Agriculture

A global ban on genetically modified crops would raise food prices and add the equivalent of nearly a billion tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, a study by researchers from Purdue University shows.  Using a model to assess the economic and environmental value of GMO crops, agricultural economists found that replacing GMO corn, soybeans and cotton with conventionally bred varieties worldwide would cause a 0.27 to 2.2 percent increase in food costs, depending on the region, with poorer countries hit hardest. According to the study, published Oct. [node:read-more:link]

It wasn’t long ago when a Wisconsin farmer stood a better chance of rolling a 300, or perfect, game in bowling than producing a corn crop with a yield of 300 bushels per acre. The odds have changed in favor of the 300-bushel yield this year, thanks to a near-perfect growing season that has experts predicting record corn and soybean yields throughout much of the state, including Dane County. “I would imagine we’ll get to 300 this year by somebody around here, and I think it’s that good that we’ll get it. [node:read-more:link]

A Chickasaw County, Iowa, pig farmer has erected what could be the most energy-efficient and environmentally sound hog building in Iowa. Dale Reicks of Reicks View Farms has built a unique hog building that doesn't look like most other modern hog barns, and what's inside confirms that it isn’t. The facility is equipped with all of the newest technology available in pig farming and is uniquely designed to be animal friendly, environmentally friendly and neighbor friendly. [node:read-more:link]

If Batman switched from fighting crime to growing corn, this would be his tractor.   Racine-based Case IH will showcase its autonomous, or driverless, tractor concept, with a curvy body that’s packed with technology, the tractor takes some cues from the Batmobile. But there’s no steering wheel or driver’s seat. Instead, the tractor uses satellites, radar, cameras and other digital gear to navigate the fields and take orders from a remote operator’s computer or tablet. [node:read-more:link]

A Boise State University poll shows that residents in Idaho’s largest urban area consider agriculture to be the Treasure Valley’s most important economic sector.  The poll results come as somewhat of a welcome surprise considering the Treasure Valley area of southwestern Idaho is dominated by the Boise area, where the majority of people are assumed by many farmers to not have a strong understanding or appreciation of agriculture.  But the poll shows otherwise.  When asked which sector is most important to the Treasure Valley economy, 24.8 percent said agriculture, which ranked first, ahead [node:read-more:link]

A Driggs, Idaho, farmer has covered a funding shortfall to launch a locally based, commercial-scale quinoa processing facility, enticed by the promise of a new crop in his challenging growing area.  The processing facility — which the owner, Jeremiah Clark, believes to be the first operation in the U.S. to process quinoa for commercial sale — opened on Oct. 21.  Farming in a cool area at 6,400 feet, Wyatt Penfold has relied on a crop rotation of mostly seed potatoes and barley. [node:read-more:link]

Between 1992 and 2012, midsize farms - those with gross cash farm income (GCFI) between $350,000 and $1 million - declined in number by about 5 percent. This report examines midsize farms during the period from 1992 to 2014 and describes how commodity prices, the farm economy, and Government payments influenced their growth, survival, and well-being. [node:read-more:link]

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is considering issuing permits for a potential egg farm near Harrod, Ohio. The farm, if approved, would include two layer houses, with each house capable of accommodating 200,000 hens. The ODA Livestock Environmental Permitting Division has issued a public notice, stating that it plans to hold an open house and public meeting on December 7 regarding the proposed egg farm. [node:read-more:link]

A group of Ohio landowners who are hoping the courts can bring some relief to their farm real estate taxes will keep their case before a Franklin County judge. In the initial lawsuit, the landowners argued that the state determined CAUV values based on crop commodities — like corn, soybeans and wheat — and neglected to take into consideration acres that grow other crops, such as grapes, woodlands or pastureland, or are not suited to grow crops. “Basically, they (state officials) used the rise in commodity prices as an excuse for the fact that they changed other parts,” said Roberts. [node:read-more:link]

Canada's dairy sector will receive help to adjust to increased competition from the new European cheese imports expected under the terms of the Canada-European Union trade deal signed last weekend.  But don't call it compensation: the Liberals have something else in mind.  Senior government officials from Global Affairs Canada gave a technical briefing to reporters on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, also known as CETA. [node:read-more:link]