DAN BUGLASS RURAL AFFAIRS EDITOR MARIAN Fischer Boel, the European commissioner for agriculture and rural development, in Brussels will welcome a large group of young farmers from all over the EU to hear and consider their views on future policy developments later today. DAN BUGLASS RURAL AFFAIRS EDITOR MARIAN Fischer Boel, the European commissioner for agriculture and rural development, in Brussels will welcome a large group of young farmers from all over the EU to hear and consider their...

Throughout history civilizations expanded as they sought new soil to feed their populations, then ultimately fell as they wore out or lost the dirt they depended upon. That process is being repeating today, but in a new book a University of Washington geomorphologist argues the results could be far more disastrous for humans because there are very few places left with fertile soil to feed large populations, and farming practices still trigger large losses of rich dirt. That process is...

by: Doug Cameron Monsanto is likely to raise its long-term forecasts for the use of genetically modified corn following the ethanol-driven surge in demand from US farmers during the current planting season. Rising demand for US corn for use as food and fuel has forced farmers to plant in more hostile terrain and encouraged a drive for higher yields to take advantage of record crop prices. Hugh Grant, Monsanto's chairman and chief executive, said the US group would evaluate how the US...

LAKELAND - If you're keeping score on whether dumping Brazilian orange juice has harmed Florida growers, the home team is down 4-3 with a few innings of the game yet to play. The commission investigated orange juice supplies in Florida, both from domestic production and imports, from the 2001-02 through the 2004-05 seasons. The trade body found Brazilian exports rose substantially during that period and led to rising OJ inventories that suppressed farm prices Florida processors paid to the...

But when Eukanuba, a canned food produced by Canadian-based Menu Foods inc., was recalled last month by the Food and Drug Administration, DePaul joined the thousands of pet owners nationwide who are switching to organic pet foods - or even making their own. But when Eukanuba, a canned food produced by Canadian-based Menu Foods inc., was recalled last month by the Food and Drug Administration, DePaul joined the thousands of pet owners nationwide who are switching to organic pet foods - or...