The meeting will discuss issues such as one-time debt waiver scheme for farmers, easing supply gaps, higher farm credit, a comprehensive crop insurance scheme and crop diversification. The Prime Minister, the sources say, is most likely to spell out a new scheme for additional central assistance to state governments for the agriculture sector. Some five to six specific strategies are required to bridge the gap between technology and yield in agriculture and to improving farming conditions,...

Profits and expense reimbursements have risen sharply since Congress increased the subsidies in 2000 in a bid to get farmers to increase their coverage and reduce the demand for periodic disaster-aid packages. Agriculture Department subsidizes the premiums paid by farmers, reimburses the companies for administrative expenses and pays them underwriting gains when premiums exceed indemnities, as they usually do. The government could save money and make much of the insurance unnecessary by...

It recommends an analysis of the potential long-term implications of climate change for federal flood and crop insurance programs. But the government's flood and crop insurance programs "have done little to develop comparable information," the study said. Collins said the report shows that "global warming also threatens to burden consumers and taxpayers with billions of dollars in added costs as insured losses from floods and storms cause increases in federal spending and insurance...

Wastewater to energy Milton project first of its kind in Pennsylvania By Amanda Keister The Daily Item MILTON -- The Milton Regional Sewer Authority is answering the call for renewable energy by capturing bio-gas from the wastewater it processes and converting it into energy to power the plant. Wastewater to energy Milton project first of its kind in Pennsylvania By Amanda Keister The Daily Item MILTON -- The Milton Regional Sewer Authority is answering the call for renewable energy by...

And 19% of visitors - just under one fifth - were there for the first time, while 43% had no connection with farming or agricultural related industries. Almost half of the visitors to the Balmoral Show have nothing to do with farming - according to exit polls carried out last year. The poll, conducted at the Showground exits, was designed to collect key demographic information on visitors and explore the reasons for their visit, how far they had travelled, their length of stay, buying...