It should be a happy Thanksgiving because, for the first time in eight months, his farm isnt under quarantine by Michigans Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Niewendorp is free to slaughter cattle from his herd of twenty and fulfill contracts in time for the holidays to the couple dozen friends and neighbors who prize the specially bred grass-fed beef he produces. It should be a happy Thanksgiving because, for the first time in eight months, his farm isnt under quarantine by Michigans...

Texas is the second-largest agricultural state behind California and leads the nation in a number of products, including cattle, wool and cotton. Interest groups ranging from farmers and ranchers to environmentalists and social activists are closely watching the Senate debate over farm legislation that not only extends agricultural assistance programs but also includes food stamps, conservation measures and alternative-energy incentives. Interest groups ranging from farmers and ranchers to...

With one third of producers leaving the industry, officials estimate less than 100 farms are still in the hog business a once $30-million industry to the province. Those who haven t got out will soon realize they won t have a choice, said one dispirited producer who didn t want to elaborate on his situation. In the last six weeks, Island hog producers have been bailing out of the business like sailors in a sinking ship after taking a reality check on the future. And the tide could continue...

Fonterra, formed in 2001 and tracing its roots back to New Zealand's first dairy venture in 1814, sells more than $8 billion of products a year, including Anchor Butter and Anlene milk powder. Cheese and milk powder prices doubled in the past year as demand rose and a surge in biofuel crops cut arable land available for food production. Global demand may increase by 2.5 percent a year through 2010 and milk prices are likely to remain elevated for some time, Rabobank Groep, the world's...

If a cow's nutritional needs are not met this winter, the calf will be weaker at birth, have a lower survival rate, and the quality and quantity of milk from the cow may not be adequate to sustain the calf. Lemenager said managing forage supplies is important to meet the nutritional requirements of beef cows this winter. The next critical phase is whether these cows will return to estrous after they calve in a reasonable period of time and conceive. Lemenager said that if cows are...