Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Japan resumes wheat imports — AgMinute for July 31, 2013



Japan’s top agriculture official said that his nation will resume the import of U.S. western white wheat in the wake of the discovery of GMO wheat in an Oregon field.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

On the wheat beat — AgMinute for July 30, 2013



USDA officials say they are continuing to work as quickly as possible to determine how genetically engineered wheat wound up in a northeast Oregon field.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Monday, July 29, 2013

Japan mulls wheat imports — AgMinute for July 29, 2013



Japan is still deciding whether to resume purchasing U.S. western white wheat. The official Japanese position is that no decision has yet been made, said Steve Mercer, vice president of communications for U.S. Wheat Associates.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Friday, July 26, 2013

China wheat — AgMinute for July 26, 2013



Weather damage to China's wheat crop has opened export opportunities for wheat producers in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the U.S., according to wheat industry sources.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Thursday, July 25, 2013

CRP slips in Idaho — AgMinute for July 25, 2013



Much more acreage is set to expire Sept. 30 from the federal Conservation Reserve Program than was awarded during the recent general signup period, according to the Farm Service Agency.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Making hay with oats — AgMinute for July 24, 2013



USDA projects Idaho's oat crop, at 1.8 million bushels, will be 85 percent larger than last year. Oat farmers say the majority of the crop will be cut for hay, rather than grown for grain, due to a shortage of alfalfa.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Baker's favorite — AgMinute for July 23, 2013



Officials with the Idaho Wheat Commission believe key factors are finally aligning to make hard white winter wheat a more viable option for the state's growers.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Monday, July 22, 2013

FDA reaches out — AgMinute for July 22, 2013



The Food and Drug Administration has announced it will expand its outreach effort to farmers to address questions relating to the agency's proposed produce safety rules.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Friday, July 19, 2013

Splitting the farm bill — AgMinute for July 19, 2013



Agricultural groups hope legislation that includes both farm and nutrition policy with a defined expiration date emerges when Senate and House farm bills go to conference.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Naturally biotech — AgMinute for July 18, 2013



A federal judge has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine whether food made with genetically engineered crops can be labeled as "natural."

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Machinery sales roar — AgMinute for July 17, 2013



Farm machinery sales have soared during the first half of 2013, exceeding last year's strong levels and surpassing manufacturer expectations.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Celebrate the onion — AgMinute for July 16, 2013



The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Festival returns this year after a seven-year absence. It will be held Aug. 3 during the Malheur County Fair and include cooking contests, tasting demonstrations and an onion dressing competition.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Monday, July 15, 2013

Biotech wheat talks — AgMinute for July 15, 2013



Japanese customers will meet with Northwest wheat industry representatives next week in Portland to discuss genetically modified wheat found in a field in northeast Oregon earlier this year, according to the chair of the Washington Grain Commission.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Friday, July 12, 2013

Farmers and energy — AgMinute for July 12, 2013



Gov. Butch Otter has appointed a Caribou County dryland grain farmer and a Washington County rancher to a reconstituted board assigned to regulate oil and gas exploration and drilling in the state.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Cautious optimism for wheat exports — AgMinute for July 11, 2013



Japan may be opening the door for more wheat purchases from the United States, but the U.S. wheat industry is exercising cautious optimism.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," a free ebook from Capital Press.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Japan returns to wheat — AgMinute for July 10, 2013



A top Japanese agricultural official says that his nation plans to resume purchases of U.S. soft white wheat this week. The announcement follows South Korea's re-entry into the market on Tuesday.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," a free ebook from Capital Press.

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Local livestock conundrum — AgMinute for July 9, 2013



A lack of coordination with meat packers is often a bigger barrier to success for "local" livestock producers than insufficient slaughter capacity, a USDA study finds.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," a free ebook from Capital Press.

Monday, July 08, 2013

Labor costs loom — AgMinute for July 8, 2013



Farmers who aren't directly subject to national health care reforms for employees may still end up with higher labor costs from the overhaul, experts say.

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Flag smut inspection — AgMinute for July 2, 2013



Kenyan agricultural regulators said during a recent tour of Pacific Northwest grain facilities they've seen no evidence of flag smut, a crop disease that has posed a trade barrier.

"Western Innovators 2012," last year's collection of profiles of the best and brightest in agriculture, is free this week at http://bit.ly/WesternInnovators2012

Monday, July 01, 2013

Paring down potatoes — AgMinute for July 1, 2013



Potato growers in the Northwest and throughout the U.S. have significantly reduced their acreage this season following a 2012 crop marked by overproduction and low prices, according to a USDA report released June 28.

"Western Innovators 2012," last year's collection of profiles of the best and brightest in agriculture, is free this week at http://bit.ly/WesternInnovators2012

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