algeo, has been inducted into the American Feed Industry Association's Liquid Feed Hall of Fame. Born in 1921, Algeo has had a lifetime of industry experience over a distinguished career, including educator, consultant, researcher and Marine. After teaching at Washington State College and Cal Poly from 1948 to 1954, he served as the director of research and resident nutritionist for Sinton & Brown Company, Santa Maria, Calif., until 1959, when he started a private consulting and research practice. Algeo has not only consulted for national firms, but also globally, including firms in Jamaica, El Salvador, Sweden, China and Australia. He returned to Cal Poly in 1985, where he was appointed department head of Animal Sciences and Industry until retiring in 1992. In addition to his induction into the Liquid Feed Hall of Fame, Jack Algeo has been the recipient of several honors, such as the 2010 California Cattlemen’s Association’s Vleck Memorial Award. He is an Honorary Fellow and past director of the American Society of Animal Science and an Honorary Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the former national president of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants and retains memberships in several prestigious associations, including the Council for Agricultural Sciences and Technology, the California Cattle Feeders Association and is a past member of the USDA National Advisory Veterinary Medical Committee. Algeo received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science, production and nutrition, from Washington State University. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve during WWII and the Korean War. The Liquid Feed Hall of Fame was initiated in 2003 by AFIA’s Liquid Feed Committee to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry’s science and growth. AFIA liquids addition Special issue AllAboutFeed ‘Focus on Feed technology’ AllAboutFeed has published a special edition on Feed technology and processing which is now available to view... On 7 May 2015 In Home Busy first day of IPPE in Atlanta The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), consisting of the International Poultry Expo,... On 28 Jan 2015 In Home AFIA to focus on pet food trends and labelling at IPPE At the first day of the currently held IPPE in Atlanta, Georgia, AFIA organised a pet food conference to update... Growth in commercial seaweed market The seaweed market is expected to reach USD$22.13 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View... On 23 Nov 2016 In New proteins

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Do Children Harvest Your Food? Helene York The Harvest, U Roberto Romano's poignant film, forces us to think about where our food is coming from. Today, nearly 500,000 children as young as six harvest 25 percent of our crops.Zulema Lopez, one of the three farmworker children featured in The Harvest U Roberto RomanoKnowing the farmer who grows your food has become an important tenet of the modern food movement, but precious little attention is paid to the people who actually pick the crops or "process" the chickens or fillet the fish. U Roberto Romano's poignant film, The Harvest/La Cosecha (2011), being screened across the country for Farmworker Awareness Week (March 24-29), informs us that nearly 500,000 children as young as six harvest up to 25 percent of all crops in the United States.What's illegal in most countries is permitted here. Child migrant labor has been documented in the 48 contiguous states. Seasonal work originates in the southernmost states in late winter where it is warm and migrates north as the weather changes. Every few weeks as families move, children leave school and friends behind. If you've had onions (Texas), cucumbers (Ohio or Michigan), peppers (Tennessee), grapes (California), mushrooms (Pennsylvania), beets (Minnesota), or cherries (Washington), you've probably eaten food harvested by children.This isn't a slavery issue, or an immigration issue per se. What's remarkable is that most of the migrant child farmworkers are American citizens trying to help their families. This is a poverty issue and it gets to the heart of what we, as consumers, see as the "right price" to pay for food.Americans pay a fantastically low percentage of our income on food—less than in any other developed country.Edward R. Murrow's brilliant documentary about the exploitation of farm workers, Harvest of Shame, was a revelation to TV viewers in 1960. Unfortunately, in 2012, little has changed in the fields. There are no minimum-wage requirements, overtime payments, or guaranteed days off. Farm wages are stagnant. As a result, many farm workers can't afford to eat the food they pick. (In his book Tomatoland, Barry Estabrook reported that the food pantry is busy every night in Immokalee, Florida, the winter tomato-picking epicenter.)Children earn about $1,000 per year for working an average of 30 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. When you consider that the average annual pay for a migrant family of four is $12,500-$14,500, it's apparent why some families feel they have no choice but to bring their children into the fields with them. Half of these kids will not graduate from high school because they're always moving around, perpetuating the cycle of poverty that caused them to be day laborers in the first place.And despite an idyllic "back to the land" reputation, crop fields are not the safest work environments for anyone. They're stiflingly hot at times and are often sprayed with toxic pesticides that cause skin irritations, nausea, and breathing difficulties. Because of their size and stage of development, children are up to three times more vulnerable (PDF) to pesticide exposure than adults.I first met Romano at TEDxFruitvale, the 2011 conference that Bon Appetit sponsored, which examined farm-labor problems; we talked again two weeks ago. He's a tireless advocate for children's rights and argues for enactment of the Federal Children's Act for Responsible Employment (CARE) Act, which would require that children be a minimum of 14 years old to work in the fields (exempting family farms). It would also increase penalties for child labor violations and strengthen provisions for pesticide exposure.In 1938, Federal law extended protections to working children -- but it intentionally excluded agriculture. Romano points out the irony that a 13-year-old child is permitted to work in 100-degree heat in a strawberry field but not in an air-conditioned office. This exclusion may have had real validity when most food came from family farms. Today, when family farms produce less than 1.5 percent of the food we eat, it demands reconsideration.As important as legal rights are, protective legislation may not be the best approach. Migrant families will lose their children's wages and would be unable to move with available work.What's needed is more income paid to laborers for the really hard work. And that's a hard victory to achieve. It has taken the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' Campaign for Fair Food almost 20 years to achieve modest victories in persuading larger commercial purchasers to pay a penny per pound more for Florida tomatoes, and not all have agreed. (One cent equals a pay raise of 40 percent.) It's a huge start. Despite growers' complaints of foreign competition undercutting their sales, there's no evidence that one penny makes a difference to anyone -- except, of course, the harvesters.Americans pay a fantastically low percentage of our income on food -- less than in any other country in the developed world and less than we did in 1960. Our very cheap food comes with enormous environmental, social, and public health costs. It's time to end child field labor by paying adult laborers a wage that is truly decent. Helene York is the director of strategic initiatives for Bon-Appetit Management, an onsite restaurant company based in Palo Alto, California.

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Blane Klemek column: Northern cardinals add color to treetops I'm often asked by readers who read my ramblings, "Isn't it hard to come up with topics to write about every week?"My answers vary, but usually go something like, "No, not really; inspiration from the great outdoors comes easily." There are, however - truth be told - moments in all writers' lives when a profound and utterly baffling "writer's block" interrupts what normally is an easy thing to do; that is, write a good and interesting story. Moreover, as one would naturally expect, a writer's motivation comes from what he or she knows best: in my case, wildlife.But sometimes I am inspired by the enthusiasm of those people I work with, or those others who have shared their stories with me, and not necessarily an experience of yours truly while trudging through the timber or personally observing something wild and write-worthy.This past week I spent a day cooped up in a room filled with coworkers of mine. It was a constructive event, and one I was grateful to be a participant of. That said, the farthest thing from my mind at the time was a certain red bird that few people get to enjoy here in the North Country.You see, a coworker friend of mine stopped me as I walked past him during our lunch break to tell me about a male cardinal that he and his wife have been enjoying at their feeders all winter long. I was delighted to listen to his story, especially about a bird that, though abundant across much of North America, is not, as of yet anyway, very common in northern Minnesota.So, too, unbeknownst to him until perhaps now, he offered me all the inspiration I needed for this column's "bird-of-the-week," the northern cardinal.Northern cardinals are medium-sized songbirds that are closely related to scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings and rose-breasted grosbeaks, to name just a few. There are only two species of the genus Cardinalis that occur in North America, and only the northern cardinal ranges this far north in the northern hemisphere, hence it's name, "northern" cardinal.This delightful species of cardinal can be found everywhere east of the Mississippi River, including south from parts of South Dakota to Texas and into Mexico, as well as in portions of New Mexico and Arizona. Additionally, as some northern Minnesotans have come to appreciate, the range of cardinals appear to be moving northward. Cardinals are routinely observed throughout many of the Canadian provinces too.The cardinal's apparent population expansion, which is possibly connected to gradual trends toward milder winters, is also thought to be related to the popularity of year 'round bird feeding. Northern cardinals, as is the case with any bird, are better able to cope with severe winter weather when food plentiful. The abundance of high quality birdseed will frequently keep many wild birds around, even in the wintertime, including cardinals.Northern cardinals, about nine inches long, have a wingspan of about 12 inches. Aside from the bright crimson red feathers of the male and the characteristic head-crest possessed by both male and female birds, male northern cardinals also display a black face-mask. The female cardinal, like most other female passerines, is less brilliantly colored. Her plumage is a dull reddish brown and her mask is gray. Both sexes have quite large, conical-shaped bills that are red or orange as adults.One of the most enjoyable traits of the northern cardinal is the male bird's territorial song. Their songs are distinctive, loud and clear. The rich, whistle-song is also fairly easy to imitate. Often written as "woit, woit, woit, chew-chew-chew" or, another common variant, "pichew, pichew, pichew, tiu-tiu-tiu-tiu-tiu-tiu" are phrases that are imagined with little difficulty, even if the song has never been heard before. And though it's the male cardinal that typically sings from the canopy of his territory, both sexes sing.For anyone hearing a cardinal sing for the first time, the experience is not likely to be forgotten. For myself, my first cardinal song and observation occurred many years ago in the southeastern Minnesota town of Preston.But it wasn't until the spring of 2008 at the DNR Forestry office north of Bagley, that I heard my first cardinal this far north in Minnesota. It was a bright red male, singing his heart out from the top of an oak tree.Others, too, are observing cardinals. I receive periodic reports from people seeing cardinals in Bemidji and Crookston, plus I see and hear them in Park Rapids.Cardinal courtship behavior is also notable. As already mentioned, both male and female birds sing. In addition, the courting cardinals perform bonding rituals that include such interesting behaviors as beak-to-beak feeding.Male birds search for suitable food items, like seeds and fruits, and feed their mates from his beak to hers. Soon afterward mating takes place and the female builds a nest - usually in dense shrubs or low in a tree - and lays up to four eggs. Two broods, sometimes more, are regularly raised each summer, with the brood raising responsibilities shared by both parents.The northern cardinal is a bird of uncommon brilliance, exceptional vocalizations, and interesting habits. Indeed, estimated at over 100 million birds globally, it's quite possible that in the coming years we will begin seeing more and more of these bright red birds in Minnesota's Northland as we get out and enjoy the great outdoors.Blane Klemek is the Bemidji area assistant wildlife manager, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. He can be reached at bklemek@yahoo.com. Explore related topics:outdoorsOutdoorsNorthlandBirdingAdvertisement

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Next World Water Day 2012: Water and food security, two sides of the same coin Eco-Business The following statement was released by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for World Water Day 2012. There are many compelling facts and figures about the outlook for food security around the world, but here’s one of the most urgent: By 2050, when the global population peaks at an estimated 9 billion, the amount of available food will have to increase by about 60 per cent in order to sustain humankind. As the international community marks World Water Day on 22 March, it’s worth noting that our efforts to meet this challenge will depend largely upon protecting and conserving water, the ultimate agricultural resource. The most recent UN World Water Development Report sounds a cautionary note, however. Released last week during the World Water Forum in Marseille, the report cites “major uncertainties about the amount of water required to meet demand for food, energy and other human uses, and to sustain ecosystems.” It concludes that the seemingly unquenchable thirst for water resources could derail progress on development, with an especially harsh impact on the poorest and most vulnerable households. Threat of water scarcity Based on current trends, almost all of the projected population growth over the next four decades will be in the developing world, where urbanization will accelerate as well. About 70 per cent of the population will live in cities by 2050, compared to about half today. Meanwhile, average income levels will rise – which is good news, of course, but with a price. “As people get out of poverty, their diets become more water- and energy-intensive,” says IFAD Senior Technical Adviser Rudolph Cleveringa. As a result, he explains, the demand for meat and other high-calorie foods is likely to rise. About 13,000 litres of water are needed to produce 1 kg of beef, so the disproportionate consumption of meat in industrialized countries already threatens the global water supply. Considering that 40 per cent of the global population is affected by water scarcity even now, a move toward much more water-intensive food production could seriously heighten this threat. At the same time, it would make poor nations more dependent upon food imports, impeding their economic and agricultural sustainability. ‘A holistic approach’ Should this scenario unfold, Cleveringa warns that it will severely deplete freshwater reserves that are under strain. One solution, he says, is to promote urban and rural diets with smaller water “footprints.” Such environmentally sustainable diets have the added advantage of being generally healthier options, reducing the risks of undernourishment and obesity alike. Yet changes in dietary preferences will require a major attitude shift in both developing and industrialized countries. And even if this shift occurs, it will not be sufficient to head off water scarcity and food insecurity. What’s needed beyond sustainable diets, says Cleveringa, is “a holistic approach” to the management of land and water resources, including: Addressing the gender imbalance in agriculture to ensure that rural women have secure access to water and land, and are actively involved in water management Preventing the loss of “virtual water” represented by the 30 per cent of food that is spoiled after harvest due to poor rural infrastructure and consumer waste Enabling smallholder farmers to build resilience and adapt to climate variability (as IFAD’s new Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme, or ASAP, seeks to do) through the cultivation of more flood-tolerant and drought-resistant crops, among other measures Improving water storage and supporting groundwater-retention strategies like spate irrigation, a traditional technology for collecting floodwater that would otherwise run off the land. Water projects worldwide “It’s time for solutions,” says Cleveringa, and indeed IFAD and its partners are collaborating on projects that take on all of the above issues. In India, Guatemala and Madagascar, for example, IFAD finances micro-irrigation projects that help smallholder farmers – particularly women – save water and fertilizer by providing a slow but regular flow of water to their fields. Other projects support spate irrigation in the Gash Barka region of Eritrea, soil and water conservation in the Yarmouk valley in Jordan, agro-wells in the Matale district of Sri Lanka, and community water management through the Dom Helder Camera project in north-eastern Brazil. And the list goes on. Still, the challenge is daunting. In a real sense, the question of mid-century food security remains unanswered, but one point is clear: Food and water are two sides of the same coin. Their futures, and ours, are inextricably bound together.

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Greg Brophy While the 69th General Assembly doesn't officially start business until next week, the two legislators from Northeastern Colorado are already hard at work on bills on water, agriculture and other issues affecting rural Colorado. Next week's session marks the start of the last two years in office for Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) and Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling), who are both term-limited in 2014. The November election changed little for Brophy in the state Senate; he has served in a Democratic-controlled Senate for the past six years. The 2012 election changed control of the House from the one-vote majority held by Republicans to a five-seat Democratic majority. That meant Sonnenberg is no longer chair of the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee. Sonnenberg said this week his agenda for the upcoming session is the same as it has been for the past six years: protecting agriculture, water and rural Colorado. "It's my job to educate our urban cousins on the impacts of rural Colorado," he said. That includes both the impact of rural Colorado on urban areas, and how the laws they want to pass will impact rural Colorado. Brophy has already announced that he will try again to eliminate the semi-annual change between mountain standard and daylight saving time. His last effort, in 2011, made it through its first committee, in part because he scheduled the hearing for the day after the state made the switch, and legislators were yawning.Advertisement This year, his bill would send that decision, to keep the state on daylight saving time year-round, to the voters. The House and Senate are likely to take up several controversial measures that failed in the 2011-12 sessions, including an effort to allow illegal immigrants lowered rates for college tuition. Both Sonnenberg and Brophy have been "no" votes on these measures in the past. Sonnenberg said this week he will remain opposed, as he believes the state should not create special tuition rates for special groups. Jerry Sonnenberg However, Brophy signaled this week that he may be reconsidering his position. "I struggle with this a lot," he said, adding that everyone in his district knows kids that this type of legislation could impact. Brophy said he has concerns about whether making this change would add to college costs for those "who have played by the rules all of their lives," and if it would encourage people to come to the United States illegally. But he also acknowledged that a reduced-tuition bill for illegal immigrants would likely pass with or without his support. "The question is where I will be on it . . . I've never voted for it in the past, but the fact that I'm seriously thinking about it is a big deal to me, internally," he said. So what's changed? Brophy said that it comes from the kids that he knows in the district, and in particular, the kids he coaches on his son's baseball team. "I know [that] for some of them it would apply. I'm having a hard time with how these kids are any different" from his own. The mass shooting at an Aurora theater during the summer is on the minds of many Coloradans. Governor John Hickenlooper has reportedly said he would consider new gun control measures in the coming session. Brophy and Sonnenberg both said this week they will firmly oppose any changes to Colorado's existing gun laws. "Would one or two more laws, added to the tens of thousands of laws on guns already on the books, change anything?" Sonnenberg said. "You can't stop evil people with new laws." "We understand that evil exists in the world, but only law-abiding citizens would be affected by new laws," Brophy said. "There's no way to ensure firearms would be taken away from the bad guys." Water, as always, will continue to be a big issue for the two Northeastern Colorado legislators. Both served on an interim committee during the summer and fall on water resources. The group decided to authorize six bills and two resolutions on issues such as well permit requirements, water conservation, protecting water rights and irrigation. Sonnenberg, as chair of the committee, is the House sponsor of all eight measures; Brophy is the chief Senate sponsor on several bills, including changes to state rules on stormwater runoff. Brophy also is working on a situation on the Republican River, where some wells pumped too much water in the past year. There were harder days in 2012 than in the past, with more evaporation, he explained, and people used more water than usual, and some more than permitted. The question is how deal with those who used too much. Brophy said he is holding a bill title, meaning he could draft a bill for the session on the matter. But he first wants to work with the state water engineer to see if a solution can be found without legislation. Among his other bills is one to establish how autonomous vehicles operate in Colorado. Brophy noted that area farmers have been operating tractors that drive themselves straight across a field for some time. "How great that is!" Brophy exclaimed. He's also aware of at least one autonomous vehicle that has 300,000 miles on it with no accidents. Brophy's bill would establish parameters for how those vehicles operate. One of the battles likely to pit the governor against some in his Democratic majority is hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, in the production of oil and natural gas. Hickenlooper has been firmly in favor of it, pitting him against environmentalists. Sonnenberg said he will be a strong opponent of anti-fracking measures this session, and allied with the governor, to make sure the industry remains in Colorado and is not hampered by what he says is unnecessary legislation. On the agriculture side, Sonnenberg said he will also work with the governor to oppose legislation coming from animal rights groups on "tail-docking" of dairy cows. The practice involves amputation of up to two-thirds of a cow's tail, and is designed to reduce disease and improve hygiene and the quality of a cow's milk. Sonnenberg has already spoken to Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar, who he said is opposed to potential legislation to ban the practice. Finally, Sonnenberg intends to run a bill that would set standards for the confiscation of animals. He cited a case in Clear Creek County, where county animal control officers last year confiscated more than 100 reindeer, dogs and other animals from a landowner who played Santa Claus in the area. According to Westword, the animals were seized because officials thought the owner had too many animals, some appeared too thin or ill, and they lacked access to water and shelter 24/7. Some of the older and infirmed animals, including several reindeer, were euthanized by animal control. Sonnenberg's concern is that this type of action could apply to any farm or ranch. "It's no different" than what happens to farmers or ranchers, Sonnenberg explained: water freezes or cows are out in the fields during inclement weather. Sonnenberg's bill would require consultation with the state veterinarian before such action can be taken in the future. The General Assembly convenes on Wednesday, Jan. 9.Print Email Font ResizeReturn to Top RELATED

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Poland aims to export their apples to Canada Switzerland supports Europe and with further sanctions against Russia With current reports about Russian soldiers operating in Ukraine and various organisations showing satellite images of Russian military activity in Eastern Ukraine, the EU and the U.S. are likely to expand the sanctions against Russia, which already responded with a warning that a response from the West will result in additional penalties. Remarkably, Switzerland decided to introduce more sanctions against Russia, considering that Swiss banks have a lot of Russian capital. Russia continues to search for new suppliers, focusing, among others, on the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Additionally, the treaty between the EU and Ukraine may have put an end to the non-GMO policy of the Ukrainians. Compensations in the Netherlands For the Dutch growers, the National Entrepreneurial Service released a list of compensations. Apple growers will receive up to 13.22 Euro per 100 kilograms. For pear growers it will be 12.59 Euro. Tomato and cauliflower growers will receive a maximum of 7.25 and 10.52 Euro per 100 kilos. For the other products that are on the intervention list, compensations are still unknown. Secretary of State Dijksma argued in Brussels for an expansion of the list, but no decision has yet been made.Belgian growers meet Commissioner The Belgian auctioneer Haspengouw was received by European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht. He spoke with Belgian growers about the compensations and the decisions taken. De Gucht does not expect a quick resolution for the conflict, but he told growers that in addition to the 125 million Euro that the EC has reserved for support, the agricultural budget crisis, which has over 400 million Euro, is still untouched. The Commissioner could not make big promises or appease all the concerns from the growers. The EC has its eyes set on the American market and is working on a free trade agreement with Canada; the EC also urges the United States to open its borders to European products, as Europe has been more affected by the boycott.Poland negotiating solo with Canada The Polish ambassador in Canada chose not to wait for a trade agreement between the EU and Canada. He negotiated earlier this week with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and was promised that Canada would speed up the certification process for Polish apples, which will allow their export. Additionally, Canadians are willing to sign agreements for other agricultural products. The negotiations between Poland and Canada started back in 2012.EU compensation not enough? According to the European lobby group Copa-Cogeca, European growers need more support from the EU to enter new markets. According to Copa-Cogeca, the EU's compensation budget is not sufficient, because price drops of up to 50% have been reported. European top fruit growers are facing an extra difficult season. Interpoma describes the three challenges: firstly, an abundant apple harvest in most of Europe; secondly, large volumes of top fruit stored from the previous season; and thirdly, the Russian ban.Switzerland stands behind EuropeThe country had already introduced a ban on the trade of weapons and products used for military and civilian purposes: so-called "dual use products". The new sanctions are of a financial and technical nature. Russian banks need an authorisation to be able to access funds in Switzerland; however, the measures do not apply to the banks' customers, provided that they do not do business on behalf of the bank. Furthermore, Swiss financial intermediaries will not be allowed to set up new business deals with 11 Russians and Ukrainians, whose names have not been announced. The country has also stopped the export of equipment for oil and gas drilling in Russia. The Swiss government confirmed again not to be willing to collaborate on bypassing the Russian boycott on fruit and vegetables.... but has close ties with Russia The Alpine region is between two storms. On the one hand, it wants to maintain its neutrality, but on the other, EU countries have criticised Switzerland's position. But there is more. Switzerland and Russia are economically closely linked. The Russians have invested an estimated $ 15 billion in Swiss banks, and 75% of Russia's oil and 66% of the Russian grain is traded in Geneva; an international marketplace for commodities. Russia was disappointed about the steps taken by the Swiss and the Kremlin has questioned the region's neutrality, but is not planning to impose any sanctions against the export of Swiss cheese, watches or chocolate. The Russians do however expect that businesses will respond and perhaps withdraw their capital from the country.Russia looks to Asia In Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, the Russian Minister of Economic Affairs attended a meeting of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Russia wants to increase food imports from these Asian countries to replace boycotted products. Last year, Russia's trade with ten Member States of ASEAN was worth $ 17.5 billion. "We are familiar with the high quality standards of your products and we welcome them in Russia," said the minister at the meeting. Russia pursues a heavy increase in its investments in these Asian countries, which currently reach $ 1.6 billion. The country has plans to invest $ 20 billion in a project in Vietnam and 7 billion in a project in Indonesia. The border between Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia has an 'emergency line' open for perishable products from Kyrgyzstan, such as strawberries and raspberries. The Russians are working on a direct route for agricultural products from Kazakhstan into the Russian market.Russians await Greek fruit Russian Food and Drugs Authority says that Greece can resume its exports to Russia once the sanctions are lifted. The authority wants to stay in contact with the Greeks so that when the borders are open, the Greeks can export without delay. Although Turkey is mentioned as a replacement for Greece, the Authority expects that the Greeks could resume their former position again after the boycott. For other countries it is different: "For some countries it will be almost impossible to regain their old position in the Russian market." But as yet the Russian border remains closed for the Greeks, and Greek traders forecast large volumes of peaches this season in the domestic market. Traders expect "the best and most favourable prices for producers." High expectations Tartars The Tatars, in the Russian republic of Tartarstan, expect demand for its products from the retail to increase as a result of the penalties. The Tartars see an opportunity to market and promote their products across Russia. Reportedly, negotiations are underway with supermarket chains Auchan and Magnit. Investment in processed fruit and vegetables and abuses in greenhouses In the Belgorod region, the Morozko Company is considering investing in the creation of a line of processed and frozen vegetables. The complex would be able to process up to 15,000 tonnes of broccoli, green beans, onions and potatoes per year. Initially local growers were considered for their supply, but their production is too small; therefore, the company has set up its own ​​80 hectares, which next year plans to increase to 1,000 hectares. The Russian Food and Drugs Authority discovered cases of serious regulation breaches in a greenhouse complex in Sverdlovsk. The inspection discovered, among other things, that the fertiliser was stored in the open air, next to cucumbers and tomatoes, and in another greenhouse chemicals were present two metres from the water and uncertified seeds were used.Ukraine allowing GM crops? The international research organisation Oakland Institute examined the deal with Ukraine aligning with the EU and other international institutions. Besides the geopolitical aspects that play in the conflict, the researchers point to a line from the agreement with the EU that may affect the Ukrainian agricultural sector; both parties will work together to increase the use of biotechnology. According to the researchers, this means that the use of genetically modified crops (GM) will be allowed, while the use of these crops was previously banned in Ukraine. This measure would give Western companies an advantage. Furthermore, the Ukrainian government has approved heavy austerity measures and reforms in exchange for funds from the IMF and the World Bank which will lead to structural changes in the economy. This is the direct result of the new agreement that the Government had to close after having to discard the deal that the previous government had made with Russia. Author: Rudolf Mulderij Copyright: www.freshplaza.com email this article print Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here Other news in this sector: Turkish and Iranian exports on the rise Russia saves 4 billion dollars thanks to the boycott Turkish exports are on the rise again since the boycott was lifted. The regions of Antalya, Burdur and Isparta are having a flying start to the year with 130 million dollars of exports in January. This is 30% more than in the same month a year ago. Russia is still boycotting a number of crops, including..... << back | www.freshplaza.com

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Consider climate change and the forecast for commodities Advisers can't afford to ignore the potential impact of climate changes on their clients' portfolios. Dec 1, 2013 @ 12:01 am The topic of climate change has generated intense interest and debate in circles from academia to Hollywood to Wall Street. Most recently, a leaked draft of the latest report by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of adverse effects of rising temperatures on the world's food supply. These and other implications of climate change that affect the global economy are creating both challenges and opportunities for investors, particularly in the long term. As a result, financial advisers can't afford to ignore the effects of climate change on commodities markets and the impact of those changes on their clients' portfolios. WEATHER PATTERNS For the equity portion of client portfolios, weather patterns are, for the most part, irrelevant in making investment decisions. But for those with allocations to alternatives — commodities futures in particular — the influence of meteorological events on investment performance can't be ignored. Consider the impact of climate change as a “ripple effect.” Rising global temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as tropical storms and droughts are often cited as results of climate change that have the potential to affect the economy. That, in turn, influences the markets, which affect investment portfolios, particularly commodity prices. For example, over the past two summers, droughts across the Midwest drastically lowered corn and soybean output. In addition to affecting the market for those specific commodities, the shortage led to increases in the cost of cattle feed and parching of grasslands, which forced livestock producers to shrink herds. The New York Times this year reported that the nation's cattle herd had shrunk by 2% at the end of 2012, from a year earlier, to less than 90 million head, the lowest level since 1952. This reduced supply resulted in very high prices for cattle. REDUCING PRODUCTION Conversely, an unusually active monsoon season in India, the world's second-biggest sugar producer, after Brazil, has led to a 10 million ton bumper crop of sugar, driving down its price in the international commodities markets. Some scientists have also linked climate change to steadily rising temperatures, especially in tropical regions. The report issued by the climate change panel indicates that global warming could reduce agricultural production by as much as 2% each decade for the rest of this century, while demand is expected to rise as much as 14% every 10 years as the world's population continues to grow and people in developing countries acquire the money to consume richer diets. As temperatures rise, growing conditions for crops in many areas of production will decline, while conditions in climates that are too cold for those crops will improve. This shift in temperatures potentially will force farmers and other commodity producers to move to new regions with suitable growing climates. Those in the Northern Hemisphere will be pushed north by the rising temperatures, while those in the Southern Hemisphere will have to move south. The costs of relocating crop production operations are high, and in regions such as South America, shifting production to a new climate may mean crossing the border into a new country. A move of this nature creates significant challenges related to currency values, exchange controls and competition for desirable cropland, which raise the price tag even higher. In some sectors, producers are already beginning to see the effects of climate change and are anticipating the ways in which they will need to adapt in order to maintain supply. Rising temperatures and increasingly irregular rainfall patterns pose significant challenges to growers in the world's main coffee-producing countries, particularly Brazil and Vietnam, according to the Initiative for Coffee and Climate, a development partnership dedicated to helping coffee farmers respond to climate change. The organization is exploring potential adaptations, including implementing new farming techniques such as shade management, planting new varieties of coffee beans that are better suited to future conditions, and securing weather insurance to offset the potential losses from unpredictable events such as storms and droughts. How successful such measures will be in addressing the effects of climate change, and how much they will affect supply and influence the commodities markets, are still uncertain, but they warrant monitoring by advisers and investors who have these assets in their portfolios. Changes in long-term agricultural production patterns have a number of financial implications of which advisers need to be aware in order to maintain portfolio performance and provide counsel to clients who invest in commodities. Advisers should recognize a gradual increase in the price structure of raw agricultural commodities as a likely long-term effect of rising global temperatures. If the U.N.'s predictions about the increasing gap between the supply and demand for food products such as corn, wheat and beef are accurate, the prices of these commodities will rise accordingly in the coming years. Advisers should also be aware of the degree to which extreme weather exacerbates the imbalance between supply and demand in agricultural commodities. One-off weather events such as one large storm or persistent drought can change the market overnight because large surpluses generally don't exist for most agricultural products. For instance, in 2006 and 2007, a severe drought in Australia dramatically affected the nation's wheat production. Supplies of the crop were already tight relative to the level of demand, and the deficit created by the drought resulted in a major shortage and a sharp rise in global wheat prices. And as the frequency of severe weather is increasing — of the 10 most expensive hurricanes in U.S. history, eight happened within the past decade — the unpredictable nature of weather patterns in a changing climate creates significant challenges for investors who rely on a discretionary analysis of supply and demand. This creates uncertainty in the markets as traditional financial models are challenged by sweeping changes in climate and the resulting impact on production. When it comes to addressing the implications of climate change with clients, advisers should monitor the trends outlined above and look for ways to capitalize on long-term market effects that result from these shifts, especially where agriculture commodities are concerned. In particular, advisers should evaluate the potential to employ commodities as an alternative investment to hedge against risk in traditional portfolios. One of the main ways to gain exposure to commodities and agricultural assets is through managed futures. Introducing managed futures into a portfolio reduces risk due to the negative correlation in performance among asset groups. Other opportunities to take advantage of the effects of climate change may include long-only commodities funds, though it may be challenging to identify funds of this nature that aren't heavily weighted toward energy assets. Additionally, investment vehicles in cropland, particularly in regions where rising temperatures result in improved growing capabilities for crops such as corn, wheat, cotton and soybeans, may represent opportunities for advisers to make positive use of the effects of climate change in their clients' portfolios. Likewise, these may be difficult to identify. As evidenced by the continuing dialogue in the scientific community about the repercussions of climate change, researchers and experts are still trying to understand how far-reaching its effects will be, and how governments, businesses and individuals will need to adapt to the new realities of our environments. As advisers, the ability and responsibility to keep abreast of these developments and understand the implications for investors' portfolios is critical to maintaining successful client relationships and a thriving practice in all kinds of weather. Robert T. Keck is president and chief investment officer of 6800 Capital. 0 Regulatory scrutiny may put firms without adviser text messaging policies at risk Demographic shift of retirees to affect consumer spending Vanguard cuts expense ratios — again What Fed rate hikes mean for retirees Trump rally on verge of setting a record T3's Joel Bruckenstein: How to build a more efficient practice Featured VideoPreparing clients for life’s unexpected momentsSponsored by Prudential 2017 Retirement Income Summit InvestmentNews is pleased to celebrate 11 years of the Retirement Income Summit - the industry's premier retirement planning conference.Much has changed - and much remains to be learned. Join us April 24-25 to discuss how the future is ... Learn more

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Science & Technology A Flower in Winter: The Story of the Poinsettia December 17, 2012 Poinsettias are named for the first American ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinset, and do not come only in red Read, listen and learn English with this story. Double-click on any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary. From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report in Special English. Poinsettias are the best-selling potted flowering plant in the United States. Red poinsettias are a traditional part of Christmas celebrations, which is why almost all of them are sold at wintertime. The Department of Agriculture estimates that Americans bought $250 million worth of poinsettias last year. The poinsettia is native to Central America and needs warmth to grow. Bright red poinsettias are the best known. But there are about one hundred different kinds, in colors including white, pink, yellow and purple. The flowers of the poinsettia are very small. Around the flowers are colorful leaves called bracts. These bracts are what give the plants their beauty. The poinsettia is named for Joel Roberts Poinsett from South Carolina. In 1825 President John Quincy Adams appointed him as the United States' first minister to Mexico. Poinsett had an interest in plants. He saw the colorful plants growing in the wild. Wild poinsettias can grow up to four meters tall. He liked them so much that he sent some cuttings back to the United States. The botanical name for the plant is Euphorbia pulcherrima. In Latin, that means "most beautiful euphorbia." There are hundreds of related plants, including rubber trees, trees that produce castor and tung oil, and the cassava, a root crop. People who are allergic to the latex produced by rubber trees can develop a mild skin rash from poinsettia plants. Babies and pets that chew on poinsettias can get sick. But experts say the plant is not as poisonous as some people think. In the 1920s, Albert Ecke and his son Paul became interested in the poinsettia’s ability to flower in winter. Paul Ecke thought it would be a good plant to display at Christmastime. They started a farm near Encinitas, California. At first, Paul Ecke, and later his son, grew large plants in fields. Then they sent them to growers by train. Growers would divide the large plants into cuttings, to raise smaller ones in greenhouses until the holidays. In the 1960s came poinsettias that grew best in containers. The Eckes started to sell cuttings from these new plants. Today Ecke Ranch remains a major supplier in the United States and around the world. In August, Paul Ecke's grandson announced that the company was joining the Dutch-based Agribio Group. A Flower in Winter: The Story of the Poinsettia

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Newbury2014 The Berkshire Pig Breeders Club is responsible for holding the Best of Breed competition for Berkshire pigs at annual Agricultural shows up and down the country. A Champion PigThe Grand Final, so to speak, has for many years been held at the Newbury Agricultural Show in Berkshire, in September, and for the last ten it has been sponsored by our Society. One result of this is that our Chairman (or, on a couple of occasions such as this year, a past Chairman) has had the privilege of placing the sash over the winner’s back, always assuming that he or she (the pig, not the Chairman) stays still long enough. The 2014 competition, held on Sunday 21st September, represented a milestone for the Society. After giving the matter serious thought, we have decided not to renew our sponsorship arrangements now our second five-year sponsorship agreement has come to an end. In the last few years, we have found very few members actually come along to the show. The Association was able to tell us that earlier this year they appointed a new patron, the TV nature documentary presenter and farmer Kate Humble. They hope that this will enable them to raise the profile of the breed which continues to resonate with Wodehouseans. This year’s competition was handled in a slightly different manner than the more traditional approach of parading all the heat winners from shows throughout the country in the ring together. It was decided that as there were more boars than usual, it might be appropriate to have the six boars parading first, followed by the nine sows, and to recall about a half of each group for a final parade before the judge. Phil Fowlie from Anglesey was the commentator during the parade, ensuring that the crowd was aware of the Society’s sponsorship, and our Past Chairman, Norman Murphy, was handed the microphone for a minute for his five minute talk about Wodehouse’s discovery of a pig at Hunstanton, and his subsequent development of the Empress of Blandings as a major character. Some faces belonging to familiar owners were in the final mix – such as Chris Impey, Sue Fildes, last year’s winner, and Sharon Barnfield, last year’s runner-up. Judge Joanna Wykes-Sneyd from Suffolk, a long-standing, much respected breeder and judge, took her time before announcing the Champion to be ‘Buster’, a very substantial boar owned by Chris Impey, and the Reserve Champion to be the sow Kilcot Mermaid 7 from Sue Fildes’ Dittisham farm in Dartmouth, whom Sharon had bred and who had won the award last year. The winner’s sash was duly presented to Buster by Norman Murphy, after successfully persuading him (Buster, not Norman) to stand still, and the trophy was handed to the owner with less difficulty. Norman performed his party piece, showing a skill in scratching Buster’s back as though to the manor born and Susan Vandyke, one of the Society members who was present, proudly announced that her husband had correctly chosen the winner, though he had declined to disclose to her the criteria he used to make his judgement. The Society will keep a close eye on the Berkshire Pig Breeders Club’s fortunes in the next few years and wish them every success in further promoting the Berkshire Breed. We eagerly await reading news which may be generated by its new Patron. Tony Ring A contender showing off his paces Buster with Norman Murphy and his owner, Chris Impey Sue Fildes with the runner-up, Kilcot Mermaid 7

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Peak Farmland? Some Researchers Say It's Here By Daniel Charles Dec 19, 2012 TweetShareGoogle+Email A soybean field near Campo Verde in western Brazil in January 2011. Researchers argue that enough arable land is already under cultivation to feed the planet for the next several decades. Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP/GettyImages Originally published on December 19, 2012 4:34 pm If you're looking for a dash of optimism about the future — and who isn't, these days? — you can find it in a rosy new prediction about the planet's ability to produce food for the next half-century. It comes to us from a trio of researchers at Rockefeller University. Their bottom line: We have more than enough land to grow all the food that the world's increasing population will desire. In fact, farmers' ability to grow more food on less land will even outrun demand for that food, and farmers will abandon land once used to grow crops. As the researchers put it, "we are confident that we stand on the peak of cropland use, gazing at a wide expanse of land that will be spared for Nature." Globally, they predict that farmers will release an area bigger than Egypt, or the equivalent of ten Iowas. Now, before you go and cross off "food supply" from your list of things to worry about, I must tell you that some other crystal balls show a darker vision of the future. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, for instance, thinks that feeding humanity in 2050 will require farmers to grow crops on an additional quarter of a million square miles, or five Iowas. There are even scenarios that show agriculture gobbling up natural ecosystems equal in size to the entire U.S. What produces such wildly different visions of the future? Basically, it comes down to a few key assumptions about supply and demand for food. The Rockefeller group, for instance, says that demand for meat, and in particular, beef, is not increasing as quickly as some have predicted. Chinese are eating more meat as they get richer, but they are not duplicating the meat-heavy diets of many other countries. The single most important assumption, however, concerns farmers' ability to increase the amount of food they can grow from each acre of land. The Rockefeller University group assumes that farmers will continue to increase their crop yields at roughly the same pace as they have since 1961 — some 1.7 percent per year. Others, like the FAO and the International Food Policy Research Institute, don't believe that's likely. Yield increases have been much lower — about 1.2 percent per year — over the past 20 years. And that's before one even considers the impact of the climate change, which could be devastating for some regions. Jesse Ausubel, who led the Rockefeller group, says that it's "arrogant" and "peculiar" to assume that the world's farmers cannot increase their productivity rapidly, if needed. Large gains in crop yields haven't been needed over the past two decades, he says, because food has been relatively abundant. In fact, Ausubel says, the expansion of crop lands strictly for food production ended twenty years ago; additional land was taken, however, to satisfy the demand for biofuels. But Ausubel expects that expansion to end, too.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2017 WMRA

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Farms facing shortfalls with 2016 commodity prices Feb 16, 2017 What’s in store for the next farm bill? Feb 16, 2017 John Killebrew: Honoring a life of service Feb 20, 2017 What’s behind positive moves in cotton price? Feb 17, 2017 Management Filling the gap: weather-specific crop insurance Weather-specific crop insurance available to farmers. Corn, soybeans and wheat products available. Rice, cotton products coming. David Bennett | Nov 09, 2011 What is the real value of crop insurance and how can a farmer bridge any gaps in his coverage? Consider this: a corn farmer’s Actual Production History (APH), which the federal crop insurance program will use as a basis for payouts, may be 130 bushels per acre. However, his expectation and true target yield – especially after an often staggering, vast array of input expenses – is 180 bushels. An insurance company says its product will protect those 50 uncovered bushels in a novel manner, using real-time weather information. And farmer clients can track the same data and know when checks are headed to their mailbox. Despite its name, Climate Corporation (formerly WeatherBill), is keen to distance itself from the tar-baby of global warming. But Jeff Hamlin, director of agronomic research, does say that “weather seems to getting more extreme on all sides these days. The wet years seem to be wetter and the dry years seem to be drier. The possibility of excessive or cold seems to (lead) to more volatile (situations) than in the past. “That’s impacting agriculture and we’re trying to help agricultural entities navigate this new climate we seem to be in.” The company has been around since it was founded by several former Google executives in 2006. The pair “saw an opportunity to apply technology to help offer insurance products to a lot of weather-sensitive businesses” says Hamlin. “I was the second employee of the company (hired), so I’ve been here quite a while.” At the time, “we saw there were a lot of weather-sensitive businesses out there; agriculture, of course, through construction companies unable to work when it rains to county fairs that (suffer attendance losses) when it rains to golf courses and sporting events to travel and leisure. A lot of things are impacted by the weather. “We’d ask businesses ‘what is bad weather to you? If you can tell us what it is, we’ll build a customized insurance product to cover it.’” Eventually, Climate Corp’s predecessor began to hone in on agriculture. “It’s the one thing that drives yields and really trumps all other management decisions a grower can make. A grower can buy the right seed, have the right fertilizer program, the right chemical program – do everything right – and if it doesn’t rain in July and August, it doesn’t matter what inputs he chose, it still won’t be a good year. Initially, the company built on-demand products where growers “would say ‘I need rain in August’ or they’d tell us the time period they needed certain weather and what kind they needed. But it got to a point where growers were requesting a full-season product for several reasons. First, there are a number of weather events that can impact them through the year. It was proving difficult for them to decide what events to protect, or not to protect, against. They just never knew what was coming in a given year. “Second, they wanted to get their insurance done at the start of the year, in March when they were doing federal crop insurance.” That was preferable “to interrupting the growing season and, suddenly in July, coming up with an insurance policy that made sense.” In turn, that led, to “Total Weather Insurance” -- a full-season program for corn, soybeans and wheat -- that basically takes an operation from seed to harvest. 2012 will be the second year the full-season weather program has been available. “It has undergone quite a bit of growth,” says Hamlin. “2011 was the first year we offered it and it did extremely well. We sold a lot more than expected.” As a result, the company grew from about 30 employees to 100-plus. Is there a region that’s signing up quicker? In 2011, sign-ups were limited by company resources. “We had three people – myself included – able to go out and train crop insurance agents on how the product works. … We focused on the corn and soybean belts … but, really, anywhere we presented it there was about a 75 percent close rate. The grower would see (the product) and about three-quarters of them ended up buying it.” But because of too few employees, says Hamlin, “there was an inability to get into Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and other states where corn and soybeans are grown.” For 2012, instead of three people in the field “we’ll have 33. Hopefully, we’ll cover a lot more of the country and let growers know this exists and is an option.” Total Weather Insurance With Total Weather Insurance “we’re taking a crop, say corn, and from seed to harvest asking ‘what are the weather events that, if they happen at a particular point in the growth cycle, will limit yield?’” Among them: Too much rain in the spring that keeps a crop from being planted in a timely manner. Is there ever standing water in the field? Is it too dry and hot – especially during pollination and grain-fill? In the Dakotas and Minnesota “they worry about getting proper heat units during July and August to maximize yield.” So, start to finish, “the coverage makes sure none” of the things above happen without recompense. “TWI is not, in any way, meant to replace the federal crop insurance programs. It’s meant to complement it, to cover the parts of a grower’s yield he can’t insure through the federal program. TWI covers the ‘top end’ bushels that growers can lose without being paid by the federal program.” Unlike federal crop insurance, TWI isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each policy is customized to individuals based on soil type, crops planted, weather in the area, and yield a farmer is targeting versus APH. “Everyone will have a very different coverage even if they’re on opposite sides of the street if soil types are different.” What are growers asked about when considering TWI coverage? Hamlin provides six questions: What federal crop insurance level are you using this year? What’s your APH? What’s your expected average sell price for the commodity being grown? What’s your target yield given the inputs you’ve bought? What are your input costs? What is your crop insurance premium? After answering those questions, the company’s software will generate a customized program for the operation. Quick checks Hamlin says one of the things growers find most interesting about TWI, is because it isn’t a government program, “we’re able to make it a bit more hassle-free. If bad weather occurs, growers will get checks that show up in their mailbox automatically. They don’t have to document yields or APH’s. No documentation is required. “Basically, the policy says ‘if it’s hot in July, the producer gets paid because they’ll probably have a yield (loss) at the end of the year.’ We pay based on the presumption of yield (loss) without documenting it actually happened. That’s quite different than having a crop adjuster coming out, filing claims or anything like that.” What happens if, at the end of the season, their yields are better than expected? Is the amount already paid to the producer refundable? “We’ve certainly had those situations. … (A producer) has a great year but the weather indicated he shouldn’t have had such a great year. We’d sent him checks anyway and he ended up with a good crop and crop insurance payments.” Unfortunately, it can also work the other way. “Maybe the weather was fine but, for some reason, a producer’s crop doesn’t perform well and yields are low. He can’t come to us and say ‘hey, I only made 105 bushels and was targeting 130.’ It’s all about the weather – it’s the only thing that determines claims.” Using National Weather Service rain and temperature reports, Climate Corp tracks weatherautomatically. A grower can also log in and see the data immediately. “They know exactly what the policy says. Maybe it says ‘if there are more than three 92-degree days in July, that’s a trigger for payment.’ “It’s all based on the idea that there’s a strong correlation between weather and yield. We’ve done studies on this in different parts of the country and can say, with 90 to 95 percent certainty, that when a certain weather events happen you’ll lose 15 bushels or 25 bushels. And we’ll pay you accordingly.” Is it also correlated with pests and disease that tend to show up in, or after, certain weather? That’s factored in, says Hamlin, “because we’re taking account the historic yields a (certain) area has seen under certain weather. When it’s wet and there’s standing water in a field, the yield loss is partly from the crop being starved of oxygen, partially from nutrients leached from the soil and partially from disease pressures.” Company set-up At heart, Climate Corp is a technology company, says Hamlin. “We have a lot of computer scientists, mathematicians and statisticians running all kinds of information and correlations through our system. Daily, we run 2.5 million locations of weather data, 150 billion soil observations and 10 trillion weather date simulation points. Lots and lots of data come through. “It’s been interesting to take all that complicated data and present it in a format where a grower can come into his crop insurance agent’s office, never having heard of weather insurance before, and within 45 minutes to an hour the grower is able to see a product that makes sense; enough sense that 75 percent of the people we showed it to in 2011, bought it. Really that’s where we’re adding value to the market: taking complex problems and … getting it to a place where a grower is able to say ‘based on my experience, what you’ve shown me makes sense and it’s something I need.’” 2011, he says, was both good and bad. “It was good in that growers got to see how the product worked because there was some extreme weather and they received checks from us. It was bad, obviously, because (the company) had to send out a lot of payments. But that’s what insurance companies do – we pay when things go badly. “Many growers, when first presented with this (product), say ‘this sounds too good to be true. I don’t have to deal with a crop adjuster? I don’t have to document yields? You might pay me even if I have a good year?’ It’s totally different than what they’re used to with the federal crop insurance program. “So, we had a lot of growers this year who looked at the coverage, bought it – some for all their acres and others who dipped their toe in the water – and then were hit was an extremely wet spring.” That was especially true in Indiana, Ohio and parts of Illinois “where they had the rainiest spring in the last 100 years. At the end of May, after so much moisture, a check arrived in their mailbox. We paid them for a presumed yield loss at the end of the season. Then, it was hot in July and dry in August. So, they got checks in July and August. By the time it was September – the crop still in the field finishing – they’d already received two or three checks from our company.” Crop agnostic Once producers understand what Climate Corp offers “is truly just weather insurance – it’s essentially crop agnostic – they say ‘you know what, I have 100 acres of cantaloupes that I’ve never been able to get insurance for. But I’ve been growing them for 15 years and I know what’s important.’ That might be rain in September, or heat in July -- some weather event that makes or breaks the crop.” In such cases, Climate Corp simply adjusted a TWI corn or soybean policy and adapted it for whatever specialty crop the producer grows. What about cotton and rice? Sugarcane in Louisiana? “Rice and cotton are our next two target crops. We’ve covered rice growers before – rain in September and worries about hurricanes knocking the crop down and becoming lodged. We built a policy that said ‘if there’s ever a day or two with more than 3 or 4 inches of rain, it probably means you had a tropical storm or hurricane come through. We’ll pay you based on that.’ “But we’re working on developing (specific) programs for rice and cotton next.” Refining rainfall/soil data Every day, the National Weather Service reports a rainfall value for each square in a grid covering the United States. The squares are each 12-miles-by-14-miles square – about 164 square miles. “That’s how we determine drought and moisture stress on crops,” in 2011. “The problem is it wasn’t as (specific) as we’d like. In a 164-square-mile area rainfall can vary quite a bit.” For 2012, “we’ll move to a better, more high-resolution dataset that reports rainfall for squares of 2.5-miles-by-2.5-miles. While still not at the individual farm level, it’s 25 times greater in resolution.” And Climate Corp wants to refine the resolution even more. “Hopefully, eventually there will be the ability to outline farms and get a rainfall report” for each farm. Another change for 2012 will be accounting for soil types. In 2011, “we just looked at rainfall in each area and didn’t account … for lighter and heavier soils. “Now, we have access to a database of every 30-foot-by-30-foot square of land in the country: the soil depth, the moisture-holding capacity, the soil type. This (consists) of 150 billion data points around the United States.” The company can now precisely identify differences from farm to farm. Therefore, “we can appropriately pay for drought risks. If an area has a week with no rain, we’re able to recognize that crops on lighter soil may be drought-stressed because it can’t hold water as well. (Meanwhile), the farm across the street has heavier soils and isn’t drought-stressed because it’s still holding rain from a week ago.”

