With higher gas prices, a demand for ethanol and the increased production of bio-diesel, it's not going to get any cheaper to be in the dairy business. Corn costs have doubled and feed costs represent about half the production costs for farmers, making it tough all the way around. This will only see more and more average workers having to get state help to feed their families and/or all of the other state help that they are able to get to meet their bills and feed their families a good...

The meals are planned in line with the new USDA food guide pyramid, which was introduced in 2005, giving food service managers an idea of what growing kids need to thrive. If you would focus on one day, it may seem to be a higher fat content, but if you do it over a range of five days you will find the average. The new pyramid emphasizes whole grains and proteins, and unlike the previous pyramid, includes a notation about the importance of physical activity. We plan well-balanced meals,...

The Lowell resident still has deeds that list the purchase of 240 acres for $1. So he is intimately familiar with the history of the area and what makes the land special. Bryant said nitrogen wears off, so farmers replenish their nitrogen levels regularly. Bryant said the soil isn't as fertile as farms in central Indiana, but it's pretty good soil. The initial effect was high levels of nitrogen and organic materials in the soil. The organic matter develops from decomposed plants and...

BY FRED GRAY, NEWS-REVIEW STAFF WRITER EAST JORDAN - Greg Niewendorp of East Jordan, like growing numbers of small farmers across Northern Michigan and the rest of the nation, is challenging state and federal agencies and the big downstate cattle industry to back off their Big Brother policies and allow farmers like him to carry on with their way of life. BY FRED GRAY, NEWS-REVIEW STAFF WRITER EAST JORDAN - Greg Niewendorp of East Jordan, like growing numbers of small farmers across...

farmers plan to sow the most acres since World War II in response to increased demand for the grain to make alternative fuel and supply livestock feed. Farmers hope to take advantage of corn prices, which have risen 50 percent in the past year and reached a decade-high in February due to record production of ethanol, used as a substitute or additive to gasoline. April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Corn plunged by the exchange-imposed limit for a second day as U. The surge in corn prices in the past...