Department of Agriculture Archives - Page 4 of 17

Dryness a growing concern for crops in U.S. Midwest

June 8, 2012

chicago / reuters / The U.S. Midwest will see little rain over the next week to 10 days, but moderate temperatures will help slow deterioration of corn and soybean crop conditions, an agricultural meteorologist said June 4. “It’s not the best of forecasts, but the fact there will not be any extreme heat will marginalize

Cereals, Crops, Grain Markets, News, Oilseeds

Canola’s highs appear to be in for the summer

By Phil Franz-Warkentin June 5, 2012

ICE Futures Canada canola contracts bounced around during the week ended May 25, initially posting declines before climbing back to finish with small gains in most months by Friday. The bounce on Friday could be seen as supportive from a technical standpoint, but the general consensus right now seems to be that the highs are

Dairy cattle, Livestock, News

It wasn’t what she ate

May 30, 2012

washington / reuters /Investigators are searching for a dozen herdmates of the elderly California dairy cow that had mad cow disease, the Agriculture Department said May 17, with all signs indicating it was a rare spontaneous case of the fatal brain-wasting illness. Two laboratories associated with the World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the cow

Cereals, Livestock, News

Naked oats tested for organic chickens

April 20, 2012

Scientists with Ohio State University have received a four-year, US$896,000 Department of Agriculture grant to study the feasibility of incorporating “naked oats” into organic farming rotations as a way to cut the cost of producing organic chicken. The oats, which have a unique protein and amino acid balance, will be tested in the diets of

Beef cattle, News, Other livestock

“Pink slime” ire prompts key producer to close plants

By P.J. Huffstutter April 15, 2012

Reuters / Beef Products Inc., the top producer of ammonia-treated beef product dubbed “pink slime” by critics, said it has halted production at three of its four plants in three states for 60 days beginning March 26. The plant closures were hailed as a victory by activists who had argued that the product was unappetizing,

News, Oilseeds

Farm leaders waiting to see how budget cuts play out

By Alex Binkley April 7, 2012

Agriculture Canada will have its $3-billion-a-year budget chopped by 10 per cent during the next few years — but details are scarce. Both the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Grain Growers of Canada said they wouldn’t judge the budget until they learned more about how the reductions will be implemented. “Although on the surface the

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets, News

Hormone-treated beef dispute ends

By Gilbert Reilhac March 29, 2012

The European Parliament approved a deal between the EU and both the United States and Canada on hormone-treated beef March 14, ending one of the trading powers’ oldest disputes. The case dates back to 1988 when the European Union banned all imports of beef from cattle treated with growth hormones, a move that prompted U.S.

Cereals, Crops, News, Oilseeds

Prairie farmers to sow record canola area, more wheat: Survey

By Rod Nickel March 14, 2012

Canadian farmers look to sow a record-large area with canola and bigger acreages of wheat, oats and barley, as dry conditions potentially give them the best planting weather in several years, a Reuters grain industry poll showed. To be sure, farmers won’t sink a single seed into the soil for almost another two months, giving

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets, News

Big exports but cattle herd expansion unclear: USDA

March 5, 2012

Washington / Reuters Recent drought and forecasts for limited rainfall could constrain the size of the U.S. cattle herd despite high retail beef prices and forecasts for near-record exports, the Agriculture Department said Feb. 15. Record-high retail beef prices “are not sufficient to provide the long-term margins and profits the wholesale and cattle-feeding sectors must

News

Canadian 2011 farm income hits record high

March 5, 2012

Canadian farmers recorded record-high net income in 2011, but their earnings are likely to slip modestly in 2012, an AAFC report said Feb. 19. In 2011, strong crop and livestock prices, combined with higher government payouts for flooding in Western Canada more than offset higher operating expenses, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said in a report.

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: ‘Relentless’ fund selling knocks down CME cattle futures

U.S. grains: Soy futures slide as traders worry China may miss US buying target

Pulse Weekly: Steady prices, high production for chickpeas

Tag Archives Department of Agriculture