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Growing More Rice With Less Water Twenty years after its discovery in the forested mountains of Vietnam, local authorities here have agreed to establish new nature reserves to protect a critically endangered wild ox. Found only in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a team of scientists from the Vietnamese Ministry of Forestry and WWF; the first large mammal to be discovered anywhere in the world since 1936. Rice farmer in a rice pad. Hubei Province, China. Credit: Copyright WWF-Canon / Claire Doole A new method to grow rice could save hundreds of billions of cubic metres of water while increasing food security, according to a study by World Wildlife Foundation. With a focus on India – a country which faces a major water crisis, yet has the world’s largest rice cultivated area – the study found that the system of rice intensification (SRI) method has helped increase yields by over 30% — four to five tonnes per hectare instead of three tonnes per hectare, while using 40% less water than conventional methods. The system is based on eight principles which are different to conventional rice cultivation. They include developing nutrient-rich and un-flooded nurseries instead of flooded ones; ensuring wider spacing between rice seedlings; preferring composts or manure to synthetic fertilizers; and managing water carefully to avoid that the plants’ roots are not saturated. The method was initially developed in the 1980s in Madagascar and has been demonstrated to be effective in 28 countries. “Although the system of rice intensification has shown its advantages, the scale of its use leaves much to be desired,” said Dr Biksham Gujja, Senior Policy Adviser at WWF International. "It is time to start large-scale programmes to support a method that could make a lasting global impact with far-reaching benefits to people and nature.” The report suggests that major rice-producing countries — such as India, China and Indonesia — convert at least 25% of their current rice cultivation to the new system by 2025. This would not only massively reduce the use of water but also help ensure food security. In addition, this will reduce significant amount of methane emissions. SRI fields do not emit methane as is the case with the more conventional system of growing rice. For example, if the SRI method was applied to 20 million hectares of land under rice cultivation in India, the country could meet its food grain objectives of 220 million tonnes of grain by 2012 instead of 2050. Authorities in the Indian state of Tripura have already committed to move in that direction. “Our farmers proved that the system of rice intensification improves productivity and we will convert at least 40% of our rice cultivation using this method over the next five years,” said Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura State. “We urge this as a model for rice cultivation elsewhere as it represents one hope for the water crisis affecting so many billions of people.” Demand for a water-intensive crop such as rice is expected to increase by 38% by 2040, deepening the water crisis during the same time. However, less than 6% of rice is traded internationally and savings in water have potential for mitigating domestic water conflicts, especially in poor, rural areas where water is scarce. Already 1.2 billion people have no access to adequate water for drinking and hygiene. WWF is focusing on sustainable agriculture efforts for cotton, sugar and rice, some of the most consuming crops for which alternative techniques can result in a strong yield and water savings. About rice Rice is the main source of directly consumed calories for about half the world’s population and 90 per cent of it is produced and consumed in Asia. Contrary to popular belief, rice is not an aquatic plant and the main reason it is submerged in water is for controlling weeds. Conventional method of rice cultivation uses 60-70 kilos of seeds per hectare, SRI requires just five kilos per hectare.The report More Rice with Less Water was released at a conference held 3-5 October in Tripura. The conference is being jointly organized by the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Tripura, the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), the Directorate of Rice Development (DRD), the Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) Mumbai and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-ICRISAT Dialogue Project based at ICRISAT, Patancheru. Materials provided by World Wildlife Fund. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. World Wildlife Fund. "Growing More Rice With Less Water." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 October 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071014202450.htm>. World Wildlife Fund. (2007, October 18). Growing More Rice With Less Water. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 26, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071014202450.htm World Wildlife Fund. "Growing More Rice With Less Water." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071014202450.htm (accessed February 26, 2017). Drought Research Wild Horse Seedbank Researcher Finds Rare Vietnamese Rabbit June 4, 2015 — A rare and elusive rabbit has been found, held and photographed by a researcher. The Annamite striped rabbit, found in the forests of Laos and Vietnam, was first documented by rabbit expert Dr Diana ... read more Molecular Analysis Reveals a New Species of White Toothed Shrew July 2, 2013 — Judging solely by the looks proves to be a wrong practice in biology too. A recent study of the white toothed shrew fauna of Vietnam reveals the importance of molecular analysis for the correct ... read more Situation Dire for Threatened Rhino Species, Researcher Finds Aug. 3, 2012 — A researcher hopes his recent finding confirming the extinction of the Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam pushes the public to protect the last remaining group of these prehistoric creatures living in ... read more Genetic Study Sheds Light on Evolution and May Help Prevent Extinction of the Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey May 23, 2012 — Biologists have completed genetic studies on all five snub-nosed monkey species, providing crucial information for the conservation of these rare ... read more Strange & Offbeat

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Home FOOD & DRINK Cooking Organic's moment Organic's moment A growing movement celebrates its success by Marc Eisen February 29, 2008 Organic farmers are a craft beer kind of crowd, so nobody was popping open celebratory bottles of champagne last weekend at the 19th annual Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse. Still, if you were looking to salute the burgeoning organic food movement, this was the place to be. Some 2,300 people -- mostly farmers and their families, but also agriculture researchers, local-food boosters and an impressive number of young people eager to join the movement -- were in a distinctly festive mood. "I never dreamed that in my lifetime organic would be where it is now," said a buoyant Faye Jones, executive director of MOSES, the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, which organizes the yearly conference. Gary Zimmer, named Farmer of the Year with wife Rosie and son Nicholas, was equally incredulous. "I've been involved in this for a long, long time, and never in my wildest imagination did I ever dream that organic would get to where it is today," said Zimmer, who operates the 1,200-acre Otter Creek Organic Dairy in Iowa County and consults widely on soil fertility and organic farming techniques Jones and Zimmer had good reason to celebrate. A new state report documents that Wisconsin has approximately 900 certified organic farms, second only to California in the nation. The Badger State ranks number one in organic dairy production, thanks to farmers like the Zimmers, and is among the top three states in organic livestock and acreage planted in organic corn, hay and silage. Tellingly, the report notes that some 201 Wisconsin companies now serve the state's organic industry, evidence of organic's growing economic clout in the agriculture sector. Indeed, I walked away from the conference struck by how the organic movement has created an organic industry without selling out its radical beliefs. Simply put, both the organic industry and the organic movement are on a roll. All trade conferences are alike. There is too much food and drink, and lots of earnest conversations are shouted in noisy receptions. You can bet the trade show is filled with beguiling gizmos, and the conference will justify itself with arcane workshops on the nuts and bolts of the industry. The Organic Conference was no different. Farmers could attend seminars on soil quality, suckling systems, apple pests, aphid management, direct marketing and hoop houses. The trade show included 126 booths, hawking everything organic from veterinary supplies to fish fertilizers to grain milling. But the movement's radical underpinnings were never undermined by commerce. Organic's challenge to conventional farming and agribusiness was always close to the surface. These are people committed to nothing less than reordering America's fundamental relationship to food. They want to raise healthier and tastier food. They want an agricultural system that supports small local farmers and includes a meaningful link between those farmers and their customers. They want to treat farm animals and, most of all, the land with respect and care. "We're all happy with where we're at," dairy and beef farmer Rebecca Goodman told me. "We're on the right track. We're doing the right thing." Faye Jones took it a step further -- that acquiring and sharing good food becomes a way for people to forge connections that otherwise might be missing in the isolation of industrial society. "Food and community have to be together," she said. Jones' message was underlined in the keynote speeches. These weren't boilerplate talks where the crowd nods off from the effects of last night's hangover, but sermons that mixed indignation and inspiration. Melinda Hemmelgarn, an advocacy journalist and registered dietician, made the case that healthy food choices are an illusion in American society when consumers are confronted, say, by picking between french fries and apple dippers at McDonald's. Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, challenged the fundamental assumption of American agribusiness, arguing that large, high-tech farms with vast expanses of mono-crops aren't efficient. Small family farms with diverse crops are more productive, he said, because they aren't burdened by the heavy costs of high-tech machinery, synthetic fertilizers and excessive energy use. Kimbrell ended his speech on a dramatic note, asserting that organic farming, with its radically different values, could have a transformative impact not just on agriculture but on American life. Cooperation! Creativity! Connection! Community! Kimbrell even dared to associate organic farming with love. In an age of cynicism and muted expectations of collective action, this was nervy -- maybe even foolish. But more than a thousand people rose from their seats to applaud Kimbrell's sentiments.

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Agweb HomeDrovers HomeNewsMilk Price War Pits California Dairy Farms Against Cheesemakers Milk Price War Pits California Dairy Farms Against Cheesemakers All agree the state’s milk pricing system is ‘antiquated,’ but progressive change is elusive. Michael B. Marois Ray Souza’s voice cracks a bit when he says it, when he tells how his family’s Turlock, California, dairy farm is struggling to pay the bills. "We go from black to red month by month," the 66-year-old said. "For us, it’s break even at best." Souza is like many other dairy farmers in the state who say the price they’re paid for milk from cheese producers isn’t enough to cover the soaring cost of feeding cows. Those economics have caused a fifth of California’s dairies to shutter since 2007, according to state agricultural figures. California is the largest milk-producing state in the U.S., accounting for 20 percent of the national supply. Cheesemakers buy about 43 percent of all the milk produced in California at prices set under the state’s unique pricing system rather than by federal formulas. The dairy industry has petitioned the state to raise the prices cheesemakers must pay to buy California milk and have sought legislation to change a pricing system that dates to the 1930s. The producers say raising prices will harm them, the very people the dairy farmers need to buy their milk. "There needs to be a balance between producer prices and what the market can bear in terms of the product we manufacture and the market for those products," said Rachel Kaldor, executive director of the Sacramento-based Dairy Institute of California, which represents processors. "In order for us to be able to stay in business, we need to be able to buy milk at a price that allows us to do that." Five Classes Under California’s system, the state Food and Agriculture Department sets the minimum price for five classes of milk. The most expensive is fluid milk found at the dinner table. The cheapest is cheese. The system was set up in part to encourage more cheesemakers to open plants in California. Farmers say the state system pays less than federal prices for milk used to make cheese and for whey, a dairy byproduct. California’s system worked for dairy farms a half-century ago, when 60 percent of milk sold was fluid. Now, almost 80 percent is sold for products such as butter, dry milk, powders and cheese, the least profitable of the classes. The system has left cheesemakers paying less for milk they buy from California than elsewhere. California farmers in March were paid 19 cents per gallon less for milk sold to cheesemakers than those in Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Texas and Arizona, according to state and federal figures. Corn Soars With the bulk of their product sold at the cheapest prices, hundreds of dairy farms were unable to stay in business as livestock feed costs rose. Corn prices, for example, reached a record $8.49 a bushel on Aug. 10 after last year’s drought, the worst since the 1930s, lowered U.S. output by 13 percent. Frantic to boost income, farmers have been flooding the market with as much milk as they can, causing prices to decline even more. "The last-man-standing syndrome comes into play," said Sybrand Vander Dussen, president of the Ontario, California- based Milk Producers Council, which represents the state’s family-owned dairy farms. "You are trying to last longer than your neighbor." The farmers have been pressing California Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to add as much as a $1.20 subsidy per 100 pounds to the price of milk used for cheese. The price reached $15.91 in June. ‘Antiquated’ System Ross has said she doesn’t believe the problems facing the dairy industry in California can be fixed simply by increasing the minimum price. Last month, she again rejected their petition and opted to add a temporary surcharge of 12.5 cents per 100 pounds on average for all five classes for six months. "California dairies and processors must operate within national and international markets that require the manufacture of milk products to be competitive with those produced elsewhere in terms of variety, price and quality," Ross said in a letter announcing her decision June 21. She also acknowledged that the program needs to change. "Our system of regulated milk pricing is an antiquated one that impairs the ability of the dairy industry to rise to this challenge," she said. The dairy farmers pressed Assemblyman Richard Pan, a Democrat, to introduce a bill that would require the state’s milk-pricing system to more closely match how the federal program works. Pan’s bill was blocked by opposition from the cheese industry. Nevertheless, Pan helped negotiate a short-term fix that has the cheese processors paying $110 million into a milk pool to be shared by dairy farmers while a task force devises a permanent fix. "We needed to get immediate relief for California dairy farmers," Pan said in an interview. "This is a good first step." Souza, the Central Valley farmer, said that in the last year he’s seen three of his neighboring farms go out of business. He watched one day as cattle trucks rumbled up to one of those farms and repossessed the owner’s Jersey cows. "She was sitting off to the side and crying," Souza said of the owner. "There is so much emotion right now in the industry. These are folks who have worked their entire life in dairy, sometimes multiple generations, and suddenly they don’t have a farm anymore." California Announces Temporary Increase in Minimum Milk Prices 6/24/2013 6:16:00 PM Comments

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Agweb HomeMILK HomeNewsA Conversation with Howard G. Buffett A Conversation with Howard G. Buffett Earlier this week, Howard G. Buffett visited with U.S. farmers and who participated in the High-Yield Conservation project. The project is part of a greater effort to raise awareness of global hunger and the need for high-yielding conservation practices. By Rhonda Brooks Seeds & Production Editor Illinois farmer and world-renown philanthropist Howard G. Buffett shares his perspective on the need to adopt practices that can help feed the world’s hungry. During the 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, farmers, other conservation experts and media were able to participate in a lively discussion with Howard G. Buffett. Known as a practical, no-nonsense farmer and visionary philanthropist, Buffett shared his perspective on the need to adopt practices and mindsets that can help feed the world’s hungry. Since 1999, Buffett’s foundation has supported more than 100 agricultural projects in 34 countries and 22 nutrition projects in 20 countries in an effort to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s most impoverished and marginalized populations. Farm Journal Media’s Charlene Finck led the often entertaining and thought-provoking question-and-answer session. Here are some excerpts from the discussion. Question: Being a U.S. farmer and having the passion that you have for conservation as a farmer, it would be helpful to have your perspective here at the WCCA on where you think U.S. farmers rank in the process of adopting conservation practices? Answer: I would say it’s possible that U.S. farmers are getting passed up in certain respects globally, and they don’t like to hear that. One of these days, Brazil is going to beat us on soybean production, and we should be asking why and how are they doing it. I look at the percentage of acres committed by countries to conservation, and we’re getting pounded. Countries like Brazil and Argentina and Australia are, on a percentage basis, really beating us. The reason is because we have a mindset that’s kept us trapped in thinking like our dads and grandfathers. We haven’t changed our thinking nearly as quickly as we have changed our adaptation of technology. To me, the biggest thing is our mindset. The thing that drives me nuts is when someone—a friend, good farmers—says things like 'I tried no-till for a year and it didn’t work.' There are so many variables to farming, there’s no way you can base a decision like that on one year. You can’t honestly say you tried something on a farm one year and that it didn’t work. Question: What has been one of your biggest frustrations in adopting conservation agriculture, and would that parallel what you believe other farmers experience? Answer: Management is a big challenge. Conservation agriculture can require equipment changes, different manpower demands. Everyone struggles with the management aspects, no matter who you are, and everyone manages their farm a little bit differently. Question: In your opinion, what is at stake if farmers in the U.S. and around the globe don’t master conservation practices? Answer: What’s going to happen is we’ll lose choices. The political landscape is changing in the U.S. and it’s not changing in favor of the farmer in any way, shape or form. Those institutions that have protected our rights historically are becoming less powerful and less influential. There’s going to be a collision course, and we won’t win. The biggest collision I see coming faster than anything is with water. When you look at what’s already happened in California, a bit in Colorado and what we’re seeing in Arizona, you can see the pattern. I’d love to be wrong about this but don’t think I am. Historically, all the legislative battles that have been supported by agriculture have been won by agriculture, but when you get huge urban areas with large populations that are demanding water, we’re going to lose those battles. The numbers always win. Question: What should government be doing to keep us from going down the collision course? Answer: I’ll give the USDA credit. It’s refreshing to me that there are some young guys in the USDA that really believe in changing how we farm in our country, though it’s a slow process. Government has to be a willing participant in change, so hopefully you have people in government that understand and will change with you. It gives me hope when I go to conservation conferences like this one and no-till conferences where there are people who understand and believe in this. There are way too few of us, but it’s a start. Question: From a global perspective, you just returned from Ghana and you have an exciting project you’re working on there. Can you share a little about that? Answer: We have some amazing people there in Ghana who we’re working with, along with John Deere, to develop small implements for small farmers. Not everyone’s going to own a tractor, but the way the way the ones who do can make it work is with contract work they do for other farmers. If you can get that balanced out right, it’s a great way to start introducing mechanization and getting small farmers started with conservation practices. John Deere sees this as an opportunity and a good thing to do. It’ll give us a model to work with. The challenging thing is, we need to come up with ideas we can scale faster before things really get worse in Africa. Many parts of Africa are not well-suited to agricultural production, at least not high-yield crop production. You have 54 countries there, many different ecosystems. If we try to go in there and make it look like we look in the U.S. and don’t think this through, we’ll take a continent that’s already been disadvantaged in a number of ways and make things worse. We need to be more flexible and inclusive. When you take choices away from farmers, especially ones who are poor, and force them to do things that aren’t natural to them, then that’s going to be a problem. It’s going to require all types of farmers to make positive changes there. If we aren’t more flexible and inclusive, we could have more hungry people in Africa in 40 years than we do now. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. If we’re more cognizant of the various cultures, respect and appreciate that, we can get this right. To Howard W. Buffett, Yields and Conservation Just Go Together 5/29/2014 12:25:00 PM Restoring Degraded Soils Improves Human Health and Well-being 6/24/2014 9:44:00 AM Putting Cover Crops to Work on the Farm Takes Time, Patience 6/24/2014 12:40:00 PM Comments

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http://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Agriculture-briefs-8413551.php Agriculture briefs From The Herald Published 12:28 pm, Friday, April 13, 2012 Weinheimer joins Sorghum Checkoff LUBBOCK — The United Sorghum Checkoff Program welcomes Justin Weinheimer as the organization’s crop improvement program director. Weinheimer has experience working with producers, industry and academia to determine ways to sustain and enhance agricultural production. He is the former assistant director of the Alliance for Water Conservation Center, which has been evaluating water issues surrounding the management of the Ogallala Aquifer and its impacts on the regional economy. In that position, Weinheimer often referenced sorghum’s value to producers and economic impact. “We are excited to have Justin as part of the Sorghum Checkoff team,” said USCP board chairman Bill Kubecka. “He has a great deal of experience working with farmers and the industry, and has a true passion for agriculture. I know he will be a valuable asset to our organization.” Weinheimer holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and has served as an adviser to the Texas Water Council for the past several years. He is a native of Stonewall. Enrollment opens for Cotton School LUBBOCK — Registration is now open for the 32nd Texas International Cotton School, scheduled for Aug. 6-17 in Lubbock. The intensive two-week program covers all aspects of cotton, from the field to the fabric. Since its inception, the school has been a collaboration between the Texas cotton merchants who make up the Lubbock Cotton Exchange and the faculty and staff of Texas Tech’s Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute. During the two weeks of classes, more than 30 experts from across the nation instruct students about the marketing chain, from seed breeding, farm production, harvesting and ginning, to warehousing, merchandising and textile manufacturing. For more information, including tuition and curriculum, visit http://www.texasintlcottonschool.com or call Christi Chadwell, TICS coordinator, at 806-742-2838 Ext. 233.

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Farm Income Up--But Inputs at Record Highs Washington--The USDA reports that high commodity prices will push net farm income nationwide to $92.3 billion this year, up 4.1 percent from the $88.7 billion farmers are estimated to have earned last year. The average over the past decade, $61.1 billion.The US Department of Ag predicts U.S. farmers will plant 86 million acres of corn this year - down 8 percent from 2007, when corn plantings were the highest since World War II. Plantings of soybeans are expected to be up 18 percent this year, at nearly 75 million acres.The harvest of 2008 remains a question mark because of cold and unsettled weather across the nation. Snow throughout the west has slowed planting along with drenching spring rains slowing corn and soybean plantings for growers in the midwest that means late starts that cut into yields. In parts of California, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico there's the chance of summer drought, all of these factors not to mention inputs like fuel, fertilizer and seed doubling over last year; could make 2008 one of the most interesting years of the decade. On the Chicago Board of Trade, the cash price for corn has ascended from $1.86 a bushel in the 2004-2005 marketing year to the price lately of about $6 per bushel.Soybeans, $5.88 a bushel in 2004-2005, are getting an amazing $13. IdahoFarming, jakeputnam Unsettled Weather Video by Steve RitterEmmett--A rash of Unsettled spring weather has slowed hay production and left farmers longing for BTU's. But as one farmer said yesterday in Canyon County "when all we have to complain about is too much rain, its a great year." Rail, the future of Ag? Caldwell--Farmers, truckers and air freight operations are suffering through high fuel costs. But the third pillar in the nation’s freight infrastructure, railroads are dodging losses according to the Association of American Railroads. That's because rising exports of coal and grain travel by rail to port cities, and also because more and more trucking companies are turning to rail to move their trailers cross-country.“By using railroads, we are achieving some economy on fuel,” said Dan England, chairman of C. R. England, a family-owned company based in Salt Lake City that runs 3,600 tractor-trailers and now regularly loads 350 of the trailers on railroad flat cars to get them from, say, Chicago to Los Angeles.Still, 70 percent of the nation’s freight tonnage moves over the highways on trucks, much of it in the diesel-powered tractor-trailers of the nation’s 350,000 independent operators, each with a fleet of up to five vehicles, one usually driven by the proprietor. Profit margins, notoriously thin in good times, are minuscule now, and each rise in fuel prices pushes more truckers into the red. Dairy grade hay now going for $215 a ton in Canyon county, Idaho Jake Putnam photo Hop production on the Upswing in Canyon County Wilder--Once deserted Hop fields have sprung back to life in Canyon County. Hop production for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington last year totaled 57.7 million pounds, up 9 percent from the previous years crop of 52.9 million pounds. Hop is a specialty crop in which female flowers, or cones, are used as a vital ingredient in beer production. Lupulin glands on the hop cones contain soft resins (a and b acids) essential oils that impart bitterness, flavor, aroma, foam (head) characteristics, and preservative qualities to beer. The total amount and percentage composition of these compounds varies with variety and growing conditions. Because the brewing industry depends on hops to provide distinctive and proprietary characteristics to beer, a stable supply of high quality hops is a high priority.Idaho ranks third in U.S. hop production accounting for 8% to 10% of the U.S., and 2% of the world hop production. Idaho hop production from 1993 to 1996 averaged 1,388 pounds per acre on 3,977 acres. Total production for that period averaged 5,521,210 million pounds with an on-farm value of $8,889,148 million dollars, annually. In 1998, production dropped well below that average to 4,529,000 pounds on 3,909 acres with a total farm-gate value of $6,838,394.Over 90% of the crop is contracted at the time of harvest. Some contracts prohibit the use of certain pesticides on the contracted crop, in order to meet specific brewing industry requirements or to comply with the import tolerance requirements of importing countries. In a given year 40% to 60% of the crop is exported to overseas markets. Posted by J.R. Simplot 1909-2008 (Steve Ritter Photo)Boise--J.R. "Jack" Simplot, 99, who found fame and fortune many times over, the man that supplied french fries to McDonalds and then used the billion-dollar fortune to invest in computer chips, died of natural causes May 25 at his home atop the Grove Hotel in Boise, Idaho.Simpot’s rise in Idaho Agriculture is a story of dreams, hard work and luck. The journey began on the edge of the Magic Valley in the small town of Declo. He rose from the parched earth with water from the Snake River reclamation project that started in 1910. Irrigation brought the farmers that built the towns, cleared the dusty plains, and turned rock and sagebrush into lush, green fields.Simplot could ride a horse before he could walk. He worked sunup to sundown beside his dad, carving out a life in a world of outhouses, kerosene lamps, and buckboards.“My dad was a master for making us kids work,” said Simplot. “That was the name of the game. We got up, he’d call me at five in the morning, I’d have to pump the water for the cows, and when I got a little older I’d have to milk them. By God, I had to work.”After finishing the 8th grade Simplot set out to make a living on his own. He moved into a hotel at a dollar a-day. He quickly figured out a way to make a living. The hotel was full of public school teachers. Back in those days some school districts paid their teachers with interest-bearing script. Simplot bought up as much script as he could find at 50 cents on the dollar. He then got a bank loan using the script as collateral.With money in hand he turned to farming. The hog market had just collapsed and Simplot saw an opportunity. “Hogs got dirt cheap. And I decided by God, I’d try to run a hog ranch. I need a cheap way to feed them. I got my Dad to help me build this cooker, it would hold about 30 sacks of potatoes and two horses,” said Simplot. Wild horses were plentiful and a menace to cattle ranchers, Simplot saw a cheap way to feed his livestock.At a dollar a head Simplot bought nearly a thousand hogs. It was back breaking work, and every day was endless and dirty, working in clouds of smoke and ankle-deep pig manure but he smelled money. Simplot says toward the end of winter he saw light at the end of the tunnel.“And it comes spring and there wasn’t a pig anywhere,” recalled Simplot. “I had ‘em all, everyone had quit their hog business and the market wanted 10-cents a pound, nobody ever heard of 10-cents a pound.” Boy Simplot was the hog czar of the Magic Valley. “I sold all my hogs and made seven thousand dollars that’s about a hundred-thousand dollars today.”In the days of $50-dollar a month mortgages, and hundred dollar cars. Fourteen year-old Simplot was sitting on a fortune. He sunk all of his capital into horses, farm machinery and leased two Minidoka County farms.He grew only certified potatoes, and the operation took off. Simplot and a partner Lindsay Maggart bought an electric sorter and soon were sorting not only their potatoes, but their neighbors. This rubbed his partner the wrong way. Maggart didn’t want Simplot to sort the competition’s spuds. Simplot saw money in it but thought they should flip a coin to determine the ownership of the sorter. Simplot won the toss and never looked back. “That’s what got me started and I took that money and started building more potato houses and I got big into shipping of Idaho potatoes.”While things were going great for Simplot the Great Depression hit Idaho like a kick to the gut. Farms went out of business, jobs and money disappeared, some starved but nothing could stop Simplot. He knew people had to eat and he kept producing potatoes. “I struggled and didn’t take it for granted and I accumulated some pretty good customers,” said Simplot, “I took care of them and they took care of me.”Simplot got into the big-time potato market. He spent years making contacts with brokers in the Midwest and the Eastern seaboard. By 1940 he built 33 spud warehouses with operations stretching from Oregon to Idaho Falls. Every year Simplot did what others couldn’t he got bigger and better. Back in the twenties Simplot filled 560 railcars with spuds, by the 1943-44 season he shipped 5,000 railcars eclipsing all his competitors. He was 32 years old.World War II presented Simplot with another opportunity. The Pentagon was looking for new ways to feed a six-million G.I.s. Fresh food spoiled quickly and supply lines to Europe and the Pacific were too long. The War Department looked into a new technology: dehydrated foods.“I took it as an opportunity because I was the only guy that had a dryer,” said Simplot. “They sent a guy named Colonel Logan out here and we got dried potatoes for the Army. We wrapped them up awful good and sent potatoes overseas and they ate them and they were good.But before potatoes Simplot dried onions and in the 1941-42 season the company processed175-thousand sacks of dehydrated onions. Simplot built the largest food dehydrator in the world; he revolutionized food production in the United States.J.R. Simplot learned a lot during the war years. With the demands on production he saw that the sandy soil along the Snake River Plain needed help. Farmers needed fertilizer to keep the yields up. Simplot built a plant outside of Pocatello and started what became known as Simplot Soilbuilders.”“Nobody is beating us on prices, Because we are the cheapest producer of phosphate there is and in the world, we know what we are doing, we take the ore right out of the ground, pump it to Pocatello, we can do better than our competition,” said Simplot.Before the Korean War Simplot added a lumber division that made boxes and crates for shipping. He wanted to expand into cattle and get an edge on the potato market with early potatoes. Simplot knew he could grow early spuds along the balmy Snake River. He bought two gigantic ranches one in Grandview, the other in Oregon and went to work on the two-prong plan.“We got big into Cattle business,” he said. “I went to Grandview, 65 years ago and started a feeding operation, but we also started potatoes there. It’s a Garden of Eden in that valley. We could dig potatoes there and to market by the 4th of July and that’s how I got started in Grandview, I always made money on those early potatoes,” he said.Everything Simplot touched turned to gold. He says in part because of the people he hired. “I’m just proud of them, they are proud of me and we get a long great, we have a pension fund for them and we have taken care of our people.”The frozen food market of the 50’s and 60’s was expanding as the TV dinner generation settled in. J.R. Simplot thought he could capitalize, he hired this guy by the name of Ray Dunlap; he was a chemist and thought he could freeze potatoes, specifically frozen fries. “He [Ray Dunlap] said, ‘Jack, if you’ll get me a freezer, I think I can come up with some frozen products we can sell.’ I said, ‘if you freeze a potato, you’ll get a dish of mush.’ Anyway, I got him the box. He went to work and brought me in the pan of fries one day. He said ‘these have been frozen.’ And they were good. I said, ‘That’s a helluva thing.’ ”The development of the French fry was one of J.R. Simplot’s crowning glories. It ushered in the fast food industry not only to the United States but the world. Between 1951 and 1961, the total production of frozen potatoes industry wide jumped from 25 million pounds to nearly 484 million pounds.A handshake agreement with McDonald’s chairman Ray Kroc in the 50’s sealed Simplot’s place as one of the world’s great food producers. Simplot is modest about his role. “I would certainly say french fries were big one as far as achievements go. We took McDonalds a long way, of course they’ve been one of our big customer and we hope to continue with them.”In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, Simplot got bigger across the board, everything from cattle feedlots to fertilizer, to food production. Simplot moved his corporate offices to downtown Boise. He concentrated on investments opportunities leaving day to day worries with the division heads. He invested in gold mines and even freezing berries. In the early 1980’s he started looking into computers.Scott Simplot convinced the elder Simplot to look into a new company called Micron. But the company needed a million dollars for start up capital and set up a meeting with founders Joe and Ward Parkinson. J.R. could see that the Parkinson’s had something big; he gave them their start up capital and later $20 million. He held 40-percent of the stock. When the PC market took off in the United States and world, Simplot pushed his multi-million dollar fortune to an estimated $2.2 billion dollars.“I happened to buy in on a guy that knew what he was doing and he proved it. We’ve got into something big, recalled Simplot. “We know how to build memory and there’s never going to be enough of it, these damned computers today, how they work, don’t ask me, but we got it,” said Simplot.J.R. Simplot’s seven decades of business deals changed the face of Idaho, changed the world. He made Idaho the potato state; He introduced billions of McDonald’s customers to the French fry. He gave the world dehydrated foods, gave the worlds farmers fertilizer, and through Micron he gave the worlds computers memory. Simplot’s success may lie in the fact that not only did he have a burning need to succeed, but he allowed those who worked for him to succeed.Everyone in Idaho has a Simplot story. Everyone knows him or had a family members work for him, that makes J.R. Simplot family. His rags to riches stories are nearly mythical in Idaho lore. J.R. Simplot is our Paul Bunion, our David of Goliath. When Simplot speaks people listen, and if he offers advice take it to the bank.His biographer Louie Attebery summed up the man in his wonderful book “J.R. Simplot, A billion the hard way.” “...there is something about this man that lingers in the imagination long after he has concluded the interview…there is something intensely Whitmanian about Jack Simplot’s love affair with the United States. He hears America singing; what he assumes, you shall assume; hold on to him and by God you shall not go down in defeat!” Posted by Portneuf Gap Idaho, A Place of Reflection (Portneuf Gap's Hallowed Ground, photo by Jake Putnam) Four thousand, five hundred crosses stand in a soccer field south of Pocatello, Idaho, each cross represents a fallen soldier.For the past five years fellow veterans have erected the Field of Heroes to remember fallen comrades and those still fighting in distant lands.There are thousands of Memorial Day events but this is the only one where all the fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq are represented with crosses in the Field of Heroes at Century High School."I don't think there's anybody looking at this field that doesn't get a lump in their throat," said Kathleen Stephens, Pocatello Fallen Soldier's Mother.Blake Stephens of Pocatello, Kathleen's son, was killed in action May 8th last year. He was 25 years old and served for seven years in the military. Blake was Pocatello's first fallen soldier.Just three months later, a second local boy, 23-year-old Nick Gummersall, also passed away during his fourth tour in Iraq."It's just... It's a lot of boys that died," said Clay Gummersall, father of the fallen hero.All of Idaho's 39 soldiers are prominately represented, and especially the two from Pocatello."We shall not forget. We will carry their sacrifices forever," said Ralph "Doc" Lillig, Hospital Corps on Fridays opening ceremony."I think it's important to understand the price of freedom. Every cross makes you remember someone that's not coming home," said Heidi Young, Ceremony Coordinator.The reality of war and it's casualties drive home the point that freedom doesnt come without a terrible cost."I'm trying to do more now to be concerned with others whose parents have a loss. I hope to be around them and give them my strength," said Kathleen Stephens.This memorial is careful not to glorify those who've fallen, but rather to recognize, respect and honor.The field of Heroes will be displayed for the entire weekend until Monday. It's located off I-15 at the Portneuf Gap exit at Century High School. The closing ceremony will take place at 7 pm on Monday. Guest Worker Program Dies in U.S. Senate Washington--A proposal by Idaho Senator Larry Craig designed to ease the apparent farm worker shortage in Idaho and across the United States has died in the U.S. Senate. Craig told reporters earlier this week that the failure of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration legislation has cost $8 billion in crop losses so far. "This amendment was a clean, simple, temporary measure to sold an emergency in agriculture."The Senate dropped the agricultural guest worker plan from the latest Iraq war spending bill after approval last week by the Senate Appropriations Committee.Senator Craig said his plan would have granted temporary legal status to some 1.35 million illegal immigrants who work on U.S. farms as well as their spouses and children. The proposal was supported by the United Farm Workers union as well as farm organizations. Posted by Pacific Ethanol Opens Plant in Burley It takes 1 acre of corn to produce enough ethanol to run a car for 72,000 miles on E-10 unleaded gasoline.1.2 barrels of Mideastern oil is replaced for every barrel of ethanol produced in America. By 2010 US ethanol producers will replace 311,000 barels of crude oil.Pacific Ethanol owns and operates ethanol production facilities in Madera, California; Boardman, Oregon, Burley, Idaho, Windsor, Colorado and is constructing plants in Stockton and and Calipatria, California. The company has announced plans to build 220 million gallons of annual ethanol production by 2008 and 420-million gallons by the end of 2010.Ethanol replaces the equivilent of 1 large oil tanker per week.2.8 bushels of corn yields 1 gallon of ethanol. HAY IN SHORT SUPPLY--ALREADY (The first cut of 2008 near Glenns Ferry, Idaho, Steve Ritter photo)Hay running two weeks behind scheduleOntario--In Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho the alfalfa is short and almost three weeks behind schedule despite a weekend heat wave. With already short supplies, swathers were seen in the fields across Southwest Idaho cutting alfalfa that hasn’t even bloomed yet in an effort to get quick cash and move on to the second cutting in an attempt to catch up.Normally alfalfa reaches 15 inches by the end of April, so far most alfalfa is measuring roughly 10 inches. Ninety-degree heat over the weekend helped but the first cut yields are expected to fall short because of the long cold snap.Across Idaho hay prices are up to $145 from $120 per ton a year ago, a jump of 21 percent. In northern Idaho it’s $220 per ton and as much as $300 per ton in parts of California. Feeding a single horse can cost more than $2,000 a year or more. How To Beat the High Cost of Living Heather and Ted Glass of Boise are planting a garden this year to beat the high cost of produce.Boise--With gasoline prices at all time record highs, the number of Idahoans planning to grow their own backyard vegetables this year is up sharply. Edwards nursery on Hill Road in Boise, Gardening organizations, seed wholesalers, all report a sharp increase in the number of people buying vegetable seeds and starter plants. The trend actually started a few years ago when people started worrying about where their food came from, food quality, and global warming, say garden gurus. Now it's gasoline and food price hikes that have led to this gardening tidal wave.Retired dentist Ted Glass and daughter Heather live off Hill Road in Boise, Heather says they saved 'hundreds of dollars' thanks to last years garden. "We eat something every meal from last summers garden, whether its canned corn, frozen tomato sauce, last night we had frozen beans. So this year again I'm growing a big garden with tomatoes, green beans, corn and potatoes," said Glass.A survey revealed that 39 percent of people with backyards told the Garden Writers Association they planned to grow vegetables this year that's up from 5 percent from last year. The vegetable seed market had leveled off this past decade, but sales now are expected to go through the roof. "This is evolving into a perfect storm for vegetable gardening," says Charlie Nardozzi, senior horticulturist at the National Gardening Association in Burlington, Vt. "A lot of the economic things happening, and concerns are rising about global warming and carbon footprints, and so are worries about the quality of food, its price, and freshness – it's all come to a head." "To be sure, food and fuel prices plus more and more people like their organic food and taste are big factors in the garden movement," said Glass. Garden Writers Association annually surveys people to see how they plan to spend their gardening dollars, there was a big change this year in survey results with gardens moving up to number two. "You've got a double whammy: The cost of food is going up disproportionately, and so is the price of gas to go get it," says Robert LaGasse, executive director of the Garden Writers Association in Manassas, Va. "With a garden, there's the cost savings, and add to it the time savings to walk out your back door and pull a couple of tomatoes from the garden for dinner tonight. It's wholesome, convenient, and you know what was done to it." Posted by President Frank Priestley's Farm Bill Editorial Farm Bill Moving Forward - FinallyWith any piece of legislation that runs 1,500 to 2,000 pages in length, there’s going to be some bad with the good. The farm bill package, passed by Congress this week, is no exception.Like making sausage, everything in there isn’t mouth-watering, but the end product turned out politically palatable. At least that’s what 318 House members and 81 U.S. Senators thought.Idaho’s entire congressional delegation supported the measure, which garnered enough support to override the veto threatened by President Bush. They showed commendable political courage in supporting this legislation, and agriculture thanks them for providing a basic, no frills safety net for farmers and ranchers that also increases support for hungry Americans and the environment.The three-legged safety net of direct payments, marketing loans and counter-cyclical programs provides U.S. agriculture an essential level of financial security at a time when markets are volatile and expenses such as fertilizer and fuel are shooting through the roof.Idaho Congressman Bill Sali called the bill “far from perfect,” but wisely recognized the importance of a safe, domestic food supply. “It is important that we create a sensible farm policy so that we will never have a day when we speak of America’s reliance on foreign food the way we speak of America’s reliance on foreign oil.”A high point of the legislation mentioned by Sali is the inclusion of dehydrated potatoes in the Women Infant Children (WIC) program. This measure is expected to increase demand for Idaho potatoes.Mike Simpson, Idaho’s other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, also noted that as with any initiative as large as the Farm Bill, there are good and bad provisions. Overall, however, it’s a good bill that “will help nurture a stable farm economy for our nation’s rural communities.”Senator Mike Crapo’s hard work is also reflected in this farm bill with language that provides incentives for landowners to help perpetuate endangered species found on private property. Under the current Endangered Species Act, land uses are strictly regulated when an endangered species is found on private land. This often results in a “taking” of that land. The new language makes landowners partners in a conservation process.“The breadth and depth of this legislation reaches into so many people’s lives that everyone in America – not just those involved in farm country – everyone in America should be paying attention to this legislation and should be glad we’ve been able to find that agreement. . .” Crapo said.This farm bill is good, solid legislation for American agriculture, consumers and the environment. IFBF salutes our congressional delegation for having the courage and foresight to vote in favor. HOUSE PASSES MASSIVE FARM BILLWashington—After five long years the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $290 billion farm bill. The 318-106 vote, nearly a two-third majority comes despite the threat of a veto from President George W. Bush.Two-hundred billion dollars would pay for food for the poor along with nutrition programs. Congress earmarked $40-billion to farm subsidies and another $30 billion to farmers that enhance endangered species habitat and idle their land. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has worked on these preservation programs for years and was delighted to see them included in the bill.“Landowner incentives like permanent tax deductions and tax credits are critical to the involvement of private property owners in assisting with the protection of endangered species on their property,” Crapo said. “This is a major step in efforts to protect these species, since the majority of habitat is on private land. Forming a financial partnership is likely to engage more private property owners and recover more endangered species."The Senate started debate on the bill just hours after passage in the House. Senator Crapo says he would vote to override if needed, against the President. Insiders say the Bush Administration has an uphill battle because of the large majority in the house and the fact that farm states have far greater representation in the Senate.Congress has overridden a Presidential veto before, a water projects bill, during George W. Bush's two terms. Posted by Farm Bureau Vows to Help Lowry and Nettleton Paul Nettleton (Photo by Jake Putnam) BOISE – The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation kicked off a fundraiser this week for two Owyhee County ranchers who went through a 10-year court battle initiated by a federal agency, won, and then got stuck with over a million dollars in legal fees.It started as bad dream for Paul Nettleton and Tim Lowry. Nearly a decade ago the Bureau of Land Management hauled the two Owyhee County ranchers into state court to determine who owned the water rights on grazing allotments utilized by the ranches since the late 1800’s. The U.S. Grazing Service, which eventually became the BLM, was not established until 1934. This turned out to be a key factor in the court decision.Eventually, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled for the ranchers nullifying the attack on state water rights by the BLM. While the fight was successful, the legal defense of the ranchers cost a small fortune and they were denied reimbursement of legal fees.The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation is kicking off a fundraising effort with a 16 minute documentary telling the ranchers’ story. The two families won victories against an army of federal lawyers and against long odds. The outcome of this case sets a precedent that protects stock water rights throughout the West.“It was just a concerted effort to get that water back out of the private hands and into the hands of the federal government, it was just going after and as far as I’m concerned extortion type tactics to steal a private property right from individuals,” said Tim Lowry.“It’s time that we help these families because they helped us,” said Idaho Farm Bureau President Frank Priestley. “We want to pass the hat for these ranchers. What they did took a lot of courage and their example will continue to protect our way of life.”The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation produced the video http://www.webvideomedia.net/highprice.html And a website telling the ranchers 10-year struggle with the federal government and the lawyers that vowed break them: http://luranchingandjoycelivestockcov.blogspot.com/“Their victory is a victory for all of us. All agricultural, mining and recreation users that utilize water on federal lands now have more secure rights based on this important legal case,” added Priestley.THE FOLLOWING LEGAL POINTS WERE WON IN THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT:· The ranchers own state water rights on federally administered lands· The priority dates of the water rights date back to when the water was first put to beneficial use·The state water rights are appurtenant to the ranch property and need not be specifically listed on the deed· The U.S. government does not own and cannot hold stock water rights.HOW YOU CAN HELP:Order a video from the website ((http://luranchingandjoycelivestockcov.blogspot.com/), view it, and then pass it on to friends. Donate as much as you can afford to:Agricultural and Environmental Research Foundation, C/O Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, 275 Tierra Vista Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201 Posted by Equine Assisted Therapy in Hailey, Idaho Hailey--A group of therapists perform miracles everyday in Hailey, Idaho---and they do it on horseback.Throughout the world the use of the horse in rehabilitation and education continues to gain recognition as an important therapeutic tool. At the Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped, they've been at it for almost two decades. Researchers have found that a horse's gait is similar to the human walk and it helps strengthen spine and pelvic muscles, improves posture and coordination not to mention a boost in confidence and self esteem.The Sagebrush Equine Center serves more than a 100 children from the Developmental Preschool, Bellvue, Hailey, Woodside elementary schools and Wood River High School. The kids participate in therapeutic riding on a weekly basis for no charge.SETCH also plays a big role in patients requiring on-going therapy due to accidents and serious illness. "For a person with a disability, in addition to receiving physical therapy, the back of a horse can take them to places where wheelchairs cannot," says founder Kristy Pigeon.The self esteem built through these therapy sessions combats depression and improves the quality of life of the challenged individual. SETCH is a nonprofit organization founded in 1991, Their goal is to provide physical, cognitive and emotional benefits that encourages independence, life skills, and the quality of life of the challenged. Ada County Farm Bureau Meeting Meridian--Ada County Farm Bureau President Don Sonke presented scholarship checks to four Future Farmer of America Students.Benjamin Enger of Meridan (middle in photo above) accepted a check for $500 and will pick up another check later in the year for an additional $500. Enger will attend the University of Idaho and wants to study veterinarian medicine.Tori Thornton of Kuna High school also picked up a check for $750 she plans on attending Utah State next fall, Jessica Smith of Meridian will also attend U of I and also picked up a check for $750, both of the $750 scholarships are renewable each year.President Sonke and the Board listened to a presentation from Lori Cox of the Western Idaho Fair. Ada County FB is looking for way to expand and promote their annual barn tour. The barn tour is way of telling the farm story to the urban masses and has had moderate success over the years.Cox pitched an idea that entails a new program called 'Ask a Farmer' and is looking for sponsorships of the program, the board listened with interest to presentation and will weigh pros and cons of both programs in the coming months.The Board then listened to a presentation from Jake Putnam of the Boise Federation Office. Putnam made a plea for speakers, farmers willing to go on camera for media interviews.Putnam pointed to recent ethanol, corn and food price stories as examples of why farmers need to speak up and tell the farm story on these emerging stories. Bee Mortality Continues U.S. Department of Agriculture Still Seeking a Cause of Colony Collapse DisorderWashington--The Apiary Inspectors of America says bee mortality rates are up 13-percent over last years disasterous outbreak of Colony Colapse Disorder that wiped out 36-percent of the nations honey bees.Idaho beekeepers report mortality, but so far not as severe as the year before.The combined survey, which was conducted by telephone interview, checked on nearly 19 percent of the country's 2.44 million colonies. ARS is continuing to vigorously seek the cause or causes of CCD. One issue complicating research is that researchers only have samples taken after a CCD incident is reported. With just the one set of samples, especially since the adult bees have disappeared, researchers cannot look for specific changes in affected bee colonies preceding the collapse. To deal with this, in February 2007, universities and states began taking samples about every six weeks from cooperating migratory beekeepers who move their colonies to provide pollination. Two of the apiaries being sampled had suffered outbreaks of CCD in 2006. Some of these apiaries did have a CCD incident in late 2007 or early 2008. The stored samples will hopefully give researchers an opportunity to see what changed, and more direction to find the cause or causes. Posted by AFBF: Food Fix Needs to be Thoughtful, Comprehensive WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2008 – The American Farm Bureau Federation today said there is no short-term fix for the complex global food situation. In a statement on global food prices submitted to Congress, AFBF said there are many factors causing an increase in food prices around the world that must be addressed with thoughtful and comprehensive measures.Escalating energy prices, demand and weather are but a few culprits for rising food prices, said AFBF. The organization also said the overall food price issue is much larger than the U.S. “It is global and requires global solutions,” said the organization.AFBF cited a February 2008 report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization that “identifies the rising cost of energy, increased worldwide demand, weather impacts on crop production, lower stocks levels, and the production of biofuels and the operation of financial markets as part of the current global food situation. This has resulted in world price increases of 80 percent for some products from 2005 to 2008,” said AFBF in its statement.Domestically, said AFBF, the spiraling cost of natural gas and crude oil are having a major impact on production costs for farmers, ranchers and the entire food production chain. “Action must be taken to reduce our reliance on foreign sources of oil,” said AFBF. “Development of domestic oil and gas reserves, a continued commitment to biofuels and development of renewable resources must be part of the solution.”Because of the renewable fuels standard (RFS), gas prices have already been lowered by as much as 15 percent according to AFBF and other studies, saving the consumer roughly 50 cents per gallon.The organization also said other remedies are needed, such as investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, which play a critical role increasing agricultural production. Globally, countries should be discouraged from placing embargos on exports, which only result in escalating prices, and markets must be given time to adjust to growing demand and be allowed to stabilize.Short-term solutions, such as food aid, agricultural assistance and efforts to calm markets, could help through the difficult time, but, says AFBF, “The situation we face today has been building over a long period. It will not be resolved by politically expedient solutions but must be addressed in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner.”Long-term, said AFBF, there also needs to be more objective and open-minded approaches to agriculture productivity around the world. “Deciding to forgo technologies that can significantly improve yields, reduce pesticide needs and provide for greater output puts a major cost on developing and other economies.” Food Prices Expected to Stabilize This Summer WARSAW, POLAND--The European Union's agriculture Chief Mariann Fischer said world food prices will stabilize below peak levels, but warned that speculation has led to higher food prices worldwide and could cause even more marketplace instability."We saw some huge peaks (in prices) from late August, September and October," EU Agriculture Commissioner Fischer. "They might come back to a certain extent, but we expect that prices will stabilize at a level that is a bit below the peaks that we have seen" and that all this "has had a huge consequence on the increase in cereal prices that we have seen.""If speculation, again, has a major implication, it's impossible to give any clear forecasts of the crisis," she added.The World Bank says food prices are up 83 percent in three years. Skyrocketing prices have sparked violent protests in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia this past winter. American Farm Bureau Recommends Changes to Agriculture Worker ProgramWASHINGTON—The American Farm Bureau wants Congress to craft an effective H2A temporary worker program. In comments submitted to the Department of Labor,AFBF told the Department of Labor that revisions to the program are needed to help slow a serious agriculture labor shortage and recommends moving toward a more market-based wage program.The H2A program currently mandates an “adverse effect wage rate” that forces farmers to pay higher than market wages—on top of housing and transportation costs. In some cases, according to the Farm Bureau, those requirements make the program impossible to use from an economic standpoint.“Growers have been clamoring for a more sensible, market-based wage,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “We’re hopeful the Labor Department can implement this reform in an open, transparent manner that makes it easier for farmers and ranchers to use the program.”The AFBF also favors eliminating the so called ‘50 percent rule’ because it keeps growers from participating in the H2A program. The rule requires an employer to hire any qualified and eligible U.S. worker who applies for a job until 50 percent of the work contract is completed.“There’s no reason to mandate that a grower’s obligations to find and recruit eligible U.S. workers should extend past the recruitment period; imposing such an obligation serves only to disrupt operations of the producer and does little to protect U.S. workers,” said Stallman.AFBF urged the department to further reform the H2A program by providing a housing voucher for program users and including packing and processing employees, as well as the dairy sector, as part of the program. Farm Bureau also asked the department to change some of its proposals. The Farm Bureau said the 120-day recruitment requirement was far too long and should be cut to no more than 60 days.AFBF also called for fundamental due-process reforms in the department’s proposed debarment process, which could result in a grower losing eligibility for the H2A program for one action or violation. Dairy grade hay now going for $215 a ton in Canyon...

