The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $34 million in available funding for projects that promote sustainable water use for food production, processing, and other competing uses. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture …
Nominations for Florida Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award Are Due
Those interested in making a nomination for the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award need to do so quickly as Wednesday, March 1 is the deadline. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting nominations for this award, which has been presented annually since 1994 to environmentally innovative Florida farmers. The award recognizes enterprises that demonstrate leadership in developing and implementing …
Making Spinach with Low Oxalate Levels
by Sharon Durham, Agricultural Research Service Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists identified 8 spinach varieties that have low oxalate levels, which is sometimes linked to better health. Oxalic acid, or “oxalate,” is a naturally occurring plant chemical and in the human diet it’s been linked to kidney stone formation. It also can react with calcium, iron, and other minerals to …
Commissioner Putnam Seeks Nominations for Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is now accepting nominations for the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which has been presented annually since 1994 to environmentally innovative Florida farmers. The award recognizes enterprises that demonstrate leadership in developing and implementing progressive techniques to safeguard the environment and conserve natural resources. Nominations …
Gulf Dead Zone
Everett Griner talks about the Gulf of Mexico dead zone in today’s Agri View. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Geneticist Edward Buckler Awarded First NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences
By Kim Kaplan, USDA Agriculture Research Service Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist Edward Buckler will receive the National Academy of Science‘s first ever Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for pioneering the use of large scale genomic approaches to associate genes with crop traits. This work gives plant breeders’ faster access to key genes and reduces the time needed to …
Funding for Potato Breeding Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $1.85 million in funding for regional potato breeding research to support the development of superior-performing varieties that can be brought to market as soon as possible. The United States is one of the top potato producers worldwide, and industry sales estimates topped $3.6 billion in …
Concern Over Proposed Changes in WIC Feeding Program
National Academy of Sciences Suggests Major Reduction in Servings of Nutrient-Rich Milk Offered in WIC Program From Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF, and Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of IDFA: “The NAS Committee’s recommendations would undermine the nutritional value of the WIC program to needy Americans. It is contradictory that the NAS report would both acknowledge that many …
Dedicated Energy Crops and Competition for Agricultural Land
by Ron Sands, Scott Malcolm, Shellye Suttles, and Elizabeth Marshall, USDA Economic Research Service What Is the Issue? Dedicated energy crops, such as switchgrass in the United States, are viewed as potential renewable feedstocks for liquid fuels or bioelectricity. However, markets do not presently exist for large-scale use of this resource. This study examines three policy scenarios that could create …
Cardiovascular Disease and Red Meat Consumption
Consuming red meat in amounts above what is typically recommended does not affect short-term cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and blood cholesterol, according to a new review of clinical trials from Purdue University. While during the last 20 years, there have been recommendations to eat less red meat as part of a healthier diet, red meat can …