1. Drought in West Africa repeats and may get worse

Apr 17, 2009      Boston Globe

WASHINGTON-West Africa is already living on the edge, and new research indicates that even worse droughts are possible than the one that devastated the region in the late 20th century. The researchers looked at sediments from Lake Bosumtwi spanning about the last 3,000 years. In the two most recent large droughts the lake level dropped about 81 feet and 97 feet respectively, while in the Sahel drought it dropped just over 16 feet, Shanahan said. more...

2. Stanly County emerges from drought classification

Apr 17, 2009      The Stanly News and Press

We are pleased because the reservoirs are full and the streams are at normal levels. more...

3. "Water March" held in California to highlight water crisis

Apr 17, 2009      English News Service

California's water crisis.At its final stop at the San Luis Reservoir in Central California, the governor said the five-day march stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive solution that increases storage, improves conveyance, protects the region's ecosystem and promotes greater water conservation."This march is about opening our eyes to the reality of California's water crisis -- and the reality is that farmers do not have a reliable water supply they can count on, farm workers... more...

4. Regretful strawberry farmer sentenced in tax case

Apr 17, 2009      Tampa Tribune

...strawberry farmers, including Williams' brother and Balm farmer Janet Goodson. William Keith Williams has been sentenced to three years of probation for similar charges, as well as $39,000 in restitution. The brothers' farm, D&K Farms, is scheduled to be sentenced later this month for crop insurance fraud. D&K pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $400,000 in federal crop insurance payments from about July 2001 to June 2003. Goodson has been sentenced to... more...

5. Jury still out on Enid-area wheat, much of state's crop hurt by freeze

Apr 17, 2009      Enid News and Eagle

Then, many farmers weren't able to get combines in their fields because of heavy rain at harvest and a lot of the crop was left in the fields. more...

6. Wheat outlook grim in Oklahoma

Apr 19, 2009      The Woodward News

In the southwestern part of the state, elevators won't even see crops. more...

7. EDITORIAL

Apr 20, 2009      Chattanooga Times/Free Press

If you've ever seen pictures of rice paddies in the Far East, you know that they have to be flooded with water. First, government pays the farmers to grow the crops. These programs, like many farm subsidies, have been in existence since the Great Depression of the 1930s. more...

8. Cool, wet weather helping boost Kansas wheat crop

Apr 21, 2009      Associated Press Online

The freeze and cold weather has taken the top off." That assessment was shared by Jim Shroyer, an Kansas State University Extension wheat specialist. more...

9. Drought's effects may linger for years

Apr 22, 2009      Montgomery Advertiser

We were in a persistent dry pattern from 2005 on. In 2008, there were long periods without rain in the summer. It only takes normal to near-normal rainfall for lakes and rivers to bounce back quickly from low levels more...

10. Rain ends problem locally -- for now

Apr 22, 2009      The Times and Democrat

DPU records have been taken since 1992. Average river flows through Orangeburg are currently about 572 million gallons a day. A major portion of the rainfall gets sucked up in the trees." Marshall said despite the reduction in status, individuals should still conserve water, which is always a good practice. more...

11. A hopeful rural agenda emerges

Apr 22, 2009      New Mexico Independent

So I'll be watching closely how fast the Obama administration moves on its plans. Our state, in fact, might be ideal for the creation of an innovation cluster of small businesses designed to help companies and the military clean up their industrial and radioactive toxic waste. more...

12. Federal government to release meager water supplies to California farms in time for summer

Apr 23, 2009      Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Farmers in California's drought-stricken agricultural basin finally will get a meager supply of federal water to nurture their crops this summer. Three years of drought already have forced farmers to let thousands of acres of cropland turn to dust. Still, state officials warn California remains in a dangerous drought. more...

13. California farmers to get slight drought relief

Apr 23, 2009      Associated Press Online

...corporation owes farmers in Montana and North Dakota $1.2 million for crops grown last year. Sustainable Systems LLC and a parent company agreed Wednesday to sign a consent agreement allowing the Montana Department of Agriculture to sell crops, seed and processed cooking oil held at several Montana locations and distribute a $113,000 surety bond to pay part of what is owed to Montana producers. A separate process is occurring in North Dakota. The state Public Service Commission... more...

14. A TIME TO PLANT

Apr 23, 2009      The Daily Southerner

Also, the state Legislature is considering whether to pass a proposal from Gov. more...

15. As markets change, farmers look to pulse, other rotation crops

Apr 23, 2009      Billings Gazette

Grant Zerbe, who raises chickpeas near Frazer, said pulse crops are a good change for soil depleted by wheat plantings. "Pulse crops, of course they take less inputs. Prices have only fallen further, as low as $3.90 a bushel for ordinary winter wheat and $4.28 for winter wheat with a value-adding 12 percent protein. Few farmers cashed in on that $20-a-bushel wheat price, which occurred when Montana farmers have little wheat to sell. more...