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Weather report: Mostly dry in the Corn Belt By Brad Rippey, Agricultural Meteorologist In the West, widely scattered showers are heaviest in the middle Colorado Valley. Temperatures continue to fall toward near-normal levels, except for some lingering heat across the interior Northwest. Small grain harvesting continues in the Northwest, while nearly five dozen wildfires are actively burning across the region—mostly in California and the Northwest. On the Plains, isolated showers are mostly confined to central portions of the region, including western Kansas. Hot weather prevails throughout the nation’s mid-section, promoting small grain harvesting on the northern Plains but stressing rain-fed summer crops on the southern High Plains. In the Corn Belt, mostly dry weather has returned, following yesterday’s beneficial showers. Today’s high temperatures will remain below 80°F in much of the Great Lakes region. In the South, warm, mostly dry weather prevails, although showers will return to the southern Atlantic States later today. A disturbance near the central Gulf Coast is not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone, but is currently helping to focus heavy showers just offshore. Outlook: Heat will persist across the nation’s mid-section into early next week, particularly across the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Temperatures will regularly approach or reach 100°F as far north as eastern Montana and the Dakotas. Farther east, heat will not be as extreme across the Midwest, although temperatures could approach 95°F by the middle of next week across the southern and western Corn Belt. Meanwhile, showers will continue to rotate clockwise around a ridge of high pressure parked over the nation’s mid-section. During the next 5 days, little or no rain can be expected from the central and southern Plains into the middle Mississippi Valley, while 1- to 3- inch totals will be common in the Southwest, far upper Midwest, and along the Gulf Coast. Moisture associated with Tropical Depression Nine-E could further enhance Southwestern rainfall totals. The NWS 6- to 10-day outlook for August 28 – September 1 calls for near- to above-normal temperatures and rainfall across the majority of the U.S. Heat will be most likely across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, while drier-than-normal weather will be limited to the southern half of the Plains and parts of the Northwest. weatherweather report About the Author: Brad Rippey, Agricultural Meteorologist

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Cows connected to web to boost milk From the section Scotland business http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-26705812 Internet-linked collars on the cows track the animal's health Scottish dairy farmers are connecting their cows to the internet to help increase the amount of milk they produce. A new project allows the farmers to track the health of their herd and identify potential health problems early. Silent Herdsman, which developed the scheme, has been awarded millions of pounds to help develop the project.The Scots-based firm now plans to roll it out to dairy farms across the globe. The system operates by placing special electronic collars on to the cattle. The collars contain a wireless sensor which transmits data about the animal's health and the amount of milk they are producing back to a central computer or device. The data allows farmers to ensure their herd is as healthy as possible in order to maximise the amount of milk being produced. It also helps identify any sick animals as early as possible. Silent Herdsman chief executive Annette McDougall said: "Farmers can monitor the fertility behaviour of the animal, the likelihood of pregnancy in the cow and ultimately produce more milk to boost operational efficiency on the farm." The firm has secured a multi-million pound investment led by Scottish Equity Partners to expand and develop the project. The data on their health is transmitted back to a central computer Ms McDougall said that her firm were actively looking to further develop the system to a "wider ecosystem" which would include vets, suppliers and retailers who would all be able to receive an animal's data being updated in real time. She said: "Having the internet of cows being central to our strategy, we are excited about how we manage, analyse and distribute this data across a wider ecosystem""It's very important to be able to have up to date information on animals on a regular basis but to have it real time, we believe, gives us an edge."Graham Kerr, a dairy farmer from Lanarkshire, said the scheme had saved him both time and money.He said: "It is very useful, it is saving us a lot of time on the day to day running of the farm, it has given us more time to spend with our families. "But it has also given us the time to do other jobs on the farm which helps us do a better job of being a dairy farmer."He added: "If we can catch a cow when she's going lame early on, or sick through a digestive problem, we can intervene earlier and hopefully save ourselves an expensive vet call out."

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Originally Published: 10/10/2012 Erica Lavdanski Organic Farmer - Buy This Photo Reading Eagle: Susan L. Angstadt Erica Lavdanski of B&H Organic Produce, Morgantown, checks on her heirloom tomatoes. Susan L. Angstadt on Facebook Jamie Klein on Twitter Jamie Klein on Facebook Erica Lavdanski, 35, of West Reading started farming six years ago at B&H Organic Produce in Morgantown. She and Paul Hartz, who owns the farm, are partners. They grow 3 acres of produce and about 80 acres of grain and soybeans, and the rest of the 150-acre organic land is used as pasture for the cows and chickens they raise for their meat. B&H Organic products are found at Wyebrook Farm Market, Elverson Farmers Market and the West Reading Farmers Market. What's unique about the operation: "We have a 40-member CSA (community supported agriculture). What's sort of unique about our CSA as opposed to others is, we have an ordering system. Customers can order what they want each week. They get a different list every week. They can't order anything out of season. "We do the two markets and we have one major restaurant account. We work with Papillon Brasserie, in the 600 block of Penn Avenue (West Reading). Papillon Brasserie is a small French restaurant. The important thing is, we have a true farm-to-table relationship going on. Like, literally, I send him a list on Monday of what I am growing, and he makes his menu based on that. I said 'Philip (Chef Philip Davis), I have more Swiss chard this year than I know what to do with.' And he has bought Swiss chard every single week. He doesn't say to me, 'Oh, that's not on my menu, I don't need it.' He says, 'You want me to use that? I'll use it.' That's really unique, because most restaurants, they say, 'I have this menu, so I need 40 pounds of tomatoes every week for three months.' Well, that doesn't help a farmer. I can't always have 40 pounds of tomatoes. Especially a small farmer. We're very small. We're more of a boutique, unique-produce kind of situation. We're not a large wholesale operation at all. Almost everything is directly marketed." Why she's stayed in agriculture: "Insanity. I'm not kidding. There are many times when it gets really rough and I feel like, 'Is God telling me to be stronger or is he telling me to get out?' And I don't know the answer to that, but it's a passion. It's a drive. It's inside of me. It's very innate. I do think this is what I was meant to do in some capacity. It's extremely natural to me. I'm so in tune with the seasons, being outside every day. I love that feeling. I'm deeply connected to nature because I have to be. Everything I do depends on the weather every day. I like that. I like that feeling of being small in the world." Her goals for the future: "Something that I'm just getting started with, and this is more me personally than Paul - like I said, we can't feed the world with this - I would like to get slightly bigger, not huge, and more efficient. I want to have an organic farm that's actually profitable and not profitable from outside money sources. I want it to be economically sustainable. I would like to prove to everyone that you can grow produce, organic food, in an economically sustainable way, because if you are successful, then you will show other people that they should be doing it. So that's one goal, but the other thing is education. I'm really trying to work on getting into some schools and do more education with people on why it's important to eat healthier, but also just to take care. We have to be stewards of our land and our environment. I'm working on that project now. It's just getting started. To do education and teaching would be great, and eventually to be doing it at the farm." Why she's passionate about agriculture education: "I would love to be in schools. There's not much of an organic representation in schools right now. Even schools with an agriculture program, there's not an organic representation. And I'm not out there saying nonorganic farmers are bad. I don't think that at all. And I don't think you only have to eat organic produce. I'm not militant about all that. I just want to have an option for people and I want to see if this works." In Faces in the Fields, reporter Jamie Klein introduces the interesting personalities in local agriculture. If you'd like to suggest someone to feature, contact her at 610-371-5016 or jklein@readingeagle.com.

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Home Tea and biodiversity: a new approach to estate management Sat, 15 Sep 2012 Tea estates can play a major role in the conservation of biodiversity. In many countries around 20% of the land within tea estates is covered by natural or planted trees. This ecosystem provides important services such as carbon capture, crop pollination, pest control, and biodiversity, soil and water conservation. The Dilmah Bioregional Initiative (DBI) will help adopt a new integrated management approach for Dilmah tea estates. Photo: IUCN Photo Library © Steve Winter Dilmah Conservation launched the DBI in partnership with IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas during the IUCN Congress. The initiative aims to support Dilmah in adopting a landscape approach to the management of those estates from which the company largely sources their tea. “The DBI is centred on the emerging field of connectivity conservation. It seeks to link tea estates to the wider context of natural and productive lands with the aim of adopting a more integrated approach,” said Peter Shadie of IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas speaking at the launch. Improved connectivity is essential to conserve biodiversity and natural systems, he added. The initiative supports global calls for better landscape integration by providing the added advantage of mobilising the private sector behind such approaches. It will be planned and implemented over several years and has the potential to become an umbrella programme demonstrating that connectivity works and can deliver multiple benefits to multiple stakeholders. The initiative highlights the value of integrating private land holdings into national biodiversity strategies to be used as a model to be replicated elsewhere.Work area: BusinessProtected Areas

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Industry Commentary: Clueless consumers By Dan Murphy June 12, 2013 | 3:07 pm EDT What’s the biggest contemporary problem for livestock producers? That’s easy—if, like me, you’re an outsider looking in, that is. The No. 1 problem is that even the most articulate producers spend way too much time talking to each other, or to scientists, veterinarians, policymakers and members of the trade media. The majority of those professionals have an understanding of the dynamic and the economics of livestock production; many, in fact, are more than equipped to engage in protracted, technical discussions about inside-the-industry issues that when “translated” to a lay audience are ripe for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Take the case of one Jeremy Ranck, a 30-year-old Pennsylvania hog farmer and subject of an insightful profile in the Des Moines Register as World Pork Expo gets underway in Iowa’s capital this weekend. “Any farm, that’s your life, that’s your passion,” Ranck was quoted as saying. “We do everything we can to have the best production in crops, the best production in hogs. It is very frustrating when there are activist groups and social media blitzes of blatant lies.” That quote could probably have come from any of thousands of producers across the country, and indeed in its essence, Ranck’s observation informs a whole lot of conversation among attendees at virtually any industry trade show or conference I’ve ever attended. That’s the problem: When producers try to state what they believe to be the obvious advantages of modern production, consumers come away with a far different interpretation—they buy the lies. Just don’t do it Nowhere is that phenomenon more evident than in debates over the use of antibiotics. For more than a decade now, consumer groups and industry critics have joined forces with an activist segment of the scientific community to decry what they deem the “overuse” of antibiotics in animal agriculture, blaming it (and the producers who have embraced such inputs) as the culprit in the rising incidence of antibiotic-resistant microbial pathogens that are plaguing human medicine. Here’s the problem: The concepts of dosage, specificity and prophylaxis escape 99.99% of the public when they happen upon media coverage of the antibiotics issue. To most people, the activist mantra—an anti-Nike slogan that boils down to “Just stop it”—makes perfect sense. People fail to recognize that if one of their children develops an infection, they’re demanding that their doctor prescribe antibiotics—the connection with veterinary medicine never occurs to them. Likewise, arguments that the industry’s well-intentioned spokespeople make about sub-therapeutic usage keeping animal healthier, and thus limiting the need for more powerful antibiotics (the kinds that cause resistance problems), simply don’t resonate with shoppers pushing their carts through the local supermarket. There was a great example of that in the newspaper article. Ranck described how he and his dad (who also raises pigs) removed an old barn two years ago and replaced it with a new $500,000 steel-framed facility. The investment resulted in more uniform growth rates, fewer bouts of illness and death among the animals, and thus a sharp drop in overall antibiotic use. If you’re a producer, your head’s nodding. Of course—that’s why the industry’s gone to controlled housing and more sophisticated management, you’re saying to yourself—as if that settles any arguments. But what do consumers think when they read about that anecdote? That a scenic old barn—the kind we love to spot on our infrequent drives through “the countryside”—was torn down, and now the poor pigs are trapped in a steel-and-concrete prison, never seeing the light of day and spending their waking hours crammed into tiny, sterile pens. The notion that producers are “pumping pigs full of antibiotics” because they’re crammed into crowded, unhealthy housing actually makes a lot of sense—if you’ve never been on a farm, never seen the inside of a modern hog barn and don’t have a clue what animal husbandry’s all about. Which describes pretty much 9 out of every 10 Americans. The solution is twofold: One, open up those barns. Show people what goes on inside and the clean, sanitary environment in which pigs are raised. Yes, that involves issues of biosecurity, but under controlled conditions, the precautions that have to be taken before people enter a barn help underscore, not undermine, the message that modern housing isn’t dark and dirty at all. And two, more farmers and producers need to speak up, along with fewer scientist and spokespeople. Industry experts are important voices in policymaking debates, but rarely can such folks communicate effectively with people who have basically zero technical or scientific education. What the industry needs is more messaging that reflects how ad agencies handle copy: Aim it at seven-year olds, and you’ll be right on target. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator. animalslivestockconsumers About the Author: | Dan Murphy is a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator. View All Posts

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Grasshoppers not a big problem in upper Midwest By Sun Staff GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- Grasshoppers are not doing as much damage in the upper Midwest as officials had feared, despite this summer's drought. A federal study of adult grasshoppers last year concluded that the pests could be a threat this summer in much of the region, particularly in Montana and South Dakota. Warm, dry conditions last fall extended the grasshopper egg-laying season, and the mild winter was kind to the insects. Officials feared that dry conditions this summer would further boost grasshopper numbers because of the lack of heavy rains to kill young hoppers, according to Agweek. Grasshoppers might be doing significant damage in small, local areas, but overall, "it's not as bad as we expected," said Gary Adams, state plant health director in Montana for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The reason is unclear but disease might play a role. Wet conditions in the spring and summer of 2011 might have left more pathogens, or disease-causing germs, in the soil, cutting into grasshopper numbers this year, Adams said. Grasshoppers in eastern South Dakota have not reached the level to economically justify spraying pesticides on soybeans, said Adrianna Szczepaniec, assistant professor of entomology at South Dakota State University. Explore related topics:NewsAgricultureGrand ForksgrasshoppersNewsupdatesAdvertisement

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Industry Dead or alive? Viability of soybean rust spores By Susan Jongeneel, University of Illinois December 11, 2012 | 11:46 am EST Spores from Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) pose a serious threat to soybean production in the United States because they can be blown great distances by the wind. University of Illinois researchers have developed a method to determine whether these spores are viable. “Finding spores is different from finding spores that are living and able to infect plants,” said USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist and crop sciences professor Glen Hartman. Soybean rust, which first appeared in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, is a foliar infector that reduces plant photosynthetic activity and causes defoliation, premature death, and high yield loss. An obligate pathogen, it grows only on plants and dies when the plant dies or is harvested. The fungus first appeared In the U.S. in 2004. It is concentrated in the southern states where it is able to overwinter on kudzu. Spraying with fungicides is the only way to control it because resistant soybean cultivars are not yet available to U.S. farmers. To monitor the spread of the disease, researchers established a network of sentinel plots in 2005 (see http://sbr.ipmpipe.org/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi). Traps in these plots capture airborne spores and can serve as an early warning system for farmers. However, spores that travel long distances are often not viable. There have been many instances where spores have been found in the traps, but rust has not appeared in the fields. Up to now, because farmers have had no way to determine if the captured spores are dead or alive, they have been faced with a dilemma. They know that spraying too little or too late can lead to yield loss, so they may decide to spray immediately. This raises their costs, damages crop quality, and poses risks to human health and the environment. Spraying can also accelerate the development of fungicide-resistant strains. “In 2005, there were some farms in the Midwest and the north-central area that were sprayed with fungicide because the word was out that somebody found some spores,” Hartman said. Hartman, Ramya Vittal, a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory for Soybean Disease Research, and James Haudenshield, a USDA-ARS research plant pathologist, have just developed a method that uses two different staining techniques to determine spore viability. The first technique uses two dyes: carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) and propidium iodide (PI). Viable spores stain green with CFDA; non-viable spores counterstain red with PI. The second technique uses a two-color fluorescent viability probe that causes cylindrical vacuolar structures to form within living spores, which then fluoresce red. Non-viable spores show only faint fluorescence. Hartman said that these tests are rapid and reliable. Early detection coupled with timely fungicide application can help slow the pathogen’s spread and minimize yield losses. The next step is to integrate this method with passive spore sampling to develop a tool to detect and monitor the movement of viable P. pachyrhizi spores during the soybean growing season. The article, “A Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Method Identifies Phakopsora pachyrhizi Urediniospores and Determines Their Viability” by R. Vittal, J. S. Haudenshield, and G. L. Hartman has been published in Phytopathology and is available at http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1094/PHYTO-02-12-0040-R. soybean rust About the Author: Susan Jongeneel, University of Illinois

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Meat Consumption in China Now Double That in the United States Posted by Roger Yates on May 3, 2012 at 4:37 in News Earth Policy Release April 24 , 2012 More than a quarter of all the meat produced worldwide is now eaten in China, and the country’s 1.35 billion people are hungry for more. In 1978, China’s meat consumption of 8 million tons was one third the U.S. consumption of 24 million tons. But by 1992, China had overtaken the United States as the world’s leading meat consumer—-and it has not looked back since. Now China’s annual meat consumption of 71 million tons is more than double that in the United States. With U.S. meat consumption falling and China’s consumption still rising, the trajectories of these two countries are determining the shape of agriculture around the planet. Pork is China’s meat of choice, accounting for nearly three fourths of its meat consumption. Half the world’s pigs—-some 476 million of them—-live in China. This meat is so central to the Chinese diet that in 2007 the government, hoping to cushion against price spikes, created a strategic pork reserve (albeit a relatively small one) to accompany its more typical stockpiles of grain and petroleum. Many a Chinese banquet table is graced with a portion of sticky sweet braised pork belly, touted to be the favorite dish of Chairman Mao. With its pork consumption projected to reach 52 million tons in 2012, China is far ahead of the 8 million tons eaten in the United States, where chicken and beef are more popular. (See data at www.earth-policy.org) On a per person basis, Americans ate more pork than the Chinese until 1997, when the lines crossed and China pushed ahead. Over the past five years, per capita pork consumption in the United States has fallen on average 2 percent a year, while that in China has grown by over 3 percent a year despite price increases. Now the Chinese each eat an average of 84 pounds (38 kilograms) of pork in a year, while Americans average 59 pounds. Traditionally China’s pigs were raised in small numbers by households feeding them crop waste and table scraps. As many American kitchens today have a garbage disposal, Chinese kitchens had a pig. Indeed, the written Mandarin Chinese character for “home” depicts a pig under a roof, signifying the animal’s longtime domestic importance. But now the ramped-up demands of a richer and increasingly urbanized society have taken more pigs out of the backyard and into specialized livestock operations, where they are fed grain and soybeans. Poultry production in China—-virtually non-existent prior to 1978—-is also becoming more industrialized. While chicken flocks in the United States began to multiply rapidly following World War II, flocks in China started their expansion some 20 years later and have grown twice as fast. Chinese chicken consumption is set to exceed 13 million tons in 2012, marking the first time that more chicken will be eaten in China than in the United States. Still, on average, Americans eat four times more chicken per person. For beef, China’s 6-million-ton consumption compares with 11 million tons in the United States. Americans, with their stereotypical burgers and steaks, each eat an average of 79 pounds of beef a year, nearly nine times more than the Chinese average. Beef production has not taken off as quickly in China as other meats have, in part due to its higher cost and to competing claims on grazing land. The other prime reason that beef has not become as popular in China is that cattle in feedlots gobble up about 7 pounds of grain for each pound of weight gain. For pigs, the feeding ratio is 3 to 1, and for chickens it is 2 to 1. With one fifth of the world’s population and limited land and water supplies, China has had to rely heavily on the more-efficient forms of animal protein. This has led to China’s huge farmed fish output of 37 million tons, which accounts for over 60 percent of the world total. For comparison, U.S. aquacultural output is less than half a million tons. Farmed fish in ponds, particularly the herbivorous species like carp that are popular in China, require even less feed than chickens do. While rice is an essential component of many a Chinese meal, China’s largest grain crop actually is corn, with 192 million tons harvested in 2011. Corn is so prominent because it dominates feed rations for livestock, poultry, and fish. The 140-million-ton rice harvest, largely from the southern part of the country, and most of the 118-million-ton wheat crop from the north are eaten directly by people or cooked into noodles, buns, dumplings, and other foods. Altogether, China harvested the largest grain crop of any country in history in 2011. A full one third of that harvest is going to feed animals to meet the growing demand for meat, milk, eggs, and farmed fish. Since the agricultural policy reforms of 1978, China’s feedgrain use has shot up more than ninefold. In 2010, China replaced the United States as the world’s number one feedgrain user. Along with grain, the other component in typical livestock rations is the soybean. China overtook the United States in the amount of soybean meal fed to animals in 2008, but it was not able to do so without help from the outside world. In 1995 China produced some 14 million tons of soybeans and also consumed 14 million tons. By 2011 China still produced 14 million tons of soybeans—-but it consumed 70 million tons. Now more than 60 percent of world soybean exports, nearly all from the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, go to China. China’s incredible appetite for meat has altered the landscape of the western hemisphere, where the land planted in soybeans now exceeds that in either wheat or corn. Rainforest and savanna have been cleared to make way for a vast soybean monoculture. The Chinese government has had to look overseas to meet its burgeoning demand for soy because of its policy of maintaining grain self-sufficiency. When global grain prices spiked in 2007–08, many people pointed to China, saying that its growing meat consumption must have raised demand enough to cause the jump. But because China was almost entirely self-sufficient in grain, other culprits had to be found. (The big one turned out to be the U.S. ethanol industry, which now devours 30 percent of the U.S. grain crop.) Since then, however, China has started to turn to the world market for grain, importing a net 7 million tons in 2011. If Chinese meat consumption continues to rise fast, its feed imports will soar higher, taking international food prices up with them. Already the U.S. Grains Council is saying that China could soon supplant Japan as the world’s top corn importer. Per person meat consumption in China now is half the amount in the United States. For China to reach American per capita levels with beef would take over three fourths of current world beef output. For chicken it would require 80 percent of the world’s broiler chickens. And China is not the only country trying to move up the food chain. Yet even as billions of people across the developing world with little meat in their diets aretrying to eat more, Americans are starting to cut back. Total U.S. meat consumption dropped 6 percent between 2007 and 2012. Ultimately, feeding the global population of 7 billion and counting will require meeting somewhere in the middle. Data and additional resources available at www.earth-policy.org. Janet Larsen is Director of Research at the Earth Policy Institute. Permalink Reply by olly stearn on May 3, 2012 at 21:30 http://colostate.academia.edu/CoreyWrenn/Papers/1149729/Resisting_t...may be of interest :)

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Valley Green Feast Brings The Farmer’s Market To Your Door The Western Massachusetts co-op wants to deliver to the Boston area. By Megan Tripp | December 16, 2013, 12:22 p.m. Valley Green Feast fall produce box photo by Rebekah Hanlon Ever wonder what it would be like to have a farmer’s market in your front yard? Readily available, local, fresh produce waiting for you as soon as your open your door? Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Valley Green Feast (VGF) thinks so and they’re committed to bridging the divide between the farm and your front door. VGF, a Western Massachusetts based co-operative, delivers locally grown, organic products straight to your home. “We live in a great area full of agriculture but not everyone has access to it,” says Rebekah Hanlon, one of the four owners of Valley Green Feast. “Some people don’t have cars so they can’t get to farmers’ markets, and people are really busy and sometimes don’t have time to go to the grocery store and walk back with all those bags. That’s the gap we’re trying to fill.” That’s why VGF is trying to expand their co-operative into the Boston area starting January 8th. But with less than a month and more than $10,000 still left to go on their Indiegogo campaign, they need the community’s help. “We do a lot of work to help connect our farmers and our producers and stand behind the work they’re doing,” Hanlon says. “And we want to get the community involved in that because it’s really all about community.” The four VGF worker/owners: Becky Szlosek, Ally Sterling, Rebekah Hanlon, and Ruth Ann. Image provided. So what makes VGF different from similar fresh delivery programs like Boston Organics? Besides VGF’s status as a worker owned co-operative, all VGF deliveries in Boston will be conducted completely by bicycle. VGF teamed up with another local co-operative, the Boston Collective Delivery bicycle courier service, to handle the deliveries to a number of Boston neighborhoods on Wednesdays. “We’re both relatively small businesses and relatively new businesses,” Hanlon says of the collaboration with Boston Collective Delivery. “And we realized that we could really help each other out. We both wanted to help bring money into the local food system, [bring] good food to families, and create more co-operative jobs for people in the city.” Boston Collective Delivery will also benefit from the funds raised on Indiegogo. What they really need to buy, Hanlon says, is weather resistant traveling supplies. “We’re going to need a lot more than we have, for the winter and for the city,” she says. “We want to make sure that all the food is safe as its being delivered and that Boston Collective Delivery feels confident with their supplies.” So how does VGF work? You order online, your produce is gathered from local farmers, and then it’s packaged and delivered to your door about a week later. You can choose from a wide selection of meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, breads, and even coffees and chocolates. The items are all produced right here in Massachusetts. And you can customize your produce boxes to make sure you receive more of what you like and less of what you don’t. The boxes come in sizes ranging from mini to extra large which allows for individual healthy feasting or sharing with a large family. Other products available from VGF. Photo by Rebekah Hanlon. “Over the past few years, we’ve built up great relationships with local farmers,” Hanlon says. And unlike CSAs or similar food delivery programs, Valley Green Feast’s boxes change constantly. Hanlon calls it “spreading the love.” That also means each week’s boxes have an inherent element of surprise. “It’s kind of a leap of faith for our customers,” Hanlon says. “Every week you know there will be local and organic food, but you don’t know exactly what’s in the box.” Current customers usually place standing weekly or biweekly orders, according to Hanlon, but individual, one-time orders are also welcome. Pre-orders for Boston-area delivery are happening now on Valley Green Feast’s website. After the launch in January, Bostonians can place their orders on Tuesday before noon to receive a delivery the following Wednesday. “We experience so many difficulties in our normal lives,” Hanlon says. “We’re not connected enough to other people, and these two co-operatives working together can make really huge changes in the community. We really do care about each other, and about bringing good food to as many families as we can.” 413-588-8704, valleygreenfeast.com Source URL: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2013/12/16/valley-green-feast/

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Changes in organic review process meet resistance The National Organic Program changes its procedures for sunset provisions, which it says will increase transparency in determining what substances are allowed on the national list. Opponents say it does the opposite. Published on September 23, 2013 1:07PM Some members of the organic industry say they oppose new changes in the National Organic Program that proponents say are aimed at adding consistency to determining which substances farmers can use.The changes, announced last week, require that two-thirds of the 15-member National Organic Standards Board support any change to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for it to be recommended to the USDA.The board must review all substances on the list every five years. It can recommend substances be removed due to impacts on human health, the environment or other criteria under the Organic Foods Production Act.“(The new procedure) means that the board will need a two-thirds decisive vote to remove an existing listing, rather than a two-thirds decisive vote to retain an existing listing,” Sam Jones-Ellard, public affairs specialist at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, said. “This ensures consistency across all board recommendations related to the national list and provides increased stability for the market once something goes through the initial evaluation process.”Organic standards are designed to allow most natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting most synthetic substances. The list of allowed and prohibited substances, part of the organic regulations, lists the exceptions to this basic rule and the non-organic substances allowed in processed organic products.The board meets twice a year to provide a public forum on issues relating to organic production. It then makes recommendations to the NOP.However, Consumers Union, a consumer advocacy group, objected to both the change and how it was decided, saying the USDA weakened the meaning of the organic label.“These exemptions were supposed to be made for a five-year period, in order to encourage the development of natural (or organic) alternatives,” the group said in a news release. “The exemptions were required by law to expire, known as ‘sunset,’ unless they were reinstated by a two-thirds ‘decisive’ majority vote of the NOSB and include a public review. This is no longer the case.”It also said the NOP decision was not transparent. “The fact that the agency made this decision without any public input only adds to the violation felt by watchdog groups and consumers alike,” the group said.At the Cornucopia Institute, an organic advocacy group, policy analyst Pamela Coleman said, “The NOP claims that this rule ‘increases transparency.’ In fact, it removes decision-making from the full 15-member board and puts it in the hands of a subcommittee (approximately a third of the board members). Previously, all decisions were made in a public meeting, and all transcripts were posted for public view. This NOP decision changes that. Now, decisions can be made in private, in the subcommittee meeting, with public unaware of the discussion.”The NOSB at its next meeting Oct. 24-26 in Louisville, Ky., will address several petitions pertaining to changes to the National List, including glycerin, several substances for use in aquaculture and streptomycin for use to control fire blight in pears and apples. The agenda of topics and current proposals are available at www.ams.usda.gov/nosbmeetings.

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Home > News > Regulatory News Bakers balk at changes to wheat futures contracts WASHINGTON — Concern about changes in wheat futures contracts that could further increase market volatility was voiced this week by baking industry representatives at a Commodity Futures Trading Commission agricultural forum in Washington. Under consideration by the C.F.T.C. are proposals to raise the speculative limits for agricultural commodities and to create a regulatory exemption from speculative limits for certain risk management purposes. John Popp, chairman of the Independent Bakers Association, urged the C.F.T.C. to drop the proposal to increase limits in the number of contracts held by a single entity to 14,500 contracts. Mr. Popp said such an expansion for wheat would allow a single entity "to control 20% of the soft wheat crop, 7% of the hard winter crop and 16% of the spring wheat crop." Mr. Popp is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Aunt Millie’s Bakery, Fort Wayne, Ind. The impact of market volatility was emphasized by the American Bakers Association, represented by David Brown, chairman of the A.B.A. commodity task force. "The futures markets were created as a regulated medium to allow physical commodity users to purchase goods from producers," said Mr. Brown, who is vice-president of procurement at Sara Lee Corp. "Now these businesses that rely on purchasing commodities to provide the country with food are being pushed out of the market due to increased speculation and a general move away from the original intent of the exchanges." Walt Lukken, acting chairman of the C.F.T.C., said the commission would not rush forward the new proposals. "While we have requested and received public comment on these proposals, given current market conditions and the uncertainty surrounding additional speculative money on these markets, I will be very cautious about moving forward with such initiatives at this time," he said. This remark drew cheers from the A.B.A. "A.B.A. was extremely pleased to hear today from Chairman Lukken that the C.F.T.C. is holding off at this time on implementing either of its recently proposed rules in light of current market volatility," said Cory Martin, A.B.A.’s federal government relations manager. "A.B.A. believes both of these proposed rules may only exacerbate the volatility we are currently experiencing."

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Governor Brown’s never-ending drought emergency Feb 21, 2017 Delayed first irrigation can improve walnut tree health, yield, quality Feb 15, 2017 ABC invests $4.7 million for next gen almond farming, sustainability Feb 16, 2017 California wine grape industry seeks no-touch vineyard Feb 10, 2017 Cobey wins major beekeeper award Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, University of California, Davis, has received the 2009 California State Beekeepers’ Association’s Distinguished Service Award for service to the honey bee industry. Cobey accepted the award at the group’s conference in San Diego, Calif. She drew praise for improving stock; teaching advanced beekeeping courses on queen bee rearing and instrument insemination; and pushing to develop import protocol to diversify the U.S. honey bee populations. Cobey has traveled the world to find promising bee characteristics and improve stock. She has taught many classes on queen rearing and artificial insemination with the emphasis on closed populations to enhance the particular line of queens. “In order to continue to improve honey bee stock for resistance to pests and diseases, bees and reproductive material must be imported from other countries, as well as domestically,” said Bob Miller of Miller’s Honeybees, Watsonville, who announced the award recipient. “In an effort to maintain safe international movement of honey bee germplasm, she (Cobey) has helped to develop the protocol necessary to protect U.S. beekeeping from unwanted and uncontrolled importation,” Miller said. Cobey joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology in May 2007 after a career spanning 17 years as staff apiarist at the Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Laboratory, Ohio State University. Cobey developed the New World Carniolans stock, a dark race of honey bees, in the early 1980s by back-crossing stocks collected from throughout the U.S. and Canada to create a more pure strain. A current focus of Cobey’s research includes selecting and enhancing this stock to show increasing levels of resistance to pests and diseases.

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7 Dec 2000 : Column WA1 Thursday, 7th December 2000. GlobalisationPig Industry Restructuring Scheme Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government: When the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme will open for applications, and what progress has been made in its development. [HL58] The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): On 4 December my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that the Outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme was open for applications. This announcement delivers a further component of the Government's agricultural strategy. The scheme will make a significant amount of money available to the 7 Dec 2000 : Column WA2 UK pig industry, a sector that has suffered terribly over the past two years. While market conditions have improved recently, the scale of the debt incurred over those difficult times continues to be a major restraint on the industry's ability to prepare itself for the future. The Government's restructuring scheme will go some way towards remedying that situation. The European Commission has confirmed that it is content with the Outgoers part of the restructuring scheme. As promised by my right honourable friend, this first phase was opened as soon as possible after receiving that confirmation. The Government are confident that formal clearance from the Commission for both phases of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme will be obtained later this month. The aim of Outgoers is to reduce pig breeding capacity in the UK by 16 per cent compared to what was available in June 1998 in order to allow the British pig industry to begin its necessary restructuring. Discussions with the pig industry are continuing on Ongoers and the intention is to open this second phase of the restructuring scheme early in the new year.

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Farms facing shortfalls with 2016 commodity prices Feb 16, 2017 What’s in store for the next farm bill? Feb 16, 2017 John Killebrew: Honoring a life of service Feb 20, 2017 What’s behind positive moves in cotton price? Feb 17, 2017 Cotton Incorporated and Cotton Board elect new chairmen Two U.S. cotton producers were recently elected by their respective boards of directors to serve as chairmen. Arkansas producer Bob McGinnis replaces Nancy Marino, outgoing Cotton Board chairman, and California producer Ted Sheely replaces Louie Perry, outgoing Cotton Incorporated chairman. McGinnis is a 20-year veteran of the Arkansas House of Representatives. While serving in that role he was instrumental in the establishment of the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program and the Soil Testing Review Board. He served as an advisor to the National Cotton Council on federal regulatory issues and is a past director on the board of Cotton Incorporated, where he served as chairman of the marketing committee. He is responsible for the vision behind the development of COTVAR — a Web-based tool created cooperatively by Cotton Incorporated and the University of Arkansas that’s now used to compare varieties tested in the Mid-South. McGinnis also served as the co-chair of the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Commission on Education and is now the chairman of the Health Policy Board for the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. He was elected to the Arkansas Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2007. Sheely brings more than 40 years of cotton industry experience to the Cotton Incorporated board. He grew his first cotton crop as part of a Future Farmers of America project and has expanded his operation to almost 9,000 acres. Growing both upland and Pima cotton, Sheely’s diversified farming operation includes tomatoes, wheat, pistachios, garlic, grapes, safflower, barley and triticale. Sheely has long been known for his innovative thinking and testing of cutting-edge precision agricultural technology. He has been a leading figure in the USDA/NASA Ag 20/20 Program, studying the integration of remote sensing-based tools and technology to increase production efficiency and improve the quality of his farming operation while decreasing its overall environmental footprint. Both McGinnis and Sheely will serve two-year terms.

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À proposEn actionPaysThèmesMédiasPublicationsStatistiquesPartenaires Faits marquantsDu terrainEn profondeur Accueil > Archives > Du terrain > Nouvelles 15 Southern countries adopt the Abuja Declaration on South-South Cooperation 30/09/2013 - 28th September 2013, Abuja/Accra - Ministers and heads of delegation from 12 African countries, the People’s Republic of China, Brazil, Vietnam, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), other United Nations agencies and development partners engaged in the multilateral agricultural South-South Cooperation (SSC), have adopted the Declaration of the High Level Forum on SSC in Abuja, Nigeria. The countries pledged to work together on SSC, to share experiences, knowledge, technologies, best practices and capacities, as well as explore new areas and modalities of multilateral agricultural SSC. FAO has been facilitating the South-South Cooperation involving more than 50 countries from the global South since 1996. A message by the FAO Director-General, delivered on his behalf by Mr. Laurent Thomas, the Assistant Director-General, FAO Technical Cooperation Department, said that the forum provided an opportunity for broadening the scope for sharing lessons learned and best practices of southern-generated development solutions that promote agriculture and food security In his statement Laurent Thomas said, “FAO looks forward to learning from the discussions of the forum, by building on the collective accomplishment and opportunities in the past years to improve the effectiveness of its expanded SSC modalities in order to better serve its member countries, and better harness resources, knowledge, expertise and technological solutions in the global South.” The Minister of Agriculture of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, in his statement, expressed satisfaction with the contributions of the SSC programme raising food production and income of farmers, particularly in the rural areas. “We in Nigeria have been implementing the SSC programme in its widest sense since 2003 and today we are proud to recall the immense contributions it has made to our agriculture with its introduction of over 200 technologies that are raising food production for our farmers, particularly in the rural areas; this has not only helped in reducing the farming drudgery of conventional faming, but also is putting money in their pockets,’’ he said to the delegates at the opening session of the Ministerial meeting. Farmer’s livelihoods are improving in Nigeria The Nigeria SSC programme is being implemented under a Tripartite Project Agreement (TPA) signed between Nigeria, the People’s Republic of China and FAO, and has been fully funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria covering its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Due to the success of the first phase, the project’s reputation grew, allowing the second phase to be more demand-driven. It now responds to individual states’ requests for specific types of support. A nearly 700 Chinese experts and technicians have been helping Nigeria’s agricultural sector improve productivity and strengthen its capacities, not only of the farmers but also of processors, farm managers and extension staff. The Chinese delegation sets for the next mile China has been championing SSC around the globe, providing both financial and technological solutions to southern countries. It has been deploying nearly 1000 experts and technicians to more than 22 countries, especially in Africa. At the forum, the Chinese Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Mr Chen Xiaohua, promised to continue to work closely with governments and people of the participating countries as well as with FAO to ensure the expansion and sustainability of the programme. “The cooperation is welcomed by the government and people locally, and recognized by FAO. The SSC modalities, experiences and lessons learned by both government of China and Nigeria have been attracting increasing attention from the international community, thus setting a unique model for achieving the MDG.” Participating countries commit to SSC programme The participating countries - Benin, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda, together with cooperative countries Brazil, Viet Nam, as well as FAO unanimously agreed to continue to work together in order to speed up the attainment of food security and poverty reduction in Africa through SSC by 2025. Last July, in Addis-Ababa, the promotion and strengthening of South-South Cooperation by public institutions and Non-State actors for action was strongly encouraged by a The High Level Meeting on Renewed Partnership for a Unified Approach to End Hunger in Africa jointly convened by the African Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Lula Institute. For more information and media queries: Nadia Nsabimbona Email: Nadia.Nsabimbona@fao.org Cell: 00233 207 46 81 84 Tel: +233 302 610930 Ext. 42118 Justin Chisenga Email: Justin.Chisenga@fao.org Nkechi Okoronkwo Deputy Editor in Chief News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Cell: 00234 803 4531 281 Submitted by: Justin Chisenga FAO Office: FAO RAF Topics: Strategic Objective: Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition Country: Benin, Brazil, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Vietnam Contactez-nous Termes et conditions Alerte aux messages frauduleux Signaler une fraude Emploi Achats Organes directeurs Bureau de l'Inspecteur général Évaluation Bureau des affaires juridiques et de l'Éthique Départements et Bureaux de la FAO Agriculture et protection des consommateurs Développement économique et social Pêches et aquaculture Forêts Coopération technique Bureau régional pour l'AfriqueBureau régional pour l'Asie et le PacifiqueBureau régional pour l'Europe et l'Asie centraleBureau régional pour l'Amérique latine et les CaraïbesBureau régional pour le Proche-Orient et l'Afrique du Nord Bureaux sous-régionaux Suivez-nous Téléchargez notre App © FAO, 2017

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Harwood-based Peterson Farm Seed celebrates 16 years What started out as a small, family-owned company with only four employees has quickly grown to the region's largest independent seed company with close to 40 employees - and it's still family-owned. Peterson Farms Seed started with humble beginnings in the mid-1990s selling soybeans to friends and neighbors. Carl and Julie Peterson, owners of Peterson Farms Seed, started the business with a few pieces of seed cleaning equipment and a semi-truck scale. "We began by cleaning scab out of wheat in the early 1990s during a wheat disease infestation," said Carl Peterson. "We spent that entire winter cleaning wheat 24-7. We were desperate to make our wheat marketable." The Peterson Farms Seed soybean brand was introduced in 1996 and the company started selling both conventional and the newly introduced Roundup Ready soybean seed from an office on the family's farm near Prosper, N.D. Sixteen years later, Peterson Farms Seed is still located on the family farm and is expanding to a new office building to accommodate the company's growth and market presence in the region. Today, Peterson Farms Seed has grown to be the largest independent seed company in the region. Its catalogue has grown from offering a few soybean seed varieties back in 1996 to offering over 40 corn hybrids and soybean varieties today. "We work hard to approach the seed business from a farmer's perspective," said Julie Peterson. "We focus exclusively on the farmers in this region - which is easy since we farm here. We just ask ourselves - what do we want as farmers? Because of our extensive replicated testing program we're able to select the best products to meet those needs." Peterson Farms Seed will host a Sweet 16 Anniversary Party to celebrate its continued growth, and to thank and celebrate its customers, business partners, employees, friends and neighbors. Its new office building at its facility north of Mapleton will also be available for tours. The Sweet 16 Anniversary Party will be held Aug. 10, from 4 to 9 p.m., at Peterson Farms Seed. Meals will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by live music from Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome at 7 p.m. Office and plant tours will be offered throughout the event, and games will be available for kids. "We wouldn't be where we are if it weren't for our customers, neighbors, vendors, partners and friends," said Carl. "Lots of people have helped us along our 16 year journey - we really want to extend a personal thank you to each person who has been a part of our tremendous growth over the last 16 years." Explore related topics:BusinessPeterson Farm SeedHarwoodBusinessbusinessbusinessAdvertisement Port: Officers handled #NoDAPL protests with honor, dignity14 hours ago

