Agriculture

If you’re running a large corn or soybean operation, you’re a lot more likely to be using precision agriculture practices and seeing results like increased operating profits — at least that’s what research by the USDA says.  The study, Farm Profits and Adoption of Precision Agriculture, focused on three precision agriculture practices: guidance or auto-steer systems, variable-rate technology (VRT), and GPS-based mapping systems. In the past 10 years, tractor guidance systems have gotten popular more quickly than variable-rate input application. Guidance is utilized on a whole 50% of U.S. [node:read-more:link]

Are you a young farmer who aspires to commit your life’s work to pig farming, be a leader in farming and aims to be an example of excellence by raising pigs using the We CareSM ethical principles? If yes, then we want you to apply to be one of the U.S. Pork Industry’s Pig Farmers of Tomorrow.  The Pork Checkoff has established this new national award program to recognize, inspire and connect the next generation of American pig farmers. Up to three award recipients will be selected in the program’s inaugural year. [node:read-more:link]

An agreement between the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and Pennsylvania's nation-leading farmland preservation program will give the state access to millions of federal dollars to preserve the best and most threatened farmland. Pennsylvania has been without a cooperative agreement with the U.S. [node:read-more:link]

The battle lines are drawn over a lawsuit that could reshape agriculture in New York State. Civil rights advocates are suing to give farm workers the right to form unions and bargain collectively. The state’s largest farm lobby has signed on in opposition, after Governor Cuomo wouldn’t. The case centers on an incident at a dairy farm in Lewis County. New York’s constitution guarantees every worker the right to organize. But a state law, the Employment Relations Act, excludes agricultural workers. [node:read-more:link]

 
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Bayer AG Chief Executive Werner Baumann Wednesday defended the company’s planned $57 billion acquisition of U.S. agrochemical group Monsanto Co. amid concerns the deal could face an uphill battle with regulatory authorities over antitrust issues. “This step is entirely logical,” Mr. Baumann said of the merger with Monsanto. “The two companies are a perfect fit and complement each other ideally.”  Mr. Baumann said the German pharmaceuticals and chemicals giant would submit its application to EU regulatory authorities in the first quarter of 2017 and to U.S. [node:read-more:link]

Global Egg Corporation has agreed to purchase Cargill’s egg processing facility in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Terms of the sale are not being disclosed.  The majority of the facility’s 53 employees will be offered positions with Global Egg. Displaced employees will receive severance and other support from Cargill. Consummation of the transaction is anticipated to conclude this fall. Cargill has owned the facility since 2006.  [node:read-more:link]

Rural bankers in states Nebraska, Iowa and surrounding states haven’t felt this sour since the economy was in the throes of the recession.  Creighton economist Ernie Goss said bankers’ dread is being fueled by low commodities prices and is further exacerbated by the ripple effects being felt in rural economies.  Accordingly, the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index fell again in October. [node:read-more:link]

Sitting in the northeast corner of the state, Jackson County is ground zero for Alabama's drought that's now consumed the entire state. While dry conditions and sparse rain have spread from the Shoals to the coast, Jackson County has suffered longer and harder than any other region.  "It's an agricultural disaster," said Jackson County farmer Phillip Thompson.  "It's epic. It's really bad," said Themika Sims, Jackson County coordinator of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. [node:read-more:link]

To the red-and-blue map of American politics, it may be time to add green. [node:read-more:link]