AMES Recent market reports have grain prices stepping down from their highs, which could be favorable for livestock farmers. John Lawrence, a livestock economist at Iowa State University, said current hog prices are still profitable and are forecast to be breakeven or profitable for the coming year. Livestock producers do need to prepare for higher grain prices and look for opportunities to lock in or purchase their feed needs. Cattle prices are near the records set in late 2003 and...

Governor Perdue also asks the Secretary to designate eligible counties as agriculture disaster counties, enabling Georgia farmers to have access to low-interest loans and other federal assistance as quickly as possible. If the disaster declaration is issued, farmers in all primary and contiguous disaster counties will be able to apply for low interest emergency loans at their local Farm Service Agency office. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns expedite the review of...

As third-generation farmers, the family runs Brangus cattle on the its 240 acres south of town. The American National Cattlewomen's Association's primary mission is educating consumers and legislators on the nutritional benefits of beef and the importance the cattle industry brings to the nation's economy, said Jackie Buehner, press secretary for the national group based in Centennial, Colo. The American National Cattlewomen's Association's primary mission is educating consumers and...

The school district, nursing home, hospital and county contributed $1,500 a piece for a $20,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation for the feasibility study. The different groups use well over 3.5 million kilowatt hours and pay $350,000 dollars annually for electricity. Numbers low, but adequate for energy production, official says. An economic analysis will now be done to evaluate the different entities who will use the power created by the turbine. The project is estimated...

During the same period, imports of fresh garlic went from 62 million pounds to 126 million, the USDA says. And that demand has spurred an industry offshoot gourmet garlic such as Stewart s, special varieties that connoisseurs claim are to typical supermarket cloves as a great Gruyere is to processed cheese slices. Though he grows some of his own, most of the garlic Anderson sells comes from a few dozen small farmers around the country, many of whom are in remote areas with no local market...