The survey was conducted in January 2007, when the outbreak linked to spinach was still in the news and illnesses associated with other foods were starting to make headlines. A string of high-profile food-borne illnesses nationwide may spur more interest in locally grown produce, especially food sold at farmers markets. The number of consumers "completely" or "somewhat confident" in the safety of supermarket food has decreased from 82 percent last year to 66 percent this year. You have to...

The planting progress was better than anticipated and the market was weaker on the news overnight and on profit taking, a floor analyst said. Soybeans should come under pressure from the better-than-expected crop progress report, an analyst said. In the 6-to-10 day outlook, temperatures are expected to average near-to-below normal north and near-to-above normal south. In overseas markets, palm oil futures settled higher with the benchmark August contract up MYR13 at MYR2,375 per metric...

Chinese delegation signs soybean deal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Representatives from China have signed a deal to buy more than two million tons of Iowa soybeans. A 22-member delegation was in Des Moines last week to sign agreements. Combined with another deal in Chicago, that's more than a billion dollars in Iowa soybean exports. State Senator Daryl Beall is the chairman of the House-Senate International Relations...

The trees and grasses and crops were all different from what I d grown up with and the people were so friendly. And if you grow grains, grasses or legumes anywhere around these parts, there s little doubt that you have used some of those answers in your operation. After 40 years, the official portion of Kilgore s full-tilt, non-stop, on-the-go love affair with all things agronomic came to an end last week as the K-State agronomist retired from his post as the crops and soils specialist for...

Kaatz, who specializes in field crops for a six-county area that includes St. Rainy weather delays some corn planting by Michigan farmers. But farmers still have concerns about the effect of the weather and insects. PORT HURON -- Rainy weather in early May has given some Michigan farmers a slow start on this year's corn crop. Above-average rainfall in the area this has delayed planting corn and soybeans for some farmers, said Phil Kaatz, director of the Michigan State University Extension...