1. In budget, Obama throws gauntlet for farm-subsidy fight

Feb 26, 2009      Chicago Tribune

That subsidy is in the form of direct payments, which are separate from the price supports that account for the bulk of agriculture assistance. The Republicans who represent cotton and rice will go down fighting on this. Populist Democrats in the Plains states will also be opposed."Doering noted that cotton and rice producers have been among the most politically effective interests in the farm lobby in recent years. more...

2. Report: Companies should disclose water use

Feb 26, 2009      Associated Press Online

..."water footprint" as well, or risk financial losses as freshwater supplies dry up around the globe. Major corporations such as Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:KO) now disclose the amount of water they use in financial reports, in an attempt to show investors they can confront threats to their water supply, according to a study released Thursday by the nonprofit Pacific Institute. But dozens of high-tech companies, farms and soda bottlers have lost millions because they didn't forsee the risks... more...

3. Promises, risks in new Obama spending plan

Feb 26, 2009      Detroit News

The tax increases fall into three major categories: $636.7 billion would come unabashedly at the expense of "upper income" families by reinstating the 36 percentand 39.6 percenttax brackets reduced under Bush. Obama would plow back a portion of these revenues to pay for his tax breaks for families but also business. And an estimated $5.18 billion would be saved from changes in the costly crop insurance program. more...

4. Farmers expected to plant more acres with soybeans

Feb 27, 2009      Omaha World Herald

A record 77 million acres will be sown with soybeans, up from 75.7 million in 2008, said Joe Glauber, the USDA's chief economist. Corn production is expected to increase about 2 percent as exports fall and domestic demand rises, Glauber said. Wheat prices will average $5.15 a bushel, down $1.65 from last year, as large supplies outpace demand, Glauber said. more...

5. Cotton Council balks as Obama budget reduces pay to farmers

Feb 27, 2009      The Commercial Appeal

The budget message says direct payments are made based on acreage, sometimes to large producers, regardless of crop prices. more...

6. County losing farm land But crop sales rebounded from 2002 drought

Feb 27, 2009      The Daily Southerner

...land was not actually used to grow crops or raise livestock. According to the Census's statistics, Edgecombe County saw only a 3.3 percent reduction in actual crop land from 2002-07. There were 103,474 acres of crop land in Edgecombe in 2007, and 106,890 acres in 2002. The other 20,000 of reported lost acreage in Edgecombe was actually forest land, Bradley said. For classification purposes, he explained that a tract of land can be counted as farm land if farm production... more...

7. Schwarzenegger to Declare State of Emergency Over Water Drought

Feb 27, 2009      LAist

"Farms, ranches, and communities across the Central Valley are withering on the vine and in need of any help that the federal government can provide. With the creation of this Federal Drought Action Team, USDA and DOI will be working together to quickly deploy help to the communities that need it most," Secretary Vilsack said. more...

8. Obama targets grower payouts Plan cuts subsidies to large farms

Feb 27, 2009      Jacksonville Daily Progress

These changes can cause unpredictable and severe weather, which can strike anywhere, at any time and with little to no warning," Gov. Households should create and review a plan so that everyone knows where they are to go and what they are to do in case of a weather emergency. more...

9. Thunderstorms, tornadoes more likely in spring

Feb 27, 2009      Jacksonville Daily Progress

These changes can cause unpredictable and severe weather, which can strike anywhere, at any time and with little to no warning," Gov. Households should create and review a plan so that everyone knows where they are to go and what they are to do in case of a weather emergency. more...

10. Plunging profits Farmers hope to weather perfect storm of high production costs, low sales

Mar 1, 2009      Centre Daily Times

It's Stringer's Sand Ridge Farm, one of almost 300 dairy operations in Centre County. Bill Stringer, the second generation to work the farm, moves confidently through the barn. Those selected are slaughtered and the farmers are paid on a per-cow basis according to the bids. more...

