Despite volatility in many global markets, August results show continued strength for meat exports
While August pork plus pork variety meat exports declined in comparison to the record monthly totals set earlier this year, the August total of nearly $444 million pushed this year's export value past the then-record total achieved in 2007. Pork exports to Russia increased 174 percent in volume and 177 percent in value this year--to 141,446 metric tons (311.8 million pounds) valued at $302 million. January-August exports to Russia totaled 28,956 metric tons (63.8 million pounds) valued at $...
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Dorr resigns as USDA under secretary
Thomas Dorr has also been chairman of the USDA Energy Council and served as co-chair of the Federal Biomass Research and Development Board. U.S. Secretary Agriculture Ed Schafer says Dorr has been a transformational leader for the USDA's rural development department. He says Dorr's contributions to USDA and rural America will be felt for many years to come.
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Nebraska Wind Power 2008 Conference in Kearney Nov. 11 and 12
Sponsors and exhibitors include: Baird Holm LLC, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLC, Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, Wind Capital Group, American Corn Growers Foundation, BP Global Wind Energy, HDR, HYTORC Central, John Deere Wind Energy, JW Prairie Wind Power, Olsson Associates, Property Energy Solutions, Tenaska, Trade Wind Energy, Westwood, Wind Logics, Deloitte, Invenergy LLC, Midwest Wind Energy, Kearney Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kleinfelder, Boyd Jones ...
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New Iowa Ag Statistics book shows growth, perseverance through rain and rising costs
Despite those conditions, Iowa farmers were able to respond with record food and feed production according to the 2008 Iowa Agricultural Statistics book, now available through Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. Information in the 139-page book is compiled by Iowa Agricultural Statistics, a division of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Iowa Farm Bureau publishes the book for Iowa Agricultural Statistics.
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Play it safe when storing pesticides
Organic food production still allows for the use of pesticides, it simply restricts which ones can be used. The gardener races to the store to purchase the size of pesticide container that equates to the level of frustration he is feeling at the moment - the higher the irritation the bigger the jug. To get even more tips about proper pesticide storage contact the Oklahoma County OSU Master Gardeners at 405-713-1125.
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Proper tractor setup can increase fuel efficiency
Recently, the price of diesel fuel has changed that mantra to power, more power, and fuel efficiency. Producers need to tailor their machines for better fuel efficiency with proper ballast weights, correct tire pressures, smart transmissions and new technology. Bob Rees, Michelin Ag Tire product marketing manager, said the tractor should be a certain weight relative to its horsepower to enable the tractor to transmit that power to ground.
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Questions about rental agreements
I have received more than a usual number of calls about share rental agreements, cash rents, and terminating rental agreements. For a fixed cash rent situation, they recommend delaying setting that rental rate until March of 2009. Cash rent equals the base rent times the ratio of actual yield times actual price divided by base yield times base price.
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Safety precautions for hunters in cleaning meat
If you're processing your own game, keep the carcass at less than 40 degrees, says Dr. Russ Kennedy, health and aging specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Refrigerate the carcass below 40 degrees and process the meat as soon as possible. --Use clean water, pre-moistened wipes or alcohol swabs to clean the knife frequently or between cuts to avoid dragging bacteria into the meat while field dressing.
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Senators, representatives urge Schafer to minimize unnecessary changes in operation of farm programs
A bipartisan group of Cotton Belt senators and house members, led by Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-GA, and Representatives Etheridge, D-NC, and Emerson, R-MO, has written U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer to stress that it is inappropriate and unnecessary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cause serious disruptions in current farming operations by proposing unwarranted changes in the way it makes actively-engaged-in-farming determinations. Sign-up for 2009 should begin in October ...
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Small cotton harvest translates into economic losses
A new Texas Tech University Cotton Economics Research Institute study indicates that the economic impact of the cotton crop on the Texas High Plains economy will be sharply down this year. With this reduction in the cotton harvest, economic losses between $302 and $517 million are expected in the region. "To keep these impacts in perspective, the loss in economic activity is between 0.4 percent and 0.7 percent of the total regional economic activity."
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