Category Archives: News

Farm Economy Strong, Poised to Set Record

Posted on February 24, 2011 by tanya brown

The farm economy is quite strong and 2011 is expected to bring record numbers, according to USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber. Speaking before a crowd of nearly 2,000 people during the Agricultural Outlook Forum in Alexandria, Va., Glauber said that … Continue reading →

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Snow Pile-Up Translates to Better Soil, Farm Income

Posted on February 23, 2011 by tanya brown

A series of snow storms that hit just about all of the U.S. this winter has one agricultural bright spot. The white stuff not only provides entertainment for kids, but is beneficial for soil and the water table. Ultimately, this … Continue reading →

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CREP Program Aids in Saving Chesapeake Bay

Posted on February 22, 2011 by tanya brown

West Virginia farmers near the Chesapeake Bay watershed have turned to several conservation programs in order to comply with clean water regulations. The state has been told by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it must reduce the amount of … Continue reading →

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New Online Tool Captures Demographics of Rural America

Posted on February 22, 2011 by tanya brown

A new web-based mapping tool that captures a range of demographic, economic and agricultural data on rural America is now available. The Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America provides county-level information and allows users to geographically compare select states and … Continue reading →

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Corn Can’t Be Blamed for Everything

Posted on February 18, 2011 by tanya brown

Corn growers are tired of being blamed for everything. That was the sum of Rick Tolman’s speech this week at the CornVention in Fargo, ND. Tolman, chief executive of the National Corn Growers Association, spent much of his remarks correcting … Continue reading →

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Net Farm Income to See Second Largest Increase in 35 Years

Posted on February 16, 2011 by tanya brown

Net farm income for 2011 is expected to jump to $94.7 billion, up $15.7 billion from 2010, according to a report by the USDA. Despite a $20 billion hike in production costs, the 2011 forecast is the second highest inflation-adjusted … Continue reading →

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Feds Relax Sanctions on Infected Cattle

Posted on February 15, 2011 by tanya brown

Ranchers with a small number of cattle infected by brucellosis won’t have to risk losing their whole herd thanks to new federal rules. Sanctions are being eased against states bordering Yellowstone National Park that have cattle infected with brucellosis — … Continue reading →

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Advocate Encourages Farmers to Use Facebook, Twitter

Posted on February 10, 2011 by tanya brown

A young advocate for agriculture urged farmers to use social media to combat negative publicity such as animal cruelty and factory farming. Speaking at the World Ag Expo, Amanda Radke, 23, a former National Beef Ambassador and editor of Beef … Continue reading →

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Record Amount of Corn to Be Used for Ethanol

Posted on February 10, 2011 by tanya brown

A record 4.95 billion bushels of corn will be used to make ethanol, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That estimate is up from 4.568 billion from last year. The ratio of U.S. corn inventories to usage is expected … Continue reading →

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USDA: Orange Production Down 1 Percent

Posted on February 10, 2011 by tanya brown

Orange crop production across the U.S. is down 1 percent from Jan. 1, but remains 6 percent above the 2009-10 forecast, according to a USDA Crop Production report. The Florida orange forecast also is down 1 percent from Jan. 1, … Continue reading →

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