The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 10 grants totaling $7.2 million for research on the interactions of plants, microbes, and invertebrates. This is the first round of grants awarded through the Plant-Biotic Interactions program, a joint funding opportunity established through a partnership between NIFA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NIFA …
Farms and Ranches Need Tax Relief Now
from American Farm Bureau Farm and ranch families need a permanent tax code that boosts the agricultural economy and frees them to reinvest in their businesses, Scott VanderWal, a South Dakota farmer, told the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy. “Farmers and ranchers operate under tight profit margins, often at rates of return that are modest compared to …
Grow Your Own Ginger
Cathy Isom has some tips about the tropical plant that’s easy to grow and healthy to eat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Ginger is a popular spice in the kitchen and has many medicinal purposes and health benefits. It’s known for its aromatic, pungent and spiciness and adds a special flavor and zest to Asian stir …
Chinese Fund Purchasing Dow Seed Business in Brazil
A Chinese investment fund has paid $1.1 billion to purchase Dow Chemical Company’s corn seed business in Brazil, a move Reuters calls a further sign of China’s fast-expanding role in the global seed sector. The assets, which generated revenue of about $287 million in 2016, are being sold by Dow to meet conditions set by U.S. antitrust regulators for its …
Germany Pork Consumption at 11 Year Low
Pork consumption in Germany has fallen to an 11 year low, as the nation is cutting back on the world-recognized Bratwurst and hot dogs in favor for more vegetables. Bloomberg News reports Germans last year consumed the smallest amount of pork since at least 2005, and the drop will continue in 2017. Pork still accounts for more than half the …
Politico: Nebraska Ag Director Being Considered for USDA Under Secretary
Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach is said to be in the running for a top post at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Politico reports that several unnamed sources say Ibach is being considered, which would put yet another Midwestern farmer at the top of the department. Ibach has led the Nebraska Agriculture Department since 2005. Politico speculates that Ibach is …
NAFTA Boosted Canada’s Corn Syrup Consumption
A new study claims the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has drastically changed the Canadian diet by boosting consumption of high-fructose corn syrup. The peer-reviewed study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that as tariffs on high-fructose corn syrup dropped over a four-year period, consumption grew from 21.2 calories of corn syrup per day in 1994 to …
USDA Releases July WASDE, Crop Production Reports
The recent World Agriculture Supply and Demand (WASDE) report by the Department of Agriculture projects corn and soybean farmers will grow more crop than previously anticipated. USDA on Wednesday increased 2017-18 corn production to an estimated 14.255 billion bushels and soybean production to 4.26 billion bushels. Corn production came in slightly above the highest pre-report estimates while soybean production came …
Agri View: Outdoor Cooking
Everett Griner talks about it is the time of year for outdoor cooking on the grill in today’s Agri View. Now, here is a food statistic that surprises no one. Meat sales for grilling meats are on the rise. That means that other meats are declining retail sales. It doesn’t take a scientific study to figure out why. …
American Farm Bureau Federation and National FFA Organization to Work Together to Share the Story of Agricultural Education
The American Farm Bureau Federation and National FFA Organization signed a memorandum of understanding to grow leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture. The MOU outlines how the two organizations will work together to discover opportunities that benefit both their members and agricultural education students in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This is an opportunity for …