Reuters / A heavy winter snowstorm that swept across the U.S. midsection was a welcomed event for U.S. winter wheat farmers worried that their drought-stricken fields were too parched to produce a healthy crop this year. Nearly a foot or more of snow fell across key growing areas in Oklahoma and Kansas Feb. 21. “I
Snow welcomed but more needed to end drought
DuPont Pioneer now eyeing biotech wheat
DuPont is expanding its pipeline of new products under development to include the potential for a biotech wheat, a company official said on Tuesday. DuPont and its Pioneer Hi-Bred agricultural seed unit said a hybrid wheat technology project has been added to its roster of crop research programs that are advancing into deeper development. DuPont
Record area of biotech crops used in 2012, report says
Updated, Feb. 22 — Developing countries accounted for the first time last year for more than half the global biotech crop area, though the United States remains the primary nation making use of genetically altered crops, according to an industry report. "The developments we will see over the next five years will be in favor
Washington demands better food safety practices
Reuters / U.S. regulators say proposed new food safety rules will make food processors and farms more accountable for reducing foodborne illnesses that kill or sicken thousands of Americans annually. “These proposed regulations are a sign of progress,” said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and
U.S. spring crop season jeopardized as drought persists
Reuters / The unrelenting drought gripping key farming states in the U.S. Plains shows no signs of abating, and it will take a deluge of snow or rain to restore critical moisture to farmland before spring planting of new crops, a climate expert said Jan. 31. “It’s not a pretty picture,” said climatologist Mark Svoboda
The rains that come are never enough as U.S. drought persists
Recent rains have brought some relief to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, but the U.S. Plains remains tightly gripped by severe drought. The worst-hit areas remain in sad shape, said Brian Fuchs, climatologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “We’re still looking at significant precipitation deficits,” Fuchs said. “We really haven’t seen anything that has changed the
Dow delays Enlist corn release amid protests
A controversial new biotech corn developed by Dow AgroSciences will be delayed at least another year as the company awaits regulatory approval amid opposition from farmers, consumers and public health officials. Officials of Dow Chemical’s agricultural arm said Friday they now expect the first sales of Enlist for planting in 2014. Previously officials had set
U.S. food, animal groups seek lower ractopamine limits
Food safety and animal welfare groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday seeking limits on an animal feed additive now being blocked from meat exports to Russia. Russia said earlier this month it was requiring meat it imports to be tested and certified free of the feed additive ractopamine, a move jeopardizing
Organic farmers reject call to self-insure against GM contamination
Organic growers and food safety advocates are condemning an advisory report to the Agriculture Department claiming its recommendations would be costly for farmers who want to protect their conventional crops from being contaminated by genetically modified varieties. The USDA is studying how biotech agriculture could best “coexist” with organic and conventional farming, but critics slammed
U.S. GMO labelling efforts change course after California defeat
Reuters / The failure Nov. 6 of a California ballot initiative that would have mandated labelling of genetically modified foods is not a death knell for those seeking nationwide labelling, U.S. labelling proponents said. President Barack Obama’s re-election could be a boost, as he is seen, in general terms, as being supportive of labelling. Still,
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