Frustrated by lawmakers’ refusal to consider a bill to get tougher on sources of agricultural pollution feeding Lake Erie’s chronic toxic algae problem, Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday took matters into his own hands with an executive order. “This is just requiring farmers to figure out a way to manage their land in a more effective and environmentally friendly way,” the Republican governor said. [node:read-more:link]
Is paying more for organic milk, meat or a can of beans worth it? The "USDA Organic" label generally signifies a product is made with relatively minimal synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and that animals are raised according to certain guidelines. But disputes over the rules, and questions about adherence, may raise doubts about whether the price is justified.A federal audit in September found the U.S. [node:read-more:link]
Despite the ever-increasing separation between farming and the general public, today’s consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from and how it is produced. With regard to animal food products, animal welfare, food quality, and sustainability have become key issues of consumer concern resulting in increased pressure for farmers to transition from conventionally raised poultry to free-range poultry production. [node:read-more:link]
The Custom Machine and Work Rate Estimates for 2018 are detialed in this report. [node:read-more:link]
Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt paints a bleak picture for the U.S. pork industry in the coming months as broader trade issues with major export markets are resulting in retaliation against U.S. pork exports. Hurt outlines prospects for large pork supplies pushing prices down as low as $10 per head below cost of production this year. [node:read-more:link]
Mercy For Animals released hidden camera footage Tuesday from an undercover investigation they say they conducted at a facility owned by a Tennessee-based pig farm. The nonprofit, which is dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals, said the video was filmed at a Tosh Farms facility in Franklin, Kentucky, just a few miles from the Tennessee border. [node:read-more:link]
Sixth District- Atlanta– “Agriculture conditions across the District were mixed. Significant rain improved drought conditions in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia; however, there were abnormally dry conditions reported mostly in Louisiana and to a lesser degree in Mississippi and Tennessee. There were also some areas that experienced above-normal temperatures and locally heavy rains, resulting in some crop stress. Seventh District- Chicago– “The outlook for agriculture income dimmed some over the reporting period as prices for most commodities fell. [node:read-more:link]
State regulators have filed criminal contempt of court charges against Oregon mega-dairy owner Greg te Velde, hoping to quickly close the dairy and stop it from continually violating environmental regulations. The state has asked a judge to issue remedial sanctions that would effectively shut down the dairy, called Lost Valley Farm, within 60 days. A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 29 in Multnomah County Circuit Court. [node:read-more:link]
In the Trump administration’s trade war with China, American farmers are fast becoming the biggest losers. Farmers are enduring the worst cycle they’ve seen since the 1980s farm crisis: a multiyear slump in farm prices that has slashed net farm income by more than 50 percent since 2013. Increasingly, farmers are pinched by prices that are far below their cost of production, as well as rising input costs, growing debt, tightening credit conditions and much more. Every day on our 1-800 Farm Aid hotline, we hear from farmers struggling to make ends meet. They can't pay their electric bills. [node:read-more:link]
Some like Edge are being forced out of the dairy business. For others, the hard times are focusing new attention on strategies that go beyond just milking cows in big barns, such as making cheeses or switching to goats or sheep. And some farmers, pointing to a quota system of production in Canada that keeps milk prices more stable there, say new policies might be the answer. [node:read-more:link]
