Latest Crop farming News
Energy companies spending millions lobbying Beacon Hill
BOSTON (AP) — Companies representing a range of energy interests, from old-school oil and gas to renewables like solar and wind power, are pumping millions into lobbying efforts in Massachusetts. In 2018, as many as 70 energy businesses and advocacy groups reported spending at least $5.3 million trying to...
Rainbow City Farms adds color to dishes
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Five-year-old Walt Rogers picked a large sweet pepper out of his father's garden. First he showed Michael Rogers his harvest, then ripped into it with his teeth, pulling away a large chunk of the red vegetable. "It's good!" he said. Michael Rogers, 28, began gardening in his yard six...
Farmers move sugarcane a bit north; LSU tests cold tolerance
ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — One of the world's northernmost sugarcane fields has been planted at a Louisiana State University research station in central Louisiana. The LSU AgCenter is looking into how well various varieties can survive chilly weather. The Dean Lee Research and Extension Center is generally...
Coffee growers help reforest Mozambique's Mount Gorongosa
MOUNT GORONGOSA, Mozambique (AP) — A wiry woman, Querida Barequinha intently sorts through the coffee beans laid out on racks to dry in the sun, plucking out any that are cracked or misshapen. "I like growing coffee because it earns cash that goes right into my pocket," she said, with a darting smile. "I...
As migrant workers decrease, Idaho farmers struggle
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — She was dressed in her best clothes and high heels. The strangers she paid to take her across the border said they would pass her off as a tourist. Instead, she had to brave the desert. Margarita Partida is a former migrant worker who landed in California before settling in...
Farm entrepreneur to buy NORPAC cooperative
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Agribusiness entrepreneur Frank Tiegs will expand his Northwest food processing empire with the planned purchase of most of the assets of the NORPAC farmers' cooperative for about $149.5 million. The transaction is expected to close in October as part of NORPAC's Chapter 11 bankruptcy...
USDA: Crop insurance covers irrigation tunnel collapse loss
GERING, Neb. (AP) — Farmers in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming left without a way to water crops following the collapse of a massive irrigation tunnel in July will be covered by federal crop insurance. That word came Friday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which determined that the cause of...
Wage hike may end Washington state firm's blueberry harvest
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — A mandated wage increase for Washington state blueberry pickers may cause one fruit company to end its harvest early, a report said. Zirkle Fruit Company of Selah said its season may be ended prematurely by a 50% wage increase ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor, The Capital...
Maine ag commissioner let down by USDA's blueberry aid snub
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's agriculture commissioner says it's "highly disappointing" the federal government won't include the state's blueberry growers in a program designed to provide payments to farmers hurt by trade disruption. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner...
Arkansas farmers didn't plant on 1.3 million acres this year
LIITLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — This spring's heavy rainfall and flooding left 1.3 million acres (0.526 million hectares) of land unplanted in Arkansas. Lawrence County farmers saw nearly 74,000 idled acres (29,947 million hectares), the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Jerry Morgan is one of the county's...
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