Friday, May 31, 2013

Biotech wheat fallout — AgMinute for May 31, 2013



Japan has suspended its regular purchase of soft white wheat after genetically modified wheat was found in an Oregon field, an industry representative says.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Sheep versus bears — AgMinute for May 30, 2013



Several environmental groups have filed a legal complaint claiming that USDA sheep research in Idaho disrupts the recovery of threatened grizzly bears. The environmentalists allege that the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station near Dubois, Idaho, has become a "black hole for carnivores."

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Saving lives — AgMinute for May 29, 2013



Farm groups have teamed up with Gov. Butch Otter to create a canal safety campaign designed to help prevent the canal-related deaths that occur in Idaho each year.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Too cheap fertilizer — AgMinute for May 28, 2013



The federal government has decided to keep high tariffs on Ukrainian exports of ammonium nitrate even though the fertilizer is now cheaper to produce in the U.S. The U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled that dropping the tariffs would likely cause "material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time" to domestic fertilizer manufacturers.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Struggling after getting 'slimed' — AgMinute for May 27, 2013



The beef-processing company that makes the product that critics call "pink slime" continues to struggle more than a year after the initial stories on the lean bits of beef that Beef Products Inc. makes.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Stuck on eggs — AgMinute for May 24, 2013



Federal standards for the welfare of egg-laying hens suffered a defeat when they failed to make it into the farm bill legislation voted out of the agriculture committees in the U.S. House and Senate.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Slaughterhouse fie! — AgMinute for May 23, 2013



The USDA hasn't taken proper enforcement measures against slaughterhouses that violate food safety and animal welfare laws, according to an internal agency audit.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Whither wheat? — AgMinute for May 22, 2013



After increasing significantly in 2012, Idaho wheat exports to Mexico dropped considerably during the first quarter of 2013. The drop was caused by very high corn prices last year that resulted in a lot of Idaho wheat being sent through feed channels.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

No drone, no spy — AgMinute for May 21, 2013



A new Idaho law that takes effect July 1 will prevent people from using drones to spy on farmers and ranchers. A bill that has been signed into law by Gov. Butch Otter restricts people from using drones to spy on anyone but it was crafted specifically with agriculture in mind.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Celiac-friendly spuds — AgMinute for May 20, 2013



A new Idaho Potato Commission recipe promotion seeks to capitalize on a sharp increase in Americans who report suffering from gluten intolerance.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Aid anger — AgMinute for May 17, 2013



U.S. farm groups are alarmed by the president's proposal to eliminate the country's international food aid program, which purchases U.S. commodities and ships them abroad, and switch to a new cash-based system that can buy food overseas closer to where it's needed.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Up and up — AgMinute for May 16, 2013



Oil prices have shot up in recent weeks despite abundant production, pushing up prices for gasoline and diesel in the West, experts say.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Roaring exports — AgMinute for May 15, 2013



The value of Idaho agricultural exports continued to increase during the first quarter of 2013 despite a reduction in dairy sales, which drove the state's record farm export totals in 2011 and 2012.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Monsanto triumphant — AgMinute for May 14, 2013



The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a farmer's claim that patents on biotech seed are "exhausted" once the crop is sold to a grain elevator.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Restoring history — AgMinute for May 13, 2013



The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Science recently unveiled its restored John Deere Model AW tractor, as part of a celebration of the history of agriculture.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Farm bill sightings — AgMinute for May 10, 2013



Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said today that she plans to hold a mark up of a new farm bill in May, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., signaled that he intends to bring it to the Senate floor.

Thursday, May 09, 2013

Hamburger Ho! — AgMinute for May 9, 2013




Little or no profits in the milk-production sector in the second half of 2012 and strong cull prices drove dairy cow slaughter to its highest level in 26 years.

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

ACRE awaits — AgMinute for May 8, 2013




Growers have until June 3 to sign up for the USDA's ACRE program for 2013. It is designed to provide revenue insurance for loss of production or price decreases.

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Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Easing fertilizer prices — AgMinute for May 7, 2013




Increased global production of urea is reducing prices for nitrogen fertilizers, with the downward trend likely to continue through the summer, experts say.

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Monday, May 06, 2013

Innate taters — AgMinute for May 6, 2013




Simplot Plant Sciences has introduced a new line of biotech potatoes using a patented technology that incorporates desirable traits from wild potato DNA into common commercial varieties.

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Friday, May 03, 2013

Pesticides pondered — AgMinute for May 3, 2013




An eagerly awaited report about endangered species has managed the rare feat of pleasing both environmentalists and the pesticide industry. The National Academy of Sciences report examines processes used by federal agencies to evaluate the risk that pesticides pose to protected species.

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Thursday, May 02, 2013

Scuse nominated — AgMinute for May 2, 2013




The White House has named Michael Scuse as the Department of Agriculture's acting deputy secretary effective May 4, replacing Kathleen Merrigan, who is leaving the USDA.

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Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Court blasts deal — AgMinute for May 1, 2013




A settlement deal between government agencies and environmentalists over forest species sidestepped the public rule-making process, according to a federal appeals court.

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