Agriculture

Torbert Rocheford, the Patterson Endowed Chair in Translational Genomics for Crop Improvement in the Purdue College of Agriculture’s Department of Agronomy, has spent over two decades working to improve the nutrition profile of corn. The result, a variety with boosted carotenoid levels known as “orange corn,” was meant to help improve nutrition in developing countries. …

“Orange Corn” Aims to Boost Both Poultry and Human Health Read More »

An enormous amount of snow fell across the northern plains this year and as the weather warms, the resulting water is going to be looking for a place to go. While the US National Weather Service (NWS) recently lowered the risks of major flooding from the snowmelt, the risk remains nonetheless.  Based on snowmelt alone …

“Well Above Normal” Flood Risk for Mississippi River This Spring Read More »

It was on this day back in 1955 that Ray Kroc opened his first franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. In 1954, Kroc visited a hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California, owned by Richard and Maurice McDonald. Kroc was so impressed with the efficiency and speed of the restaurant’s operations, that he convinced the …

McDonald’s… What a Crazy Agriculture Success Story Read More »

After wreaking havoc on global weather for over two years, the “La Niña” climate pattern finally ended in early March. We are now in the “neutral” phase of what’s called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle which should allow for more typical weather patterns through the US planting season. By late summer, neutral conditions are …

What You Need to Know About the Incoming “El Niño” Climate Pattern Read More »

Tracking farm equipment sales is one of the common ways that economists assess the overall health of the agricultural economy. According to the Futures Council for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), this data may also provide insights into up and coming industry trends. AEM has developed a new report based on such data and …

AEM Identifies Trends that Could Reshape the Way Food is Produced Read More »

Rabobank’s latest “Poultry Quarterly” relays an optimistic outlook for global poultry markets despite prices coming somewhat under pressure during the first quarter of 2023. The consultancy sites tight supplies in major importing countries brought on by both ongoing supply chain issues and avian influenza. Rabobank notes that the disease, also known as “bird flu,” remains …

Optimistic Outlook for Poultry Market but Bird Flu Remains a Wild Card Read More »

The U.S. has historically been one of the largest exporter of agricultural crops but increased competition threatens its global standing, according to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Export shares and exports-to-production ratios indicate the US continues to be the top exporter of corn, tree nuts, and …

U.S. Crop Export Competitiveness Has Faded Over the Past Two Decades Read More »

It was this week in 1879 that Echo Farms Dairy introduced the first purpose-made milk bottles in New York City, delivering the milk from their farm in Litchfield, Connecticut. Until this time, people bought milk as a bulk item, with the seller dispensing milk out of a keg or bucket into whatever jugs, pails, or …

The First Milk Bottles Read More »

While I don’t have any hard numbers to back it up, I’d guess there are not a lot of companies with “video game placement” in their marketing budgets. However, it seems that a lot of ag equipment makers are doing exactly that with “Farming Simulator.” Just as the title suggests, the video game series from …

Equipment Manufacturers Line Up to be Included in Video Game “Farming Simulator” Read More »

Glyphosate is the most-used agricultural herbicide in the world. Registered in the US since 1974, the herbicide is facing increasing scrutiny by governments around the world as detrimental impacts to the environment as well as human health are raised. However, the potential bans have been highly criticized for not providing effective alternatives which has raised …

Unintended Consequences of Glyphosate Bans Concern Farmers and Environmentalists Alike Read More »