In Pennsylvania, corn slated for ethanol production covers only 1.4 million acres of an agricultural landscape dominated by dairy and livestock farming. In Berks County, only 50,000 acres are set aside for grain commodity, but that also is a tiny fraction of an overall farming picture dominated by milk, beef and poultry agriculture. With more than 90 million acres of farmland devoted to the profit-rich crop nationwide, the rush to grow corn for ethanol is squeezing Pennsylvania's...

OLYMPIA -- State investigators have determined there was no threat to public health in their review of the deaths of 50 to 60 cattle at a former dairy in Addy, Washington. Investigators found no serious animal diseases or toxic contamination of the animals feed that could have caused the fatalities according to a press release. The animals died over several months time but investigators could not find any symptoms of contagious foreign animal disease in any of the animals. State...

When Tom German began managing his family's Iowa farm eight years ago, he looked at his 40 beef cows as ideal no-till farming tools. Grass-fed beef is lower in total fat than grain-fed beef, and some studies show it is higher in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and conjugated linoleic acid (Photos by Judy Decker) Rather than investing in specialized conservation equipment, German and his wife, Kristi, converted the entire farm into a grass-fed beef operation. Tallgrass is a grass-fed...

beef tongue arrived in a meat shipment from Cargill, Japanese officials weren't too tongue-tied to complain. beef seems to be making inroads into the lucrative market, the Japanese have tended to find a reason to restrict imports. In 2003, it was the discovery of a single case of mad-cow disease in the state of Washington. A spokesman for the Minnetonka-based agribusiness company conceded the error and promised changes. meat producers and Japanese buyers. Please increase the credibility of...

Exports and livestock have long been the top markets for corn, but ethanol's emergence has helped push prices closer to the record price of $5. Kentucky and Indiana farmers are planting more corn to feed the demand for ethanol, but consumers are feeling the pinch as it helps drive up prices for beef, chicken and even soft drinks. Ethanol is grain alcohol that can be mixed with gasoline in concentrations of up to ten percent in all cars and up to 85 percent in specially equipped "flexible...