Nationally, corn acreage is expected to rise 15 percent -- or 12 million more acres than in 2006 -- because of favorable prices fueled by an increased demand for ethanol. The "Prospective Plantings" report, released Friday, is based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of more than 86,000 farm operators across the country. Kyle Baltz, who farms near Pocahontas, plans to plant 200 acres of rice this year, the same number as last year. In Arkansas, corn...

The ministry predicts up to 5 million tonnes of rice will have to be exported in order to raise the average household income to between US $700 and 750 a year. Officials are suggesting farmers only plant two crops of rice and a third crop of vegetables, instead of three, and invest in high quality rice species that are resistant to common diseases and insects. To reach the ministry's goal for the region, production yields will have to increase by US $13 million in just three years. In...

India will soon start cultivating crops of insect-tolerant brinjals and rice as a group of scientists with a seed firm are close to developing a genetic technology. The new technology for developing insect-tolerant food and vegetables would help in making available qualitative and nutritious food available to India's fast growing population at cheaper rate, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd (Mahyco) said in a statement Sunday. The new technology for developing insect-tolerant food and...

A study by biomedical scientists at the University of Leicester has revealed for the first time that rice bran could reduce the risk of intestinal cancer. The results of a controlled laboratory study in a preclinical model of gastrointestinal adenoma demonstrated that consumption of a high daily dose of stabilized rice bran caused an average 51% reduction in the number of precancerous adenomas in the intestinal tract. The results of a controlled laboratory study in a preclinical model of...

Favorable climate this year has compensated for the reduction in the lands allocated to the high-yield rice cultivation, said Iranian Rice Association Secretary Jamil Alizadeh-Shayeq, adding therefore the amount of production has not changed in comparison with the preceding year. Rice imports could cause problems for Iran farmers Home News, Archive Persian Calendar. Rice imports could cause problems for Iran farmers TEHRAN, March 16 (Mehr News Agency) - Over 400,000 tons of imports could...