11. KANSAS PLANTING DOWN BY 6 PERCENT

Mar 1, 2009      The Wichita Eagle

That goes with the territory of being the country's largest wheat-producing state. When Kansas' production has a hiccup, the rest of the nation and even the world take notice. We really need a change in weather pattern." Worldwide conditions Wheat prices are now under $5 a bushel. more...

12. Battle Lines Quickly Set Over Planned Policy Shifts

Mar 1, 2009      Washington Post, A1

The White House budget request seeks to increase federal spending by at least $500 billion over the next decade, excluding the cost of health-care reform. But administration officials have since acknowledged that his budget plan does not contain $2 trillion in spending cuts. But he would spend an extra $10 billion on child nutrition. more...

13. Worst drought in 50 years hits China

Mar 1, 2009      Washington Times

Michael Standaert THE WASHINGTON TIMESYAOLING, China | In good times, Xi Guojun's small plot of land produces just enough winter wheat to provide for his family. Xi, who has no surplus wheat stocked from previous years. "How am I supposed to do that? Zhang said.Just next to Mr. more...

14. Implosion

Mar 2, 2009      Earthside.com

If the candlestick maker wants bread or steak, he makes candles and trades. Knowing this, the candlestick maker asks to borrow a steak from the butcher to trade to the baker for bread. In fact, by using credit to buy instead of candles, the economy now has fewer candles, and the butcher now has fewer steaks with which to buy bread himself. more...

15. Delta cutbacks put Valley farm town on edge

Mar 2, 2009      The Sacramento Bee

This is California, too." Plantings, harvests, jobs cut American consumers may not realize that a vast quantity of their food comes from here, Silva and others say. It's no bluff, the farm industry warns, that food from other countries will fill the vacuum. For decades, water has been diverted from the Delta via canals to Los Angeles. more...

16. Avocado, citrus may be on the way out

Mar 2, 2009      North County Times

Avocado sales from the county's 24,000 acres of groves totaled $127 million in 2007. Most water in those communities goes to agriculture. Growers in the interruptible program will go to 40 percent," Arant said. "If Met goes to 20 percent for (municipal and industrial customers), these guys will go to 50 percent. more...

17. Farmers worry as parts of Texas are driest in US

Mar 2, 2009      Associated Press Online

Drought-related crop and livestock losses were the state's worst ever for a single year, totaling $4.1 billion. That compares with 42 in early September and 83 in late May. The storage capacity of Texas lakes dipped slightly to 80 percent since the late December report. more...

18. Almond growers jittery about future Falling demand, prices worry area producers

Mar 3, 2009      The Record - Stockton, California

Baker said. That might not be enough, however, for some farmers carrying higher financing or land costs than other growers or if they are producers of less-popular almond varieties, particularly small-size nuts. Blue Diamond is considering developing an almond butter product, as well as continuing to produce almond milk, as a way to market its supply of small, unmarketable nuts. "It's not easy being an almond grower right now, because we have to sell the crop," Fondse... more...

19. Farmers wonder what's left of corn stranded in field

Mar 3, 2009      Detroit News

Texas drought cultivates fear for farmers More than 8 percent of state is considered driest region in nation, threatening agricultural business. San Antonio, two counties east of Shudde's ranch, has gotten only 16.67 inches of rain since September 2007, its driest 17 months ever and about 28 inches below normal. Texas averaged 0.32 inches of rain in January, the fourth driest in history, and about one-fifth the normal monthly total. more...

20. Texas drought cultivates fear for farmers

Mar 4, 2009      Detroit News

Texas drought cultivates fear for farmers More than 8 percent of state is considered driest region in nation, threatening agricultural business. San Antonio, two counties east of Shudde's ranch, has gotten only 16.67 inches of rain since September 2007, its driest 17 months ever and about 28 inches below normal. Texas averaged 0.32 inches of rain in January, the fourth driest in history, and about one-fifth the normal monthly total. more...

21. Valley farmers strive to save water Ag advisers help those who expect no federal supply.

Mar 4, 2009      The Fresno Bee

They make up 70,000 acres within the district. Statewide, almonds are a $2 billion crop, and Fresno County ranks as the state's leading producer. more...