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HomeABOUTAbout OCA About OCA Organic Consumers Association (OCA) The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics. We are the only organization in the US focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation's estimated 50 million organic and socially responsible consumers. The OCA represents over two million online and on the ground network members, including several thousand businesses in the natural foods and organic marketplace. Our US and international policy board is broadly representative of the organic, family farm, environmental, and public interest community. The Organic Consumers Association was formed in 1998 in the wake of the mass backlash by organic consumers against the U.S. Department of Agriculture's controversial proposed national regulations for organic food. Through the OCA's (Safeguard Organic Standards) Campaign, as well as the work of our allies in other organizations, the organic community has been able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of consumers to pressure the USDA and organic companies to preserve strict organic standards. In its public education, network building, and mobilization activities such as its Breaking the Chains campaign, OCA works with a broad range of public interest organizations to challenge industrial agriculture, corporate globalization, and the Wal-Martization of the economy, and inspire consumers to "Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Made." OCA's overall political program is the Organic Agenda, a six-point platform calling for: • The conversion of American agriculture to organic, including major reforms in agricultural subsidies and appropriations to help family farmers make the transition to organic, develop local and regional markets, and adopt renewable energy practices. • Fair Trade and economic justice, not so-called corporate-driven "Free Trade" as the global norm. • A global moratorium on genetically engineered foods and crops. • A phase-out of the most dangerous industrial agriculture and factory farming practices. • Universal health care with an emphasis on prevention, nutrition, and wellness promotion. • Energy independence and the conversion of US and global agriculture, transportation, and utilities to conservation practices and renewable energy. Our website, publications, research, and campaign staff provide an important service for hundreds of thousands of consumers and community activists every month. Our media team provides background information, interviews, and story ideas to television and radio producers and journalists on a daily basis - from national television networks to the alternative press. The Organic Consumers Association does not sell, lease, give-away, disclose or otherwise release your email or other information to other organizations or individuals. In Detail: The Organic Consumers Association is a non-profit, grassroots organization and receives contact information through various means, such as, online volunteer signup, donations, newsletter subscriptions, and other outreach. This contact information is used by our "individual coordinators" and "coalition partners" (NGO's/ organizations) around the United States and world to achieve our mission: The Organic Consumers Association is a public interest organization dedicated to promoting health justice and sustainability. A central focus of the OCA is building a healthy, equitable, and sustainable system of food production and consumption. We are a global clearinghouse for information and grassroots technical assistance. OCA may contact you concerning our work or the work of our coalition partners. We will not give your name to other organizations. You may be notified about participating with outreach educational activities such as: lectures, media interviews, demonstrations, teach-ins, phone trees, newsletters, website updates, leaflet distribution, book sales, etc. National Grassroots Network We currently have over 850,000 people in our data base, including subscribers to our electronic newsletter, members, volunteers, and supporters, and 3,000 cooperating retail coops, natural food stores, CSAs, and farmers markets. OCA Financial Data (PDF) 2014 IRS Form 9902014 Financial Statement Other Policies (PDF) Whistle Blower Policy Subscribe

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RESERVOIR ALGAE BLOOMS HAVE POND OWNERS ON ALERT Farm ponds can fall victim to fish-killing algae blooms, oxygen depletionPRATT — Summer blue-green algae blooms at Lovewell Reservoir and Meade State Fishing Lake have put small farm pond owners on the alert. Hot summer conditions that have created the algae blooms in these larger lakes can effect ponds, as well, and nothing can be more disheartening than to carefully nurture a pond only to discover a fish kill on a hot summer morning. While blue-green algae blooms can be toxic to fish, fish kills can be the result of oxygen depletion created by a number of factors that may not necessarily be associated with blue-green algae blooms.To prevent fish kills, a pond or lake must have one element to support fish and other higher organisms — dissolved oxygen. Oxygen depletion is the most common cause of fish kills, and low oxygen occurs most often during periods of calm, cloudy, hot weather, much of which Kansas has experienced this summer.Most dissolved oxygen in water comes from the atmosphere on windy days and as a byproduct of photosynthesis in aquatic plants such as filamentous algae (commonly called "moss"), green algae, and coontail. If less sunlight penetrates deeper water, vegetation and oxygen content at deeper levels are reduced. Dissolved oxygen levels can also be affected by temperature. Colder water holds oxygen better, and very warm water easily loses oxygen. Atmospheric pressure is also a factor. Oxygen solubility increases as atmospheric pressure rises.Most fish kills occur in the early morning before the sun comes up, when dissolved oxygen levels are lowest, and, unfortunately, larger fish are usually the first to be affected. Ponds or lakes with large amounts of algae or phytoplankton can have high oxygen during the day, but at night, bacteria that feed on these dying plants use up oxygen. Herbicides or algaecides can help control aquatic vegetation and reduce the chances of a fish kill. However, this must be done carefully to prevent rapid decomposition and further oxygen depletion. Other ways to prevent oxygen depletion include pumping or flowing water into a pond (especially in the early morning hours before sunup), preventing runoff that adds nutrients to a pond, using a commercial aerator, reducing feed if artificial feeding is used, and maintaining proper fish density for the size of the pond. Blue-green algae blooms such as those that have affected larger lakes in the state can cause fish kills in ponds and small lakes. Blue-green algae blooms often resemble green paint floating on the water. These blooms result when long-term build up of nutrients in the water (nitrogen and phosphorus) combine with hot weather and other environmental conditions to stimulate algae growth. In time, these algae blooms naturally die off. For more information on pond management, contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at 620-672-5911 or visit the department website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Type "Pond Management" in the search box and then click on "Producing Fish and Wildlife in Kansas Ponds."-30- Back to 8/12/10 News

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Phosphorus/Potassium When is a biosolid the right source? By International Plant Nutrition Institute Assessing all available nutrient sources is a sound principle of nutrient stewardship. Avoiding the waste of whatever is available can save money through efficient recycling, and reduce impacts on the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines biosolids as “treated sewage sludge; nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage.” The biosolids produced annually in sewage treatment plants across North America contain substantial amounts of N and P; equivalent to about 3% and 8%, respectively, of total N and P removal by crops. Currently, just over half of the biosolids produced are applied to farmland. The area receiving these materials each year amounts to less than 1% of the total cropland. When biosolids are applied to meet crop N needs, the P supplied usually exceeds the needs of the current crop by two or three times, but is available to succeeding crops. Thus most biosolids are applied only once in five or more years, rather than on an annual basis, and they are best suited to soils testing low in P; soils that benefit from the buildup of available P. Across North America, the N contained in biosolids amounts to about one-fifth of the total N supply in the human diet, but the amount of P they contain is roughly the same as total dietary P supply. Thus one can conclude that the current methods of processing sewage recapture P efficiently, but lose a very considerable amount of N. One difficulty with biosolids as a nutrient source is handling the volume, since it is a low-nutrient source. Some processes have succeeded in extracting the nutrients in more concentrated form. In particular, struvite extracted from sewage sludge is a much more easily managed slow-release form of P, suitable for band placement near seedlings. Research continues to seek lower cost extraction methods. In biosolids, the proportion of N in the available form (mostly ammonium) varies. It can be as much as 35% in anaerobically fermented materials, but is typically 2% or less in aerobic or dewatered materials, particularly those stabilized with lime. The less-available organic form of N continues to mineralize slowly for years after application. For this reason, fall nitrate levels in soils that have received biosolids can be high, and can become a potential source of nitrate leaching. Cover crops can use this N. The availability of biosolids P to plants will vary among materials, depending on the treatment process. If Fe, Al or Ca has been added, P availability can be lower. Biosolids generally contain very little K. The K is usually discharged in the effluent from the sewage treatment plant. Biosolids can contain substantial amounts of secondary and micronutrients, particularly Zn. Research has shown higher concentrations of Zn in crop products harvested from biosolids-treated land. When biosolids have been stabilized with lime, the effects of application on soil pH need to be taken into account. As soil pH rises, deficiencies of some micronutrients, particularly manganese, can become more frequent. Decades ago, there was much more concern with heavy metals in biosolids than there is today. The reason is that industrial discharges containing such materials have been diverted from sewage treatment systems. Biosolids materials in most areas are still regulated, requiring a certificate of approval. Responsible use requires attention to food safety risks including pathogens, pharmaceutical residues, endocrine disruptors, and heavy metals. While biosolids supply only a small portion of the nutrients required by crops in North America, their utilization for crop nutrition in appropriate situations contributes to improvements in nutrient use efficiency. Topics: biosolidsfertilizercrop nutrientscrop nutritionnitrogenphosphoruspotassium About the Author: International Plant Nutrition Institute

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Diggin' It Many official state flowers aren't native plants Save for later Do you know what your official state flower is, and if it's a native plant or not? By Karan Davis Cutler Red clover, the official flower of Vermont, is not a native Vermonter but a plant brought to North America by European colonists in the 17th century. Courtesy of Karan Davis Cutler View Caption The garden peony, Paeonia lactifolia, was adopted as the state flower of Indiana in 1957. Peonies are natives of China, where their history reaches back at least 2,500 years. This hybrid cultivar ‘Flame’ has a compact form and blooms in late spring. Courtesy of Karan Davis Cutler View Caption About video ads of Our field, until a farmer cut it recently, was dotted with red clover, Trifolium pratense. In addition to being a good insectary crop and green manure, red clover is used for forage and silage. A rich source of isoflavones, chemicals that act like estrogens, it has medicinal uses as well.Oh, yes, it’s also Vermont’s state flower, chosen over “the daisy, trailing arbutus, the posy, mayflower, and the buttercup,” in a public vote in 1894. Recommended: Of the 50 state flowers, red clover is surely the most modest, a perfect match for Vermonters, who are famous for monosyllabic speech. What other state would inspire a book titled "Yup…Nope and Other Vermont Dialogues"? Test your knowledge Vermonters are protective of their status — anyone not born here is referred to as a “flatlander” — so it’s surprising that our state flower isn’t a native, which is usually defined as a plant growing in North America before colonization. Red clover is indigenous to Europe, Asia, and Africa, not New England.Non-native state flowersMost states have chosen native species as their state flowers, but Vermont’s not the only state to pick an exotic, or introduced, plant. In 1919, New Hampshire claimed the purple lilac, Syringa vulgaris, as its state bloom. Common lilacs were early immigrants to North America, but are native to Europe. Indiana went even farther afield and chose the peony, Paeonia lactiflora, in 1957. There are two peonies native to the coastal mountains of North America, but the peony Indiana claims comes from China. (For the record, the peony is Indiana’s fourth state flower, the successor to the carnation, the tulip tree flower, and the zinnia.) This native/non-native issue hasn’t raised eyebrows in most states, but Auburn University professor Oneal Smitherman campaigned until his death last spring to have the Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense) named the state flower, replacing the Asian-born Camellia japonica. (The camellia was selected in 1959, replacing goldenrod, the original state flower, which many Alabama gardeners considered a weed.) Smitherman’s proposal is “undergoing evaluation for legislative action,” as one newspaper put it, which probably means that Smitherman will be remembered for his monumental work preserving and spreading native azaleas throughout Alabama, not for changing the state flower. Other state symbolsBut what a better legacy than that of the legislators in Utah who recently selected the semiautomatic Browning M1911 as the state gun. It’s one of Utah’s more than two dozen symbols, which includes a state star (not to be confused with the state astronomical symbol) and state rock (not to be confused with the state gem and the state mineral).My favorite is the state cooking pot — the Dutch oven — a category that’s almost enough to make me feel good about Utah.Vermont does not have an official state gun, although it would surely be the deer rifle if put to a vote. To keep things that way, I’ll stop complaining about red clover being our state flower, even though it’s a flatlander.Editor's note: Here's a list of all the state flowers.-----Karan Davis Cutler blogs regularly at Diggin’ It. To read more, click here. She's a former magazine editor and newspaper columnist and the author of scores of garden articles and more than a dozen books, including “Burpee - The Complete Flower Gardener” and “Herb Gardening for Dummies.” Karan now struggles to garden in the unyieldingly dense clay of Addison County, Vt., on the shore of Lake Champlain, where she is working on a book about gardening to attract birds and other wildlife.

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Jessica DamianoLifestyle•Columnists Garden Detective: Nassau Cooperative Extension's rocky path to funding By JESSICA DAMIANO jessica.damiano@newsday.com + Master gardeners busy planting at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County's East Meadow Farm. Photo Credit: Peter Franzoni, 2013 advertisement | advertise on newsday Jessica Damiano Jessica Damiano is a master gardener and journalist with more than 25 years experience in radio, television, print and online media. She has worked on Newsday's interactive endeavors since 1994, and currently is Deputy Editor overseeing Newsday.com's Lifestyle and Entertainment coverage. Jessica enjoys toiling in her garden -- a never-finished work in progress -- and helping local gardeners solve their horticultural problems in her Garden Detective column, which appears every Sunday in Newsday. The Garden Detective blog was awarded a Press Club of Long Island Society of Professional Journalists Online Features Reporting Award. Jessica lives in Glen Head, NY, with her husband John, daughters Justine and Julia, dogs Maddie and Miguel, and a whole bunch of perennials, vegetable plants and weeds. Ask a question Show More email twitter I've been a journalist for more than 25 years, Newsday's garden columnist for more than seven and a master gardener for about six. I owe the latter notch on my belt to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, which accepted me into its program in 2007 and then vigorously educated me -- not in the ways of pretty flowers and landscape design, but in entomology (the study of insects, some with piercing, sucking mouthparts!), plant disease epidemiology, botanical Latin and -- the bane of my existence in those days -- fertilizer math. But due to steep and continued budget cuts since 1999, the Extension office's own existence is now in danger. Your March calendar of gardening chores Which ice-melt product is 'best?' Pickle juice for plants? Also weed and grub control options Yes, there’s gardening to do in February, too Plants for a bee-friendly garden The Master Gardener program's roots date back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, who in 1862 signed the Morrill Land-Grant College Act. For every senator and representative each state had, the act granted the state 30,000 acres of public land. Proceeds from the sale of that land were to be invested in a perpetual endowment that would support the creation of colleges in each state that would, in turn, educate people in agriculture and mechanical arts. We were, after all, an agricultural country in those days. Over the years, the 42 land-grant colleges have faithfully honored their obligations, teaching farmers about marketing, cooperatives and beneficial practices such as succession planting, and teaching farm women about proper nutrition, canning and preserving, sewing and furniture refinishing. These services helped many families survive the Great Depression of the 1930s. Birth of modern program In 1972, the Washington state system launched a program to train local volunteers to answer questions from home gardeners, free of charge. The idea caught on and spread across the country, and the Master Gardener program was born. Today, the land-grant colleges, which are still honoring their end of the bargain, have county extension services that "extend," or reach out, into their communities, and continue to build upon the services that began during the Civil War. Master gardeners test and analyze home gardeners' soil, answer their questions over the phone and give community lectures about plant diseases, integrated pest management and gardening methods. In addition, the 4-H Youth Development program runs summer camps and enrichment programs that focus on character building and life skills for youths, and the Family and Consumer Sciences branch still teaches community members about nutrition, child-care and food preparation. New York's land-grant college is Cornell University in Ithaca. It has county extension offices all over the state. As you might expect, the university has highly regarded animal sciences, agricultural and plant sciences programs. It also created and maintains Cornell Plantations and the F.R. Newman Arboretum on its campus. Both are open to the public, free of charge. Last month, I headed to Cornell to retrieve my daughter Julia from the three-week sustainable animal husbandry program there. Naturally, I paid a visit to the mother ship. A jaunt to Cornell Plantations Home and GardenReader-submitted garden photos Irene Lekstutis, landscape designer at Cornell Plantations and a Valley Stream native, spent the better part of her morning showing me around the 14 botanical collections she has overseen for the past 12 years. There are gardens devoted to wildflowers, poisonous plants, vegetables, tea plants, rhododendrons, ground covers and herbs, among others. My favorite, The Robison York State Herb Garden, comprises 17 themed beds that feature more than 500 varieties of herbs. There's also a unique Bioswale garden, which was designed to clean and slow the flow of stormwater runoff from the parking lot. Here, a garden landscape composed of strong-rooted hardy plants and grasses is impeccably maintained by staff members, who were busy mulching on the morning of my arrival. Tweets from https://twitter.com/Newsday/lists/lifestyle-columnists The plants used in this space are mostly native and include switch grass (Panicum virgatum), sneezeweed (Helenium), Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium), American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) and winterberry (Ilex verticillata). And the best part for us gardeners is that every plant is labeled with its common and botanical name. Tags staked into the soil under herb plants also note their intended uses. Botanical gardens, in general, are spaces dedicated to displaying collections of plants. They are nicely arranged, and visitors typically view the beds up close and gravitate toward the individual plants that comprise the whole. In our own gardens, however, the goal usually is to showcase, well, the garden. We aim for curb appeal, and it's the overall aesthetic that draws us in. At Cornell Plantations, the whole is at least as good as the sum of its parts, and Lekstutis and her staff can be credited with most of the curb appeal there, with the remainder of the honor going to the expansive space allocated to the Plantations, which allow for adequate distance viewing. In all, there are 100 acres in the arboretum, 3,400 acres of natural areas that include bogs and meadows, and 35 acres of botanical gardens. On approach, one can appreciate the gentle curves of the garden beds, the strategic transitions of color and texture, and the colorful vistas framed by curved tree branches. In short, these gardens are beautiful. Extension imperiled on LI Home and GardenOddball fruits, vegetables to grow Back home on Long Island, President Lincoln's vision is imperiled. The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, which runs a diagnostic clinic and display gardens at East Meadow Farm and has offices in Jericho, has seen county funding cut by nearly 97 percent since 1999, when Nassau provided $1.3 million. In 2005, the funding was down to $430,000, and in 2013 it's $45,000. The Extension is seeking a return to 2005 levels. "Without county funding, Extension stands to lose much, if not all, of its state matching funds," said Laura Hunsberger, the Extension's executive director, adding that full-time staff has been cut by more than 50 percent over the past three years. Nassau County Extension employs roughly 125 people. About 100 of those are seasonal part-timers at the 4H camp in Riverhead, which is more or less self-sufficient, according to Hunsberger. There are only 13 full-time employees at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Hunsberger credits the 260 master gardener volunteers with doing "all of the legwork" at the farm and in the community, work she estimates is worth $140,000 annually. Having done some volunteer work for the Extension myself, I can attest that it's a bare-bones operation consistent with its nonprofit status: Employees work on standard-issue, utilitarian metal desks; master gardeners manning the phone help line look things up in books, not on computers; and there are no cushy perks. Hunsberger said the organization just wants to continue to operate the East Meadow Farm and offer the community services it's been providing since 1914. To help contain costs, the extension has had 16 closures this summer, with unpaid furloughs for employees not on the federal payroll. Without restored county funding, Hunsberger believes more layoffs will occur, followed by permanent facility closures, with East Meadow Farm likely the first to go. Home and GardenIndoor, outdoor planting containers At the Aug. 5 meeting of the Nassau County Legislature, Extension representatives expressed opposition to the absence of annual budget line-item funding, which would give the Extension leverage for applying for grants at the state and federal levels. Since then, Hunsberger said, the Extension has been "working to educate the legislature about the benefits of our programming and impacts." A dedicated line-item allocation in the county budget would secure the necessary funding to continue extension operations, she said, adding, "as the organization approaches its 100th year, it is almost certainly its last without appropriate budget funding by the county." Norma Gonsalves, presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature, who secured the initial funding for the farm and championed the process to grant Cornell use of the property, said "there will be a line in the budget," but conceded, "it won't be in the amount they are looking for." Gonsalves noted that she has "made recommendations with the parks commissioner and requested an additional $30,000 in county funding on behalf of the Extension" in the next budget. That brings the total amount allocated to $105,000. She acknowledged the Extension needs more, but said "it's a start," and added that there is the potential for more funds to be allocated in the future. For now, she said, "We are continuing that effort. The farm is extremely important to me." Cornell Plantations, 1 Plantations Rd., Ithaca Hours: Open every day from dawn until dusk, year-round Home and GardenCraft your own clay pots Contact: 607-255-2400. Call ahead for scheduled group tours; "drop-in" tours are also available. East Meadow Farm, 832 Merrick Ave., East Meadow Hours: Grounds and display gardens open daily from dawn until dusk, year round; Walk-in diagnostic clinic open Tuesdays through Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. (also Thursday evenings from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.) Contact: 516-565-5265 (Dial extension 7 for the garden help line, which has the same hours as the walk-in clinic.) Get the scoop on events, nightlife, day trips, family fun and things to do on Long Island. sign up More coverage Gardening 101 2013 Great Long Island Tomato Challenge Garden Detective: Slime mold is harmless but preventable

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Philadelphia Home: Inside Drew Becher’s Chestnut Hill Home Tucked on a rolling two acres in Chestnut Hill, the 1926 English Tudor home of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society president Drew Becher is a mix of crisp modernity and enchanting country charm. By Emily Goulet | March 26, 2012 comment on this post Drew Becher is walking around his sun-dappled two-acre Chestnut Hill property. He’s wearing a crisp blue shirt with epaulets, a colorful striped belt, khakis, and laceless white Converse All-Stars. Two small fountains—one on either side of two adjacent back patios—gurgle in a babbling-brook sort of way, masking the hum of traffic on nearby Germantown Avenue and making the scene feel more English countryside than middle-of-the-city. “I love boxwoods,” Becher says, pointing to an impeccably groomed hedge in the backyard. Then he notices the maple. “Oh, Japanese maple, with a dash of red. One of my favorite plants.” A few steps later: “Lavender, that’s my favorite. I love the way it smells, the way it looks.” But then he sees the hydrangea: “White hydrangea. That’s my total favorite.” When you’re Drew Becher, president of the renowned Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and a self-proclaimed “nursery shopaholic,” it’s difficult to choose just one favorite plant—especially when there are so many to choose from. The same can be said of the houses he’s lived in. There was the converted funeral home, the suburban cottage, the glass-walled Chicago penthouse, the Victorian rowhome in D.C., and now the stately 1926 English Tudor where he lives with his partner, Eric Lochner, CEO of a Wayne-based human capital management firm. At first, the sprawling half-timbered stucco-and-fieldstone home was a country house for the globe-trotting couple; almost immediately after they made settlement, Lochner was transferred to London, and Becher was summoned to New York by Bette Midler to head the New York Restoration Project. Now, after four years, a thorough interior renovation of the house and a total landscape overhaul of the property, the couple has at last planted firm roots. Meanwhile, Becher has been busy transforming Philadelphia into a world-class horticulture destination, starting with the Flower Show, which flourished in splendid tropical fashion last month. But he’s already on to the next project. “I told Eric over dinner that I really want to inject purple into our plantings this year,” he says thoughtfully. Like all matters of design, introducing a new color into the landscape isn’t a decision he takes lightly. He laughs. “It’s a big day at the Becher-Lochner household.” Click here to see photos of Drew Belcher’s Chestnut Hill home. 1 2 3Next >View as One Page

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HomeArchivesPeruClimate Change Threatens Quechua and Their Crops in Peru’s Andes Climate Change Threatens Quechua and Their Crops in Peru’s Andes Fabiola Ortiz In this town in Peru’s highlands over 3,000 metres above sea level, in the mountains surrounding the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Quechua Indians who have lived here since time immemorial are worried about threats to their potato crops from alterations in rainfall patterns and temperatures. Some of the “potato guardians” of the five Quechua communities helping to safeguard native varieties in a 9,200-hectare “potato park” in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the Peruvian highlands department of Cuzco. Credit: Fabíola Ortiz/IPS Pisac, Peru (IPS) – In this town in Peru’s highlands over 3,000 metres above sea level, in the mountains surrounding the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Quechua Indians who have lived here since time immemorial are worried about threats to their potato crops from alterations in rainfall patterns and temperatures. “The families’ food security is definitely at risk,” agricultural technician Lino Loayza told IPS. “The rainy season started in September, and the fields should be green, but it has only rained two or three days, and we’re really worried about the effects of the heat.” If the drought stretches on, as expected, “we won’t have a good harvest next year,” said Loayza, who is head of the Parque de la Papa or Potato Park, a biocultural conservation unit created to safeguard native crops in the rural municipality of Pisac in the southeastern department or region of Cuzco. In the Parque de la Papa, which is at an altitude of up to 4,500 metres and covers 9,200 hectares, 6,000 indigenous villagers from five communities – Amaru, Chawaytire, Pampallaqta, Paru Paru and Sacaca – are preserving potatoes and biodiversity, along with their spiritual rites and traditional farming techniques. The Parque de la Papa, a mosaic of fields that hold the greatest diversity of potatoes in the world, 1,460 varieties, was created in 2002 with the support of the Asociación Andes. This protected area in the Sacred Valley of the Incas is surrounded by lofty peaks known as ‘Apus’ or divine guardians of life, which until recently were snow-capped year-round. “People are finally waking up to the problem of climate change. They’re starting to think about the future of life, the future of the family. What will the weather be like? Will we have food?” 50-year-old community leader Lino Mamani, one of the ‘papa arariwa’ – potato guardians, in Quechua – told IPS. He said that whoever is sceptical about climate change can come to the Peruvian Andes to see that it’s real. “Pachamama [mother earth, in Quechua] is nervous about what we are doing to her. All of the crops are moving up the mountains, to higher and higher ground, and they will do so until it’s too high to grow,” he said. As temperatures rise, plant pests and diseases are increasing, such as the Andean potato weevil or potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans). To prevent crop damage, over the last 30 years farmers have increased the altitude at which they plant potatoes by more than 1,000 metres, said Mamani. That information was confirmed by the Asociación Andes and by researchers at the International Potato Centre (CIP), based in Lima. But the most dramatic effects for Cuzco’s Quechua peasant farmers have been seen in the last 15 years. “Nature used to let us know when was the best time for each step, in farming. But now, Pachamama is confused, and we are losing our reference points among the animals and the plants, which don’t have a flowering season anymore,” Mamani lamented. The soil is drier and the potato-growing season has already shrunk from five or six months to four. “We are all joined together by potatoes, in our style of life, gastronomy, culture and spirituality. Potatoes are sacred, we have to know how to treat them, they are important for our livelihoods and they connect us to life,” the ‘papa arariwa’ said. Mamani lives in the village of Pampallaqta. On his farm, which is less than one hectare in size, he grows 280 varieties of potato, most of which grow high up on the mountain. But not only the potatoes are suffering the impact of climate change. Other traditional crops grown by the Quechua, such as beans, barley, quinoa and maize are also being grown at higher and higher altitudes because of the rising temperatures. “We need support in order to adapt our crops,” Mamani said. Innovation versus extinction The curator of the CIP germplasm bank, Rene Gómez, predicts that at this rate of prolonged drought and high temperatures for much of the year, followed by severe frost and plunging temperatures that freeze up the fields, potatoes are “absolutely at risk” in Peru’s highlands. “I estimate that in 40 years there will be nowhere left to plant potatoes [in Peru’s highlands],” Gómez told IPS. He added that although it isn’t possible to halt climate change, alternatives can be developed in order to continue growing this crop, which has been planted in the Andes for thousands of years. But he said that it will no longer be profitable to plant native varieties of potato 3,800 metres above sea level – the altitude of the lower-lying part of the Parque de la Papa. “There are solutions – we have to use genes,” the scientific researcher said. “We have identified at least 11 drought- and frost-resistant cultivars.” “We are also carrying out an experiment to interpret how the climate is changing, how potatoes are behaving at an altitude of 4,450 metres, and how they survive 200 mm of rainfall a year,” he said. Above that altitude, the highlands are inhospitable rocky ground. Native potato varieties survive temperatures ranging from 2.8 to 40 degrees Celsius. But extreme temperature swings hurt the nutrients of the potato crop. In order to preserve their properties, potatoes need temperatures to remain within the range of four to 12 degrees. An alliance combining scientific innovation with traditional Quechua know-how is taking shape to preserve Andean potato varieties. It includes the Asociación Andes, CIP and the Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) of the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres. While the search is on for crop varieties that can be grown on arid, high-altitude land, native farmers are receiving assistance in the Parque de la Papa to adapt their crops. For their part, local families continue to use traditional techniques for storing and drying their crops. For example, two bitter-tasting varieties of potato – moraya and chuño – that can withstand harsh weather conditions are freeze-dried using traditional techniques employed since the Inca era, and can be stored up to 10 years. Indigenous villagers complain that many local men have to leave home to look for work in the cities, leaving all of the household work, weaving and farmwork to the women. “Our worry now is whether we will have food in the future,” Elisban Tacuri, a villager, told IPS. Ancelma Apaza, a local Quechua woman, told IPS it is more and more difficult to estimate how much food needs to be stored to provide for the family throughout the year. “We women participate in food production and conservation, but now it’s hard for us to know how much food to store, because we don’t know if the harvest is going to be good,” she said. She added that in the Parque de la Papa they are struggling to maintain the culinary traditions inherited from their ancestors, now that they complete their diets with industrially produced food. To preserve their sacred crop, the Quechua villagers involved in the park opened a community storeroom in 2011 for potatoes and seeds, which has a capacity of 8,000 kg. It is called “Papa Takena Wasi” – in Quechua “takena” means keep and “wasi” means home. “We keep the potatoes that have cultural value and this storeroom makes it possible for us to share seeds with communities that need them,” said Mariano Apukusi, another “potato guardian”. Edited by Estrella Gutiérrez/Translated by Valerie Dee PreviousDissecting the Drug War: New Book Charts Ways Global Capitalism Profits From “War on People” NextGuatemalan Genocide Trial Set to Resume Amid Amnesty Battles

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Agweb HomeMyMachinery.com HomeBusiness July 2010 Archive for Global Farmer Network By: Global Farmer Network The Global Farmer Network are farmers committed to inserting their voice and perspective in the global dialogue regarding food and nutritional security. We Need a Grand-Slam Trade Agenda By Tim Burrack – Arlington, Iowa (www.truthabouttrade.org) In the world of baseball, everybody’s talking about the trade deadline—teams are trying to get deals done in time for their pennant races. In the world of Washington, they’re talking about a different kind of trade—the exchange of goods and services across borders. Unfortunately, almost nobody in D.C. shares the deadline-driven urgency of baseball’s general managers, who are busy swapping players and revamping rosters. Instead, we’re waiting on our political leaders for proof of actual progress. But there hasn’t been much lately. President Obama recently boasted that exports during the first four months of this year were almost 17 percent higher than they were during the first four months of last year. That’s all well and good, but it has more to do with the ebb and flow of economic cycles than anything public officials have done for America’s export-dependent farmers and manufacturers. The White House often confuses rhetoric with results. Saying something is not the same as doing something. Earlier this month, for example, Obama introduced the members of his new President's Export Council. The move generated some headlines, but nothing else. Does the president really need a panel of advisors to tell him that the highest priorities on the U.S. trade agenda are approving the free-trade agreements already negotiated with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea? This has been true for more than three years. Yet Congress has let these deals languish. And the Obama administration has done almost nothing to revive them. Granted, the president has come a long way. As a senator, he was a devoted protectionist. As a presidential candidate, he talked about renegotiating and / or quitting NAFTA. Today, Obama appears to have had some second thoughts about economic isolationism. Confronted by an unemployment crisis, Obama has started to appreciate the fact that exports mean jobs for American workers. In his State of the Union address earlier this year, he promised that U.S. exports would double over the next five years. He also called for passing the three long-ignored trade pacts. Now he has to turn these words into action. According to some, action will have to wait until after the midterm elections in November, during a congressional lame-duck session. Well, that’s what they’re saying about an awful lot of proposals. Let’s get one thing straight: We needed these trade deals approved yesterday. A lame-duck session is for a lame trade agenda. Every day that goes by, we lose the opportunity to create jobs. Three years ago, the United States enjoyed 96 percent of the grain trade with Colombia. That’s true market dominance. Last year, however, this figure slipped to just 31 percent. While Congress ignored Colombia and refused to approve the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, South American countries secured their own trade preferences and snatched the country’s consumers. Our grains face a 15 percent Colombian tariff, costing us $1 Billion a year in lost sales ($314 million of that was just corn sales). We will continue to lose sales as long as Washington does nothing and refuses to approve this trade deal. There are currently 126 FTA's under negotiation around the world involving U.S. trading partners – but we're not involved in any of them! Canada has approved its own trade agreement with Colombia, dropping the tariff on Canadian wheat to zero. Over time, our dwindling market share will shrink to virtually nothing. We will have forfeited an excellent position. When we squander our economic future, American workers suffer. The American Meat Institute recently calculated that approving the trade pacts with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea would create almost 30,000 jobs. And that’s in just one sector of agriculture, to say nothing of agriculture’s other sectors or all of the other U.S. industries that would benefit from improved access to these foreign markets. If the United States wants a jobs program, it needs to look no further than these trade agreements. Passing them today would improve employment tomorrow. This is how economies move from recession to growth. Ultimately, the United States will want to seek more deals with other countries. The distinguished economic Jagdish Bhagwati recently called on Obama to live up to his reputation as a multilateralist and launch the “Obama Round” of world trade talks. That’s a grand agenda—or, in baseball terms, a grand-slam agenda. In the meantime, can we just achieve a simple base hit? On trade, America has been striking out for long enough. Tim Burrack raises corn, soybeans and hogs on a NE Iowa family farm. Tim is a Board Member of Truth About Trade and Technology www.truthabouttrade.org Regulation That Kills Jobs Wanted: A Few Good Books South African Agriculture on the World's Stage Seoul Food: Approve the Trade Agreement with Korea Now

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العربية中文englishfrançaisitalianoPortuguêsРусскийEspañol Director-General calls on Members to approve FAO’s programme of work Necessary for FAO to play a more significant role to eradicate hunger FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva addresses FAO's 38th Conference.17 June 2013, Rome - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today has called on FAO’s Conference to approve a Programme of Work and Budget that sharpens the focus of the Organization's actions to improve the assistance it gives to Member Countries in reaching their food security and agriculture goals. “Since I took up office, brick by brick we have laid the foundation we need to improve the assistance we offer our Members,” Graziano da Silva told the Conference.“This is the missing piece that will transform into concrete action the results of the Reviewed Strategic Framework that we have built together,” he added.To implement the programme, the Organization is asking for a one percent real budget increase for the next two years, plus less than 4 percent needed to cover inflation and mandatory increases of costs.“It is in times like these, when the challenges are greater, that we need most to show our collective commitment to the Organization and its goals,” Graziano da Silva told the Conference. After successive budget reductions, FAO’s budget had lost 27 percent of its real value in the last 20 years, he noted. Graziano da Silva also stressed the need to find a consensus on a budget that would allow the Organization to implement the proposed programme of work for 2014-2015, his first as Director-General of FAO.Transforming FAOAddressing the FAO Conference, Graziano da Silva highlighted the work done in his first 18 months in office, focusing FAO’s work around five new strategic objectives and a sixth technical objective, approving strategies for engagement with the private sector and civil society, as well as strengthening partnerships with scientific and research institutions, and concluding the FAO reform.Recalling the McDougall lecture with which Professor Amartya Sen opened the Conference on Saturday, the Director-General pointed out one important change in the work of the Organization. “If we keep looking at hunger simply in terms of food production, we will not solve this problem, as Professor Amartya Sen reminded us…The world already produces enough food. The main cause of hunger nowadays is the lack of access,” said Graziano da Silva.“Nowadays, to guarantee food security, it is essential to incorporate the access dimension into our responses, alongside our continued support to sustainably increasing food production,” he explained. The Director-General also highlighted the increased efficiency of the Organization, which has led to savings of nearly 45 million dollars since his election. This, in turn, has made it possible to strengthen FAO's technical presence in the field and implement six regional initiatives responding to the needs identified by Members at the FAO Regional Conferences held in 2012. “All this will help translate our work into better results where it really matters: at the country level, transforming FAO into a true knowledge Organization with its feet on the ground,” he stressed. Commitment to eradicating hungerThe Director-General pointed out that the Conference will also be asked to approve a change in the first global goal of the Organization, aiming for the eradication, rather than the reduction of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. “It is just a word, but it makes a great difference,” he said.“The eradication of hunger and malnutrition will pay a large dividend in terms of peace and prosperity, from which all countries stand to benefit. And it is a crucial part of the sustainable future we want.”The Conference opened on Saturday with the annual McDougall Lecture delivered by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, who focused on the need for a broader approach to fight hunger, and the delivery of FAO awards, among them to the Self Employed Women’s Association of India and the European Commission, represented by its President José Manuel Barroso, for their contribution to food security.On Sunday, countries that have already met the Millennium Development and World Food Summit hunger targets had their achievements recognized at FAO. Share this page DocumentsDirector-General's StatementAmartya Sen's McDougall LectureFAO 38th Conference DocumentsThe State of Food and Agriculture 2013Director-General's Web PageContactChristopher MatthewsMedia Relations (Rome)(+39) 06 570 53762 christopher.matthews@fao.org FAO's Strategic ObjectivesFAO's new Strategic Objectives, which the Conference is called to endorse, are:1.Contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition2.Increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner3.Reduce rural poverty4.Enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national andinternational levels5.Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises A sixth technical objective covers the provision of technical knowledge, quality and services for the work of the Organization#UNFAO38 on TwitterTweets from @FAOnews/unfao38

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2013 a challenging year for Oregon, Idaho onion growers Very hot summer temperatures and thrips pressure, combined with a string of untimely rainstorms, made 2013 a challenging growing year for onion farmers in Idaho and eastern Oregon. Sean EllisCapital Press Published on October 23, 2013 11:10AM Sean Ellis/Capital Press An onion field near Caldwell, Idaho, is harvested Oct. 15. Farmers in the region say hot summer temperatures and a series of untimely rainstorms made 2013 a challenging growing year. Buy this photo Onion production in Idaho and eastern Oregon could be below average again this year due to disease pressure and weather-related factors.But growers in the region that produces about 25 percent of the nation’s fresh bulb onion supply say quality is good.After suffering through one of the hottest summers ever recorded in the Treasure Valley and disease pressure that increased because of the heat, onion growers had to wait longer than normal to harvest their crop because of a string of late-season rainstorms.“It was a long harvest and it was a tough year,” said Oregon farmer Paul Skeen, president of the Malheur County Onion Growers Association. “The rains made it a longer harvest than normal. There was at least a week’s worth of time where we didn’t go because of the rains.”The moisture was sorely needed but it came at a very inopportune time, said Oregon farmer Reid Saito.“We waited all summer for some rain and when it finally came, it was at the worst possible moment as far as the onion harvest goes,” he said. “Some guys had a really nice year and got their onions off before the rains but others are still struggling to get them in.”Farmers in Idaho and eastern Oregon harvested 19,100 acres in 2012, down 1,400 from the year before, and lower yields caused production to fall to 14.2 million hundredweight, an 8 percent decline from 2011.The USDA won’t release estimates for onion production this year because of federal budget cuts, but industry officials believe 2013 acreage was close to last year’s total.Significantly hotter summer temperatures this year caused an increase in thrips, which are a vector for the iris yellow spot virus, which can decrease yields.“The heat makes (thrips) more active (and) we had a lot of virus pressure this year,” said Stuart Reitz, a crop system extension agent at Oregon State University’s Malheur County research center.As onions become stressed from the heat, “symptoms of the virus also become more pronounced and that complicates the problem,” he added.The heat itself was a big problem for onion growers this year, Skeen said. “There was too much heat for too long. Once the heat hit, it never let up. It was every day, every day, every day.”As a result of the heat and virus pressure, yields this year were extremely variable, he said.“Yields were all over the board,” he said. “They were from very good to, at least for me, some historic lows.”The net result of the challenges growers faced in 2013 could be decreased production from the nation’s main onion-growing region, Skeen said.

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Farm Service Agency Urges Farmers and Ranchers to Vote in County Committee Elections The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson announced today that the 2011 FSA county committee elections will begin tomorrow, Nov. 4, with USDA mailing ballots to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 5, 2011. "The role and input of our county committee members is more vital than ever at a time when our country faces important choices regarding the funding and operation of our government," said Nelson. "New county committee members provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of disaster and conservation programs. With better participation in recent years, we have also seen promising increases in the number of women and minority candidates, helping to better represent the richness of American agriculture. "County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.In Stevens County, ballots for this year's County Committee election will be mailed to eligible voters in LAA-1. LAA-1 consists of Eldorado, Everglade, Pepperton, Morris, and Baker Townships.Nominees for this year's election are Robyn Lampert and Jeff Hufford.Robyn has been farming for 20 years with her family in Eldorado and Morris Townships. They grow both organic and conventional crops of corn, blue corn, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat, and alfalfa and finish organically-grown beef. Robyn markets produce at local farmers markets. Jeff has been farming since 1980 with his family north of Morris. They grow corn, soybeans, and wheat and raise hogs and beef cattle.To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm may also be eligible to vote. Agricultural producers in each county submitted candidate nominations during the nomination period, which ended on Aug. 1.Eligible voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can obtain ballots from their local USDA Service Center. Dec. 5, 2011, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must also be postmarked no later than Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2012.Close to 7,700 FSA county committee members serve in the 2,244 FSA offices nationwide. Each committee consists of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. More information on county committees, such as the new 2011 fact sheet and brochures, can be found on the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/electionsor at a local USDA Service Center. Explore related topics:farmagricultureUSDAFarmAgricultureUSDAAdvertisement

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SHARE THE WEALTH: Please forward this page to a friend or colleague. To visit our online press room, click here. May 27, 2004 Media Contact: Dale Didion Credibility of U.S. Organic Certification at Stake Ag secretary’s move to quell wave of criticism by rescinding controversial rule changes does not go far enough, says letter by organic standards board vice chair Kutztown, PA --The federal government could have easily avoided this week’s controversy over its organic standards if it had listened to its own advisory board, according to The Rodale Institute and the vice chairman of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Jim Riddle, who has served on the board since January 2001, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman congratulating her for rescinding recent changes to the National Organic Program that he says “would have done irreparable damage to the USDA Certified Organic label.” Consumers have come to rely on that label to distinguish between organically grown products and those grown with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. But Riddle urged Veneman to go further than simply nullifying those changes by following the intent of the federal Organic Rule that established the USDA Certified Organic label and by healing the fractured relationship between National Organic Program (NOP) administrators and their advisory board. “The USDA could avoid the further questioning of its ability to administer a strong organic program simply by following its own rules,” the letter states. Riddle goes on to spell out how the NOSB—which is supposed to function as the voice of consumers, farmers, and the entire organic community to the NOP—has been virtually ignored since the rule went into effect. “People need to have confidence in the USDA Certified Organic label,” commented Anthony Rodale, chairman of The Rodale Institute, pioneers in organic farming research for more than 50 years. “The Secretary’s flip-flop could damage the organic brand and make consumers wonder if the label means anything. It shows that government and business interests should not be allowed to erode the democratic process and reverse the progress we have already made. And it holds organic standards to the high levels that consumers around the world require in order to give us their trust.” Rodale, who has called for 100,000 federally certified organic farmers in the next decade, continued, “Weakening consumer confidence in the USDA Certified Organic label will keep farmers who want to stop polluting our land and water from converting to organic. And that would be a tragedy for consumers, farmers, the industry, and the American people.” “We’re relieved they rescinded their rule changes,” Rodale said, “but we’re concerned that those changes were made behind closed doors, outside the scope of the federal Organic Rule, and with questionable motives.” Riddle’s letter explains, “These changes, while couched as clarifications, ran completely counter to the regulations as written and to the spirit of organics.” The letter is posted on The Rodale Institute’s www.NewFarm.org website, which is read by 80,000 farmers a month and where Riddle serves as organic policy specialist. Riddle, an organic inspector and industry analyst, who holds the Endowed Chair of Agricultural Systems at the University of Minnesota, is founding chair of the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) and co-author of the International Organic Inspection Manual issued by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements and the IOIA. Riddle’s letter goes on to outline shortcomings in the way materials approved for organic production pass muster, and he lays the blame squarely on the NOP for shutting its ears to its own advisory board. He calls on Secretary Veneman to use funds recently appropriated by Congress to hire an executive director for the NOSB and to seek the advisory board’s input in writing a job description and selecting a suitable candidate. And he urges her to follow the letter of the Organic Rule concerning NOSB review of permitted substances and technical review teams. The recent changes, which Secretary Veneman withdrew on Wednesday after strong public outcry and critical press coverage, had been defended by her staff since they were put into place in mid-April as “clarifications” to organic certifiers who inspect individual operations on the ground. They included allowing the use of some antibiotics and pesticides in organic production, allowing for certain non-organic feeds, and allowing the term “organic” to be used without oversight on cosmetic, nutritional, and personal care products as well as fish. “I urge you to take a second necessary step by committing to restore the integrity of the USDA’s organic certification program,” Riddle’s letter to the secretary states. “This will require that the NOP begin to function routinely in good faith in its relationships with the organic farming community through the National Organic Standards Board, as required by law.” When the USDA first drafted the Organic Rule in 1997, it proposed opening up organic production to sewage sludge, genetic engineering, and irradiation. That version of the rule was met with such a huge public backlash—more than 275,000 letters, emails and telephone calls expressing outrage—that it was brought back to the table, overhauled, and finally adopted in its present form in 2002. “The Rodale Institute is encouraged that the consumers and the industry have remained vigilant in protecting the integrity of these hard-won standards and that the media placed necessary focus on this critical issue,” commented Rodale. “However, USDA administrators still need to prove they can work with the National Organic Standards Board.” For more information about The Rodale Institute®, NewFarm.org and related programs, please visit www.newfarm.org, www.rodaleinstitute.org, www.kidsregen.org, or contact Dale Didion, (202) 544-5430 Also, visit www.newfarm.org/pressroom. T H E N E W F A R M – R E G E N E R A T I V E A G R I C U L T U R E W O R L D W I D E

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Conservation > Public Policy Great Value in Duck Stamps Revenue generated from duck stamp sales vital to wetlands, waterfowl conservation Photo © Cory Billett The 2009 Duck Stamp (courtesy of FWS.gov) by Dale Humburg I was once asked, "How far can you send a mallard with a duck stamp?" The answer: "Not as far as you used to." That's because the price of the Federal Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp, commonly referred to as the duck stamp, has not increased since 1991. During this same time frame, the cost of a gallon of gasoline has risen from about $1 to as high as $4 last summer (although prices have sharply declined since that time). And the costs of a gallon of milk, a box of corn flakes, and a loaf of bread have doubled during the same period. The buying power of duck stamp revenues has also not kept pace with the cost of wetland and upland acreage. While many other products have dramatically increased in price, the duck stamp has stagnated at $15. Just to cover increases in the consumer price index—a commonly used measure of inflation—a federal duck stamp would now have to cost about $23. Unfortunately for ducks, land values have increased even faster than many other commodities. Land prices have at least doubled across much of the prairie Duck Factory, rendering today's duck stamp revenues half as effective in conserving habitat as in the early 1990s. As a result, Ducks Unlimited is supporting bipartisan proposals that would immediately increase the price of the federal duck stamp to $25. This increase would be followed a few years later by another $10 increase, bringing the total price of a duck stamp to $35. The initial price increase would allow duck stamp revenues to keep pace with the consumer price index, while the second increase would help address rising conservation costs associated with increasing land values. In December, Ducks Unlimited signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that expanded DU's historic partnership with the federal duck stamp program. Under this agreement, Ducks Unlimited will assist in communications efforts promoting the federal duck stamp contest as well as duck stamp sales to generate more support for waterfowl and wetlands conservation. DU's working relationship with the USFWS will also help spread the word about the historic and vital support waterfowl hunters have always provided to conservation programs. The first Duck Stamp (1934-1935), a brush and ink drawing of Mallards by Jay N. "Ding" Darling, a famous cartoonist and noted conservationist sold for one dollar (635,001 stamps were sold). Maintaining the success of the federal duck stamp program is vital to wetlands and waterfowl in many ways. Established in 1934 with an inaugural stamp price of only $1, the federal duck stamp program has raised more than $700 million, which has been used to conserve more than 5.2 million acres of migratory bird habitat across the United States. Nearly all duck stamp funds go directly to conservation, with nearly 98 cents of every dollar spent on acquiring and protecting habitat. Among the most valuable lands acquired with duck stamp money are waterfowl production areas (WPAs), which are managed by the USFWS as part of the national wildlife refuge system. Duck stamp funds have been used to acquire nearly 7,000 WPAs totaling 675,000 acres, largely in the prairie states. These treasured public lands provide vital habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife as well as places where people can enjoy nature and pursue a variety of outdoor recreation including hunting. Working with the USFWS and other partners, Ducks Unlimited has completed hundreds of wetland restoration projects on these public lands. In addition, DU supports increased annual funding for the national wildlife refuge system to manage wildlife habitat, restore deteriorating infrastructure, renew education programs and provide greater public access and outdoor recreation. Ducks Unlimited also partners with the USFWS in securing perpetual easements from landowners to protect wetlands and grasslands on private lands. To date, duck stamp revenues along with funding from Ducks Unlimited, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and other sources have protected 2.5 million acres of prairie wetlands and grasslands. Unfortunately, millions of acres of unprotected waterfowl habitat on the prairies remain at high risk of conversion to cropland. Many ranchers and other prairie landowners would like to protect their land with easements, but landowner demand far exceeds available easement funding. Joshua Spies from Watertown, S. Dak., took first place in the 2009 duck stamp competition with his acrylic oil painting of a male long-tailed duck floating with a decoy. Clearly, additional conservation revenue is needed to meet the challenges facing wetlands, grasslands, and waterfowl. If proposed duck stamp price increases are approved, annual sales of 1.5 million stamps would generate a total of $37 million a year. From a waterfowl habitat perspective, this revenue increase could acquire an additional 6,800 acres of waterfowl habitat and permanently protect another 10,000 acres of habitat on private lands each year. Ducks Unlimited is also working to help close the funding gap through its Rescue the Duck Factory (RDF) campaign, which has the ambitious goal of raising $40 million in new private gifts to secure easements on threatened native prairie in the Dakotas. Every dollar contributed to the RDF campaign will be matched by at least three dollars from duck stamps, NAWCA, and other sources, providing an excellent return on our conservation investment. In addition, DU is lending its support to proposed legislation that would renew provisions of the Wetlands Loan Act. This legislation, first enacted during the early 1960s, allows the USFWS to borrow money against future duck stamp revenues to acquire more land today while habitat is still available and affordable. In these challenging economic times, the first reaction of many waterfowl hunters might be to oppose an increase in the price of the duck stamp. And there will certainly be those who feel the increased cost simply isn't worth it. In past years when duck stamp prices have taken effect, stamp sales have declined by up to 10 percent from the year before. But hopefully, most if not all dedicated waterfowl enthusiasts will see the long-term value of buying duck stamps and will advocate for a price increase rather than bemoan the cost. In this way, Ducks Unlimited members can be an important part of ensuring that funding is available to protect waterfowl habitats in a timely way and then wisely manage these lands for wildlife and people in the future. Nonhunters also buy duck stamps You don't have to hunt ducks to buy a duck stamp. Each year, about 25 percent of all duck stamps are purchased by individuals who do not hunt waterfowl that particular year. Many of these stamps are bought by collectors and avid conservationists who support habitat programs funded by duck stamp sales. Why is this appropriate? Because the habitats acquired and protected with duck stamp revenues benefit far more species than ducks and geese. Wetland and upland habitats provide hundreds of species of resident and migratory birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians with vital habitat. Conservationists, whether they hunt or not, can make a difference with each duck stamp they purchase. For additional information on the federal duck stamp program, visit fws.gov/duckstamps. Duck stamps support public hunting Lack of access to public lands has been identified as a major barrier to hunting participation. Fortunately, public hunting is available on all the nation's waterfowl production areas and more than 300 national wildlife refuges. Special hunting opportunities for young people and those with disabilities exist on many of these areas. For an online guide about public hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuge system lands, go to fws.gov/refuges/hunting/ and click on Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges. CRP - Conservation Reserve Program ICP Detail: LAC Nest Site Selection Sportsmen's Act of 2012 Facts Duck stamp price increase an investment Video Celebrates Ding Darling's Legacy DU CEO Dale Hall on the Federal Duck Stamp Federal Duck Stamp Legislation Duck Stamp Program Captures National Attention

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Nash Finch Takes $70M Q4 Impairment Charge Use Specialty Citrus to Add Color, Variety to Winter Produce Selection PMA Adds Member To Food Safety Staff Food safety veteran Johnna Hepner will join Produce Marketing Association (PMA) as director of food safety and technology on Feb. 15, adding more than 20 years of experience to the organizations’s food safety team, which is headed by chief science and technology officer Dr. Bob Whitaker. In this new position, Hepner will work with Whitaker and key members to implement programs, events, products and services in the areas of food safety and science, the latter including production technology, environmental sustainability and biotechnology. Her responsibilities will include monitoring, evaluating and collaborating on produce-specific food safety guidance and standards, as well as legislation and regulation. She will represent the association to members, commodity groups and allied industry organizations, as well as with external groups including federal regulators and legislators. “Johnna’s hiring significantly enhances the value we can offer to our members in our industry’s most critical area of food safety and related technology,” said PMA president Bryan Silbermann. “Her experience will provide PMA with a unique perspective on the real-world management of produce safety she gained in the foodservice industry, and will complement Bob’s capabilities.” Hepner, who will be based in California, joins PMA from Salinas, Calif.-based Markon Cooperative, Inc., where she was most recently food safety director, prior to which she served as produce buyer and quality assurance manager for Markon from 1993 to 2003, and as quality assurance manager for National Pre-Cut Produce, Salinas, Calif., from 1991 to 1993. “Johnna started with Markon 17 years ago, and deserves much of the credit for our reputation for leadership and excellence in food safety,” said Markon president Tim York. “She will leave big shoes to fill here, but working with Dr. Bob Whitaker is an opportunity not to be missed. We know she will serve PMA well in her new capacity.” Hepner is a member of the Food Safety & Technology Council, and the Institute of Food Technologists. In other PMA news, the Newark, Del.-based association, in partnership with USDA, will host a free, one-hour webinar to increase retail industry awareness about country-of-origin labeling for fresh produce. Titled “COOL at Retail: Are You in Compliance or at Risk?” the session will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 2:00 p.m. EST. During the webinar, USDA representatives will outline:—The top commonly seen gaps in compliance—Where training needs to be tightened to avoid risk—Concrete examples of compliance and where enhancements are needed Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions following the agency’s presentation. Confirmed speakers from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service are: —Craig Morris, deputy administrator of livestock and seed programs—Martin O’Connor, chief of standards, analysis and technology branch, livestock and seed programs—Bruce Summers, associate deputy administrator of fruit and vegetable programs For more information or to register for the event, please visit the Webinar registration page.

