Organic Family Farmers Need Strong Standards and Enforcement

Dan Industry News Release, Organic

American family farmers and ranchers grow and raise organic foods for the nation under strict standards. Those standards are set by the National Organic Program under the guidance of the National Organic Standards Board and protect the integrity of the industry. When major producers and organic product importers fail to comply with these standards, it puts all organic farmers and …

Largest Ever Dead Zone Found in U.S. Gulf

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

Federal scientists have measured the largest dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico in recent history. The oxygen-depleted area is roughly the size of New Jersey. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the increasing dead zone was fed by nutrient pollution washing down the Mississippi River. NOAA says the nutrient runoff comes primarily from …

Ex-Trade Negotiator Says Trump “Misguided” on NAFTA

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

The Trump Administration’s goal to reduce trade deficits by renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement is not a good one. That’s the opinion of former top Obama-era trade negotiator Darci Vetter. Captial Press Dot Com says Vetter feels that goal may cause unforeseen and unintentional consequences for farm exports. Vetter was the chief U.S. agricultural trade negotiator from 2014 …

Webcast Outlines Proper Cleaning Procedures for Sprayer Systems

Dan Cotton, Industry News Release

Inadequate or improper cleaning of sprayer systems can often cause contamination issues and costly damage to plant foliage. A new Focus on Cotton webcast titled “Tank Cleaning” helps cotton growers, consultants, and other industry experts properly remove all unwanted residue from equipment and prevent the unintentional introduction of herbicides to sensitive or non-labeled cotton crops. This 29-minute talk by Fred …

“Good-Guy” Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops

Dan Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

A beneficial soil fungus could offer a bio-based approach to battling Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that kills oaks, other tree species, and woody ornamentals. BioWorks, Inc. of Victor, New York, is collaborating with Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Tim Widmer to commercially formulate the fungus, Trichoderma asperellum. The species is a mycoparasite, meaning it attacks and kills other fungi, including P. ramorum, a fungus-like …

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Proclaims National Farmers Market Week

Dan Industry News Release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has proclaimed Aug. 6-12 to be National Farmers Market Week. This is the eighteenth year USDA has supported local producers by encouraging families to meet, and buy from, the farmers and other vendors at their local farmers market. The proclamation Perdue signed notes farmers markets and other agricultural direct marketing outlets contribute approximately $9 billion …

Cow-Calf Producer Conference is Next Week in Auburn

Dan Alabama, Cattle, Industry News Release

Cow-calf producers across Alabama will have the chance to gain valuable insight on how to rebuild their herds successfully during the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences’ 2017 Beef Cattle Conference. It will be held Saturday, August 12th, from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., at the Ham Wilson Livestock Arena in Auburn. The theme of this year’s event is “Back to …

Ireland Could be GMO-Free Haven

Dan Industry News Release, Seeds

Ireland Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle says the island nation should have a status as GMO-free to maintain biodiversity. The Irish Times reports that the comments by Doyle were expressed as his personal opinion, and not that of the nation’s Agricultural and Food Development Authority, which takes the “follow the science” approach. Doyle claims the island could be …