We dispensed with our dairy herd in June 2004 because of falling milk prices. His farm now comprises 630 beef cattle and 200 acres of cereals; and he lets 50 to 60 acres annually for growing potatoes, cauliflowers and cabbages. Within a few months he grasped everything to do with agriculture. One would hope the supermarkets are seeing their supply base diminish and instead of being accountant driven, they are going to give a fair return for good produce. We escaped it here but we had a...

If 140 head of cattle get out on that highway when the boys are headed up here from the cities, I would have lost everything because of the liability. Last June, he said he was getting his two grandsons off to summer school classes when he noticed trouble in a pasture close to his house. Kasten said one wolf kill happened about 250 yards away from the highway, and the cattle broke through several fences trying to escape the predators. Wolves prey on cattle while ranchers huff and puff...

Concerns about beef ban, trade barriers By Steve Hirsch The Washington Times WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said yesterday "Congress will and should celebrate" its free-trade agreement with South Korea despite doubts by congressional trade leaders, particularly regarding beef and automobile issues. Concerns about beef ban, trade barriers By Steve Hirsch The Washington Times WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said yesterday "Congress will and should celebrate" its free-trade...

The auction means there are only four dairy farms left in Springfield, where two generations ago there were three or four dozen, according to the Lockwoods' neighbor and fellow dairy farmer, Keith Ferguson, who has milked cows since the 1960s. Ferguson, who milks 60 head on Spencer Hollow Road, said the Lockwood auction meant that there are only four dairy farms left his farm in Spencer Hollow, Richard and Ray Moore's Mooreland Farm, the John Augustinovich farm on Elm Hill, and the Mike...

The weight of hogs ready for slaughter fell about 2 pounds per head to 269 pounds in February compared with the same month a year earlier, the USDA said March 23. Hedge-fund managers and other large speculators last week increased their long positions, or bets that prices will rise. Wet weather in hog- producing states including Iowa caused animals to lose weight as they overexerted themselves in muddy pens. Long positions in Chicago outnumbered short positions by 10,873 contracts for the...