Author Archives: tanya brown

Restaurants Celebrate Inaugural National Dine Out for Farms Week

Posted on October 12, 2010 by tanya brown

In an effort to create a better understanding between consumers and producers, the American Farmland Trust has launched the first ever National Dine Out for Farms Week. The event — which runs Oct. 10-16 — features 40 restaurants in 17 … Continue reading →

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Low Milk Prices Puts 100-Year-Old Dairy Out of Business

Posted on October 12, 2010 by tanya brown

For more than 100 years and three generations, the Rohe dairy farm has been a fixture in Onondaga, N.Y. As of last week, the 800-acre dairy operation closed down. Citing low milk prices that make it difficult to earn a … Continue reading →

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Researchers Grow ‘Energy Beet’ to Produce Ethanol

Posted on October 8, 2010 by tanya brown

Penn State researchers have grown and tested an experimental sugar beet that can be used to produce ethanol. Known as the “energy beet,” the root crop is showing potential to boost a $93 million ethanol plant proposed for Rapho Township … Continue reading →

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Young Vegetable Grower Flourishing in Organic Hotbed

Posted on October 8, 2010 by tanya brown

 Glen Elsbernd, sitting in between potato rows, began growing vegetables in high school while working at Ladybug Landscapes in Decorah, Iowa.  Twenty-three year-old Glen Elsbernd is utilizing the USDA’s Organic Initiative and higher payment rates on conservation practices as a … Continue reading →

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Soybeans on Par to Set Record-High Yield

Posted on October 8, 2010 by tanya brown

Soybean production is expected to hit record levels according to a USDA Crop Production report released today. Based on the report, soybean yield is expected to average 44.4 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushels from 2009. If the estimate is … Continue reading →

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Raising Cattle With Old Fashioned Values

Posted on October 8, 2010 by tanya brown

Michael Lenagar believes in running his farm with old fashioned values. “I know I’m doing it just like the old folks did. They figured it out and I’m not changing it.” The Neola Farms owner has become a popular fixture … Continue reading →

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USDA to Survey 7,500 Farmers on Production Practices

Posted on October 7, 2010 by tanya brown

USDA soon will be conducting face-to-face interviews with corn and potato producers to learn about their production practices. Every year the Agricultural Resource Management Survey gathers data on farmers’ chemical use, pest management and irrigation practices for corn and potatoes. … Continue reading →

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Study Shows Virus-Fungus Culprit for Bee Colony Collapse

Posted on October 7, 2010 by tanya brown

A fungus and virus working together could be the cause of a collapse in bee colonies over the past several years. Since 2006, about 20 to 40 percent of bee colonies in the U.S. have been dying off. Several causes … Continue reading →

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Tackling FSA’s Technology Upgrades: CIO Discusses Ongoing Projects

Posted on October 7, 2010 by tanya brown

Jim Gwinn, chief information officer for the Farm Service Agency will be a guest on Federal News Radio today, discussing several ongoing technology projects, including Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS). Gwinn has been CIO for 18 … Continue reading →

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Commentary: American Agriculture at its Best in New Jersey

Posted on October 6, 2010 by tanya brown

 Art Brown (left) and Morris Gbolo of World Foods at B&B Farms in New Jersey. In many parts of the country, harvest time is well underway. As summer comes to an end and many of America’s farmers and ranchers are busy … Continue reading →

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