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Gulfood Buyers Show Strong Interest in U.S. Beef, Lamb With rapid expansion in its supermarket and restaurant sectors, the Middle East is a region of tremendous interest for food suppliers from across the world. Gulfood 2013, held last week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), is one of the world’s largest food exhibitions. Now in its 18th year, Gulfood attracted more than 4,200 exhibitors from 110 countries. USMEF participated in Gulfood with support from the Beef Checkoff Program and the USDA Market Access Program (MAP). Dan Halstrom (left) and Bassam Bosaleh of Arab Marketing and Finance Inc. (AMFI) meet with prospective buyers at Gulfood 2013 in Dubai Dan Halstrom, USMEF senior vice president for marketing and communications, reports that each year Gulfood attracts more and more buyers interested in high-quality grain-fed beef. “The overall tone at Gulfood was very upbeat,” he said. “Demand is really booming in a lot of these markets, and that’s not only indicative of population growth but also of the rapid expansion in many of this region’s economies. The Middle East is like a ‘United Nations’ of beef suppliers, with beef originating from all parts of the world – from India to Brazil to Somalia to Ethiopia to the United States. But the overriding theme is that even with all these different sources of beef, the United States is the only major supplier that is able to provide high-quality grain-fed beef. This represents a long-term opportunity for the U.S. to further expand export value to the Middle East.” Last year U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to the Middle East fell short of the record set in 2011, but this was due in large part to Saudi Arabia closing its market following the U.S. BSE case announced in April. Beef exports to the region still topped $330 million, led by mainstay market Egypt. Other key destinations for U.S. beef in the Middle East include the U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain, but Halstrom notes that Gulfood draws food industry representatives from well beyond the immediate Middle East region. “There are areas across Africa that show some long-term promise for beef, such as Angola, Senegal and Sudan, but demand is still in the very early stages,” he said. “Gulfood also has strong representation from Russia, Eastern Europe and central Asia, so the territory served by this event is enormous.” From left: Dan Halstrom, USMEF; Mark Boyd, Protimex/Porky Products; Derek Alarcon, Superior Farms Lamb and Amr Abd El Gliel, Agri Marketing International at Gulfood 2013 While political unrest has created logistical challenges for exporters shipping beef to the Middle East, demand remains very strong and product flow has been reliable. “There is certainly some turmoil – especially in Egypt – and this has caused issues for U.S. exporters and their customers,” Halstrom explained. “But the basic demand patterns are still there. Demand is growing and supply is not, and this creates an opportunity for us.” Mark Boyd, a USMEF Executive Committee member who directs export sales for Protimex/Porky Products, first attended this event in 2012 and speaks highly of the value Gulfood delivers for his company. “The Middle East has developed into a very strong market for us, and Gulfood is an outstanding venue for growing our business contacts in the region,” Boyd said. In addition to strong demand for U.S. beef, several buyers attending Gulfood expressed interest in grain-fed U.S. lamb. Superior Farms, a USMEF member company, showcased a variety of lamb cuts at the event. “It was great to see such a positive response to U.S. lamb,” Halstrom said. “Superior Farms attracted a lot of interest and seemed to develop some excellent leads. Despite higher pricing as compared to global competitors, U.S. lamb shows great promise due to its higher quality and rich flavor profile.”

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The New Era of Urban Agriculture 05/02/201201/28/2013The Dirt Contributor Carrot City: Creating Places for Urban Agriculture, written by Ryerson University professors Mark Gorgolewski, June Komisar, and Joe Nasr explores the new era of urban agriculture. A flux of design proposals has emerged over the last few years that respond to the increasing interest in food security and sustainability. While cities have historically provided productive spaces for growing food out of necessity, the proposals in Carrot City represent an effort to think more coherently and strategically about food production. They show how urban agriculture can become infrastructure for re-integrating food production into the urban fabric in meaningful ways, eventually becoming, as the authors argue, as imperative to a city’s functioning as public sanitation systems. The book presents nearly fifty case studies that examine food production, processing, distribution, and marketing. These proposals, some visionary and others built or underway, explore how food production works — from the small components for growing, like raised beds and greenhouses, to city-scale systems of urban agriculture. The book came out of a symposium held at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, in May 2008 that was followed by a traveling exhibition begun in Toronto in early 2009. The three authors of the book are all on the design school faculty at Ryerson, each interested in food systems and the impact of urban agriculture on building design and the built environment. Many of the case studies presented are based in Canada and the U.S., as well as a few in the Netherlands, the U.K., and Argentina. They demonstrate the success of a growing movement of smaller, community-based initiatives generating productive food spaces throughout cities such as Toronto and New York where local governments are increasing support for these efforts. Concern over how to feed a growing urban population in cities where many neighborhoods are becoming food deserts has put urban agriculture on the political agenda. There is also increasing recognition that dependence on agribusiness and commercial food systems has caused extensive damage to the environment while producing food with low nutritional quality that requires high energy consumption to transport long distances. Urban agriculture is consequently now part of the larger conversation about climate change, pollution, food, energy security, and health issues such as obesity. A majority of the case studies show how urban agriculture can help alleviate environmental impact and provide food security while bolstering communities with venues for social interaction and education. Small city farms, community gardens, and edible schoolyards and campuses provide healthy food for residents as well as opportunities for them to interact in meaningful ways. These gardens can “activate” a variety of urban spaces, making productive use of otherwise abandoned lots, former industrial sites, and empty rooftops. They can even be mobile, as the Science Barge in Yonkers, NY, demonstrates. The 400-square-foot barge on the Hudson River relies entirely on renewable energy for food production. Solar panels, wind turbines, and biofuels generate the energy needed to power the barge. Food is produced without chemicals in hydroponic systems and greenhouses irrigated with collected rainwater and purified river water, reducing land and water use. Other case studies demonstrate that outlying areas in suburban and peri-urban neighborhoods can also provide spaces for food production. Advocates for rethinking the residential landscape, like Los Angeles-based designer Fritz Haeg, want to increase awareness about the viability of producing food in residential spaces. Over the past several years through his Edible Estates project, Haeg has developed regional prototypes for productive gardens and installing them on suburban lawns in U.S. cites like Baltimore, Austin, and Kansas City, as well as in London, Rome, and Istanbul. The gardens are living examples of how suburban lawns can be transformed into attractive and productive spaces that improve the residents’ quality of life and help combat issues related to commercial food production. As innovative and inspiring as these small-scale case studies are, the book’s larger message is that there is potential to fold these smaller initiatives into a broader design agenda focused on developing higher density, multi-functional, and well-integrated communities that address food security issues as well as broader issues of sustainability. Evidence has shown that spaces for food production can eventually be connected to form larger networks of integrated systems. With a coordinated strategy rooted in analyses of the urban patterns that influence how and where urban residents produce, acquire, and consume food, designers can work with communities and city governments to establish new networks. Based on closed-loop, zero waste, and energy-efficient systems that support food production, designers can connect communities across the urban fabric, using otherwise vacant spaces in meaningful ways to combat social and environmental problems. These Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes (CPULs) take advantage of waste spaces: gaps in the urban fabric that isolate communities, such as abandoned, underused, or overlooked land parcels like riverbanks, rail corridors, former industrial zones, and even residential plots sitting idle. Consider, for example, Ravine City, a city-scale proposal to use Toronto’s natural ravine system to connect the sprawling city to the natural infrastructure of its continuous watersheds. By daylighting certain ravines and connecting them to existing ravines, a series of green corridors could run through the heart of the city supporting a system of collective housing and productive gardens. An infrastructure of energy, water, and waste systems would support this structure. All of the buildings would have overlapping functions, generating solar power and wind energy, producing food on roofs and terraces, treating wastewater, and collecting stormwater. They would also provide recreational space. Additional food production and recreational activity would occur on open land. Ravine City and similar proposals may sound idyllic to the point of seeming impossible to actually achieve, but the authors of Carrot City have reason to believe that the climate is right for making such dreams a reality. Pressing environmental concerns will continue to push cities to adopt more sustainable patterns of living to address issues like food security. The case studies demonstrate that urban agriculture can be used to establish such patterns, and that there is already considerable energy behind efforts to do so. For the authors, the challenge now is to continue spreading the message to the broader public by generating inspirational ideas for how to use urban agriculture more effectively: “the challenge for designers today is to develop exciting and innovative proposals for a future Productive City that will capture the imagination of the public. Designers are uniquely positioned to make a difference in how urban agriculture is perceived in this regard, and this book features designs that are visually striking and artistically engaging by way of example.” Read the book. This guest post is by Shannon Leahy, Masters of Landscape Architecture candidate, University of Pennsylvania. Image credit: Monacelli Press Agriculture, Cities, Green Infrastructure, Urban Redevelopment Previous Article D.C. Offers a Bold Vision for a More Sustainable Future Next Article The National Mall Wins with These Designs One thought on “The New Era of Urban Agriculture” Rochester Landscape Designer 05/03/2012 / 5:10 am Thanks for the heads up, I’m going to have to go hunt this book down.

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Multicultural Cooperation for Fruit Tree Planting by High Atlas Foundation A Paradigm Project for the Future - Morocco By Yossef Ben-Meir - High Atlas Foundation president A Paradigm Project for the Future – Location: Morocco By Yossef Ben-Meir What makes for a great development project? Which qualities imbue an initiative with longevity and sustainability, enabling it to meet a whole range of interconnected material and emotional needs? Is there a single concept applicable to a specific geographical location that - exceptionally – embodies those qualities? Yes! Allow me to introduce what I term a Paradigm Project – shovel-ready, with the potential to be inaugurated in the Kingdom of Morocco. In this context, a particular dimension of sustainability is germane. The fact is that the more partners there are to a well-managed community project, the longer the project life. A greater number of partners means a higher number of interests and goals likely to be met, with more interested parties and contributors, lower risk, greater adaptability and efficiency and a higher level of beneficiary knowledge and ability to reinvest. The Paradigm Project in question is indeed a unique case, involving the Moroccan Jewish community playing an indispensable role in meeting Morocco’s need for one billion trees and plants and thus aiding in the dissolution of the harsh burdens of rural poverty. The initiative could inspire the world since it combines Muslim-Jewish collaboration with local-to-international and private-public partnerships. The Paradigm Project’s multi-faceted nature and unique features have enabled it to meet the criteria for becoming a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to action. Is it agricultural? Environmental? Multicultural? Does it empower women, youth and marginalized families? Does it advance democratic procedures, civil society and businesses? Does it increase domestic and foreign trade and jobs? Does the project invest in human development and address causes of rural poverty? Does it develop highly employable and nationally imperative skills? Does it further food security, carbon balance and Morocco’s goals? Yes, to all of the above! A full 23 years have passed from the project’s conception to the consensus for expansion of the resoundingly successful pilot. In my mid-twenties, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, living in the Tifnoute Valley on the south side of the High Atlas Mountains. Passing through the Ouarzazate region, I noticed a barren, eroding mountainside with majestic, ancient white structures nestled at its base. I was both curious about the buildings and cognizant that the mountainside could be terraced, providing arable land for much-needed nurseries. Later I learned that this site houses the thousand-year-old tomb of Rabbi David ou Moché, one of hundreds of Moroccan tsaddikim – Jewish saints. Other structures have been provided to accommodate the hundreds of visitors arriving every year, particularly during the fall, for the Rabbi’s hiloula (commemoration of the passing of his soul)that occurs straight after the Jewish festival of Sukkot. I saw an opportunity. While farming families need desperately to grow fruit trees, as one of a series of measures necessary to end systemic rural poverty, they find it impossible to give up their existing land for two years in order to establish nurseries. The input of new land in the interim, before transplanting, is therefore vital in order to break the deadlock. The Jewish community of Morocco, with over six hundred rural sites, could be a potential partner in this enterprise. At the time of writing I am president of the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), a U.S.-Moroccan nonprofit organization which I cofounded in 2000 with other former Peace Corps Volunteers. We work with farming communities ‘from farm to fork’ - from the setting up of nurseries to the sale of certified organic product and carbon offsets. Our model is to engage in partnerships with communities and utilize participatory methodology to determine and implement an initial project before utilizing revenue thus obtained to invest in students and schools, women’s cooperatives, drinking water, irrigation, and training - the priorities expressed by those communities. My father, Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, is a writer and activist for peace in the Middle East. Looking back, it seems natural that I sought to establish community nurseries for a predominantly Muslim society on land lent by the Moroccan Jewish people, adding an element of unity in a region burdened by catastrophic divisiveness. I express sincere appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The king has made the preservation of cemeteries of all faiths a matter of national importance and has established the connection between Moroccan multiculturalism and human development. Pilot project at Akrich In 2014, the HAF pilot nursery on Jewish communal land was established at Akrich, located on the northern side of the High Atlas in Al Haouz province, around 25 kilometers south of Marrakech, at the site of the 700-year-old tomb of the healer Rabbi Raphael Hacohen, Since that time we have planted 120,000 almond, fig, pomegranate, and lemon seeds which have reached maturity and now are maintained by about 1,000 farmers and 130 schools. The project’s cost of $60,000 was graciously given by Wahiba Estergard and Mike Gilliland, owner of Lucky’s Market, and Jerry Hirsch and the Lodestar Foundation. The then-Governor of Al Haouz province, Younes Al Bathaoui, showed fantastic leadership and coined the initiative’s name, House of Life. Jacky Kadoch, president of the Jewish Community of Marrakech-Essaouira, together with his wife, Freddy, provide essential support, as do community members Isaac and Bloria Ohayon. In 2016, the first trees from the pilot were handed to local children and farmers by the Governor joined by the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dwight Bush, Sr. Earlier, Ambassador Bush hosted a reception for House of Life at his residence in Rabat, at which advisor to the King, André Azoulay, and former Peace Corps Director in Morocco, Ellen Paquette, spoke about the years of dedication and benefits for Morocco embodied in our work. Making the Paradigm Project a reality Were the Paradigm Project to be implemented, the first year would see the construction of 26 nursery terraces supported by stone taken from the surrounding, crumbling mountains. The new arable space created would encompass half a hectare (5,000 square meters), upon which would grow 300,000 one-meter tall organic trees of walnut, carob, fig, pomegranate, cherry and almond, as well as dozens of varieties of medicinal herbs. On maturity they would be given without charge to local associations, 5,000 farming families and 2,000 schools in provinces across Morocco. Together with our partners, HAF would monitor growth as part of carbon offsets sales, the revenue from which would be invested in further planting. After one year, a sign made out of fallen organic walnut wood would be installed in loving memory of Julien Raphael Berdugo, a young, sadly deceased son of Arlette and Serge Berdugo, the Secretary General of the Jewish Community of Morocco. After four years, there would be more than one million trees and herbs grown from seeds near the site of Rabbi David ou Moché burial and then transplanted to communal orchards and plots. As the plants mature, they would have an increasingly powerful social and environmental impact. Almost undoubtedly the project as a whole would initiative replication across the Moroccan Jewish community, providing hundreds of parcels of land adjacent to sacred sites throughout the kingdom. At scale, tens of millions of seeds would be planted every year and a better life afforded to all. Achieving the vision To bring the Paradigm Project to fruition, we need $300,000, which would cover the entire cost, including training communities in organic practices. On November 17th HAF is hosting a Carbon Offset Auction at COP 22 in Marrakech, sequestered by the local community orchards we plant. With our community partners, we currently have more than 500,000 saplings in twelve nurseries around Morocco. Every day I feel grateful to work for sustainable development in Morocco, where national frameworks enable the implementation of projects to national scale. Here is where the House of Life project, sits so naturally. Implementing the Paradigm Project as part of this initiative would make manifest those partnerships that seek the people’s prosperity, opinion and participation and, ultimately, the greatness of Morocco. Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir is a sociologist and president of the High Atlas Foundation. Interfaith fruit trees and the COP22 By Jacqueline Seeley - Director of Development Journalist meets with HAF teamAs we hope you are aware, the Kingdom of Morocco is hosting the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC in Marrakech this November 2016. It will be an exciting time to come together and committment to global action and cooperation towards sustainable environmental practices as laid out in the Paris Agreement. During the COP22, the High Atlas Foundation, aims to highlight it's Multicultural Cooperation for Fruit Tree Planting program as a solution to not only poverty, but peace as well. The German journalist, Tini von Poser, spent 2 days with the Marrakech field staff discussing these efforts and how, in particular, they respond to the climate challenges faced in Morocco. Below is an account of this visit told by HAF' s Agricultural Technician, Samir Azerboua. "When I visited the Akraich nursery on last Tuesday 30th of August with German journalist and HAF staff, I felt that I have a spiritual feeling that I had never before especially when I saw the burial tombs. I was really amazed by this nursery that HAF built in this rural village; I would say it can be considered among the best nursery compared to the other nurseries that I have visited so far. It is well organized and well maintained provided with drip system and all the necessary agriculture things. Miss Tini, the journalist loves the place as well. She began her interview with the nursery care taker, Mr. Abderrahim. He answered her questions with happiness, followed by another beneficiary who lives in next village. All their answers help the journalist to have a clear idea about operations and effort that it has been done by HAF regarding climate change. Technically speaking, I have noticed that the fig and pomegranate saplings are growing well (vegetation growth and development). Since Akraich is a hot place fig and pomegranate trees grow very well here." The COP22 is a COP of action; a global climate action agenda to boost cooperative action among governments, cities, businesses, investors and citizens to reduce emissions and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts. The first universal climate agreement was unanimously adopted at COP21, which took place in December 2015 in Paris. The agreement aims to limit the rise in global temperature "well below 2ºC". This COP22 in Morocco aims to bring all States into action through the mitigation of greenhouse gas emisions and ambitious national commitments. As part of HAF's committment to sustainable development and given our expertise in the agroforestry sector, we will be looking to market carbon offsetting initiatives to individuals, companies and states during the COP. Not only will this contribute to our 1 Billion Tree campaign, but also allow entities to uphold their commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emisions. Global Giving will have a Bonus Day on September 21st, and we at the High Atlas Foundation plan to offer to our Global Giving supporters the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions. Stay tuned here on Global Giving! You can also sign up for updates from the HAF newsletter for further information! Journalist exploring the nurseryThe Akraich nursery Growing Trees to Mend Old Wounds By Emma Tobin - Growing Trees to Mend Old Wounds Morocco is a gateway between Europe and Africa and as a result, different ideas, cultures, and languages have influenced the country greatly. The discord that echoes throughout North Africa as a result of extremist groups and governments has so far passed by Morocco, where it remains relatively peaceful. Historically, there was a Jewish population in Morocco but it has dwindled over the years. As a result, ancient Jewish cemeteries are spread out across the country. Recently, initiatives have been started to recall and advance the unity of the Jewish and Muslim Moroccans. It is unusual to hear of projects that are attempting to bridge this tumultuous gap through tree planting, let alone planting trees beside Jewish cemeteries. However, the High Atlas Foundation saw the importance of bringing these two communities together. It is a rare situation where a nonprofit is led by an American Jew, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, who speaks fluent Moroccan Arabic and is committed to the betterment of Morocco and its peoples no matter their religion. As the tree saplings grow, so does the trust and respect between the rural Muslims and the urbanized Jews. Morocco is attempting to overcome a deep rooted prejudice that has, and still does, impact people all over the world. Instead of rocks being thrown at each other, trees can be planted together to improve the environment and heal old wounds. Morocco is an example for other areas of the world where Muslims and Jews have lived side by side but in situations can become disparate and where hope, in more forms than one, awaits to be planted. ENRICHING US ALL - HAF'S HOUSE OF LIFE INTERCULTURAL INITIATIVE & CGI By Kati Roumani - Volunteer Morocco: Supporting economic development in a way that enriches us all – High Atlas Foundation House of Life intercultural organic agriculture initiative and Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action Monday, January 25th, 2016 – Akrich, rural commune of Tamesloht, Al Haouz province (27 km south of Marrakesh): A spirit of unity and hope reigned at Monday’s intercultural celebration of the new planting season, which was graced by The Honorable Dwight L. Bush, Sr., Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Morocco and Mr. Younès Al Bathaoui, Governor of Al Haouz province, and which represented a further milestone for the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) under its President, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir. The definitive shift in scope and scale of HAF’s innovative House of Life initiative was publicly fêted at the event. This builds on and strengthens intercommunal relationships between Moroccan Muslim and Jewish communities and commenced in 2012 as a pilot organic project at Akrich itself – where a total of 90,000 fruit seeds and saplings have been planted to date. In July 2015, under the terms of a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, HAF embarked on a three-year program to plant a further one million trees in nurseries adjoining rural Jewish burial sites in the provinces of Azilal, Essaouira and Ouarzazate, for the benefit of local, disadvantaged Muslim farmers. House of Life forms an integral part of HAF’s ongoing One Billion Tree Campaign, which also includes a junior educational initiative,Sami’s Project. As a whole, this transformative scheme has already succeeded in planting over a million organic, indigenous trees and medicinal plants in 13 Moroccan provinces, with the commitment representing a significant amplification of the process. Monday’s event, with its interfaith, agricultural and communal emphasis brought together the communities of Akrich, Asni and Ourika involved in HAF projects, as well as members of the Moroccan Jewish community, Moroccan and United States government officials and prominent supporters of HAF. Coinciding with Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year for trees, it was framed around four elements; a visit conducted by Mr. Jacky Kadoch, President of the Jewish community of Marrakesh-Essaouira, to the 700-year-old shrine of Raphael HaCohen adjoining the nursery, including the prayer for rain requested by H.M. King Mohammed VI in view of the significant lack of rain this winter; the planting of a single fig tree; the symbolic distribution of mature trees – almond, fig, grape and pomegranate – to local farming families: and the signing of the Clinton Global Initiative certificate that took place at the opening of a communal lunch attended by around 250. Children in particular played a prominent role, as future trustees of the land and educators regarding its care. Ambassador Bush summed up the event as a unique opportunity to celebrate Morocco’s multiculturalism and support economic development in a way that enriches us all. Please click here to enjoy photos of the event. The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) has been implementing development projects in predominantly rural areas throughout Morocco since 2000, building on the Peace Corps experience of its founders. HAF is both a U.S. 501(c) (3) organization and a Moroccan non-profit association. Since 2011 it has held special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. HAF utilizes a participatory, democratic approach to the management of all its projects, which are determined and managed by local communities, to support the Kingdom of Morocco in its twin bid to overcome subsistence agricultural practices that lie at the root of systemic rural poverty and to offset severe environmental challenges, including soil erosion and deforestation. The foundation actively seeks expertise within Morocco and is supported by Moroccan and international volunteers. The dynamic created by this intercultural team affords HAF a unique capacity to advance human developmentLinks:Mission and overview Special event on the the horizon this new year! By Yossef Ben-Meir - Executive Director This January 25, 2016, the High Atlas Foundation will be hosting a multicultural tree-planting event. This Moroccan Muslim-Jewish initiative and celebration will take place in the Tomsloht commune of the Al Haouz province at the fruit tree nursery that is planted adjacent to the sacred burial site of the notable Hebrew figure Raphael HaCohen, at the village of Akrich. This House of Life project involves the dedication of land by the Moroccan Jewish community in order for rural farming families to plant their community-managed fruit tree nurseries. At this first project site, located at Akrich, a total of 90,000 fruit seeds and saplings were planted, including almond, fig, lemon, pomegranate and olive. During this upcoming 2016 planting season, 30,000 of these trees will be distributed in-kind to the surrounding communities. House of Life is a commitment to action with the Clinton Global Initiative. The commitment involves planting one million seeds on lands located nearby notable figures buried in the provinces of Azilal, Essaouira and Ouarzazate. The High Atlas Foundation thanks you for your support in making this special event possible! We look forward to our continued collaboration in 2016! We wish you and yours a very happy new year. High Atlas Foundation New York, NY - USA http:/​/​www.highatlasfoundation.org Jacqueline Seeley New York City and Marrakech, 69 donations will plant 20 nuts and fruit tree saplings in a community-managed tree nursery and build Muslim-Jewish partnership in Morocco will plant 100 nuts and fruit tree saplings in a community-managed tree nursery and build Muslim-Jewish partnership in Morocco will plant 1000 nuts and fruit tree saplings in a community-managed tree nursery and build Muslim-Jewish partnership in Morocco

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Industry Developments in U.S. ethanol exports By U.S. Energy Information Administration July 19, 2012 | 11:09 am EDT After transitioning from a net importer of ethanol to a net exporter during 2010, the United States exported record levels of ethanol through the end of 2011 and looks to be on track to continue exporting significant volumes during 2012 (Figure 1). While U.S. ethanol production capacity remains largely unchanged from 2011, a number of other factors, both domestic and foreign, will influence the U.S. ethanol trade balance moving forward. Sluggish gasoline demand, combined with ethanol blending limits, is currently restraining domestic consumption levels. At the same time, increased Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates call for higher volumes in the fuel supply. In addition, sugarcane ethanol exported from Brazil looks to rebound from a low year in 2011 and compete with U.S. corn ethanol in the world market. These conflicting factors create some uncertainty and will make it harder for U.S. ethanol exports to reach 2011 levels, but ultimately U.S. export volumes should still be significant and should remain the world leader in 2012. During 2011, the United States exported a total of approximately 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol, compared to almost 400 million gallons in 2010. Brazil was the largest recipient of U.S. ethanol in 2011, importing 400 million gallons compared to approximately 20 million gallons in 2010; significant volumes of ethanol were also sent to Canada, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates. Through April 2012, U.S. ethanol exports have fallen from second half 2011 levels, but are still significant at over 300 million gallons, while imports remain low at less than 30 million gallons with the majority coming from Brazil. The largest factor driving the ramp up in U.S. ethanol exports has been the combination of increased ethanol production capacity in the United States with constraints limiting the ability of the United States to blend ethanol beyond 10 percent by volume of gasoline (E10), also known as the ethanol blend wall. In the absence of higher levels of ethanol blending, such as E15 or E85, ethanol production has increased beyond the capacity to blend additional volumes into the domestic gasoline pool. Thus, export markets create an outlet for the majority of these marginal ethanol volumes. Working in the opposite direction, one factor that might be slowing ethanol production compared to last year has been the expiration of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) of $0.45 per gallon, also known as the blender's tax credit. This has reduced profit margins for domestic ethanol producers and potentially impacted export volumes in the early part of 2012. The ethanol blend wall situation is not likely to change in the short term. Recent reductions in gasoline demand as a result of high prices, the economic downturn, and greater efficiency standards have already reduced the pool of gasoline available to blend with ethanol; this pool could be again reduced if gasoline demand falls further. While the EPA has approved a number of producers to sell an E15 blend for vehicles manufactured after 2000 (model years 2001 and after), a number of issues are likely to limit its consumption in significant volumes in the near term. Representatives from the oil and automotive industries have cited issues with fuel specifications and voided automobile warranties, while parties from the retail side have been concerned with liability issues as well as potentially higher infrastructure costs as a result of offering E15. These issues, combined with unknown consumer acceptability and an already constrained ethanol distribution network, are likely to limit E15 consumption to low volumes concentrated around ethanol production facilities in 2012. The increased mandates of the Renewable Fuel Standard further complicate the U.S. ethanol trade situation in 2012 and beyond. The RFS mandates that 15.2 billion gallons of renewable fuels be consumed in 2012, of which 13.2 billion gallons can be met by corn-derived ethanol, up from 12.6 billion gallons in 2011. In addition, the Advanced Biofuel mandate, for which imported sugarcane ethanol along with biomass-based biodiesel qualifies, increases from 1.35 billion gallons in 2011 to 2.0 billion gallons in 2012. Domestically produced biodiesel met the majority of the mandate in 2011 with biodiesel production reaching almost 1.0 billion gallons, for which biodiesel receives 1.5 credits per gallon introduced to the market, resulting in almost 1.5 billion gallons of RFS credits. Assuming the same record levels of biodiesel production as 2011 for 2012, the increase in the Advanced Biofuels mandate to 2 billion gallons leaves approximately 500 million gallons of renewable fuels that are to be met by either imported sugarcane ethanol or biodiesel. The interaction between the different fuels and mandates in the RFS looks to be on track to creating an ethanol swap between the United States and Brazil in 2012. In this scenario, the United States sends Brazil volumes of corn ethanol in exchange for Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, which draws a higher price in the United States thanks to the RFS Advanced Biofuel mandate as well as the at least temporarily re-instated California Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. This dynamic results in a complex environment where RFS-regulated parties and ethanol producers not only have to produce enough corn ethanol to meet the overall Renewable Fuels mandate, but likely must also import significant volumes of sugarcane ethanol to meet the Advanced Biofuel mandate, all in the face of demand constraints by way of the ethanol blend wall. Ethanol production reached approximately 14 billion gallons in 2011, and after accounting for 1.2 billion gallons of exports, implied approximately 12.9 billion gallons were consumed domestically in 2011. Assuming similar levels of consumption in 2012 due to the blend wall, this means somewhere between 0 and 500 million gallons of imported sugarcane ethanol, depending on biodiesel production, will comprise that 12.9 billion gallon total. In the absence of E15 or E85, this could lead to either reduced levels of domestic corn ethanol production and thus exports, or market conditions that encourage increased exports to both Brazil and other world markets as Brazilian sugarcane ethanol is exported primarily to the United States, which remains the major ethanol supplier to the rest of the world. In either scenario, it is possible that the 2012 RFS mandate of 15.2 billion gallons will not be met and banked credits from previous years will be used for compliance While there are a number of complexities and potential renewable fuel mixes in store for the United States in 2012, it is likely to be a net exporter of ethanol, albeit at lower levels than in 2011. The trade balance is likely to be directly tied to Brazil in 2012 as a result of the Renewable Fuel Standard, with gasoline demand, E15 adoption, and even the biodiesel market influencing the total volumes. ethanolfuelenergyexportmarket About the Author: U.S. Energy Information Administration View All Posts Log in to comment mxffiles Transfer mxf video to avi, Transfer mxf video to avi, mp4, WMV, MOV FCP,iMovie, download software mxf converter, convert p2 mxf files from your camcorder. convert mxf files to avi mp4 mov mkv via avchd video converter. For Mac OS users mxf converter mac, this video converter converts mxf to m4v

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Peanut market better, but take care in how you sell and plant for it Feb 15, 2017 (Correction) Bayer may divest assets in Monsanto merger Jan 24, 2017 Resistance management even more critical with new herbicides Feb 06, 2017 Virginia hulless barley shows promise as livestock feed equal to corn Feb 23, 2017 Virginia issues fire ant quarantine The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced a temporary quarantine on the movement of regulated articles in the lower Peninsula and greater Tidewater areas of Southeastern Virginia to areas outside the quarantined localities for the purpose of preventing the artificial spread of the Red Imported Fire Ant to uninfested areas of the state. The temporary quarantine applies to the counties of James City and York and the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. The quarantine restricts the movement of articles that are capable of transporting fire ants out of the quarantine area. Movement within the quarantine area is not restricted. Regulated articles include any article or means of conveyance that presents a risk of spreading the imported fire ant, including soil, plants with soil attached, grass sod, used soil-moving equipment, used farm equipment, hay/straw/pine straw, honey bee hives that have been in contact with the ground, and logs, pulp wood or stump wood with soil attached. “We do not expect the fire ant quarantine to have a negative economic impact on the area,” said VDACS Commissioner Todd P. Haymore. "Regulated articles can move without restriction within the quarantine area. With inspection or a compliance agreement, they will be able to move out of the quarantine, as well. Indeed, we will work with the affected communities and businesses to make sure the quarantine will not deter economic growth in the greater Hampton Roads area while helping to keep an injurious pest that can be quite harmful to humans, pets and agricultural animals from moving to other areas of the state.” Regulated articles that are certified free of imported fire ants can be transported out of the quarantined area. Nurseries, tree removal services, timber operations, farmers, builders, construction companies and developers will be required to have regulated articles certified fire ant-free before these articles can be moved from regulated to non-regulated areas. VDACS’ Office of Plant and Pest Services (OPPS) inspectors can conduct an inspection to determine if regulated articles meet the conditions required to be certified fire ant free. Businesses and individuals that ship regulated articles out of the quarantine on a regular basis can enter into a compliance agreement with VDACS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS) that allows for self-certification of regulated articles. Regulated articles shipped under a compliance agreement do not require an inspection by VDACS. Since eradication is no longer feasible in the quarantined area, OPPS staff will no longer treat these fire ant colonies, concentrating instead on treatments outside the quarantine. Landowners within the quarantine will be responsible for any treatments that occur on their property. VDACS will host two educational meetings in July to address questions related to the quarantine:
July 1, 2009, 1 – 3 p.m. — Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 1444 Diamond Springs Road, Room: 125 A & B, Virginia Beach, Va. 23455 July 10, 2009, 10 a.m. to noon — Tabb Library, adjacent to lobby, 100 Long Green Blvd., Yorktown, Va. 23693
“I urge concerned citizens as well as affected businesses to attend these meetings,” said Commissioner Haymore. “I believe people will find them a good source of information about the ways we are addressing the fire ant problem as well as what we are doing to minimize the impact on business and commerce.” The first discovery of fire ants in Virginia occurred in Hampton in 1989. Since then, colonies of imported fire ants have continued to grow due to the movement of infested materials, primarily nursery stock from other areas of the country, as well as the fire ant's natural spread. Staff in OPPS successfully treated and eradicated many of the original colonies, but recent data confirms that imported fire ants are now established and spreading naturally in the Tidewater area. Prior to 2008, OPPS treated an average of 33 imported fire ant sites per year. From July 1 to Dec. 31, 2008, OPPS treated 642 imported fire ant sites in the Tidewater area. This increase in the fire ant population indicates that the populations have become established in this area and eradication is no longer achievable. The temporary quarantine, which would become permanent when approved by the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is designed to reduce the artificial spread of imported fire ants to areas that currently are not infested. Without this quarantine, articles capable of transporting the imported fire ant would be allowed to move freely throughout the state, spreading the pest’s presence. For more information on imported fire ants, see or contact the following resources: • Contact your city or county agricultural Extension agent, listed in the local government section of your telephone directory under Virginia Cooperative Extension Service (VCE). Or visit VCE’s Web site. • Call VDACS’ Office of Plant and Pest Services in Richmond at 804.786.3515 or in Franklin at 757.562.6637. • See VDACS’ Web site for Frequently Asked Questions and other information. • See USDA-APHIS Imported Fire Ant Web site. TAGS: Legislative 0 comments Hide comments

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Beef exports gain momentum Feb 25, 2017 Case for beef in a healthy diet gains momentum Feb 24, 2017 Seedstock Directory Dec 28, 2015 Directing nature? Gene editing offers big potential Feb 16, 2017 Creating Premier Ranchers The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, set to debut this fall, employs a unique curriculum to shape elite ranch managers. Stephanie Veldman Associate Editor | May 01, 2004 A new ranch management program will make its debut this fall at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management is a master's degree program designed to train students in all areas of ranch management — from range and wildlife management to finance and personnel management. “There are so many variables between the environment, the cattle production system, the rangeland resources, and on and on,” says Barry Dunn, the program's endowed chair and executive director. “The emphasis will be to turn out ranch managers who can manage rangeland landscapes, successful businesses, produce livestock and do it in all ways as to enhance wildlife habitat and production.” Several industry experts, including Paul Gehno, vice president and general manager of King Ranch, Inc., and Ronald Rosati, dean of Texas A&M-Kingsville College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, developed the concept for the Institute. It was brought to life with the first donation of $3 million, $1 million each from The Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the James H. Clement Sr. Family and King Ranch, Inc. More than $7.3 million of the $10 million goal has been raised. Dunn was hired to turn the concept into a workable program. He arrived in Kingsville in January, leaving his post as range livestock production specialist at South Dakota State University, Brookings. “Barry brings a unique perspective to the institute,” Rosati says. “He comes from a long tradition of successful ranch management and he personally managed a large, successful ranch for more than 17 years.” Dunn has been developing the Institute's curriculum, which will be tailored to strengthen individual students' weaknesses so they are well rounded in all areas. “This means that if the student is very interested in animal science, their curriculum won't be designed to strengthen their animal science skills, it will focus on strengthening their business skills, range management skills, and skills in managing wildlife,” Dunn says. “Traditionally, master's programs have narrowed the students down, focused them on a specific area of study — that is not what we are going to do. We are going to have them graduate with a very broad background.” Program Requirements The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management is a two-year, intensive study program, and includes two internships. Students will complete case studies on the most well-managed ranches in the U.S., and possibly international ranches. “Most graduate degrees are research degrees. This degree focuses on case studies where students will be functioning in a natural system,” says Gehno, a member of the Institute's management council. The management council is composed of ranch managers, wildlife research and management personnel and representatives of related disciplines. The council serves as Institute advisors and mentors for students. “The students will also be required to defend their case studies to the management council,” Gehno says. Dunn says the Institute's admission standards include a bachelor's degree in animal science, range and wildlife management or business, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Candidates must take the Graduate Record Examination and submit 3 references. “We'd also like to see hands-on, real-life experiences. We think that is key for their success,” Dunn says. “That means some type of previous work experience on a ranch or farm.” Two students will be accepted into the school this fall. In fall 2005, Dunn says enrollment will be open for four additional students. “We are actively pursuing non-traditional type students — those who have been out in the workforce in some capacity and want to come back to get a master's degree,” Dunn says. “Those types of people will make excellent students.”

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http://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Technology-helps-farmer-increase-efficiency-8429756.php Technology helps farmer increase efficiency Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Southwest Farm Press Staff Roy Burns started farming on his own in Navarro County, near Corsicana, Texas, in 1977 with a $15,500 tractor and a $2,500 planter. He grew wheat, milo and cotton on 200 acres of rented land. He added corn to the mix over the years and put in about 10 times more acreage this year than he did in 1977 - with a new $189,000 John Deere 8430 tractor and a $69,000 planter. Times have changed. But his labor force is about the same as always. "I hire one part-time cart driver in the summer to help with harvest," Burns says. "Most of the time I have a one-man labor force - me - and I don't have to wonder on Monday morning if my hand will show up. And I know who'll be out at 2 a.m. getting things done. "I've always invested more money in equipment than in labor, but I couldn't do all this without GPS technology." Burns admits that he "balked a little" when his John Deere dealer first suggested he switch to GPS technology three years ago. "I was planting straight rows," he says. "I thought I could plant just as well as the GPS could." But the tractor he was buying was already hard wired for the technology, so he tried it. "It's a lot more accurate. With deep tillage I don't get overlaps and can do about six more acres a day. I'm also saving fuel." He says his North Blacklands farm often has narrow windows of opportunity for planting fall and spring cops. "Sometimes we have about three good days," he says. GPS technology and the 16-row planter, an upgrade from the 8-row unit he used before, make planting 300 acres a day possible. He planted 637 acres of milo in a day-and-half this year. "I can plant 260 or 270 acres a day comfortably," Burns says. "I can run 225 to 230 acres a day with the field cultivator and can chisel 180 to 190 acres a day. When we get weather right to work we have to go." Stress is less, too. "I'll turn 55 this summer and the older I get the less stress I want. I love to drive a tractor, but not all day and all night." His custom applicators also use GPS technology to apply fertilizer and other materials. "We see very little overlap and GPS is especially effective on dry spreader trucks. Coverage is more uniform and we don't have to watch foam markers. Applicators also don't have to mix up another batch of material just to finish a field." He's not using a yield monitor yet. "Yield mapping is not as important in this part of the country as it is up north," he says. "We don't have as much to count. And we would need an RTK system to make yield mapping viable and we don't have a station in the area." Burns says equipment in general is more efficient than when he started. "That first tractor took about one gallon of fuel for every acre. With the new one I can run field cultivators with less than half-a-gallon per acre, plant with less than one-third of a gallon and do heavy tillage with about six-tenths of a gallon." He credits a lot of his efficiency to a good equipment dealer. "Good service from the dealership is critical. I can't keep up with all the technology to repair a tractor but I can call Brazos Valley Equipment in Hillsboro, give them a code and they'll come out with a laptop, diagnose the problem and usually fix it right there. They take care of me. They know it's just me and they come right away." By mid-April Burns was through planting everything but cotton and he was waiting on warm weather to finish up. "I have planted cotton by April 15," he says. "But it's been too cold this year." He was also watching his wheat crop following an early April freeze that left a yellow tint in the tops of stalks in some fields. "I don't think we have a lot of damage," he says. "We might have lost the top few kernels in some fields but I think we'll be OK. We just have to wait and see. It may take 10 days to two weeks to assess damage." If some fields are severely damaged he may replant with cotton into the stalks and then shred them. Wheat is his main crop, taking up about 40 percent of his acreage. Corn takes about 20 percent, milo 30 percent and cotton 10 percent. "I don't plant cotton every year. We have a lot of root rot in the area so I have to be selective about cotton land." Burns still does some deep plowing but has reduced tillage, "by about two trips. And I don't cultivate row crops. I go over the top (of herbicide tolerant crops) with post-emergence herbicides. It's cheaper and more effective than cultivation." He shreds corn and milo stalks to hasten decomposition before he plants wheat. He likes to plant wheat behind one of the grain crops. "I plant corn and cotton where I have Johnsongrass problems because I can handle it with Roundup or Touchdown. I always pick the most cost effective option or the best programs available, including price and finance options." He said supplier financing has become more common as local banks have backed away from farm loans. Even with a one-man labor force Burns tries to give back to the industry that has supported him for more than 30 years and his family for much longer than that. He's a fourth generation Navarro County farmer. He teaches eighth grade vocation prep classes at the middle school in Corsicana, is chairman of the Texas AgriLife field crops committee for Navarro County, and is past chairman of the county IPM committee. He's also chairman of the Food and Fiber Roundup, sponsored by the Navarro County Farm Bureau and Texas AgriLife. That program takes local fourth graders on a tour of agriculture in the county. Burns is on the Zone 8 Texas Cotton Advisory Committee for stalk destruction with the Boll Weevil Eradication Program. He says eradication has allowed farmers in the past two years to make the four or five bolls at the top of the plant they had been losing to the boll weevil. He's chairman of the cotton committee for the Blacklands Income Growth Conference for the next two years and was honored for his volunteer work with entry in the Navarro County Agriculture Hall of Fame. Burns has embraced a lot of changes since 1977 and is open to more as he adds technology to increase efficiency. "And I'm still waiting for sustained high commodity prices," he says. "I thought we would see that 15 years ago with population growth." Elevated prices last year resulted from speculators and not market forces, he says. But he wonders now if yield potential for many commodities may have peaked. "If so, we may see better prices. "I don't know any farmers who expect to get rich," he says. "We just want an opportunity to farm another year."

