The farming association advocates for ecological farming practices to eliminate the use of agricultural chemicals along with genetically engineered organisms and biosolids (sewage sludge) About 2.5 million tons of pesticides are used annually and most are targeted for agricultural uses, according to the association, an authorized organic certifying agency. The two hardest choices for the food conscious consumer is whether to buy produce grown locally and conventionally or organic produce...

So while food prices appear inexpensive, there is the hidden cost of subsidies-- 72 percent of which is paid to the top ten percent of farmers according to statistics provided by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an independent think tank on agriculture and environmental issues. So while food prices appear inexpensive, there is the hidden cost of subsidies-- 72 percent of which is paid to the top ten percent of farmers according to statistics provided by the Environmental Working...

By Kim Souza The Morning News It's been a quarter century since the Brucellosis controversy hit the nation's cattle industry and today history is repeating itself with the National Animal Identification System or NAIS being imposed by the federal government. By Kim Souza The Morning News It's been a quarter century since the Brucellosis controversy hit the nation's cattle industry and today history is repeating itself with the National Animal Identification System or NAIS being imposed by...

Contrarily, the markets actually moved higher in spite of that news before private acreage estimates showed increased corn acres (150,000 acres) over the amount initially forecasted by USDA on March 30 acreage intentions report. As we get nearer and nearer harvest for winter wheat, there is every indication that not only are we looking at a sharp increase in harvested area, but also at a potentially large yield on those acres. Wheat Wheat futures struggled last week; and rightfully so...

Department of Agriculture doesn't keep track of how many farms start each year, and many of those going into business are doing so with plans that don't rely on a traditional wholesale market. And some new farmers, like the Woosters, have modeled their businesses on community supported agriculture programs that rely on customers who pay a fixed price at the start of the season in return for a certain amount of produce. In a few weeks they'll be transplanted from the temperature-controlled...