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Retail Industry works to divert waste from landfills By By Vicky Boyd Maureen Torrey (left) of Torrey Farms, Elba, N.Y., talks with Brooke Parsons, a Cornell University ag sciences student after the waste session. Photo by Vicky Boyd NEW ORLEANS – About 40% of all fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. are thrown away, straining landfills and wasting the resources used to produce them. Through creative thinking and communication, much of that food waste can be diverted to food banks, animal feed, composting operation or energy generation. A panel involved with waste reduction shared their experiences at the 2013 Fresh Summit, Oct. 18. Since the recession, food banks have seen a 46% increase in demand since 2006, said Lisa Davis, vice president of public policy for Feeding America, Washington, D.C And food insecurity, as she called it, hasn’t declined even as the economy has rebounded. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 49 million people at any one time don’t know where their next meal is coming from. At one time, food banks shunned produce because of its perishable nature, Davis said. But that has changed as fruits and vegetables have gained prominence in enhancing overall health. For the 2013 fiscal year that ended June 31, Feeding America’s 203 affiliated food banks received 950 million pounds of produce out of the nearly 3 billion pounds of food donations. In northern Colorado and Wyoming alone, the Denver-based Food Bank of the Rockies received 24 million pounds of mostly locally grown produce, said. Kevin Seggelke, president and chief executive officer. He runs a fleet of 17 trucks that visit 128 retail stores to pick up produce and other food items. Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets Inc. is part of a much larger effort spearheaded by the Food Waste Reduction Alliance comprising retailers, food manufacturers and restaurants, said Michael Hewett, director of environmental and sustainability programs. The group has already reviewed existing data worldwide to try “get our arms around the scope of the problem,” he said. It also has surveyed members to try to figure out how and why food waste occurs. The results of those two efforts have already been published, and the group hopes to issue a best practices and a case studies report shortly, Hewett said. Some retailers already have seen results from their efforts, he said. Kroger Co. built an anaerobic digester at its manufacturing site in Compton, Calif., to convert food waste into energy that can be used at the site and compost. Although no producer grows a crop with donations in mind, weather, pests and other factors create a percentage that is cosmetically challenged, said Maureen Torrey of Torrey Farms, Elba, N.Y. Depending on the year, that could run from 10% to 20%, she said. Torrey has worked with local food banks to take what “ugly” produce, which is perfectly wholesome but just doesn’t make the grade. “We feel very committed to helping and improving the health and nutrition of a segment of society,” she said. “It’s our moral obligation to do what’s right.” But Torrey said growers and shippers also have to look at how to be cost-effective in the packaging and how to make it easy for the packers to divert the unmarketable crop. “One of the biggest problems has been dedicating floor space,” she said. “Sometimes we have to wait for transportation. But we worked as a team and communicated our concerns.” Consumers also play a role in reducing waste, Hewett said. In fact, they account for 51% of all food waste that ends up in the landfill. He said the alliance is exploring public service announcements to help educate consumers about their contributions. “Consumers need to understand how their behavior affects in just the environment but their own pocketbook,” he said, adding that the average family of four throws away $1,500 worth of food annually. waste diversionfood banksanaerobic digesterpublixtorrey farmsfeeding america About the Author: By Vicky Boyd

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Hermiston approves OSU extension center annexation The City of Hermiston has annexed Oregon State University’s Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, which will provide it with more water for research. By Dacotah-Victoria SplichalovaThe Daily Barometer Published on January 31, 2014 10:28AM Annexation to the City of Hermiston will allow for more agricultural research at Oregon State University’s Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center.Farmers depend on the agricultural research center to obtain the latest information on the problems within their crops that they seek to remedy.HAREC’s mission is to provide new research-based information to support the high-value irrigated agricultural region where the center is located.“This is not just an agricultural production area,” said Phil Hamm, station director of HAREC and professor emeritus in the department of botany and plant pathology at OSU. “It’s one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world.”HAREC supports nearly 500,000 acres of irrigated agriculture in Oregon and Washington’s Columbia Basin.For more than a century, the extension center has worked in close collaboration with farmers in the greater Hermiston area. In a forward-thinking move, HAREC actively pursues water resources to better support the agricultural industry.Being considered a part of the urban growth boundary allowed HAREC to request to be annexed into the city ordinance.The Hermiston City Council approved the annexation of HAREC on Monday. This annexation allows HAREC to be considered within city limits.According to Hamm, the City of Hermiston had an excess of water resources that has been previously allocated for industrial use. Now this water can be used for agricultural purposes.“We can take some of that water if we are part of the city, and use it to expand the area that we can irrigate on the experiment station, thus increasing our land base by 25 percent,” Hamm said. “With this new annexation, we can do 25 percent more research in the future than we can do today.”HAREC had approximately 160 acres prior to the annexation, according to Hamm.Now that HAREC has access to the city’s water supply, an additional 60 acres can be used to conduct more research. This land belongs to OSU and was previously unused.“Water is everything here,” Hamm said.The chief water source for North Morrow and Umatilla counties is the Columbia River.The Columbia River is one of the largest river systems in North America and only 7 percent of the river flow is used for irrigation.In stark contrast to the Columbia River, 100 percent of the Colorado River’s flow is allocated to industry, agriculture and municipal uses, according to Hamm.Hamm makes this comparison to show that the Columbia River has potential to provide more water.HAREC has a vast array of researchers in many different fields in support of the local agricultural industry.Faculty researchers based at HAREC include potato and cereal breeders, crop entomologists, ecologists, plant pathologists and agronomists.“(Agriculture) is the industry in the area — it makes northern Morrow and Umatilla counties into what it is today,” Hamm said. “It’s really an exciting place to be.”Dacotah-Victoria Splichalova is the science reporter at the Oregon State University Daily Barometer.

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County beekeepers adjust to causes of colony collapse Sun May 12th, 2013 6:16pmNews By Bill Sheets Herald Writer Last fall, hobbyist beekeeper Jeff Thompson had nine hives of honeybees. “I only had two hives make it through the winter,” said Thompson, who keeps bees at his home in Edmonds and also in Mill Creek. Dave Pehling, who keeps hives at his home near Granite Falls, lost all his honeybees over the winter. Neither was surprised to hear about a report regarding one of the more mysterious recent environmental problems: the sharp decline of honeybees. A U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency report issued a week ago cites a complex mix of problems contributing to honeybee colony declines, which have accelerated in the past six to seven years. Factors include parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition, pesticide exposure and farming practices, according to the report. “It’s just a combination of stresses,” said Pehling, an assistant with the Washington State University cooperative extension in Snohomish County. He has a zoology degree and has been keeping bees since the 1970s, he said. The recent report warns that even with intensive research to understand the cause of honeybee colony declines in the United States, losses continue to be high and could pose a serious threat to meeting the pollination demands for some commercial crops. Growers in California have had trouble pollinating almond trees in the winter, for example, and blueberry farmers in Maine face similar pressures. Many bee experts have focused on pesticides recently, Pehling said. While he agrees that’s a factor, he doesn’t think it’s the biggest one. The varroa mite, native to Southeast Asia, was introduced to North America in the 1980s. In about 1987, it reached Snohomish County, Pehling said. “That’s when I started losing bees,” he said. The mite lays eggs on young honeybees and the larvae feed off the living bees’ blood, weakening them and making them more susceptible to illness from other factors, Pehling said. In Asia, the mites feed off the bees as well but those bees are smaller, providing less space and food for the mites and keeping the relationship in balance, he said. Pesticides can temporarily control the mites but the chemicals collect in the wax in the hives and erode the bees’ health. “It’s not an acute effect, but it can affect the immune system and shorten life of an adult bee,” Pehling said. Now, beekeepers are experimenting with “softer” chemicals such as Thymol and essential oils, he said. “I think there’s a multitude of issues why the bees are declining,” said Thompson, vice president of the Northwest District Beekeepers Association, based in Snohomish. He said that whether pesticides are the major cause of bees’ problems or not, they worry many beekeepers. Neonicotinoids are synthesized, concentrated forms of nicotine made into pesticides. “These are very long-acting products” that get absorbed into plants and in turn by bees, Thompson said. “That’s the beekeepers’ big concern right now, they don’t like it,” he said. Honeybees are not native to North America but have been here since the 17th century, Pehling said. They have managed to mostly live in balance with other species, he said. Dozens of bees are native to Washington state, including some variety of bumblebees, he said. Pehling keeps bumblebee hives as well as honeybees, he said. One species, the western bumblebee, has experienced some decline in recent years but “most of (the native species) are doing OK,” he said. Because of honeybees’ role as prolific pollinators, their decline could spell serious trouble for American agriculture, experts say. The USDA estimates that a third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honeybees. Pollination contributes to an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion in U.S. agricultural production each year. A consortium will study the problem this year with the hopes of putting in place measures to help reduce bee deaths next growing season, said Laurie Davies Adams, executive director of the San Francisco-based Pollinator Partnership, which is overseeing the project. Farmers, beekeepers, pesticide manufacturers, corn growers, government researchers and academics will study this summer ways to address the corn dust problem by changing the lubricant used in the machinery, as well as trying to improve foraging conditions for bees at the same time the pesticides are applied. “It’s not in anybody’s interest to kill bees,” she said. “It just isn’t.” Erika Bolstad of the McClatchy Washington Bureau contributed to this story. Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

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> Marigold Murray - Costa Rica La Margarita Zalamari OCTOBER 2013 This is the the first year of us stocking this coffee, and I think its one of the most interesting varietals we have ever stocked. This coffee comes from La Margarita estate in Costa Rica, in the Cachi Microregion of the Orosi Valley, which is close to Cartago, and it's owned by Marigold Murray. In 2000 the Murray family built a micromill called Zalmari inside the farm, where they are able to process all of their own coffee. Since then they have really seen a leap in quality. Two challenges that face the farm is its relatively low altitude when compared to other farms in Costa Rica, and the ongoing problem people have had in central south America with something called Roya. Roya is very big news in coffee at the moment. Roya is also known as coffee leaf rust, and is a fungus that has ravaged much of central America this year, thought to be due primarily to drier than normal conditions that some say is associated to the onset of global warming, and at best is due to changing climates in coffee producing areas. Roya causes the leaves on coffee trees to wither, rot, and eventually takes cherries, and entire branches with it and severely reduce the outturn of the affected coffee plant. Early indications are that this year the crop of most central American countries will be reduced by as much as 40%, so you can understand why this is a hot topic. But this is not a new problem. In the past, the governments and specialty coffee associations of producing countries have encouraged farmers to plant Catimor, a disease resistant hybrid of Arabica and Robusta. Unfortunately, it turns out that the cup characteristic of Catimor is not for everywhere and everyone, and although we have seen some success with it, it's fair to say we have seen much more disappointment. Step forward F1, which has showed some amazing promise. It produces about 30% more than Caturra and Catuai, and early indications are that the cup profile is more consistent that some of the Catimors. The first F1 hybrids research started in the early 90s and resulted from artificial cross-pollination in the lab environment. This came from the work of Dr. Benoit Bertrand working for Cirad in Costa Rica. This is how many new varietals start their life. These pioneer varietals were developed from three types of coffee: Sudan, as the base seems to be the most common; and then using Typica, Mundo Novo, Catuai, Maragogype, Bourbon, Villa Sarchi; and then adding the resistant part of the plant in the Catimor / Sarchimor. You can buy Marigolds coffee here

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HRSD, Ostara Partner to Recover Nutrients and Make Fertilizer Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, Inc. on May 27 officially unveiled the first facility in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to benefit from a new technology that recovers nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen, from wastewater and transforms them into an environmentally friendly, commercial fertilizer. HRSD incorporates Ostara’s Pearl® Nutrient Recovery Process at its Nansemond Treatment Plant in Suffolk, Va. The process increases plant capacity and production efficiencies, while creating a premium fertilizer byproduct from waste, according to the company. The commercial fertilizer, Crystal Green®, uses a slow-release formula to ensure that nutrients are absorbed by plants and thereby reduces fertilizer runoff from reaching and polluting the Bay’s fragile ecosystem. The Nansemond plant tested the technology from October 2006 to March 2007 in a pilot-scale facility, where it recovered more than 85 percent of the phosphorus and 40 percent of the ammonia from the liquid it processed. The demonstration project led to full-scale commercial implementation. The Nansemond Treatment Plant is designed to treat up to 30 million gallons of wastewater per day (mgd). It is one of 13 plants owned and operated by HRSD, a public utility that serves 1.6 million people in an area of more than 3,100 square miles. The Nansemond facility discharges treated effluent to the James River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen, have been identified by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as one of the most serious water quality problems affecting the Bay. Ted Henifin, HRSD’s general manager, explained, “The benefit of Ostara’s Pearl system is gaining the ability to recover nutrients that were a maintenance problem in our plant and turning them into a commercially viable fertilizer product with basically no additional costs to HRSD.” Clean Water Services' Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment facility outside Portland, Ore., which was the world’s first to implement a commercial operation using Ostara’s nutrient recovery technology, has been operational for more than one year. In that time, the process has exceeded expectations with respect to the operational cost savings it has delivered and produced more than 500,000 pounds of Crystal Green fertilizer. The Nansemond Struvite Recovery Facility is projected to remove more than 85 percent of the phosphorus from solids recycle streams and has the capacity to produce more than 1 million pounds of Crystal Green fertilizer annually. Numerous other commercial applications of the Ostara technology are in pilot stages, including the third facility in Europe and the first in Asia, with the next commercial facility to launch in York, Pa. later this year. E-Mail this page

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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 1341 Baseline Road K1A 0C5 Harper Government Creates Export Opportunities for Canadian ... Harper Government Creates Export Opportunities for Canadian Soybean Industry Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Toronto, Ontairo -- The Canadian soybean industry will tap new export markets with the support of the Harper Government. Member of Parliament Bev Shipley (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment for the Grain Farmers of Ontario to create export opportunities. “There is growing demand for new varieties of high-quality, safe, food-grade soybeans,” said MP Shipley. “Today’s investment will help the Canadian soybean sector maintain and grow their product in global markets by promoting their added value to customers around the world.” The Canadian soybean sector’s ability to specialize in developing new food-grade varieties while maintaining an outstanding quality assurance program is making it a growing favourite on the world stage. This investment of over $100,000 aims to create export opportunities for Canadian soybeans in specialty markets by attending trade missions, conferences and trade shows. “The support the Canadian soybean industry has received from the federal government through the AgriMarketing program has allowed Canada to remain a strong competitor in soybean export markets,” said Barry Senft, CEO of the Grain Farmers of Ontario. “It is through important initiatives like this project, that Canada has been able to increase market access for our high-value Canadian soybeans. The regions of the European Union, Japan and Asia are key to the growth of our value-added soybean industry here in Canada.” Grain Farmers of Ontario represents Ontario’s 28,000 growers of corn, soybean and wheat. Soybean production is concentrated in Ontario but with the new varieties developed by Canadian researchers, it is now possible to grow them in other parts of the country as well. Canada exports over $1 billion worth of soybeans annually to Japan, the EU and China, among others. Today’s investment follows Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement that Canada and the European Union (EU) have reached an agreement in principle on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) that will significantly boost trade and investment ties between the two partners, and create jobs and opportunities for Canadians. Upon entry into force, almost 94 per cent of EU agricultural tariff lines will be duty-free. This investment is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, $341-million initiative underGrowing Forward 2. The Market Development stream of the program seeks to build and promote Canada's ability to expand domestic and export markets by undertaking promotional activities to help position and differentiate Canadian products and producers, and ensure industry's ability to meet market requirements. The new Growing Forward 2 policy framework, which came into effect on April 1, 2013, will continue to drive innovation and long-term growth in Canada. In addition to a generous suite of business risk management programs, governments have agreed to invest more than $3 billion over five years in innovation, competitiveness, and market development. For more information on the Growing Forward 2 agreement and the AgriMarketing Program, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/growingforward2. grain farmer soybean growing agriculture industry EU agriculture industry research agriculture industry Asia agricultural lining agriculture industry China grain grading grain growing NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 11.0 Million Acres of Cotton in 2017 U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 11.0 million cotton acres this spring, up 9.4 percent from 2016, according to the National Cotton Council’s 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached) Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 percent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 percent increase. The survey results were announced today at the NCC’s 2017 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Jody Campiche, the... EPA approves uses of weed killer Dicamba The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a conditional registration for new uses of the herbicide dicamba, a Monsanto “agrochemical,” on genetically engineered (GE) cotton and GE soybean. In aFinal Registration documentissued yesterday, the EPA discussed a number of considerations for the approval, including discussions of human health and environmental risks, along with benefits associated with the new uses. Per their study, the EPA classified Dicamba as “not likely to be carcinogenic... ASA to Review Bayer/Monsanto Acquisition for Impacts on Soybean Farmers The American Soybean Association (ASA) responded to an announcement today from Bayer and Monsanto that the two companies have signed an acquisition agreement under which Bayer will purchase Monsanto. In a statement, ASA President Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Del., noted that the association will first and foremost evaluate the acquisition with respect to its impact on soybean farmers: “With respect to any merger and acquisition affecting soybean farmers, ASA is concerned primarily with... USSEC Conducts U.S. Soy Supply Workshop – Agribusiness Series, Promoting the U.S. Soy Advantage Message to Customers in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines USSEC conducted three workshops in the major cities of Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila from May 23 through 31 to promote U.S. Soy. The “Agribusiness Series” is a custom-made program designed by USSEC in cooperation with the Northern Crop Institute (NCI) / North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the International Grains Program (IGP) to create a platform for USSEC to stress the benefits and advantages of U.S. soybeans and soybean meal to a select audience. The theme for the series of workshops is “Ma... USSEC Holds Poultry Nutrition and Production Short Course for U.S. Soy customers from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania With the goal to increase awareness of U.S. Soy and help customers differentiate between soy of different origins, USSEC conducted a five day training program at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) in Poultry Nutrition and Production for a team of 11 nutritionists and poultry professionals from top poultry integrations and feed manufacturing companies from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania from June 13 – 17. The classes were organized in close cooperation with Cargill, the Spanish Confederation of Compound... No comments were found for Harper Government Creates Export Opportunities for Canadian Soybean Industry. Be the first to comment!

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Agweb HomeFarm Journal HomeNewsGo 'Round, Up and Down Go 'Round, Up and Down By John Buckner Cycle opportunities are to be found in the troughs Go West, young man! That was the 19th-century power phrase that inspired many an enterprising young man to go forth and reap riches. While you might not be inclined to go West, Farm Journal columnist Moe Russell transfers that same kind of energy and can-do spirit when he says, "There’s tremendous opportunities in the years that lie ahead for farmers!" He speaks of global demand, the growth of middle-class consumers seeking new high-protein diets and the incredible ingenuity and innovation being displayed in cultures around the world. Opportunities presenting themselves are one thing; making the right decisions in hard times to take advantage of them is another. Mapping the DNA of successful farmers, Russell weaves into his matrix real farm numbers and comparative accounting. Like the sun burning off an early morning fog, the results help him start to see and appreciate the entrepreneurial skills of his clients’ decision making and hard work. "One thing I try to communicate is that their greatest asset is not their equipment, land or livestock—it’s their entrepreneurial skills," Russell says. "Every year, I track farmers’ returns on assets and equity and I compare that to the top 20% of the Fortune 500. These farmers are more profitable than the top 20% of those listed in Fortune magazine. A lot of farmers don’t believe that. They think they’re price takers instead of price setters. Well, you can forget all that," he says. In Russell’s world, it’s the numbers and the decisions based on their interpretation that separate the very successful from the plodders. This is the reason he focuses on the management of agriculture’s cycles. His takeaways are eye-opening. "There were only three times in the last 100 years when it got really good: 1917 to 1918, a seven-year period in the 1940s, and 1973," Russell says. "This tells me that good times don’t last and to watch the cycle trends starting in 2014 or 2015. "As long as we have the two human emotions of fear and greed, we’ll always have cycles," he adds. His premise is that you have to plan for the downturns by "bulletproofing" your balance sheet. This is ensured by having working capital equal at least 50% of your gross revenue. Russell says farmers need this level of working capital when they enter the trough of a cycle, so they can operate until the cycle starts trending upward for better profit margins. "I urge farmers to remember that they are in the commodity business," he adds. "One thing unique about commodity production is that over the long run, price will level out at the cost of production." Russell uses Iowa State University data that charts the corn price received per bushel and the cost of producing that bushel every year for a 40-year period. He plots regression lines, one for price received and one for cost, which show an amazing 9¢ per bushel difference (see chart above). "How do you survive in a business where, in the long run, there’s no money in it?" he asks. Uh … sell the farm? Wrong answer! Russell says that based on his research, farmers should 1) concentrate on better marketing and get their product sold in the top third of the price range; 2) watch their machinery cost per acre; 3) watch their labor cost per acre; and 4) improve agronomic management. Shaving the copper off a penny when buying crop inputs is like chasing a small rabbit, Russell explains. It is the decisions a farmer makes in the down cycles that determine how profitable he will become over the long haul. What about the decision to buy farmland? Russell’s research shows that land values have appreciated 4.2% on average during the past 160 years. "Investors like to see a 4% to 5% cash return," he says. "With an appreciation of 4% for land and a crop return of 5% that’s a decent return of 9%." The upshot? Don’t be blinded by the good times. Remember the history lesson. As Russell says, "Know your numbers. You can’t manage what you cannot see and visualize." Farm Journal Profit College delivers practical tips and tools to maximize crop and animal production profitability. Register now!

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What We DoContact PLANTSupport PLANTAgroecology Resource CenterEarth JurisprudenceFood & Seed SovereigntyLand Grabbing & Carbon TradePerspectivesHot Topics Saving Native Seeds to Protect Food Heritage in Mexico Date: 14 December 2011 The article below was published in South-North Development Monitor (SUNS) #7281. TWN thanks SUNS and IPS for permission to re-distribute this article. Third World Network 131 Jalan Macalister 10400 Penang Malaysia Email: twnet@po.jaring.my Websites: www.twnside.org.sg, www.biosafety-info.net Mexico: Saving Native Seeds to Protect Food Heritage Amecameca de Juarez, Mexico, 12 Dec (IPS/Emilio Godoy) -- When Guadalupe Ortiz planted gardens in Mexico, she was struck by the importance of saving and preserving the seeds, and decided to do something about the problem of seed supply. Ortiz founded Canasta de Semillas (Basket of Seeds) in 2002 as a project committed to recovering, investigating, producing, gathering and distributing seeds of native varieties of vegetables. Initially, it was funded by the government and the Fundacion Merced, a charitable organisation supporting Mexican NGOs. "We need to reclaim our seeds in order to ensure food security and face the challenges of climate change and the emergence of new pests," Ortiz told IPS. Canasta de Semillas is working to create five regional seed reserves, which will distribute seeds to seven community seed banks. The seed bank in Amecameca, a small town 58 km from the Mexican capital, was launched in 2008 on an area of three hectares, and includes an ethno-botanical museum and a library that is under construction. Ethno-botany is the scientific study of the relationship between people and plants: how and why people use and conceptualise plants in their local environments. Saving seeds, preserving and exchanging them are ancestral practices in Mexican family farming. But now they have taken on a scientific facet, with the measurement of seed quality and of the capacity to adapt to new climate conditions. "These seeds have resisted all the changes that have taken place. We distribute seed to the community banks, and nearly all of it has been loaned out" to farmers, who will replace it when they harvest their crops, Alicia Sarmiento, head of the Integrated Rural Development Project (PRODERI) in Vicente Guerrero, told IPS. PRODERI was launched in 1990 in the southern state of Tlaxcala, and is one of 14 organisations that make up the Programme for Exchange, Dialogue and Advice for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (PIDAASSA). In November, PIDAASSA launched a national campaign with the slogan "For the right to life, save our native seeds! Defend Mexico's food heritage!" Meanwhile PRODERI in Vicente Guerrero had a stock in 2010 of two tonnes of seeds, mostly maize, from which every family was given 40 or 50 kilos containing between 10 and 12 varieties. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the sustainable agriculture carried out by peasant farmers and indigenous people for production of sufficient, nutritional food, as well as for overcoming the food crisis, conserving and improving natural resources and developing resilience to climate change. This year Mexico will produce 28.5 million tonnes of basic food grains, 8.5 percent less than in 2010, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Close to 500,000 hectares of farmland have been affected by severe drought, especially in the north of the country. According to FAO forecasts, by the end of 2011, Latin America will have imported 28.4 million tonnes of grain, of which 11 million tonnes will have been bought by Mexico. "We work with native seeds," Vicenta Mendez, head of the Rural Association for the Collective Interest - Independent and Democratic (ARIC-ID), told IPS. "It is an essential part of our daily life. We promote sustainable agriculture and looking after native seeds in order to improve food production and protect the environment." Farmers belonging to ARIC-ID, in the southern state of Chiapas, have saved maize, beans, rice and squash seeds. "Here we receive seeds, store them, document them and loan them out. The idea is to sow four varieties of each plant, and see which does best," said Ortiz of Canasta de Semillas. She is the author of the manuals for establishing seed banks, with advice from the state Chapingo Autonomous University, which manages the National Plant Germplasm Bank. The National Phytogenetic Resources System donated material for Canasta de Semillas' seed banks, including solar cells and rainwater collection equipment. Ortiz, who has been supported since 2009 by Ashoka, a global network of social entrepreneurs, planted organic lettuce, strawberries, cucumbers, parsley and medicinal herbs, in a greenhouse and out in the open, on a plot of land surrounded by forests under the snowy summit of Iztaccihuatl, a 5,286-metre volcano. The seeds are taken from each plant, weighed, placed in containers, and a portion is refrigerated. Each community seed bank receives 100 to 200 seeds of each of 20 varieties of each plant, and the plan is to open five more seed banks in 2012, in order to establish a network that will make decisions, be self-sufficient in seed production and continue the work of distribution. "A network of banks can reach out to rural communities very quickly," said Ortiz. Some five million people in Mexico depend on small-scale family farms with an average land area of six hectares, which produce 39 percent of total agricultural output, according to FAO. The national campaign includes creating seed banks managed by local communities, to improve knowledge about, protection of and propagation of the seeds, and organising fairs where campesinos can exchange seeds and swap experiences about their preservation. "The loans of seed will be recovered, but we don't yet know how much we will get back. To qualify for a seed loan, one must be a peasant with a small plot of land and no mechanisation," PRODERI's Sarmiento said. Native seeds face the daunting prospect of climate change effects such as heavy rains, lengthy droughts, and new pests, as well as the slow advance of transgenic crops like cotton, wheat, maize and soy. "We are expanding our seed bank. Every family selects their best seeds for us," said Mendez, of ARIC-ID. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright Third World Network - www.twnnews.net All Rights Reserved Support PLANT

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Industry Scientists unite to share ag data and feed the world By Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics April 22, 2013 | 5:31 pm EDT In the United States, we haven’t worried about food security since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930′s. In fact, our farmers have become so productive we have a thriving food export sector that has returned a positive effect on our economy for over 40 years. Unfortunately, many other countries cannot make that same claim. Over 870 million people are malnourished or hungry according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. As the world grows more interconnected every day, it is imperative that we reach across borders to help other countries solve issues as fundamental as the ability to feed their people. As Chief Scientist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), I am on the front lines of agricultural innovation. Thousands of scientists funded or employed by USDA at universities and research institutions across America have been working for decades to understand the genetics and other aspects of plants and food animals to increase productivity. Among their successes: the development of crops that can withstand the devastating effects of climate change, from drought to flood to insects; and helping to breed more productive dairy and beef cattle, which has increased the economic vitality of breeders and ranchers, and lowered methane emissions. Now, through an initiative of the G-8, the world’s scientists are ready to take the next step, and they will take it together. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead the U.S. delegation to the G-8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture on April 29-30th in Washington, D.C. The conference is an opportunity to advance President Obama’s call to openness and transparency in government on an international stage. Recently, his Administration directed all federal agencies to develop policies and procedures to provide open access to publicly funded research and the publications resulting from it – something only Canada and the United Kingdom have already done. This conference takes that concept to the next level, as a starting point to move scientific collaboration into the 21st century, both for global food security and economic stability. What is commonly meant by “open data?” Open data is often referred to as the concept that information should be freely available to the public, without restriction or charge for its use by others. In the food and agricultural realm, open data is an essential piece of finding the answers we’ll need to feed the world. Right now, most of the cutting edge scientific research being done on agricultural issues is being done in developed countries. The countries can, and often do, share their findings with researchers in other countries by way of collaborations and educational opportunities. Opening that data without restriction to every scientist in the world would democratize access and accelerate innovation. By convening the world’s leaders in agriculture, we hope to launch a movement that will close the gap of scientific achievement between the developing and developed nations. We will empower farmers and agricultural producers from Uganda to Bangladesh with the knowledge gained by those in other countries so that they can be as fruitful and productive as producers anywhere. And together, we hope to build a future of economic prosperity and food security that we only dream of today. For more information on the conference, please visit the conference website or e-mail G8AGOPENDATA@osec.usda.gov tom vilsackusdag-8 international conferenceopen dataAgricultureusdauniversities About the Author: Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

农业

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National labs a boon to agriculture National laboratories have had an impact on every farmer and rancher. Published on August 28, 2014 10:45AM Buy this photo Our ViewThey could not be lower-profile, yet the scientists at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories have had a profound impact on agriculture.We’re talking about an on-the-ground, game-changing impact that allows farmers and ranchers to grow more food with fewer inputs.From self-steering tractors to mapping the genomes of plants and animals to developing the biofuels that will power everything from tractors to jet airliners, these scientists are replacing the phrase “What if” with “What works.”These are not scientists sitting in an ivory tower noodling around with hypothetical questions. Ask John Hess, an Ashton, Idaho, farmer. Working with Hess, scientists from the Idaho National Laboratory developed the first self-steering tractor in the 1990s. At a time when most farmers had not even heard the initials GPS, Hess was tooling around his potato fields hands-free. What happened after that was a breakthrough for precision agriculture. By incorporating GPS technology, farmers could save time, fuel, fertilizer, seed and pesticides in a way that was not previously possible.Other work at the Idaho National Laboratory in Arco, Idaho, has had just as much impact. Unmanned aerial vehicles — popularly called drones — represent another breakthrough. They too use GPS to monitor fields, but they are particularly useful for the way they can scan crops, helping farmers detect diseases and pests before they are even visible to the human eye.Yet, without the work of the national laboratories, drones could not carry the sensors they now do. Scientists at the laboratory slimmed down the sensors’ weight from 300 pounds to 8.In Berkeley, Calif., scientists have looked at the structure and function of plants and animals. They map their genes, helping scientists worldwide understand what makes a plant cold-hardy or resistant to drought or disease. Such technology has helped plant breeders shift hybridization into fast-forward.Working with their counterparts in Idaho, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., are developing the biofuels of the future that will power heavy equipment such as tractors and combines once automobiles are weaned off petroleum. Together, they are also developing feedstock that can be stored and shipped using existing facilities. By converting feedstocks into commodities, a true market can be developed, thus solving a key problem faced by the nascent biofuels industry. This is profoundly important work. It is work that will help farmers, ranchers — and society at large — feed a growing world population, provide energy and minimize the impact on the environment.You may never get to Arco, Idaho, or Richland, Wash., or even Berkeley, Calif., but you can be assured that the work underway there will benefit all of us.And it already has.

农业

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/ Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Lindheimer's Muhly Grass Packet Size:20 mg Average Seed Count:100 Seeds Add to Wishlist Muhlenbergia lindheimeri has become increasingly popular since the 1980s. Back then, a grass garden would have been considered absurd. Now, however, gardening with grass is the ultimate in cool. Gardeners appreciate the soft colour palette, their pleasing textures and sense of movement they bring to our gardens. Lindheimer’s Muhly is a warm-season grass that has a strong vertical form and an upright, fountain-like habit. The effusive, arching, blue-green foliage grows to around 90cm (36in) tall. In autumn the fine textured, rounded clump sends forth slender, perfect-for-cutting inflorescences on upright stems some 60cm (24in) above. The long, open Calamagrostis-like panicles are coloured in muted purplish grey tones, aging to an antique silver and festoon the winter landscape. Whether headlined as a sophisticated specimen or grown en-masse, this stunning Muhlenbergia is prized for its dependable clumping form and vertical form, its height and adaptability. Hardy to -23°C (10°F), it is as good by the coast as it is in desert conditions. Tolerant of many different types of soil including heavy clay, it thrives in any well-drained soil as long as it gets enough sun and will tolerate heat as long as it gets adequate moisture. Easy to grow, undemanding, and extremely ornamental, once established an early spring hair cut is all that they need. Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is native only to the Edwards Plateau of central Texas. This area was maintained as savannah grassland up until the mid-1800s. Although it’s now uncommon in its native range, it has become an increasingly popular landscape plant. Gardeners are fast coming to appreciate the charms of Muhlenbergia. Very few cultivars have come to market, and only a few are widely commercially available, perhaps because the species are so outstanding. Sowing: Sow in spring or in autumn. Sow seeds into trays or large pots containing a good quality seed compost or potting soil. Sow thinly, if you sow them too thickly, you risk the seedlings developing fungal diseases or growing spindly. Do not cover the seed with compost as light is required for germination, just tightly press the seeds into the earth. Moisten the seeds, cover the container with a clear plastic dome or put it in a clear plastic bag so the seeds remain moist. Keep at temperatures of around 15 to 20°C (60 to 68°F). Put the container in indirect light away from the sun, germination should take place in two to four weeks. After the seedlings appear, remove the cover and place them where they can get plenty of sun and maintain a temperature of around 15°C (60°F) until the seedlings are established. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them to a one-litre pot containing gritty compost. They will form a bushy plant and be ready to go into the garden in summer. Space at 60 to 90cm (24 to 36in) between plants. Cultivation: Muhlenbergia is a beautiful warm-season grass that forms a neat, upright clump with fine blue-grey foliage. It produces attractive, plumes in autumn and goes dormant in the cold season. It continues to be attractive in the winter landscape. For appearances sake, cut this fast-growing plant to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears to remove the brown leaves and spent flowers. After pruning, add a small amount of fertiliser to the soil around the plant. It grows best in fertile, well-draining soil and needs ample irrigation in the summer to maintain a lush appearance. It is hardy and is tolerant of high salinity but does not like to be waterlogged in winter. If it is sat in water through the winter it will die so make sure drainage is good as you plant the small plants into the garden. A handful of course grit into the planting hold will help with drainage. If you have clay, sandy soil, or other poor conditions, add a healthy amount of organic matter to the soil. Seed Collecting: If you would like to collect seeds, they grow on the fine, branched inflorescences or plumes of flowers that are half as long as the rest of the plant. They are best collected in late autumn just as the wispy plumes lose their silver colour. If you carefully comb the seeds with your hands from dried plumes, you won’t destroy their good looks. Collect into a paper bag and sow as soon as possible. Plant Uses: Borders, naturalistic and perennial planting. Specimen or focal point, Cut or Dried Flower arranging. Origin: The genus Muhlenbergia contains over 150 species, and approximately 65 are native to North America, the majority of Muhlenbergia make their home in the southern U.S. and Mexico. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas, Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is native only to the Edwards Plateau of central Texas. This area was maintained as savannah grassland up until the mid-1800s. Although it’s now uncommon in its native range, Lindheimer’s Muhly has become an increasingly popular landscape plant. Nomenclature: The German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber (1739-1810) named the genus Muhlenbergia after one of the first early-American scientists. Gotthilf Heinrich (Henry) Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815) was American born but returned to his ancestral Germany for schooling and later returned to America. He was an ordained Lutheran minister but devoted his free time to the study of the botany. The G.H.E Muhlenberg pressed plant collection now resides at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Pennsylvania. This assortment of fungi, molds, lichens, mosses and more is considered a national treasure. The species name lindheimeri is after Ferdinand Jakob Lindheimer (1801-1879). He is often called the father of Texas botany because of his work as the first permanent-resident plant collector in Texas. Lindheimer is credited with the discovery of several hundred plant species. His name is used to designate forty-eight species and subspecies of plants. In 1879 his essays and memoirs were published under the title Aufsätze und Abhandlungen. Lindheimer's plant collections can be found in at least twenty institutions, including the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the British Museum, the Durand Herbarium and Museum of Natural History in Paris, and the Komarov Botanic Institute in St. Petersburg. Pronounced muh-len-BERG-ee-ah lind-HY-mer-eye. It has the common names of Lindheimer's Muhly and Big Muhly, which distinguishes it from other species which are generally smaller. Additional Information Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Hardy Perennial Arching plumes of fine blue-green leaves Natural Flower Time Late summer and well into winter. Foliage 100cm (39in) Spread 100cm (39in) Spacing 60 to 90cm (24 to 36in) Position Full Sun prefered Fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Season Good autumn colour Category Navigation:

农业

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DLA Ejournal Home | QBARS Home | Table of Contents for this issue | Search JARS and other ejournals Early Spring and Summer in the Society Test Garden Crystal Springs Island By Ruth M. Hansen The Test Garden began awakening from its Winter's sleep about the middle of February. We had had a wonderful normal mild, rainy winter until January, then one night the temperature suddenly dropped to 10 degrees above zero. Thus, in one night, plants wich had struggled to recover from the 1955 freeze took their last breaths and expired. Fortunately this extreme temperature lasted a relatively short time and by the middle of February we all felt that Spring was definitely here to stay. R. mucronulatum (Fig. 26), the lovely deciduous harbinger of Spring, made its debut on the 26th of February. It is always a welcomed sight to see the rosy-lavender flowers after a cold, wet winter. Fig. 26. R. mucronulatum R. Henny photo Fig. 27. R. 'Naomi' Group at Crystal Springs Test Garden. Following in quick succession through the month of March were R. 'Praecox', sutchuenense, calophytum, lutescens, leucaspis, 'Cilpinense' and 'Conemaugh'. R. 'Praecox' never fails to attract visitors to the South-end of the Island but the really big show for March is put on by R. sutchuenense var. geraldii from the 15th to the end of the month. This rhododendron stands about 8 feet high and has a spread of about 10 feet. It is literally covered with rose-colored flowers which have a deep purple blotch in their corollas. This magnificent plant puts on a one-man show which is well worth anyone's time to make a special visit to see, but unfortunately it blooms so early that few people ever have the opportunity to enjoy it. R. calophytum follows in about a week or ten days and is a plant almost as large as R. sutchuenense. In the smaller varieties one may find R. 'Cilpinense', 'Conemaugh' and leucaspis blooming in the rockery. Noticeably absent from this year's blooms were R. haemaleum, floccigerum, 'Bric-a-brac' and moupinense. These were a few varieties badly damaged by the 1955 freeze, but we hope by next year their flowers can be once more enjoyed. During the months of February and March the volunteer workers of the Portland Chapter were busy putting in a foundation planting around the Coolhouse. As the Test Garden is now seven years old, many of the original plantings were becoming overgrown and needed thinning; so here was an opportunity to utilize some of these plants without having to move them across the lake to the peninsula, which serves as our expansion area. The rhododendrons selected for transplanting were all large, specimen plants and it took not only the five or six man crew but the help of a jeep in a few instances to do this job. Another improvement to the Coolhouse was the painting of the Exhibition area, or porch, as it might be called. This was done in a soft gray green color which blends well with the natural outside surroundings and the corrugated plastic of the Coolhouse. This spring, for the first time, ground Fir Bark (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), was spread over most of the hybrid beds, as a mulch, in preference to sawdust. This was done primarily because of the eye-appeal to the visitor. The ground bark being of a dark brown color and of finer quality than sawdust gives a beautiful well groomed appearance to the ground. This was applied to the beds about two inches thick and will serve as the year's mulch for the plants. The tender varieties of rhododendrons housed in the Coolhouse have done very well this spring. They were in bloom from the latter part of February through early May and the fragrance from their flowers was almost over-powering. It is difficult for visitors to realize that these leggy looking plants, for the most part, grown in pots or tubs are true rhododendrons and the fact that they are delightfully spicy in fragrance is another hard to believe fact. R. taggianum, nuttallii, lindleyi, victorianum and rhabdotum, to name a few, were especially noteworthy due to their large tubular flowers and heavenly fragrance. The Portland Chapter Show was held in the Exhibition part of the Coolhouse, May 19th & 20th and for those who served at the Information table, during this time, they were more than grateful to have their table set up inside the Coolhouse away from the chilling breeze which is usually prevalent this time of the year. Benches were also provided in the Coolhouse for visitors to sit and rest out of the wind. Our blooming season this year was almost a full two weeks early and by Show time the Test Garden was really between the mid-season bloom and the late bloom. Whether our severe winters of the past five years have had any effect on the blooming periods of the rhododendrons is not for me to say; however we have all noticed that after a severe winter the blooming time is sometimes advanced about two weeks, which is in contrast to the normal assumption. This un-seasonal flowering of the rhododendrons makes it extremely difficult to send out accurate information as to when the Garden will be at its best. This year R. 'Naomi' and its varieties which are located on the main curved path at the South end of the Island were magnificent. (Fig. 27). These are all plants over five feet in height, well rounded and beautifully shaped, their color ranging through the pastel shades of pink and pink suffused with yellow. They were at their peak of bloom on Mothers Day and delighted thousands of visitors. They were indeed the pin-up girls for the Test Garden this season and, we believe, the most photographed plants on the Island. One of the main highlights of the season was to have been a tour of the Test Garden by the delegates to the National Convention of the Men's Garden Club of America which was held in Portland, June 10th to 13th. The Island had been groomed to a point of being immaculate. The week before members of the Portland Chapter had spent almost all day Saturday and most of Sunday picking off dead blooms from the rhododendrons so the garden would look its best to the visitors. Unfortunately this convention took place during the week of the Portland Rose Festival and we always have rain during Festival week. It never fails; so we had rain, not the gentle, soft kind but that which comes down hard with a determination to soak every molecule of soil clear down to China. On Thursday June 13th. seven members of the ARS waited for the delegates of the MEGA to show up for their scheduled tour of the Island. After a very heavy shower three bus loads of not too expectant delegates arrived. The shower was over, but everything was dripping. Needless to say it was a hurried tour and doubtless a rather disappointing one as very few plants were left in bloom and these widely scattered. Possibly the outstanding ones were 'R. Ladybird' and 'R. Bonito' both of which were over on the peninsula and therefore unnoticed by the visitors. Normally such varieties as 'Albatross', 'Lodauric', 'Azor', 'Mrs. Donald Graham', 'Margaret Dunn', 'Arthur Osborn' would all be in full bloom at this time, but not so this year. They were either all through blooming or so far gone that one could just get an idea of their color and past glory. The main activities in the Test Garden are now over for another year. The rhododendrons have all been dead-headed and the new growth is lush and green. All in all the Test Garden had a very successful year regardless of the fact that everything was about two weeks early. The rhododendrons bloomed beautifully and performed admirably and the Garden was more lovely at its peak than ever before. URL: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JARS/v11n3/v11n3-hansen1.htm Last modified: 08/05/14 16:18:43

农业

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Next » 2016 Organic Leadership Award Honors Organic Mentor Published October 28, 2016 Nebraska farmer David Vetter of Grain Place Foods is often described by his friends as quiet and humble—a typical low key and unassuming Midwesterner. But as a mentor to others in the organic industry, he has been an inspiring and tireless giant. Selected to receive the Organic Trade Association’s 2016 Organic Leadership Award for Growing the Organic Industry, Vetter has unselfishly mentored and shared information about organic to countless numbers of farmers transitioning to organic production, from Canada to Central America, from Europe to Australia. “It is our honor to recognize David for his significant contributions to growing the organic industry through his collaborative leadership and action,” says Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association (OTA). “We have been recognizing organic leaders who inspire and innovate for 20 years, and David definitely deserves to take his seat among these inspirational honorees.” Vetter grew up working on his family’s farm in central Nebraska. In the 1950s, his father began questioning the ethics and science behind emerging agricultural practices that were part of the Green Revolution, and the family farm began to adopt organic farming methods. Vetter left the farm and went to college to earn a bachelors degree in agronomy and soil science and a masters degree in divinity. He returned to the farm in 1975 and helped achieve organic certification. “Taking care of the environment and our natural resources is one of my core values, and something I have always strived to do,” says Vetter. “Organic agriculture is an integral part of that mission, and it’s been especially fulfilling to help other farmers adopt organic and see organic agricultural practices become more common.” Over the years, the farm has grown into Grain Place Foods, employing three generations of Vetters, and helping steward other farms into making the transition to organic. It has been certified organic since 1978. In 1987, the family operation took the next step of processing its own grains into value-added products onsite. Today, it employs almost 25 people, several of whom have worked there for more than 15 years. The farm produces organic heirloom barley, soybeans, popcorn, corn and grass-finished beef in a nine-year rotation. Today, Grain Place Foods also sources organic grain to supplement what is grown on the Vetter farm because the family business has expanded so much. The company purchases organic grains from 128 organic farm families, including 46 neighboring farms. Vetter also shares the family’s strong land stewardship ethic through working to develop sound and sustainable farm policy. Grain Place Foods emphasizes fair trade practices in addition to requiring organic when sourcing ingredients that it cannot grow on its farm. “One of Dave’s greatest strengths is developing and maintaining long-term relationships. He is known for his honesty, information sharing, and the way he honors his commitments. He is a man of deep ethics and faith,” says Kelly Shea of WhiteWave Foods and a member of the Organic Trade Association’s board of directors. “I believe it was the influence of a few men such as Dave Vetter and his father that led to what is now USDA certified organic.” Vetter was honored at OTA’s 2016 Organic Leadership Awards dinner, along with the farmers of the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative who received the Organic Leadership Farmer of the Year Award, and organic hemp entrepreneur Mike Fata of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods who received the Organic Rising Star Award. Study Finds Family Meals Forgotten Published October 28, 2016 A recent consumer survey of American grocery shoppers, conducted by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Rodale Inc., underscores the infrequency of family meals in the U.S. and the critical need for more. The findings revealed that only 57 percent of parents eat dinner with their children every night. “We already know the many benefits of family meals,” said Sue Borra, RD, Executive Director of the FMI Foundation. “Just as notebooks and art supplies prepare our children for school, so does the family meal. Academic research shows that kids and teens who eat meals with their family four or more times a week earn better test scores and perform better in school.” However, 71 percent of parents in the survey say in their “ideal” world they would want to eat with their children every night. Borra added, “With such busy lives, it’s easy to understand how American households struggle to make family meals a reality.” The good news is that the survey also identified solutions. For parents who did not eat dinner with their children nightly, the top-two recommendations were not surprising: 1) Serve more meals their kids enjoy (47 percent); 2) Ensure that everyone is home at dinner time (42 percent). Parents also are looking to their grocery stores to provide solutions. The top three requests were: 1) Provide more kid-friendly recipes in store; 2) Display foods together than can be combined for an easy meal; 3) Provide more ready-to-eat foods that kids like. Food retailers are responding – not only with individual offerings at a local level, but as an industry too. To help American families achieve the goal of one more meal at home each week, the food retailer industry has developed a website, www.NationalFamilyMealsMonth.org. It is filled with tools, tips, and meal-planning ideas to make it easier for families to have one more meal together per week. The website also includes links to numerous partners – primarily food retailers and manufacturers – also committed to helping consumers achieve their increased family meals goal. Absolutely Gluten-Free Introduces Organic Superseed Crunch Published October 28, 2016 After two years in the making, Absolutely Gluten-Free is introducing Organic Superseed Crunch, a light, sweet and crispy snack packed with a powerhouse of important nutrients. According to Charles Herzog, Vice President, Absolutely Gluten-Free, “We have developed an innovative and proprietary new manufacturing process to create a uniquely healthy, gourmet snack that tastes so delicious, it’s addictive. More importantly, it provides a powerful nutrition boost from organic, whole superseeds including flax, chia and sesame. “These nutrition dense superfoods provide a whopping 2000 mg of Omega 3 ALA per serving, gut friendly prebiotic fiber, and powerful antioxidants and lignans from the seeds in a convenient snack. And, these nutrients flex some muscle – they are associated with everything from healthy brain, gut and heart, to supple skin. There’s really nothing else quite like it on the market today.” Absolutely Gluten-Free Organic Superseed Crunch is available in three varieties: Original, Toasted Coconut, and Cinnamon. Each variety is made with organic seeds: whole sesame, whole golden flax, and whole chia, and provides an excellent source of essential fatty acids and important minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. It is the sixth new product among the company’s unique Absolutely Gluten-Free line. “Absolutely Superseed Crunch is perfect for kids and adults as a snack or in recipes, on top of salads, yogurt and ice cream. Kids won’t know they are getting important nutrients, and moms need not worry if they eat the entire bag,” adds Herzog. Absolutely Gluten-Free Organic Superseed Crunch is packaged in convenient 4.5-ounce re-sealable bags (six to a case) and will retail for $4.99 – $5.99 per bag. It is all-natural, certified gluten-free, OU kosher, non-GMO, vegan, dairy and soy-free, low in sodium and USDA Organic. The Absolutely Gluten-Free brand product line currently includes: flatbreads, crackers, blondie and brownie crunch, cauliflower crust pizza and crepes, available in stores nationwide. All products in the Absolutely Gluten-Free line are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU). Whole Grains Are Among Friends in These Baking Mixes Published October 28, 2016 By Lorrie Baumann The founders of Among Friends are unabashedly advocates for whole grains, as is today’s CEO Darcy Zbinovec, who joined the company in 2014. Among Friends, founded by Suzie Miller and Lizann Anderson, makes a whole line of gluten-free baking mixes based on whole grains. The company started several years ago as a local enterprise, but began expanding nationally in 2013 after the products had built a fan base. The baking mixes are based on whole grains, but also include low added sugar and no added fillers or high-glycemic starches for a clean-label appeal that draws consumers who are seeking to eat foods made only with ingredients their grandmothers would have recognized. “We continue to see gluten free growing, and as it grows, we see consumers looking for better quality – not just that it’s gluten-free anymore, but that it’s got some positive aspects,” Zbinovec said. “Even people who aren’t looking for gluten free are looking for clean labels, and we’ve got really clean labels.” High-glycemic starches like tapioca and potato starch as well as fillers like xanthan gum are often added to other gluten-free products to hold them together in place of gluten, which creates the structure in conventional baked goods, said Zbinovec. The result is an end product that doesn’t have the traditional texture associated with traditional home-baked goods. “The typical products that use these ingredients have a very fine crumb with a very smooth texture caused by the starches and the gum,” she said. Among Friends, by contrast, has found ways to use whole grains and other clean ingredients to produce mixes that turn into baked goods whose texture more closely resembles that of the cookies and muffins that grandma might have turned out. “We’re using whole-grains oats, brown rice, sorghum. These whole ingredients rather than a processed starch give a more natural-tasting texture – more like the kind of texture that homemade products that are not gluten free have,” Zbinovec said. “We get a lot of consumers who write to us and tell us that they passed it off as their own. We love reading this because that’s kind of our intent.” The Among Friends baking mixes are all certified gluten free, non GMO, and each package is labeled on the front of the package to let consumers know how much whole grain they’re getting per serving. “It’s really about nutrition,” Zbinovec said. “Whole grains contain both probiotics and prebiotics. They’re just better for the body.” The baking mixes are designed to allow consumers either to bake them exactly according to the package directions or to customize them with add-ins that turn the end product into something that is customized to their taste. Among Friends helps with recipes and ideas on the company’s web site. A box of Shane’s Sweet n Spicy Molasses Ginger Cookie Mix, for instance, can turn into Bananas About Pie, a banana cream pie with a sassy ginger-molasses crust. Cora’s Honey Cornbread Mix might get a pop of heat with the addition of some jalapenos or show up for brunch with some blueberries stirred in. Blueberry Lemon Muffins might start with a box of Francie’s Make it Your Own Cinnamon Sugar Muffin Mix. “There’s a lot of different things you can do with the product. We just had a contest and someone made a bundt cake with the muffin mix, and it was delicious,” Zbinovec said. “People do like to try new things. It depends on how venturesome they are,” she added. “A lot of times what we’ll see is people tweaking the recipe a little bit – adding nuts, maybe a glaze. It gives the consumer a chance to play with it a little bit and make it the flavors that their family likes, whatever it might be.” Among Friends baking mixes are distributed nationwide. They retail for $4.99 to $5.99. Sartori Wins Best USA Cheese, Gold Medals at the Global Cheese Awards Published October 28, 2016 Sartori® stood out in an international crowd at the Global Cheese Awards, receiving 11 accolades at the highly regarded annual contest. SarVecchio® Parmesan, Sartori’s most decorated cheese, was crowned Best USA Cheese and Best Non-European Cheese. BellaVitano® Gold and Classic Parmesan were also honored, receiving gold medals in their respective categories. Sartori’s newest release, the south-of-the-border inspired Chipotle BellaVitano, continued its 2016 winning streak with a silver medal. Each of the award-winning wheels sent to the Global Cheese Awards began with Sartori family farms and the finest Wisconsin milk, which was then handcrafted into first-class cheese by master cheesemakers. “Since 1939, we’ve relied on talented people and hard work to achieve success,” said Jim Sartori, CEO and Owner of Sartori. “There are no shortcuts when you’re crafting a premium, artisan product and we’re humbled to see the work of our team members and family farms pay off.” A time-honored tradition since 1861, The Global Cheese Awards are an opportunity for the world’s best cheesemakers to showcase their talents. The 2016 contest included more than 1,000 entries spanning from countries across the globe. Prize-Winning Pacific Pickle Works Expands Production Published October 27, 2016 By Lorrie Baumann Away out West where the sun sets over the ocean, Bradley Bennett is a pickle-packing pro. He’s the founder of Pacific Pickle Works, which is making a name for itself as a maker of some of the zippiest garnishes you can plunk into a cocktail. Last year Pacific Pickle Works’ Jalabeaos won a Good Food Award, and this year, Brussizzle Sprouts won the Specialty Food Association’s sofi Award for the best appetizer and Asparagusto! won a Best of Show award from the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. “That run of victories was kind of fun!” commented Bennett, Pacific Pickle Works’ Principal Pickle. Those are on top of awards for the company’s Bloody Mary Elixir from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Los Angeles International Spirits Competition and the SIP Awards, an international spirits competition in which consumers are enlisted to judge. Bennett defines the Pacific Pickle Works product line as a West Coast take on pickles. “So much of the pickle tradition in the U.S. is an old East Coast, New York kind of a thing that came mostly from European immigrants who brought their tradition over,” he said. “We saw that as an opportunity to do something a little different.” The West Coast influence gave the Pacific Pickle Works products their Latin flavors inspired by the cuisine to be found in the local taquerias and Asian-inspired flavor fusions like Fenn Shui, for instance, which is a fennel root pickled in a rice vinegar blend spiced with citrus zest, ginger and Thai chili. The Asian-influenced ingredients make a nice complement to the fennel root, which doesn’t work with a traditional savory treatment, Bennett said. “We’re just sort of paying homage to those kinds of things – using chiles, keeping everything very fresh and crisp,” he added. Pacific Pickle Works also relies heavily on southern California’s bounty of produce. Bennett buys much of his produce from local organic farmers the day after it’s picked, and then it’s in the jar soon afterwards. The speed of that transition from field to pickle jar produces a product with both extra crispness and fresh taste, he said. Bennett’s been playing with combinations of local produce and spices for about a decade, making batches of pickles and handing them out as gifts to friends and family before he started selling them to a few local Santa Barbara retailers in 2011. The pickle packing continued to be a small side project for the next few years, but then more retailers started spotting his pickles on their competitors’ shelves and began coming to him. By late 2012, Bennett realized he had a full-time business on his hands and started looking for ways to increase his production with the construction of a new facility to take the place of the shared space in which he’d been working, trading his pickles for the use of a kitchen. He found an old warehouse and built a kitchen into it, leaving the rest of the space as storage for his pallets of jars and the product that’s waiting to be shipped. The new facility opened in September, 2015, and the increased capacity has meant that Bennett was able to team up with a distributor and expand the distribution of his products outside southern California. “We make everything here, by hand. No outsourcing, no copacking of anything,” Bennett said. “It has really changed things for us – allowing us to scale our business to these new demands.” Retail prices for Pacific Pickle Works products range from $8.99 to $10.99 depending on variety. For more information, visit www.pacificpickleworks.com. CHEVOO: Convenience and Flavor in a Cube Published October 27, 2016 By Lorrie Baumann Cheese has always been a very convenient, very versatile food, but CHEVOO is upping the convenience factor with a product that offers both trendy flavors and enough versatility to make it an attractive option through the entire day. CHEVOO is cubed fresh goat cheese marinated in an infused olive oil and packed in a 7.1-ounce glass jar. Service as a snack can be as easy as dipping into the jar and spearing out a cube of the cheese, but CHEVOO is also useful as a convenient ingredient to toss over a salad or into an omelet pan. “When I was importing and distributing artisan cheese in Australia, 50 percent of our customers were chefs. They’d buy a lot of different cheeses for their menus, but they would typically not use any one cheese on breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Marinated cheeses, because they’re flavorful, crumble, spread and melt well, could be stirred through a dish or crumbled on top of a dish, so chefs were using them throughout the day on all three menus. Foodies saw that trend and followed suit,” said Gerard Tuck, who founded CHEVOO together with his wife Susan. The Tucks were living in Australia, with Gerard working with an importer and distributor of artisan cheese, when they decided that they’d like to strike out for themselves in the United States. “We just decided to pack our bags and move to California and start the process of seeing whether it was something we could do,” Gerard said. “Having worked for the largest importer and distributor of artisan cheese in Australia, with marinated cheeses being our biggest category, it was a telling sign that this category had potential in the U.S.” Gerard spent the first year in the U.S. attending Stanford’s graduate business school, living on campus with his wife and three children. “As an international person wanting to move to the U.S. and start a business, it’s a bit tricky to get a visa,” Gerard said. “Going to school was a shortcut to getting the visa; you get a 12-month honeymoon after graduating to get established.” After 15 months developing the recipes for CHEVOO, which is now offered in three varieties: Aleppo-Urfa Chili & Lemon, California Dill Pollen & Garlic and Smoked Sea Salt & Rosemary, the product was launched onto grocery store shelves in September 2015. CHEVOO is made from goat curd sourced from local goat dairies in northern California. Then, a flavoring is blended through the goat curd. Olive oil is infused with a botanical that’s crushed and steeped into the olive oil over four to eight weeks. “It’s a very slow and natural process to get the flavor into the olive oil,” Gerard said. “Our most popular blend has smoked sea salt and cracked pepper blended through the goat curd. We then pair that with a rosemary-infused olive oil. It works nicely in that you get one flavor that pops out from the goat curd and one that pops out from the oil.” The product, selling for $9.99 for the 7.1-ounce jar, has been in stores up and down the West Coast for about 12 months now, and it’s been enough of a hit that the Tucks are moving their operation out of a shared space in southern Oregon and into a new facility in Healdsburg, California, that’s currently under construction. “We’re absolutely planning to stay in the U.S. We love it here. It has a mix of cultural elements that are very familiar to us, and some that are quite different, quite exciting,” Gerard said. “The depth to which the U.S. culture embraces entrepreneurship and innovation is unique and really attractive.” For more information, visit www.chevoo.com. BJ’s Wholesale Club Surpasses 50 Million Pounds of Food Donated in Local Communities Published October 27, 2016 BJ’s Wholesale Club has donated more than 50 million pounds of food through its BJ’s Feeding Communities Program®. BJ’s has contributed items to 45 food banks, including fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, baked goods and dairy items. In partnership with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, BJ’s clubs have donated unsold fresh foods to network member food banks since 2011. To celebrate the 50 million pound milestone, BJ’s is donating $50,000 to local food banks, with 10 donations of $5,000 each made to local Feeding America member food banks. These funds will be used to support the food bank’s holiday meal programs. Meijer Commitment to Local Craft Breweries Creates More Than $100 Million in Economic Impact Published October 27, 2016 Meijer began carrying its first craft brew more than 20 years ago. Today, Meijer remains committed to the growing industry and the up-and-coming local breweries across the Midwest. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s commitment to local craft breweries represents an annual economic impact of more than $100 million across the Midwest. Meijer expects to stay on par with its projected double-digit volume growth in craft beer sales, as the retailer has experienced over the past three years. With respect to Michigan-based craft beer alone, Meijer reports it has seen a 20 percent increase across its six-state footprint so far this year, said Rich O’Keefe, Meijer Senior Buyer, during a recent exclusive roundtable gathering of some of the best craft beer breweries in southeast Michigan. “We attribute this growth to establishing a great dialogue with craft beer breweries throughout Michigan and cultivating their popularity across our retail foot print,” said O’Keefe at Atwater Brewery in Detroit. “The consumer response has been tremendous. It proves that the thirst for Michigan craft beer is apparent throughout our retail markets. We are proud of the great products Michigan-based breweries produce and look forward to expanding the availability and building the popularity of other great regional breweries.” Meijer gathered together several Detroit and Michigan-based brewery owners and founders at Atwater Brewery to discuss product trends and the state of the local craft beer industry. The event kicked off local in-store tasting events with area craft “brewlebrities” on site at select Meijer stores. Participants included: Joe Short: Founder/Owner of Short’s Brewing Company Mark Reith: Owner of Atwater Brewery Eric Briggeman: Vice President/General Manager of Rochester Mills Brewery Kyle VanDeventer: Sales Manager of Griffin Claw John Leone: Owner/President of ROAK Brewing Company Tony Grant: Owner of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak Brewing Company and Northern United Brewing Company Chase Kushak: Co-Founder/CEO of Founders Brewing Company Matt Moberly: Director of Business Insights of Bells Brewery “The concept of craft beer – especially in Detroit – has grown quickly from a garage hobby to a viable economic engine for Detroit and Michigan,” said Peter Whitsett, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for Meijer. “We are proud to celebrate the craft masters who drove this industry to where it is today in Detroit. Their commitment to quality and craftsmanship is fueling demand for craft beer in and around Detroit.” Meijer began carrying its first craft brew – Bell’s Oberon – 20 years ago at a single Kalamazoo store, and today sells more than 550 different craft beers from 220 local breweries across the retailer’s six-state footprint. Of those, 40 are produced by Detroit or southeast Michigan breweries. Meijer continues to partner with local craft brewers to expand their distribution. In fact, Michigan craft beer sales account for 31 percent of the retailer’s craft beer sales and 10 percent of the retailer’s total beer sales. “Being in the same room with this group of craft brewlebrities – knowing their histories and the how far they’ve come is truly amazing,” said Shannon Long, Producer and Co-host of “Pure Brews America,” who moderated the roundtable discussion. “I think what makes them great is that they are focused on their core and not the next hot thing. They don’t need to follow a trend because they are the trend. “ Your Brand Tells a Story About You and Your Customer Published October 27, 2016 By Lorrie Baumann Your store’s brand, encapsulated by the stories you tell about yourself and your business, can be a powerful tool for connecting with customers, according to design and branding consultant Debbie Millman. “Take your branding seriously. People see branding as devil’s work, that you’re creating a false image in the market, that it’s based on lowest common denominator and lies, and that is not the case,” she said during a presentation at this year’s Natural Products Expo East, held September 22-24 in Baltimore, Maryland. “You want to uncover your origins and share that in a way that is authentic and compelling…. You have to capture the imagination of your consumer in a very quick way.” Millman is also the host of the “Design Matters” podcast, the first and longest running podcast about design. Over the past 11 years, the podcast has garnered a million downloads a year and a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award. iTunes named it one of the best podcasts of 2015. The concept of branding first became legally recognized with the passage of trademark legislation in 1876. Bass Ale was the very first trademarked brand. “I love what this says about us as a species,” Millman said. Bass Ale’s trademark application was rather quickly followed by what may be the first example of product placement: the painting “A Bar at the Folies-Bergere” by Edouard Manet. Painted in 1882, the work includes depictions of a couple of ale bottles with their Bass Ale labels clearly visible. Brands as we know them are late 19th-century products of the Industrial Revolution, with mass manufacturing of goods that began to be distributed beyond face-to-face transactions between the individuals who made them and the individuals who used them. Brands were what guaranteed the purchasers that they were getting an identifiable, distinguishable product, even though they didn’t know personally the individuals who made it. “Stories about brands were meant to inform us, to describe what it is we were receiving,” Millman said. “Part of it was a sort of guarantee that the things we were buying were safe and unadulterated. We were supposed to be able to have the security of knowing that we were interacting with a product that would keep us safe.” Early brand leaders were Ivory Soap, Campbell’s Soup and Coca-Cola. In about 1920, products started coming onto the market that looked very much like other products already on the market. Pepsi followed Coca-Cola; Quaker Oats was followed by other breakfast cereals. Since some of these new products’ appearance or performance weren’t easily distinguishable from their forerunners, marketers began finding other ways to distinguish their products from others, and they started creating characters that would entertain and create relationships with consumers. Betty Crocker was a complete fabrication; Uncle Ben wasn’t a real person, and yet consumers developed real relationships with brands based on the way they understood these characters. “You could relate to and project onto a character, and these stories about brands engaged us,” Millman said. Around 1965, brands began to say more about the consumers who bought them than about the products behind them. Brands like Levi’s, Nike and Marlboro didn’t say as much about the pants, shoes and cigarettes as they did the consumers who were wearing the Levi’s jeans and the Nike sneakers and smoking the Marlboro cigarettes. “Stories about brands reflected us, what we wanted other people to believe about us,” Millman said. Then around 1985, brands like Disney, Apple and Starbucks began to stand for an experience rather than a specific product, and consumers began responding, not just to the specific item that carried the brand but to the way that having that item made them feel. “This is when brand zealots were born,” Millman said. “Stories about brands emotionally transformed us.” “Why as a species are we so compelled by this?” Millman asked. “Why do we form tribes of our own around brands?” She noted that nearly every species of animals on the planet prefers to congregate, organizing into some kind of pack for safety and comfort. Humans are not different in this respect, Millman said, pointing to scientific studies that have shown that given the choice between being held by his mother and not fed or being fed but not held, a baby will choose the connection with his mother. “If the baby has to choose between starving to death and being held, the baby will always choose to be held,” Millman said. “We feel happiest and most secure when our brains resonate with others.” Our symbols, including our brands, have been ways to facilitate this congregation – before there were military uniforms, flags identified that place on the battlefield where our fellows could be found, just as today, a product bearing the Apple brand identifies its owner as a member of a particular tribe. Beginning in about 2005, the leading brands were no longer just identifying concrete, physical products and had begun to be about the ways we connect with each other. Think Facebook, Twitter. They’re means by which we tell each other our stories, regardless of the physical devices through with we do that these days. “The more popular brands of the moment are all around stories,” Millman said. “Now we’re being inundated with reality stories in everything we watch.” That being the case, Millman advises that we make sure that we’re telling the authentic stories that will help others connect with us and that will help them feel that they are accepted as they are rather than judged for their flaws. “To create brands, help people feel connected and accepted and okay as is,” she said. “If you can capture that acceptance, you will likely grow your brands really quickly. I see a huge social shift about accepting as is.” “Communicate something in your brand that will help consumers make a difference in their lives,” she added. “You must be absolutely, positively authentic. You can’t make these stories up. Consumers today have a very strong BS meter, and they know when they’re not being told the truth.” Next » Gourmet News

农业

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Tobacco purchasing should be based on value, not price Apr 03, 2017 Caledonia: Where prisoners have grown their food for 125 years Apr 04, 2017 How a blueberry family won and lost against a punishing situation Apr 05, 2017 90 percent of South Carolina’s peach crop destroyed Apr 02, 2017 Brazil talking out of both sides of its mouth to WTO? Forrest Laws | Aug 21, 2007 It’s a good thing the U.S. cotton program is damaging Brazil’s cotton producers. If it wasn’t for USDA’s counter-cyclical payments and the marketing loan, you’re left to wonder just how much cotton would Brazil’s growers be turning out now? That’s a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at reports Brazilian farmers have just completed harvesting 7 million bales for 2006-07 (the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. U.S. growers, meanwhile, have reduced their plantings by 28 percent. “Brazil’s harvest they just completed appears to be their largest on record,” said Gary Adams, the National Cotton Council’s director of economics and policy. “Right now, USDA has it plugged in at about 7 million bales. So we are seeing expanded production in Brazil.” Speaking to a joint meeting of the American Cotton Producers and the Cotton Foundation in St. Louis, Adams said Brazil’s internal prices have risen and that the country will probably be a larger exporter of cotton in the next several months. The increase in Brazil’s production is in direct contrast to its claims before a World Trade Organization review panel that the U.S. cotton program continues to suppress world cotton prices and damage foreign growers in countries like Brazil. Other National Cotton Council representatives speaking in St. Louis said at the same time Brazilian officials have been arguing before the WTO panel that U.S. subsidies were depressing world cotton prices, the Brazilian government was busy selling government-held cotton stocks on the Brazilian market in order to lower internal Brazilian cotton prices. “The actions of Brazil’s own government in April and May of 2007, when it sold nearly two-thirds of its government held cotton stocks to drive down prices are clearly incompatible with Brazil’s contemporaneous arguments that the United States was suppressing world cotton prices,” said Bill Gillon, an attorney representing the Council. “The Brazilian government was arguing (and the WTO panel apparently agreed) the U.S. cotton program was causing price suppression in the world market, even though the Brazilian government was taking action to drive down domestic cotton prices. Brazil’s words to the WTO were blatantly inconsistent with Brazil’s own actions at the time.” (Gillon was referring to press reports the WTO panel ruled in favor of Brazil after the latter brought a complaint that the United States was not moving fast enough in response to a 2005 WTO panel decision that the U.S. cotton program had caused “serious prejudice” to Brazil’s farmers.) NCC leaders said throughout the St. Louis meeting the facts do not bear out Brazil’s claims before the WTO review panel in Geneva earlier this spring. “Since the United States eliminated its step 2 program, U.S. cotton exports declined significantly, U.S. acreage dropped 28 percent and production is expected to decline by 20 percent or more for 2007,” said Gillon. “Cotton production and exports are dramatically up in India and Brazil’s production has also risen since the first panel decision and world cotton prices are up.” While the United States did not alter other aspects of its cotton program after the first panel decision, he said, “the measure of this type of proceeding is not whether the U.S. changed all of its programs, but whether the changes it did make were enough to ensure the program was not causing significant price suppression in world markets. “Clearly, with U.S. production down and the rest of the world producing at a record pace, the U.S. program is not causing anyone injury.” Noting the WTO panel’s report is supposed to remain confidential until it is translated in all the organization’s official languages, Gillon said that when the compliance panel report is made public, he hoped it would explain the discrepancy between the apparent decision and the current world cotton market. “In order for the U.S. to be able to take rational policy steps to adjust to WTO decisions, it must have a clear description of what it is doing wrong,” he said. “So far, while maintaining that the United States is causing significant price suppression, no WTO panel has told us what ‘significant’ means.” Gillon said the current panel had strong evidence before it tending to show the U.S. program (even before parts of it were eliminated) could have had no more than a 2 or 3 percent impact on world prices. “If the panel did not discredit that evidence, we may have a decision by the WTO that a 2 or 3 percent movement in prices is ‘significant,’ which seems to fly in the face of common sense.” e-mail: [email protected]

农业

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PostsCommentsIs Organic Food Healthier or Safer? September 4, 2012 by Jonathan H. Adler A new study fails to find scientific support for claims organic food is healthier or safer than conventional alternatives and everyone acts as if this is a surprise. It shouldn’t be. Scientific research has fairly consistently failed to validate the claimed superiority of organic food, as I’ve noted in prior posts over the past ten years (see, e.g., here, here, and here). Organic foods do not consistently show higher nutrient levels than conventional foods, nor are there even clear environmental advantages. Organic farming uses less energy and fewer chemicals, but it also tends to be more expensive and requires more land — meaning that a widescale shift to organic production would increase food costs and require putting more acres under plow, with consequent negative effects on species habitat. For this latest study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Stanford researchers conducted a meta-analysis of over 200 studies looking at the differences between organic and conventional foods, and concluded “the published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods.” Organic foods tended to have lower pesticide residues and were less likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the researchers concluded the differences were not significant enough to have any meaningful health impact. If organic food truly is healthier — and it may be — the existing scientific literature cannot (yet?) support such claims, particularly as applied to organic foods across the board. There may be specific foods, however, for which organic production may make a difference (or for which organic production methods tend to correlate with other practices that produce positive results). The bottom line is eat organic foods if you like. Just don’t believe there’s any scientific basis for claiming you will be healthier as a result. As the paper’s senior author, Dena Bravata, explains: “There isn’t much difference between organic and conventional foods, if you’re an adult and making a decision based solely on your health.” For more on the study, here are reports from the NYT, AP, and NPR. Cross-posted from The Volokh Conspiracy. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Conservation, Science Tagged With: food, food safety, organicHow Not to Label Biotech Foods September 3, 2012 by Jonathan H. Adler In November, Californians will vote on Proposition 37, a ballot initiative to impose a mandatory labeling requirement on all foods produced with or from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For reasons I discuss in this New Atlantis article, this requirement is unnecessary, unwise and potentially unconstitutional. The effort has been endorsed by numerous progressive organizations and the California Democratic Party. Of note, those who usually police the misuse or politicization of science have been strangely quiet about the misleading and inaccurate scientific claims made by Prop. 37 proponents. Although the proposition warns of “adverse health consequences” from genetic engineering of foods, there is not a single documented case of adverse health consequences due to the use of GMOs. Yet about traditional crop-breeding techniques, we can say no such thing. It’s no wonder that the National Academy of Sciences has issued numerous reports concluding that the use of modern genetic modification techniques, in themselves, have no bearing on the relative safety of a food product. What was done to a specific GMO matters more than whether specific modification techniques were used. It is even misleading to single out crops and other organisms modified by modern genetic modification techniques as “genetically engineered.” Many common crops are “genetically engineered” in that they are the result of direct human modification. Corn, for example, does not exist naturally. It was “engineered” by humans, albeit using less precise breeding methods centuries ago. The organizers of the effort claim consumers have a “right to know” whether their foods contain GMOs. But nothing stops consumers from obtaining such information. Organic producers and others who wish to cater to those who dislike GMOs are free to label their products accordingly (and, in my view, should be able to do so without some of the excessive disclaimers urged by the FDA). Absent evidence of a potential health risk, there is no reason for the government to mandate GMO labels. Such labels are not necessary to protect consumers against misleading claims, and a proclaimed “right to know” does not constitute a substantial governmental interest. Some consumers may want to know whether products contain GMOs, just as others may wish to know whether a product was made with union labor, a company’s executives donated to particular political candidates, or its products were blessed by shaman priestesses. Yet it must take more to justify compelling speech in the form of product labels. Were it otherwise, there is no end to what could be the subject of mandatory labeling requirements, and there would be no meaningful constitutional protection of compelled commercial speech. Most existing labeling requirements can be justified on the grounds that they protect uninformed consumers from potential adverse impacts. Ingredient labels, for example, protect those with allergies or specific dietary needs. GMO labels, on the other hand, do no such thing. Rather they stigmatize products, suggesting there is something significant, or even potentially wrong, with a product that was produced in this way, even if there is no scientific basis for making such a claim. Some consumers may have moral or other objections to GMO products, and that is their right. Such consumers are free to seek out producers who will make products in accord with their preferences. But GMO opponents should not have the right to force others to modify product labels, at their own expense, just to satisfy one group’s set of subjective value preferences. Does this mean there will be no GMO labels? Not at all. There is no requirement that producers identify whether products are “organic” or “kosher,” and yet such labels proliferate. Where such information is likely to influence consumer behavior, producers have ample incentives to provide the information consumers want. That is, those producers whose products are GMO-free have every incentive to disclose, and perhaps even advertise, this fact. Such disclosure is sufficient to let those consumers who oppose GMOs shop accordingly without imposing the cost of such preferences on others. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Regulation, Science Tagged With: biotech, GMOsSaving Patagonian Grasslands with Market Incentives June 19, 2012 by PERC Meet Carlos Fernandez, PERC Board Member and the Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia Grasslands Manager. The following is an excerpt from our interview with Carlos in Bariloche, Patagonia: I am the Patagonia Grasslands Argentina Project Manager for the Nature Conservancy and a PERC Board Member. I had my first encounter with PERC in 2005 when I met Don Leal at a workshop in the Galapagos Islands. Don and I started talking about our passion for fly fishing, both in Patagonia and in Montana. I began receiving PERC Reports and sure enough in July 2005 I attend PERC’s Enviropreneur Institute. It was here that I started to think more seriously about how important markets, contracts, and property rights are if we really want to improve environmental quality. I moved to Patagonia from Washington D.C. in 2008 to launch TNC’s grasslands program. The purpose of this program is to conserve grasslands on a large scale. Given the fact that here in Patagonia about 75 percent of the land is in private hands, our team is doing a lot of work with private land owners aiming to halt or reverse the desertification of grassland ecosystems. We are working with ranchers, businesses, policy makers, universities, and think tanks. TNC and our partners have a pretty big goal, which is to try to bring sustainable conservation to between 30 and 40 million acres in the next 10 to 15 years. In 2010, I was lucky enough to be invited to become one of PERC’s Board Members — the first board member representing the enviropreneurs and the first international board member, both of which make me very proud. The Patagonia grasslands program is just one venture where free market environmentalism is working on the ground. PERC’s 2012 Enviropreneur Institute will kick off this weekend. Stay tuned for more innovative ideas from the field. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Conservation, Enviropreneurs, Fisheries, Science, Water, Wildlife Lessons From the Old West: The 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act May 18, 2012 by P.J. Hill On May 20, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, an effort by the U.S. government to make 160 acres available to anyone who would move to unclaimed territory, build a cabin, farm the land, and live there for five years. Eventually 270 million acres were privatized by the process, ushering in the great era of “free land.” Now, 150 years later, we have the opportunity to look at homesteading as it actually worked. Throughout the nineteenth century the federal government was committed to disposing of the vast acreage that it owned. The privatization process was important for the growth of the market economy. But the homesteading process was a wasteful way of creating private rights, and the land sales that preceded homesteading were a much less wasteful method. There were several problems with the original Homestead Act and its subsequent alterations. The original provision of 160 acres was insufficient for agriculture in the arid west, and even when it was expanded to 320 acres in 1909 and 640 acres in 1916 it still did not provide enough acreage to support a family in most of the places where people settled. In fact, only 40 percent of those who started the homestead process were able stick it out and finalize their claims. An even more important lesson is that it is very difficult for the government to give away almost anything for free. In the case of homesteading, much of the land available was beyond the “profitable frontier,” the point at which the lack of a market for agricultural products made settlement unprofitable. But settlers knew the land was going to be valuable at some point in the future so they raced into the West, making their claims as early as they possibly could in order to have secure property rights when the returns from the land turned positive. People bid for the land not with money but with wasted resources, the time and effort they put into “proving up” their claims in anticipation of future profits. Many families suffered years of deprivation trying to eke out a living until they could make their claim profitable or, once they had established property rights, buying out someone else in order to obtain an operation large enough to survive. Think of what would happen if your institution announced that it was running a budget surplus and that on June 1st $1000 would be given to the first 20 people who lined up outside the CFO’s office. People would calculate how much time they could spend standing in line in order to get $1000 and, in the limit, $20,000 would leave your organization’s coffers. But almost no benefit would be bestowed on the recipients. People would be quite willing to spend $900 of their time in order to get $1000. Some would spend $999. The other problem with the homesteading process was that it was so costly and difficult to use that much of the western United States remained as public lands. Today, more than half of the land in the West is under federal ownership. These lands have been subject to environmental and financial mismanagement, as documented by PERC’s Holly Fretwell. Thus the Homestead Acts had two unfortunate results: 1) the process was an unduly costly way to dispose of federal lands and 2) because of the unworkability of homesteading much of the land was never privatized. TweetMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading...Filed Under: Agriculture, History, Law, Public Lands Tagged With: homesteadLessons From the Old West: Don’t Ban It, Brand It April 24, 2012 by P.J. Hill Last Saturday was roundup and branding day at my ranch in the Madison River Valley, about 20 miles west of Bozeman. Neighbors came to help and I put the P J (my registered brand) on the left side of my calves. As I carefully placed the irons on each calf (yes, they are hot, and yes, there is short term pain but it seems to subside quickly) I was reminded of why branding came to work so well in the West. In the old West a statewide registration of brands developed rapidly. Often a brand registration system was one of the first pieces of legislation a territory would pass (for more details, see Anderson and Hill’s The Not So Wild, Wild West). Those registrations continue today. You can go to the Montana Brand Registry and find that if a cow has a P on the left rib and a J on the left hip, that cow belongs to the P J Ranch. Or, a PJ on the left shoulder of a horse establishes my clear claim to that horse. I can issue you a bill of sale if you buy one of my horses or cows, and that serves a proof of a legitimate transfer of rights. This system works well for the people in white hats, my neighbors who want to know who a stray belongs to, and against those in black hats, the rustlers who might want to steal my livestock. The state maintains the registration and enforces ownership claims. And I can use the existing court system to enforce my property rights. Branding cattle and horses carries important lessons for environmental problems, namely that we should move towards greater branding of transitory resources, particularly air and water. This would help both the white hats, people who behave responsibly, and constrain the black hats, the villains that dump their waste on other people’s property. PERC has outlined how this can be done with marine fisheries, water markets, and other resources, but, unfortunately, environmental regulations have focused more on command and control than on lowering the costs of measuring and monitoring pollution. If only a fraction of the money that is spent on formulating, enforcing, and complying with environmental regulations was devoted to developing branding technology we would be much better off. Atrazine is a common chemical used to control broad leaf weeds. Its widespread application in the Midwest has caused concern over its presence in drinking water. Should atrazine be banned, as it has been in most of Europe? Used correctly, atrazine is a cheap way of lowering the cost of food production. Instead of banning it, why not brand it? One could require every user to of atrazine to have, at the time of purchase, a particular tracer placed in his or her container of pesticide. A registration of users would be maintained by the state. Then if levels of atrazine in drinking water exceed a specified level, those harmed (and proof of harm is an important part of common law remedies) could take those responsible to court. Of course the use of tracers must be coupled with a common-sense understanding that “the dose makes the poison.” We now have the ability to measure extremely minute amounts of potentially harmful chemicals in our air and water. The fact that atrazine may be measured in ground water doesn’t necessarily mean harm has been done. If one of my cows sticks her head through the fence and eats a mouthful of grass, I may owe my neighbor a couple of pennies. But my neighbor shouldn’t be able to shut down my entire ranching operation. Notice that branding doesn’t remove the state from the scene, but instead focuses its coercive power on the definition and enforcement of property rights, which penalizes those who act irresponsibly and rewards those who don’t infringe on the property rights of others. Having my cattle branded reduces the transaction costs of running a responsible ranching operation. Branding pesticides and herbicides would have the same positive effect on environmental quality. Filed Under: Agriculture, History, Law, Regulation, Water Tagged With: branding, cattle, environmental, regulations, westSilent Spring at 50: Reexamining Rachel Carson’s Classic April 19, 2012 by Roger Meiners & Andrew Morriss After 50 years, Silent Spring is rarely read, but it is routinely cited as a canonical work in environmentalism. Rachel Carson is hailed as a near saint in the environmental movement. There is no doubt the book played a major role helping to spur the environmental movement in the 1960s. A careful reading of Silent Spring, however, will leave one dismayed at the relentless negative view Rachel Carson had of a time of unprecedented prosperity and improved health standards. We joined a group of authors from various disciplines who looked at different aspects of the book in historical context. That book, Silent Spring at 50, will be published in September. PERC’s latest publication, “Silent Spring at 50: Reflections on an Environmental Classic,” gives a sample of the full work. Among the issues discussed in the book are the following: 1. Pesticides often benefit both human well-being and the environment. When discussing the effects of pesticides, Carson was entirely negative, failing to consider how these products greatly expand agricultural output, thereby allowing less land to be dedicated to cultivation, as well as having saved millions from starvation in the decade before her book was published. Her claims, such as that one might die from exposure to one molecule of a pesticide, are presented as if scientific fact. Carson ignored the reductions in habitat loss, increased no-till farming, reduced erosion and agricultural runoff that can be attributed to increased use of pesticides. 2. Bird populations were not decreasing. Silent Spring is most famous for what its title evokes—a spring with no birds, as they have all died due to pesticides. Yet Carson ignored well-known Audubon Society data that indicated increasing, not declining, bird populations in some locations she identified (see brown thrasher chart below). Could she have been unaware of the data? Not likely, since she was a long-time active member of Audubon. 3. There was no cancer epidemic. Carson asserted that one person in four in the United States would die of cancer, and that cancer was becoming epidemic in children, despite public health data to the contrary. American life expectancy had risen more than 20 years in the 20th century when Carson was writing, but she only discussed impending doom. It is true that more Americans were dying of cancer when her book was published than had in previous decades, but that was because Americans no longer died of other diseases. They were lucky enough, as we are now, to have lived long enough to die of cancer and other diseases that mostly afflict the old. Despite the furor in those days of the impending Surgeon General report on tobacco, Carson ignored the role of smoking in cancer. She never mentioned the widely-available evidence about tobacco, preferring to blame man-made chemicals for cancer. Like her successors who consistently forecast doom for the planet and its inhabitants, Silent Spring is alarmist and suffers from technophobia. It resolutely refused to recognize the billions of people, us among them, whose lives have been so greatly improved by the blessings of modern technology. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Conservation, Economic Growth, Regulation, Science, Wildlife Tagged With: earth day, environmental, pesticides, rachel carson, silent springTrading Sheep for Grass and Fish in Patagonia March 28, 2012 by Laura Huggins The big brown trout I was fishing for yesterday on the Limay River in Patagonia was nowhere to be found but I did manage to come across an old hang out of Butch Cassidy. Being from Montana, where the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang pulled off their last job—a holdup of a Union Pacific train—before fleeing to South America, I was happy with this historical catch. Legend has it that Butch became friends with Jarred Jones who ventured down to Argentina from Texas in 1887 to make his fortune. Jones didn’t find gold but he did manage to open a general store at the mouth of the Limay. The old store, which is now a friendly restaurant, still holds the shops books, old photos, and a frontier atmosphere of a century ago. Jones earned enough money at the store to purchase two big ranches, which he fenced off with barbed wire—the first to be seen around these parts. Today, barbed wire is strung across much of the 98 million hectares of the Patagonian Steppe to enclose vast quantities of sheep. Unfortunately, a flock of sheep can gobble up great expanses of native grasses, and in southern Argentina, they’re clearing some serious vegetation. In addition to vegetation loss, overgrazing equates to lost habitat for other animals, and damages waterways with runoff and silt from erosion, which affects the fish, which affects tourism. Paradoxically, sheep—the slayers of grasslands—could become the saviors of the same landscapes and in turn protect fish and other species. It turns out that because the plants of the grasslands co-evolved with herbivores, such as guanacos, a little munching is good (and necessary) for the flora. It is also true that companies that have environmental components to their business plans and seek to create goods from natural products, including merino wool, would like to see grasslands flourish for the long term. And tourists like me who want to fish and recreate in Patagonia would be willing to pay a price premium for this outcome. Enter The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, Inc. and Ovis XXI. Armed with scientific knowledge and market tools, this trilogy is working to conserve more than 15 million acres of land in Patagonia by 2016. Ovis XXI works directly with the woolgrowers. These consultants know the industry, and how to raise sheep without destroying grasslands. The Nature Conservancy brings its science-based knowledge and environmental credibility to help build the sustainable grazing standard through planning and subsequent monitoring of conservation outcomes. And Patagonia Inc. brings the market perspective—buying the wool, networking with others in the supply chain, creating the final products, and using its brand strength to help publicize Patagonian wool. The majority of the land targeted by the Patagonian Grasslands Conservation Project is privately owned, and remains in large and undivided properties of intact native grasslands. Because most landowners face ongoing political and economic challenges that affect their ability to stay in business, an incentive is needed to gain commitment from landowners to manage resources sustainably. In this case, the carrot comes in the form of a payment to ranchers for grazing less sheep and or for using more modern and environmentally friendly grazing practices. In November 2011, the first shipment of sustainable wool (29 tons) left Patagonia for Asia to be turned into socks for Patagonia, Inc. So far this scheme has worked to place two million acres under sustainable grazing agreements. Time will tell if the environmental protection purchased by conservationists from sheep ranchers will protect grasslands and associated waterways in the future, but signs look promising. Stay tuned… TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Conservation, Endangered Species, Enviropreneurs, Fisheries, Institutions, Science, Water, Wildlife Tagged With: grasslands, patagonia, sheep, sustainability, woolThe 10,000 Mile Diet February 8, 2012 by Laura Huggins Publishers Weekly recommends The Locavore’s Dilemma: In Praise of the 10,000 Mile Diet, co-authored by former PERC fellows Pierre Desrochers and Hiroko Shimizu, as a book to watch for in 2012. Check out Shimizu’s piece in PERC Reports where she outlines three myths about eating local. Myth 1: Eating locally produced food reduces our environmental impact. Myth 2: Local food is inherently safer. Myth 3: Local food promotes economic growth and social justice. “In short, the best way to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural production is to produce food where it can be done most efficiently and to engage in international trade. Selecting food based on its affordability, availability, and quality is a better way to help the planet than focusing on food miles.” TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Conservation, Environmental Education, Uncategorized Valentin Abe is spawning fish farmers in Haiti, lack of formal property rights be damned January 29, 2012 by Guest Contributor by Tate Watkins “Everything here in Haiti,” says Dr. Valentin Abe, “takes time.” Which is a comment as insightful as it is tautological. Abe (pronounced AH-bay), originally from Côte d’Ivoire, first came to Haiti in 1997 on a six month contract to assess potential aquaculture sites. He’d recently earned a PhD in aquaculture from Auburn University, and before he knew it the contract spiraled into two years. He’s been working with fish farmers in Haiti ever since. In 2005, he started Caribbean Harvest, a program that turns terra farmers into aqua farmers using startup aquaculture kits and fingerlings from Abe’s hatchery in Croix-des-Bouquets, in the outskirts of the capital. Potential fish farmers rely mainly on donations to provide startup costs, but the idea is that once a farmer has a kit—two cages, 2,400 fingerlings for each cage, and feed—his operation will sustain itself once the first harvest goes to market. The 150 or so farmers Abe works with have had varying degrees of success so far. Haiti’s lack of formal property rights—the Hernando de Soto-backed international property rights index doesn’t even bother to include the country—has been cited ad infinitum, especially during the reconstruction tumult since the earthquake two years ago. But Abe and his partner farmers have had surprisingly few property rights-related problems when it comes to the waters that hold their fish. “In the lakes and reservoirs,” he says, “[farmers] do the monitoring, provide security for the cages themselves. They do all the work.” The Haitian constitution provides that “water resources are the domain of the state; the right to property does not extend to any springs, rivers, or water courses.” But in practice, informal customary law reigns, and farmers provide their own enforcement. Land, however, is a different story. “We’re trying to locate land and go build a processing plant,” says Abe. “The owner of the land, we know that he’s the owner of the land, but he doesn’t have the proper documentation because land has been handed down from generations, from father to son. So they’ve never felt the need to do the paperwork on the land, and we cannot build infrastructure on land that doesn’t have titles.” Abe plans to build the fish processing plant near Lake Azuéi, Haiti’s largest lake and the site of many of Caribbean Harvest’s farmers. Eventually, he also wants to build fish ponds, a more efficient way to farm. But he faces the same hurdles when it comes to securing proper title for land on which he wants to build ponds. He guesses that it will take six months at best just for all parties to acquire the proper paperwork. For now, he waits. Tate Watkins is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. He writes about economic development, foreign aid, and immigration, among other things. Currently in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Visit his website here. Photo via Caribbean Harvest. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Fisheries, Institutions, Science, Water Tagged With: fish farming, haiti, property rightsWhat Ever Happened With Colony Collapse Disorder? January 17, 2012 by PERC There has been plenty of bad news about bees lately. In 2006, beekeepers reported the mysterious disappearance of abnormal numbers of honeybees from their hives over the winter. The affliction, now known as Colony Collapse Disorder, has gripped the attention of the media—and perhaps for good reason. Honeybees are responsible not only for the honey in your cupboard, but also the pollination of many of the crops produced in North America. If you were to rely on media reports alone, you might be inclined to believe that honeybees and honey are now in short supply. Based on the recent documentaries about Colony Collapse Disorder, you might believe that crops are at risk of going unpollinated and that we are heading towards a different “silent spring”—one in which the familiar springtime buzzing of the bee is no more. Yet, somehow, the honey is in the cupboard and farmers across the country are still able to supply food to stock our shelves, all with little or no economic impact from CCD. How can this be? As two prominent agricultural economists, Walter Thurman and Randal Rucker, discuss in a new PERC Policy Series, the market response of beekeepers provided a solution to the problem. Despite early predictions that CCD would cause billions of dollars of direct loss in crop production, beekeepers reacted so swiftly that virtually no changes were detected by consumers. While overcoming the difficulties of CCD has been no easy matter, beekeepers have proven themselves adept at navigating such changing market conditions. “The state of the honey bee population – numbers, vitality, and economic output – are the products of not just the impact of disease but also the economic decisions made by beekeepers and farmers,” writes Rucker and Thurman. You can read the latest PERC Policy Series here. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Economic Growth, Enviropreneurs, Science Tagged With: beekeeping, bees, colony collapse disorderFined for Failing to Do the Impossible January 10, 2012 by Jonathan H. Adler Back in 2007, Congress created a biofuels mandate under which oil companies are required to use a minimum amount of cellulosic ethanol each year. The mandate was supposed to encourage the development of a domestic cellulosic ethanol industry. This has not happened. Several years after the mandate was imposed, there is still no commercial cellulosic ethanol production. This gets the oil companies off the hook, right? Nope. As the New York Times reports, companies are still paying fines, totaling nearly $7 million, for failing to meet a blending quota for a substance that does not exist. Were that not bad enough, this year the cellulosic ethanol quota will increase, as will the fines for failing to meet it. Who would defend mandating the use of a substance that, for all practical purposes, does not exist? Not the renewable fuel industry. As the NYT reports, they acknowledge that commercial production of cellulosic ethanol remains years away. “From a taxpayer/consumer standpoint, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense that we would require blenders to pay fines or fees or whatever for stuff that literally isn’t available,” said Dennis V. McGinn, a retired vice admiral who serves on the American Council on Renewable Energy. The EPA, on the other hand, defends the mandate: Cathy Milbourn, an E.P.A. spokeswoman, said that her agency still believed that the 8.65-million-gallon quota for cellulosic ethanol for 2012 was “reasonably attainable.” By setting a quota, she added, “we avoid a situation where real cellulosic biofuel production exceeds the mandated volume,” which would weaken demand. AEI’s Ken Green has trouble making sense of the EPA’s rationalization: So what’s most important about biofuel quotas is that they prevent us from over-producing a product that we can’t produce so we don’t weaken demand for the product that the government mandates we use. As Green notes, Congress might as well have mandated oil companies blend gasoline with rainbows and unicorn sweat. Originally posted at The Volokh Conspiracy. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Economic Growth, Energy, Law, Regulation Feeding More From Less November 18, 2011 by Holly Fretwell Halloween marked a new population milestone with the birth of the seven billionth person — an idea that is scary for some but sanguine for others. Worried about the finite resources available to a growing population, there is fear among some that we are headed toward famine and starvation in a world where population exceeds the earth’s carrying capacity. A similar concern was demonstrated by Thomas Malthus 200 years ago. Population grows exponentially, Malthus explained, while food production grows at the slower arithmetic rate. Everything else the same, starvation would be indisputable. Everything else is not the same. Crop yield is not constant, it has increased (see chart). The United States provides a good example of how population and food production have grown in a region with a strong rule of law. While corn yield has doubled nearly every ten years over the past half century, it took the population 36 years to double. At current rates of growth, it will be the next century before population doubles again. The growth in yield for other crops, such as wheat and rice, has also exceeded population growth rates (data here). In the end we are growing more food on less land, feeding ourselves and helping to feed the world. Adapted from Environmental Trends. TweetMoreEmailPrintFiled Under: Agriculture, Economic Growth, History, Population, Science Next Page»

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Agribusiness blog From our experts Contact us Get in touch or find a branch South Australian beef producer named 2015 Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador Owner and manager of Raven Limousin & Limflex beef stud Jason Schulz from Field, South Australia has been named the 2015 Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador. Mr Schulz, 32, received the accolade at the Rabobank QCL Beef Industry Achievers dinner held last night in Rockhampton as part of Beef Australia. The 2015 Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador program is an initiative supported by Beef Australia aimed at recognising young, forward-thinking and high-achieving beef producers, providing a scholarship to partake in the prestigious Rabobank Farm Managers Program. As a third-generation beef producer, Mr Schulz says he felt honoured and humbled to accept the award at the national beef industry exposition surrounded by many leaders in the sector. “It’s an exciting time for the Australian beef industry and I would like to arm myself with the skills and knowledge to make the most of the opportunities that come our way – the opportunity to undertake the Rabobank Farm Managers Program as part of this award will invaluable to me,” Mr Schulz said. “Despite my relative youth, I have been managing our farm for 15 years and it has been dry and challenging on many fronts – the current beef strong prices are new territory for me and its reassuring to see our hard work pay off and see the industry in good shape.” Mr Schulz manages his family farm business in South Australia’s Upper South East region, with his wife Penny, working in conjunction with his mother Joanne. “We decided to start our own stud in 2008, Raven Limousin & Limflex, due to our keen interest in breeding beef cattle,” he said. “We have utilised the best genetics possible and reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer, to build our seedstock herd to the point of having our first auction sale in 2014 with 30 bulls. We produce stud beef bulls, stud females, semen/embryos, as well as breeding first-cross ewe lambs sold as breeders.” Raven Limousin & Limflex has a reputation for producing high quality, well-finished livestock, utilising the best genetics possible. Mr Schulz holds an impressive array of industry titles and responsibilities. He was previously the state chairperson for Angus Youth, a committee member of the SA Angus Committee and has competed in various junior judging competitions. He won the National Angus Youth Junior Judging Competition in 2006 which awarded him a scholarship to study with the University of Illinois and a place on its intercollegiate meat judging team touring the USA in 2007. In 2009 Mr Schulz received the Peter Olsen Fellowship, awarded by the South Australian Agricultural Bureau, which provided him with a bursary to travel to the USA in search of new genetics for his family beef stud. But, Mr Schulz’s achievements have not come without life’s challenges. “My leap into farm management and ownership was not ‘textbook’,” Mr Schulz said. “In 2000 while I was completing my final year of high school, my father suddenly passed away. It was a tough time for my family but there were two directions to take – sell the farm and move on, or continue running the farm and have the best crack at farming we possibly could. “This meant having to alter my plans of studying at university before returning to the farm but I don’t regret my decision and further study will always be a future option.” Mr Schulz’s determination has helped him to grow the family beef herd while maintaining the quality and integrity of a sheep enterprise, as well as undertaking several infrastructure improvements to the property. “The success of our farm business is not just about those doing the day-to-day tasks, we also have a three-year old son, Heston, who already tells people that he is a farmer, so it’s in my interest to do all I can to make the right decisions for the future viability of our business,” he says. “Being the Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador will definitely be a step in the right direction.” Designed to strengthen the operational and strategic skills of emerging farmers, the Farm Managers Program is modelled on the highly-respected Rabobank Executive Development Program, a long-standing business development course for leading Australian and New Zealand farmers. Participants take away new skills and techniques with a commercially-driven perspective on farm management to put systems and structures in place to manage growth. 2015 marks the 10th year of Rabobank’s Farm Managers Program, with more than 300 young farmers from across Australia and New Zealand graduating from the program since its inception in 2006. Rabobank state manager for Queensland/Northern Territory Brad James said Mr Schulz was a compelling and well-deserving recipient of the Ambassador award. “Jason is extremely driven and has a proven track record of success in his previous endeavours – we believe he will continue to develop his skills professionally to give back to the industry he is most passionate about,” Mr James aid. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world's leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 115 years' experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 41 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region's food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 94 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand. Denise Shaw Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Phone: 02 8115 2744 or 0439 603 525 Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com Jess Webb Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Phone: 07 3115 1832 or 0418 216 103 Email: jess.webb@rabobank.com

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What is the lifespan of a rose? The average tea rose bush lives six to 10 years, while several species of climbing roses live 50 years or longer, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension. A rose bush's longevity depends on a number of factors, most notably pruning and other care. What is the scientific name for pink rose? Why doesn't my climbing rose bush bloom? How do you trim a rose bush? Meanwhile, the average lifespan for a standard size rose bush is 35 years, reports Lia Leendertz, a gardening columnist for The Guardian. Providing thick mulch and feeding the plant regularly is likely to extend that lifespan by a number of years, she added. As perennials, roses grow and then bloom in the spring and summer, die back in the fall and winter and then begin the growth cycle again in the spring. Roses are able to grow and even thrive in containers for up to 10 years, reports Ludwig's Roses. Once the plant appears to stop flourishing or water takes longer than normal to reach drain holes, it is best to carefully transplant the rose from its container into a larger container or directly into the ground with fresh potting soil. One of the older roses still alive as of 2015 is a white Lady Banks rose bush located in Tombstone, Arizona. In addition to dating back to 1885, the rose is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest rose in the world, occupying nearly 10,000 square feet of space. Learn more about Botany clemson.edu ludwigsroses.co.za blog.al.com How long do sea turtles live? While it's difficult to determine the exact lifespan of a particular species of sea turtle, some sea turtles have been known to live 50 years or more. They... What is the lifespan of a gorilla? In the wild, gorillas have a lifespan of 35 years, but they are known to live to up to 50 years in captivity. Gorillas are one of the four species of great... What are some pecan tree facts? Pecan trees have a very long lifespan, with some living over 1,000 years. Trees grow up to 180 feet tall and have trunks up to 7 feet in diameter; however,... What is the lifespan of a cherry-headed conure? The lifespan of the cherry-headed conure (Aratinga erythrogenys) ranges from 10 to 50 years, depending on factors that include housing, diet, exercise and ... How are spores and seeds alike and different? What do pet rats eat? Is a tree a plant? How do you identify an ash tree? When are the stomata usually open? How many seeds does a strawberry have? Lifespan Development Life Span of a Rose Where does carbon dioxide come from? Why is chloroplast important? What is the difference between pollination and fertilization? What are the characteristics of plants?

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Evidence of Early Agricultural Exports from Pelham to England in the 1840s During the 1830s and 1840s, the rural Town of Pelham was beginning to awaken from its decades-long slumber following the devastation inflicted on it as part of the infamous "Neutral Ground" during the Revolutionary War. The population of the town was finally beginning to grow at a healthier rate. Its population in 1830 was 334, up 18% over its population of 283 in 1820. By 1840, its population had grown an additional 136.2% to 789. During this period, there seem to have been a host of efforts by Pelhamites to move beyond simple subsistence farming to broader agricultural, marine, and industrial pursuits. For example, during the 1830s, a solar salt manufacturing plant was built in Pelham. See Mon., Sep. 01, 2014: Solar Salt Manufacturing Plant Built on City Island in the Town of Pelham in the 1830's. Likewise, during this time, the oyster harvesting and planting industry began to grow in Pelham as did a host of related service industries such as shipbuilding, sail making, and the like. During the 1840s, one enterprising Pelhamite -- according to The New York Journal of Commerce -- developed a substantial apple orchard of about twenty thousand apple trees and began exporting his apples to London. Robert Pell reportedly spent years developing a massive orchard of apples known as "Newtown Pippins." Also known as the Albemarle Pippin, the Newtown Pippin is an American apple developed in the late 17th or early 18th century. Although still cultivated on a small scale, it no longer holds the popularity it once did. According to one account: "The Newtown Pippin is typically light green sometimes with a yellow tinge. It is often russeted around the stem. The flesh is yellow and crisp. The flavor is complex and somewhat tart, and requires storage to develop properly; some sources ascribe to it a piney aroma. Green and yellow varieties are sometimes distinguished but it is not clear that they are in fact distinct cultivars. It is one of the best keeping apples." Source: "Newtown Pippin" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited Apr. 9, 2017). The fact that the Newtown Pippin is one of the best "keeping apples" is likely what prompted Robert Pell to raise them for export to London. He reportedly used special tree-trimming techniques and the application of "the best manures" to bring his Newtown Pippin apples "to unusual size and excellence." Pell reportedly harvested the apples and packed them into barrels rather than moving them by cartloads so the fruits would not be jostled and bruised. Pell harvested up to 4,000 barrels of apples from his orchard and sold them, wholesale, for $6 a barrel -- earning $24,000 per season (about $1.125 million in today's dollars). The London merchant to whom Pell sold, in turn, sold the apples in London for $21 a barrel. The London merchant who bought Pell's apples and resold them in London wrote to Pell and said "the nobility and other people of great wealth had actually bought them by retail at a guinea a dozen; which is some forty-five cents an apple." For a time in the 1840s, Pelham was becoming quite the agricultural export center -- at least for Newtown Pippins. . . . Detail from Untitled Folk Art Painting of Apple Pickers in an Orchard by Arie Reinhardt Taylor. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge. "Apple Trade. -- The New York Journal of Commerce has the following statement: Robert Pell, Esq., of Pelham, Westchester co., has an orchard of twenty thousand apple trees, all bearing Newton Pippins [sic; should be Newtown Pippins]. By trimming and the application of the best manures, he has brought the fruit to unusual size and excellence. The apples are picked and packed in barrels without being rolled or jolted in carts, and so arrive in the very best order for shipment. Last year they were sold in London at twenty-one dollars a barrel, and the merchant to whom they were consigned wrote the nobility and other people of great wealth had actually bought them by retail at a guinea a dozen; which is some forty-five cents an apple. Mr. Pell has from three to four thousand barrels of the apples this year, which are sold as fast as they arrive in market, at six dollars a barrel, and are all shipped to England. It is quite a business for one of our commission merchants to dispose of the produce of this noble plantation. The American apple, take it all in all, is the most valuable fruit which grows on the earth. We undervalue them because they are so abundant; and even many American farmers will not take the trouble to live like an English lord, though the trouble would be very little." Source: Apple Trade, Huron Reflector [Norwalk, OH], Oct. 21, 1845, p. 3, col. 2 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link). Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."Labels: 1844, 1845, Agriculture, Apple, Apple Orchard, Farm, Newtown Pippin Apple, Orchard, Robert Pell The Twentieth Annual Commencement of Mrs. Hazen's ... Pelham Voted in 1908 to Build its First Public Hig... More on Early 20th Century Efforts by Jessup Famil... The Closing of the Priory School for Girls in 1882... Brutal Assault on Split Rock Road in Pelham in 185... William Jay Bolton's Stained Glass Windows in the ... Only Months After its Founding in 1851, Pelhamvill... Important Description of the Oyster Industry in Pe...

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Coriander Previous Next Up Home Coriander is difficult to grow because it goes to seed so quickly. The trick is to have it growing in lots of different places and to keep putting out more seeds. It is really only useful as a garnish, especially on stir fries, so I often don't bother too much with this one. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also commonly called cilantro in North America, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southwestern Asia west to north Africa. It is a soft, hairless, foetid plant growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the centre of the umbel longer (5-6 mm) than those pointing to the middle of the umbel (only 1-3 mm long). The fruit is a globular dry schizocarp 3-5 mm diameter. The name coriander derives from French coriandre through Latin “coriandrum” in turn from Greek. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the most commonly used in cooking. Coriander is commonly used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, South Asian, Latin American, Chinese, African and Southeast Asian cuisine. The leaves are variously referred to as coriander leaves, cilantro (in the United States, from the Spanish name for the plant), dhania (in the Indian subcontinent, and increasingly, in Britain), Chinese parsley or Mexican parsley. The leaves have a very different taste from the seeds, similar to parsley but "juicier" and with citrus-like overtones. Some people instead perceive an unpleasant "soapy" taste and/or a rank smell. This perception is believed to be a result of an enzyme that changes the way they taste cilantro, a genetic trait, but has yet to be fully researched. Coriander foliage The fresh leaves are an essential ingredient in many Vietnamese foods, Asian chutneys and Mexican salsas and guacamole. Chopped coriander leaves are also used as a garnish on cooked dishes such as dal and many curries. As heat diminishes their flavour quickly, coriander leaves are often used raw or added to the dish right before serving. (Though in some Indian and Central Asian recipes, coriander leaves are used in huge amounts and cooked till they dissolve into sauce and their flavour mellows.) In Peruvian cuisine, the leaves are used in a great number of traditional recipes, and are known as "culantro." The seeds have also recently been incorporated into newer recipes. Coriander leaves were formerly common in European cuisine but nearly disappeared before the modern period. Today Europeans usually eat coriander leaves only in dishes that originated in foreign cuisines, except in Portugal, where it is still an essential ingredient in many traditional dishes. The fresh coriander herb is best stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers, after chopping off the roots. The leaves do not keep well and should be eaten quickly, as they lose their aroma when dried or frozen. The dry fruits are known as coriander seeds or coriandi seeds. In some regions, the use of the word coriander in food preparation always refers to these seeds (as a spice), rather than to the plant itself. The seeds have a lemony citrus flavour when crushed, due to the presence of the terpenes linalool and pinene. It is also described as warm, nutty, spicy, and orange-flavoured. They are usually dried but can be eaten green. If the spice is bought (or picked -- it can be grown in a home garden) whole in a non-dried form, it can be dried in the sun. Most commonly, it is bought as whole dried seeds, but can also be purchased in ground form. When grinding at home, it can be roasted or heated on a dry pan briefly to enhance the aroma before grinding it in an electric grinder or with a mortar and pestle; ground coriander seeds lose their flavour quickly in storage and are best only ground as needed. For optimum flavour, whole coriander seed should be used within six months, or stored for no more than a year in a tightly sealed container away from sunlight and heat. Coriander seed is a key spice (Hindi name: dhania) in garam masala and Indian curries, which often employ the ground fruits in generous amounts together with cumin. It also acts as a thickener. Roasted coriander seeds, called dhana dal, are also eaten as a snack. It is also the main ingredient of the two south indian gravies: sambhar and rasam. Outside of Asia, coriander seed is an important spice for sausages in Germany and South Africa (see boerewors). In Russia and Central Europe coriander seed is an occasional ingredient in rye bread as an alternative to caraway. Apart from the uses just noted, coriander seeds are rarely used in European cuisine today, though they were more important in former centuries. Coriander seeds are also used in brewing certain styles of beer, particularly some Belgian wheat beers. The coriander seeds are typically used in conjunction with orange peel to add a citrus character to these styles of beer. Coriander roots are used in a variety of Asian cuisine. They are commonly used in Thai dishes. Coriander has been used as a folk medicine for the relief of anxiety and insomnia in Iranian folk medicine. Experiments in mice support its use as an anxiolytic. Coriander essential oil showed a delay in E. Coli growth, suggesting possible agricultural anti-bacterial applications. Coriander seeds have also been used to prepare a traditional diuretic in India . The diuretic is prepared by boiling equal amounts of coriander seeds and cumin seeds. The extract is then cooled and consumed as a diuretic. Coriander is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean area, and in southwest Europe. Some believe its use began as far back as 5,000 BC, and there is evidence of its use by the ancient Egyptians. In the Bible, Exodus, chapter 16, verse 31, it says "And the house of Israel began to call its name Manna: and it was white like coriander seed, and its taste was like that of flat cakes made with honey". Thought to have been introduced to Britain by the Romans as a meat preserver, coriander seems to have been cultivated in Greece since at least the second millennium BC. In Linear B tablets, the species is referred to as being cultivated for the manufacture of perfumes, and it appears that it was used in two forms: as a spice for its seeds and as a herb for the flavour of its leaves. This appears to be confirmed by archaeological evidence from the same period: the large quantities of the species retrieved from an Early Bronze Age layer at Sitagroi in Macedonia could point to cultivation of the species at that time (Fragiska, 2005). Coriander seed and leaf was very widely used in medieval European cuisine, due to its ability to make spoiled meats palatable by "masking" rotten flavours. Even today, coriander seed is an important ingredient in many sausage products. Coriander was brought to the British colonies in North America in 1670 and was one of the first spices cultivated by early settlers. Similar plants Eryngium foetidum has a very similar taste to coriander and is also known as culantro. Vietnamese coriander leaves have a similar odour and flavour to coriander. Bolivian Coriander, or quillquiña, has been described as "somewhere between arugula, cilantro and rue". Popular Culture On the animated series, Metalocalypse, Skwisgaar Skwigelf is allergic to cilantro. The popular DC Comics character Starfire's real name ("Princess Koriand'r") was adapted from the herb by writer Marv Wolfman. The main character of a book "I, Coriander" a fantasy story set in 17th-Century London published in 2005 by author Sally Gardner

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Young Greeks return to the land Posted by Madhava Gosh under Cows and Environment Leave a Comment (Wait until gas hits $6 a gallon in the US and local agriculture starts to be competitive with imports.) Author: Sarah Stolarz With youth unemployment at over 50 percent, prospects in Greece are bleak for those just about to embark on their careers. Food will always be in demand, though, so some are taking up farming. Applications to the American Farm School, situated just six kilometers from Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, went up three fold in 2011. That figure will double this year. The school’s director, Panos Kanellis, attributes the surge in interest to the country’s financial crisis “A lot of youngsters are wondering whether they will be able to find another solution – an alternative in farming,” he said. Many young Greeks have a patch of land inherited from an elderly parent or grandparent. What was once viewed as an unwanted hand-me-down has, for some, become a vital opportunity. “The general tendency for a ‘return to nature’ or nostalgic notions of returning to the ‘roots of Greece’ used to be a kind of rhetoric,” said the American Farm School’s director of enrollment, Elli Konstantinou. “Now it’s a necessity.” Greek youth are looking for viable options New reasons to till Historically, the farm school’s applicants had been children of farmers from the surrounding countryside, but now more and more city kids are expressing an interest: a sign that the tables are turning for this formerly unpopular career. “To be honest, it was not my first choice,” admitted Thanos Bizbiroulas, who is in his first year studying for a degree in precision agriculture, “but in the current conditions it seems like the right choice,” he continued. Fellow student Vangelis Evangelou agrees that prospects are looking up for the profession. “Young people thought that the future would be working in an office,” he said, “but now they know they were wrong and they are going back to farming.” Rich history The American Farm School was founded over 100 years ago by a Christian missionary, at a time when northern Greece was still under Ottoman rule. Today, it boasts some of the most high tech facilities in the country. The Omega-3 egg, for example, was developed in their labs. The school has also been active in educating the local community and was responsible for introducing turkey meat to the region in the 1970s. The activities on campus contrast starkly to the agricultural sector as a whole in Greece. President Panos Kanellis can trace the decline back several decades, when Greece joined the European Union. “Due to the subsidies the EU was giving, many Greeks decided to give up or to let others farm their land – mostly illegal immigrants,” he lamented. A study by the Pan-Hellenic Confederation of Agricultural Associations has shown more promising signs of life since the financial crisis hit. It revealed that the farming sector had grown by 32,000 jobs between 2008 and 2010 – mostly filled by Greek nationals. According to Elli Konstantiou, Greek farming still has a long way to go. “We trained farmers to become lazy,” she commented. “We ended up importing crazy things like lemons and tomatoes. Now we should retrain in a more educated way, with a focus on entrepreneurial spirit.” That spirit is already visible in Greece with schemes like the “potato movement,” which allows producers to sell directly to consumers in a mutually beneficial arrangement. The American Farm School, which offers programs from kindergarten to college, is not just for farmers in the making. High school student Demitra Hina is majoring in journalism here, but feels reassured that her extra-curricular education will stand her in good stead should plan A fail. “No matter how much the taxes are increased or the salaries are decreased, if you have knowledge of farming and produce food on your own, you won’t feel the influence of the economic burden as much,” she said. “You can always, at least, survive.” Editor: Kate Bowen

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Separate facts from fantasies in GMO debate By Hank KeetonFor the Capital Press Published on January 18, 2014 8:00PM Hank Keeton I believe it serves the best interests of our agricultural industry to present as many facts as possible, so readers can make informed choices about their farming practices. If we allow the discussion of genetically engineered, or genetically modified organisms, to be dominated by the agri-chem companies, we can be assured our own, our industry’s and our country’s interests will not be best served.The history of GE-GMO is thoroughly explored in the 2007 work by investigative reporter F. William Engdahl, “Seeds of Destruction.” There was nothing accidental about this development. It was driven by the availability of cheap oil, and the desire to accumulate profits as fast as possible. The desire to control the food supply was also a major factor. Henry Kissinger infamously proclaimed in the ’70s that “Control oil and you control nations. Control food, and you control the people.”After World War II, chemical companies (like Monsanto, Dow, DuPont and Syngenta) learned the fastest way to make money was to convert cheap oil into chemicals. During the 1960s the chemical of choice was the poison Agent Orange (dioxins), which destroyed the land and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as destroying the lives of our soldiers. During the 1990s, as food became a focus in the globalizing economy, these same chemical companies decided the way to sell more chemicals was to develop patentable seeds, which required use of their proprietary chemicals to poison other plants and insects. Selling chemicals was inextricably tied to the development of patentable seeds.The seeds and chemicals ensured that farmers and then consumers paid these agri-chem firms twice for the same crop. To mask the deception, the agri-chem companies claimed that the seeds were super-seeds, and would feed the hungry world. Facts show the only feeding these seeds and chemicals do is to increase the profits of the agri-chem companies.On 29 May 1992, at the behest of Monsanto through President George H. W. Bush, the Food and Drug Administration issued a policy statement with no scientific review or background. It was a purely political maneuver to assert “equivalence” between GE-GMO and natural seeds. This political policy set the stage for the next 20 years of worldwide proliferation of, and resistance to, the GE-GMO movement. The logical contradictions of this political policy have been the focus of major controversies. On the one hand, the agri-chem companies assert “equivalence” to natural seeds, yet on the other hand they assert patent rights for the “unique differences” from natural seeds.GE-GMO techniques are distinctly different from natural plant breeding. GE-GMO forces changes to the genetic structure of plants, while natural plant breeding allows the plants to determine which genetic crosses survive. The GE-GMO process is artificially forced upon nature through complex laboratory procedures, while natural plant breeding works with nature to establish the viability of new plants. Differences between the processes are the source of controversy. Long-term tests produced by independent labs around the world clearly show that GE-GMO changes also bio-accumulate, and result in radical disruptions of plant, animal and eco-biological processes downstream from the initial introduction. Agri-chem companies have tried to discredit these tests, but the public is gradually becoming aware that the impacts are real and growing. It is imperative for all of us in agriculture to separate facts from fantasies, for the betterment of our industry and the world.Hank Keeton farms 10 acres east of Silverton, Ore., manages three small businesses and is a partner in an ISO-certified testing laboratory for agricultural products.OnlineSee the following references for recent updates: http://www.ensser.org/increasing-public-information/no-scientific-consensus-on-gmo-safety/ http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3347.htmhttp://www.navdanyainternational.it/images/doc/Full_Report_Rapporto_completo.pdf

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California State Water Project boosts irrigation allotment Apr 18, 2017 Even with effective synthetic alternatives Sulfur remains a relevant tool for controlling powdery mildew Apr 12, 2017 With buds pushing in late March, start of San Joaquin Valley wine grape crop follows normal timing Apr 12, 2017 Walnut growers responsible for ensuring clean water use on operation Apr 05, 2017 Column: Portman says Doha Round talks still have a chance Forrest Laws | May 31, 2006 U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman says he still believes the WTO can successfully complete the Doha Development Round, but only if its members “work together to get that done.” Portman was in Geneva, Switzerland, with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Deputy USTR Susan Schwab for what might be Portman’s last trip as the chief U.S. trade negotiator. (Portman has been nominated to become director of the Office of Management and Budget.) But he didn’t sound like a lame duck, joking with reporters during a teleconference that he and Schwab, who has been nominated to replace him, were doubling up on the other trade ministers at the WTO. “This is a crucial time,” he said. “I think it was very important that we were here this week, given the missed deadline on April 30. We came to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to do everything in our power to keep these talks on track to be sure that we end up with a successful conclusion.” He took a couple of swipes at the European Union, which most say has become the biggest stumbling block to a new trade agreement (if you discount the Congress, according to others.) Portman said he’s optimistic about the Doha Round because other trade ministers have begun to get on the U.S. bandwagon for increased market access in the EU, Japan and other high-tariff countries. “I was struck by those who have told me their primary concern is market access, including the Africa group and others who believe market openings create economic opportunity.” He reminded reporters that seven months ago the United States tried to revive the Doha talks by offering to reduce its farm subsidies by 60 percent. “Members have mentioned this week that it was great to see the new energy and enthusiasm after that October presentation. “But, frankly, that energy has dissipated as matching offers have not come forward, particularly in market access. Some have said the U.S. proposal isn’t realistic, that we’re asking for too much. I don’t think that is true.” Portman said most observers expected the United States to offer to reduce its “amber box” payments by 50 percent to 55 percent. “But, after careful consultation with Congress, the White House and constituent groups such as commodity organizations, we did 60 percent. That’s substantial, and it takes away not just checks to farmers, but our ability to continue with the same farm programs. “It requires us to reform our farm programs, and I can say this without fear of being hit by my colleague to my right (Johanns) because he’s said the same thing in public testimony in the U.S. Congress.” Johanns agreed farm program “reforms” would be required, “but in return we will gain greater market access and our farmers and ranchers will have the ability to compete on a worldwide basis.” Maybe so. But more farm groups are wondering if the gains will be worth the price. e-mail: [email protected]

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Fresh Connections: Floral Anaheim June 8 The Produce Marketing Association will host the Fresh Connections: Floral Anaheim event June 8 at the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort in Anaheim, CA, according to a news release. Attendees will include floral buyers from major grocery chains and retail, floral growers, importers, exporters and wholesalers, along with potted plant growers, importers and exporters, and industry association representatives. “Our 2016 events were incredibly popular,... Read more FNGLA’s annual convention is June 23-24 in Fort Lauderdale The Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association’s 2017 annual convention will take place June 23-24 at the B Resort in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It is also the venue for FNGLA’s annual business meeting and the platform for recognizing the association’s outstanding volunteers and presenting its industry award winners. Each year the convention is a time for FNGLA members, family and friends to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments... Read more Sleep deprived? These houseplants may summon the Sandman Everyone is bothered by insomnia, jet lag or sleep deprivation at some point in his or her life. According to the Power of Positivity website, placing one — or all — of these five plants in your bedroom may improve both your sleep quantity and its quality. •Sansevieria. The snake plan, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, filters toxins and removes carbon dioxide from the air. It emits oxygen at night while you’re asleep and it’s... Read more Condition of plants in supermarkets influences sales of other products Research carried out by the Hochschule Geisenheim University in collaboration with Chrysal International, shows that the condition of plants in a supermarket influences the buying intention, and the potential amount of sales, of products in other categories within the store, according to a news release. The research showed a correlation between the freshness of potted plants and the sales of fruits, vegetables, breads and dairy products. Plus, customers are far... Read more Costa Farms in Miami acquires Delray Plants Miami-based Costa Farms, producers of ornamental plants, announced in a news release the acquisition of Delray Plants in Venus, FL. One of the leaders in the indoor houseplant industry, Delray Plants was recently recognized as the 14th-largest grower in the United States. “Costa Farms has long admired Delray Plants and its contributions to our industry,” said Jose Smith, chief executive officer at Costa Farms, in the release. “We are committed... Read more IFE 2017 slated for Chicago June 13-15 The International Floriculture Exposition, the floral industry’s business-to-business trade show that unites mass-market retail buyers, florists, suppliers and other industry professionals, will gather at McCormick Place in Chicago June 13-15. With over 60,000 square feet of floral exhibits and more than 225 vendors featuring anything a floral category buyer might need for their department from cut flowers and potted plants to giftware and accessories, the... Read more Commentator Mel Robbins to keynote Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference Coach, author and CNN commentator Mel Robbins will keynote the 2017 Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference April 23-25 in Miami, according to a news release. The women-only event from the Center for Growing Talent by the Produce Marketing Association is celebrating its five-year anniversary this year with the theme “Own It,” and the conference agenda combines both education and networking. “Having a strong support network is important to... Read more Just how big is Easter for the trade? It ranks fourth in holiday floral sales According to the National Retail Federation, Easter ranks fourth in holiday floral sales, following Christmas/Chanukah, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, and consumers spent $1.1 billion on Easter flowers in 2015. Flowering and green plants were responsible for 46 percent of those sales, with Easter lilies being the most popular purchase at 52 percent. Women made up 74 percent of the consumers and they bought the plants to give as gifts to relatives... Read more Dreisbach Wholesale Florists celebrates grand opening Dreisbach Wholesale Florists Inc. hosted a grand opening celebration March 25 at its newest branch location in Nashville, TN, according to a news release. The Nashville distribution center features one-stop shopping, with the company offering fresh-cut products from around the world, various hard goods, greens, plants, and unique items for any occasion. “We’ve got a 17,000-square-foot facility here,” Chuck Baer, manager at Dreisbach Nashville,... Read more AFE educational grant application deadline is June 1 The American Floral Endowment announced in a news release that it is accepting educational grant applications for 2017-18. The applications are available online and must be submitted by June 1. AFE educational grants help fund programs that are wide reaching educational endeavors that solve industry needs and challenges and focus on attracting young people to the industry. For 2016-17, the endowment funded nearly $40,000 in educational grants. Programs funded... Read more Can offering full service increase your supermarket floral sales? Flowers produce a small percentage of the total sales in supermarkets, so the payroll available for the floral department is often limited. However, flowers can return a higher gross margin contribution than other supermarket categories. This article explores the current floral retail climate, as well as opportunities to increase sales, from custom arranging and upgrading to decorating and delivery. The sale of floriculture items in all U.S. retail outlets in 2015... Read more Snow, sleet, freezing rain throw wrench into SAF’s Congressional Action Days A powerful northeaster delivered every type of precipitation to Washington, DC, during the Society of American Florists’ 37th Annual Congressional Action Days March 13-14. But despite the bad weather, 119 participants from 30 states, including 35 first-timers, traveled to the nation’s capital to advocate for industry issues and to share their stories with lawmakers. “It was a mess,” Christine Boldt, executive vice president at the Association... Read more Political climate affects Women’s Day floral sales More than 100 nations recognize International Women’s Day every March 8 and 35 have declared it a national holiday, but this year women around the world held the first mass International Women’s Strike under the banner “A Day Without Women.” The strike was coordinated by the organizers of the Jan. 21 Women’s March that attracted up to 2 million people to protest violence against women, oppression, inequality and misogyny. A Day Without... Read more Enjoying an artisan dinner among a million tulips in Minnesota plymouth, mn — When it’s snowy and only 18 degrees outside, it’s simply enchanting to partake of an artisan-style, locally sourced meal inside a warm greenhouse filled with about a million tulips, live music, twinkling lights and a 200-foot-long formal dinner table decorated with hundreds of lavish, fresh floral arrangements. This was the shared experience of over 100 flower lovers March 11 at Len Busch Roses, here, and the sold-out kickoff event... Read more A Day Without Women = a day without flowers? With the current global political climate being what it is, it’s not surprising that International Women’s Day floral sales were negatively affected. Going on strike and promoting A Day Without Women is counter-intuitive to the floral industry’s Women’s Day mission of celebrating and honoring women with flowers. But any failure is not final — it’s informative. So next year, hopefully, the story will be different. In this edition,... Read more Dreisbach Wholesale Florists announces grand opening celebration Dreisbach Wholesale Florists, Inc. will host a grand opening celebration on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its newest branch location at 325 Hill Ave. in Nashville, TN, according to a news release. The Nashville distribution center features one-stop shopping, with the company offering fresh-cut products from around the world, various hard goods, greens, plants, and unique items for any occasion. “We’ve got a 17,000-square-foot facility here,”... Read more Flores El Capiro wins international grower award The International Association of Horticultural Producers named Flores El Capiro S.A., its 2017 International Grower of the Year on Jan. 24 during the week of IPM Essen in Germany, according to a news release. The coveted Gold Rose winner is one of the larger chrysanthemum growers and container exporters in Colombia and the world. Capiro’s planted area covers 75 hectares, with plans to both reach 100 hectares and increase productivity to meet its customer... Read more IPM Essen trade fair speaks universal language for floriculture industry essen, germany — IPM Essen, the International Plant Trade Fair, here, just 60 miles from Holland’s border, draws visitors from all over the world. On Jan. 24-27, the 35th edition of this trade show attracted 57,000 attendees and 1,577 exhibitors from 45 nations. Retailers experienced the sights and sounds of the newest plant breeds, innovative horticultural technology, floristry trends, as well as sales-promoting products for point-of-sale. The many... Read more Plant brokers fill a niche in supermarket floral At the 2017 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in January, I met several plant brokers whose job is to assist in selecting, sourcing and shipping a variety of tropical plants for customers ranging from interiorscapers and landscape designers to garden centers and supermarket floral departments. “As a broker, we oversee the entire market and have multiple supply chains for different products,” Suzanne Mulvehille, president at... Read more FPFC NorCal Expo offeriing ’Roadmap to Success’ On March 29 the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Northern California Expo will meet at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA, and all retail and foodservice personnel attend free. Under the banner “The Roadmap to Success” the one-day show will focus on consumer trends, innovation and partnerships. Executives, operations personnel, supervisors, managers, clerks and professionals at every level of the industry will be able to meet face-to-face... Read more Videos

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Tucson unit train concept receives in-depth discussion by Tad Thompson | May 01, 2015 TUCSON, AZ — A new concept for moving produce across the country was explored April 29 during an event at the port of Tucson, here. The gathering drew an estimated 400 attendees and was co-hosted by the port of Tucson and the Tucson International Airport. This 800-acre rail and distribution facility is about an hour north of the Mexican border and the Nogales produce houses that ship a large share of Mexico’s fresh produce throughout North America.Alan Levin In 1996, the port of Tucson was launched by entrepreneur and engineer Alan Levin along the main line of the Union Pacific rail line, which runs from the Los Angeles area to El Paso en route to Union Pacific’s Chicago railhead. To date, Levin has built 2 million square feet of warehousing space at the port. Levin said April 29 that this is about 15 percent of the warehousing he foresees for the port. Tucson Frozen Storage is already in place. Ground work is under way for a climate-controlled produce-specific facility 1,200 feet long by 200 feet wide that is expected to be completed late this summer. On the street side will be 88 truck bays, and the interior will be subdivided into 12 cold rooms, each measuring 100 by 200 feet. The rail side will have a loading dock 30 feet wide that encloses refrigerated rail cars to assure that correct temperatures are maintained throughout the distribution process.Demetrio Kyriakis, president of K&K International Logistics, with Gonzalo Avila, vice president and general manager of Malena Produce Inc., and Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. Levin’s vision is to load unit trains of at least 60 rail cars each to be shipped to ideally one receiving point — or, as he says “forward distribution point” — in the mid-Atlantic or northeastern United States. In Chicago, a CSX engine will receive the unit train from Union Pacific. While Levin expects to have this working by this fall, he declined to specify the eastern receiving point plans, other than to express solemn confidence that the theory will soon be a profitable venture. The key to this success is cooperating with Nogales distributors to consolidate truckloads of produce to fill this train. Levin said he initially plans to ship one unit train a week, but he expects that will expand over time. Stefan Baumann, director of business development for the port of Tucson, told The Produce News that if just a small percentage of Nogales’ produce volume is consolidated in Tucson, it would be sufficient for the unit train program to be a success. The full-agenda April 29 meeting, titled “IDEAS 2015…Feeding the World, this is going to be cool!”, involved speakers and panelists who weighed the options. Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, based in Nogales, AZ, was a speaker and moderated a panel of railroad representatives, intermodal transportation experts and a refrigerated rail car manufacturer to discuss the possibilities. Jungmeyer told the Nogales distributors in the audience that adding the rail option for shipping to East Coast customers is a new competitive tool to compete with gains made by south Texas shippers in gaining a percentage of the Mexican export business. Jungmeyer also shared statistics showing that Nogales’ total volume continues to grow, as Mexican produce exports grow. The discussion included a tough trucking outlook with aging truck drivers, increased trucking industry regulations and rising costs for truck fleet maintenance. Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Tucson’s unit trains is simple produce industry skepticism based on a dubious rail service — and several failed new ideas — in recent decades. But in the last 20 years, Levin has carved a remarkable international port of trade in the desert outside of Tucson. Videos

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How to grow a passion for farming Children's interest in farming can be cultivated in a motorized toy tractor from John Deere for $219. For $219, parents and other gift-givers can cultivate farming passions in young boys and girls by buying them the John Deere Turf Tractor Battery-Powered Ride-On with Trailer.An adjustable seat is available with the toy tractor, which accommodates an aspiring farmer as he or she grows. The toy tractor travels at two speeds as well as in reverse. And to ease the difficulties of not yet knowing how to drive, the accelerator and brakes are on the same pedal.The toy tractor comes with a trailer, both of which very accurately reflect a real John Deere tractor by being yellow and green, the company's trademark colors. Hubcaps on the wheels also are yellow, which adds another realistic touch. The tractor also reflects the Deere brand name.The toy tractor requires one 12-volt battery, which is included when purchased. However, two AA batteries that power the lights and sounds are not included.The toy tractor should be ridden by no future farmers weighing more than 85 lbs, according to the manufacturer. The toy tractor has a two-year warranty. Golf and Turf

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PMA's Johnna Hepner joins secretary of agriculture on tour of Salinas Valley by | August 30, 2010 NEWARK, DE -- Johnna Hepner, Produce Marketing Association's director of food Safety and technology, joined other fresh produce industry representatives to conduct an educational field tour Aug. 21 for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in California's Salinas Valley. She participated in the tour as part of the association's efforts to better educate government officials about the produce industry and its particular food safety challenges, which have included recent field tours for other government officials. Secretary Vilsack was invited to tour the valley by Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA) and Jim Costa (D-CA), who organized this event to showcase the state's agricultural value and to demonstrate the breadth of the industry's food- safety protocols. The three-stop tour ended with a roundtable discussion of the progress and strategic direction of food safety research, in which Ms. Hepner participated with several PMA members including Tim York, PMA past chairman and Center for Produce Safety chairman, who was also representing Markon Cooperative. "We are very pleased to have the chance to join in and share our industry knowledge with the secretary," Ms. Hepner said in an Aug. 31 press release. "This outreach is right in line with our work to collaborate with government officials and get them acquainted with the cutting-edge, food-safety initiatives our industry has in place, as well as the unique needs and challenges we have that preclude one-size-fits-all approaches." In recent months, PMA has also conducted similar tours to build key relationships with government officials and to enhance their industry knowledge. In April Bob Whitaker, PMA's chief science and technology officer, escorted Michael Taylor, the Food & Drug Administration's deputy commissioner for foods, on a tour in Nogales, AZ. Last fall Bryan Silbermann, PMA’s president and chief executive officer, hosted Margaret Hamburg, FDA’s commissioner of food and drugs, and Mr. Taylor on a tour of small farms in PMA's home state of Delaware. "Reps. Farr and Costa recognize that anytime you can get an official the caliber of the secretary of agriculture with boots on the ground in one of our fields is a very good thing," Ms. Hepner said in the release. "We greatly appreciate their effort to help the secretary get an understanding of the produce industry, our practices and our unique food safety challenges and needs." Videos

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Advertisement Home > Business > Agriculture > Why I Do What I Do: Katherine DiMatteo Why I Do What I Do: Katherine DiMatteo Pamela Emanoil | Delicious Living EMAIL Comments 0 Why I Do What I Do: Katherine DiMatteo, Executive Director, Organic Trade Association Organic Influential When you think of organics, do bountiful gardens full of clean and healthy vegetables come to mind? Along with that wholesome image, you might want to add a picture of the woman behind the groundbreaking national organic standards, implemented in October 2002. The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a member-based organization promoting organic products and protecting the integrity of organic standards, hired Katherine DiMatteo in 1990 as its first paid staff person. In the 12 years since, she has grown OTA to a staff of 13 and a member base of more than 1,200. Her personal passion for and commitment to her work have made her a singular force in the organic movement. Q: Since the mid-1970s, you have worked on issues related to local food co-ops, disarmament, energy policies, and organic production. How did you turn your personal passion for a sustainable world into a career? A. It was being selective. I knew I wasn't going to be happy if I worked to live rather than lived to work. If I lived to work, I'd be working on things that mattered. Q: What's a typical day for you? A. There is no typical day. My role at OTA is to make sure the public perception of the organic movement is accurate, that government support is appropriate, and that the development of the organic industry is sustainable. I'm on the phone and on the road a lot. Q: You and your organization were instrumental in developing the Organic Foods Production Act and the National Organic Program. Are you happy with the new organic standards? A. Yes, the standards are very good. However, the Organic Foods Production Act, which was the law that led to the new organic regulations, was written in 1990. Things were set up in the act that are perhaps outdated in today's world. Other things weren't covered at all. Compromises were made. The legislation won't make declarations about organic production being the best system for farmers to use, which advocates wish for. But having it there allows us to use it as a launching place to do other things outside and inside government, to fill in as we go along, and to refine and improve what was originally set up. Q: Do you eat strictly organic? A. I purchase organic products as much as I possibly can. Why wouldn't I? Because I have knowledge about agricultural production and its impacts on the environment and on the workers' health and the potential health risks associated with pesticide residue, I want to support the expansion of organic production. I want to do what I tell everyone else to do. If you want to shape the future, you have to make those same choices yourself. —P.E. Print Please Log In or Register to post comments. Advertisement Related ArticlesSmall Farm, Big Solution Sustainable farming 2.0 Why do you farm the way you do? Why small farmers What's In Season: June Search Recipes Search our full collection of recipes by entering a recipe name or ingredient Advertisement Commentaries and Blogs Why we fell in love with Stonyfield all over again by Jessica Rubino

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2017 Cotton Producer Tour of Cotton Incorporated Headquarters Apr 14, 2017 Make sure hay donations are properly inspected before moving Apr 19, 2017 John Bradley: Still leading the innovation charge Apr 13, 2017 To weather ag downturn: ‘Keep it simple’ Apr 17, 2017 Serious alternative fuels program needs multi-faceted approach Hembree Brandon | Oct 20, 2006 A lot is being said and written about alternative energy these days, with much of the attention focused on ethanol made from U.S. corn. Billions of dollars are being invested in new production facilities, with more on the drawing board. Everybody from zillionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson to everyday farmers is investing in ethanol plants. While there's little doubt ethanol can be a key component in an overall program to reduce this country's dependence on imported oil — and a potential boon to corn producers — other fuel sources will also need to be developed in order to keep pace with our growing appetite for energy. Though ethanol from corn has garnered most of the attention, there may be equal or greater potential for cellulosic ethanol derived from biomass and plant wastes. The process has heretofore been much more expensive than producing ethanol from corn/grains, but new techniques are making it more economically feasible. Cellulosic ethanol can be made from a wide range of biomass, from corn stalks and cereal straw to sawdust and switchgrass, the latter much-ballyhooed by President Bush in announcing his energy program some time back. A demonstration plant in Canada is already producing cellulosic ethanol, and Celunol Corp. is building a demonstration cellulosic ethanol plant at Jennings, La., along with a 55-million gallon facility to produce ethanol from grain. The world's first commercial cellulosic ethanol facility is supposed to go online in Spain before year's end, producing more than 50 million gallons per year. As the technology advances and becomes more efficient, the cost per gallon for cellulosic ethanol is expected to decline sharply and be competitive with grains ethanol. Some analysts say if all the wastes from U.S. farms were converted to ethanol, it could replace up to 25 percent of the energy needed for transportation. Add to that the increasingly efficient production of ethanol from corn and other grains, along with various forms of biodiesel (which offers more energy/miles per gallon), and this country could replace a large chunk of imported oil and keep those billions of dollars in our own economy instead of supporting unstable and often unfriendly foreign nations. It has been estimated that full-scale production of biofuels could reduce the oil dependency of the U.S. transportation sector by as much as two-thirds over the next several decades. And if the U.S. automobile industry would pay more than lip service to boosting the fuel efficiency of its cars and trucks, it might succeed in winning back some of the market share it has lost to Japan and Korea, and save billions of gallons of fuel in the process. Producing alternate fuels may not be the biggest hurdle, however — there will also have to be a commitment by government to support the development and growth of these industries and the infrastructure needed to insure their widespread utilization. That may require huge ongoing subsidies. But wouldn't we rather spend billions on developing and supporting our own home-based biofuels industry than sending those billions to the oil sheiks and crackpot dictators?

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http://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Human-eye-still-ahead-of-technology-in-grain-8416015.php Human eye still ahead of technology in grain inspection By RYAN CROWE Special Projects Coordinator Published 5:26 pm, Saturday, August 10, 2013 A grain moisture machine being demonstrated at Plainview Grain Inspection. A one-story office building on the north side of downtown Plainview may not draw much notice from the general public, but for feedlots and grain producers across the region the Plainview Grain Inspection offices have a big role in their business. Plainview Grain Inspection is an independent, third party service that operates under the guidance of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. It has been at the corner of 11th and Broadway for more than 50 years, something that comes as a surprise to many Plainview residents. “There are a lot of people who don’t know that something like this is available,” said Plainview Grain Inspection‘s Bill Davis. “We don’t have to advertise, because we have only a limited number of customers.” But what they do is crucial to the agricultural industry of Hale County and the region they serve, one that stretches from Abilene, over to Midland and encompasses much of the South Plains. There are similar grain inspection operations in Amarillo and Farwell. As the designated grain inspection operation for the region, each day they collect grain samples from train hopper cars or trucks, or have samples submitted to them by their customers, something Davis says is unique for their area. He says doing so saves sample time for a trainload of grain heading to the Gulf Coast or West Coast to be shipped. “They do the sample here, and before the time the train arrives at its destination, the company will know the quality.” And while the offices have been downtown since 1962, Davis says technology has changed the way they work — to a point. Traditionally, grain inspectors have used binders full of documents and guideline handbooks from the USDA, but with the Internet the handbooks are now online, and constantly updating. Technology has also changed the way inspectors test for moisture and protein. What used to require a machine using transistor tubes and dials now uses a system not unlike a coffee pot — and gives instant results. “Over the last 10 years we’ve changed machines three times as technology has been speeding up.” Davis explained as the machine was demonstrated. “We’re still using instruments that we’ve used for 60 years, but then we’re also upgrading technology at the same time.” Nowhere is the technology shift more noticeable than in a room that once occupied a full laboratory. The lab used acids to check grain qualities, a process that took two hours. Now, a box the size of a large microwave makes the same checks in about a minute using near-infrared light. The human element still has the final say, and Davis says the trained eye and nose are still above and beyond current technology. “You can get a color classer that can look at damage in corn, but it doesn’t look for sprout damage. If it looks for sprout damage, it can’t look for insect damage. So there are just so many variables that you can’t just get a little black box that can grade your grain.” Davis compared the work to flying a plane. Today’s pilots have all kinds of instruments, but in the end you still need a human using personal instincts and training sitting at the controls.

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