Delta Farm Press

Property rights, pigs and pristine waters

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:41:00 +0000

With family and friends, I have spent some of the best hours of my life on the Buffalo, which was designated the nation’s first “national river” in 1972. The designation was well-deserved. Outside Ponca, Arkansas’ only elk herd can be heard bugling as it moves through the morning mist blanketing riverside meadows. Rental cabins – rustic or tricked out -- are plentiful, as are hiking trails, small-mouth bass, and friendly folks.

Farm Press Blog

STS soybeans, Permit Plus for nutsedge

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:12:00 +0000

The best program for nutsedge control in soybeans is to plant STS-tolerant varieties and use Permit Plus herbicide. - Ford Baldwin

Constant quest for improvement has rewards for Keith Morton

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:20:00 +0000

Continually seeking ways to do things better has paid dividends for Mississippi farmer Keith Morton.

Farm Press Blog

SipcamAdvan introduces Muscle ADV fungicide

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

SipcamAdvan recently introduced Muscle ADV, a new fungicide delivering a forceful punch to foliar and soil-borne diseases found in peanuts, soybeans and cucurbits.

Muscle ADV is the evolution of two proven and powerful fungicides, tebuconazole and chlorothalonil, combined in a versatile pre-mix.

Bowman decision affirms future of seed biotechnology

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:28:00 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against an Indiana soybean farmer who planted Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybean seed without the company's approval.

Supreme Court stuffs seed patents back in Pandora’s box

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:10:00 +0000

The High Court squeezed seed patents back into Pandora’s box, but more cases will come.

Farm Press Blog

Louisiana Rice Tour May 23

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:10:00 +0000

The Evangeline Parish Rice Tour will be held May 23 starting at 8 a.m.

How does climate variability affect cattle?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:13:00 +0000

The USDA

USDA grants will target research on cattle health in varying climate.

House passes $940 billion farm bill out of committee

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Nutrition programs and dairy policy face major debate

Late Wednesday night, the House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the farm bill on a 36 to 10 vote.

House ag committee passes farm bill

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:12:00 +0000

House ag committee's farm bill meets with approval from most farm groups, although some express reservations.

Keith Morton: He's always looking for ways to do things better

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Keith Morton is always looking for ways to do things better on his Mississippi farm.

Spring planting like guerilla warfare – hit and retreat

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:26:00 +0000

A parade of rainy fronts marched through the Mid-South in April and early May, keeping farmers from making much progress on planting. A couple of weeks of dry, warm weather would help, but this planting season is definitely going down as another strange one.

Photos: Lively Farms hits Mississippi fields for rice planting

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:25:00 +0000

Young Mississippi farmer Chris Lively, Lively Farms, Coahoma County, took advantage of clear skies May 14 and began planting Cocodrie rice. Chris, along with his father Gerald Lively, run a tight operation — 4,700 acres of corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, and pecans. The Livelys will plant 800-1,000 rice acres; 800 acres of corn; and the rest in soybeans (plus 500 acres of winter wheat and 110 acres of permanent pecans).

Farm groups commend Senate farm bill

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:14:00 +0000

Early response to the Senate farm bill has been mostly positive as farm organizations weigh in on the bipartisan proposal passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee May 14.

Arkansas rushes to plant crops

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Mary Hightower, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

Arkansas’ cotton, rice and corn growers are making a late rally after a spring-long rain-and-cold delay that kept them from planting their crops.

WRDA passage essential for economic growth

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:20:00 +0000

American Farm Bureau Federation

Water Resources Development Act pushed by agriculture groups

In a joint letter, agricultural groups told members of the Senate that passage of WRDA would authorize new projects for flood protection, port improvements and upgrades to the nation’s aging locks and dams infrastructure.

Wheat growers should hold that itchy sprayer finger

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:53:00 +0000

Eric Francis, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Familiar pests are showing up in fields, but not yet at numbers that demand action

Pest populations rising in Arkansas wheat. When should you treat?

Monty’s Plant Food introduces Dri-Sulfur 42

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Monty’s Plant Food Company, manufacturer of natural soil enhancement and plant fertility programs designed to maximize crop yields, has introduced Dri-Sulfur 42, a granular nutrient designed to help enhance plant development while addressing deficiencies in soil.

Senate farm bill passes out of committee 15-5

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:44:00 +0000

Most debate heat generated over rice/peanut target prices, nutrition program spending

Early on Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed a new farm bill on a 15-5 vote.

Crop insurance topic of farm bill talks

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Crop insurance will be top of mind as farm bill markups are revealed this week.

Photos: First day peanut planting at Omega Farms

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:57:00 +0000

Peanut planting began May 9 for Omega Farms, Clarksdale, Miss., and farm manager Brandon Walton. Beating out approaching rain, Walton planted 180 acres with an 09B Georgia variety. Omega Farms, an approximately 15,000 acre operation, will have 900 acres of peanuts in 2013.

Cochran amendments intended to ensure Mississippi safety from flooding, storm surges

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:46:00 +0000

Office of Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran

New flood control proposal for Louisiana prompts Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran to offer ammendments to protect his constituents.

Midwest growers getting first look at Monsanto’s FieldScripts technology

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

This planting season, more than 150 farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota are trialing the first offering from Monsanto’s Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) research platform — FieldScripts.

Supreme Court rules in Monsanto’s favor

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that patent exhaustion does not permit farmers to reproduce seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder’s permission.

Farm bill — crop and food programs debated

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:14:00 +0000

The House and Senate ag commitees will begin marking up the 2013 farm bill in separate sessions this week. The debate over spending cuts to nutrition programs is expected to take center stage when it reaches the House.

As rains, frosts ushered in May, year past racked up heat records

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

As spring weather turns Mid-South planting plans topsy-turvy, 2012 drought and heat set records

Farm Press Blog

FarmLogs launches apps that track field work

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

FarmLogs, the leading agricultural tech startup that helps farmers plan, manage and analyze their farm’s operations,has announced the launch of its all-new mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.

Farmers shoulder nearly $17 billion in losses in 2012

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

National Crop Insurance Services

National Crop Insurance Services says U.S. farmers dealt $12.7 billion in losses in 2012.

USDA announces final call for 2012 Census of Agriculture

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

The USDA

Don't miss your chance to provide the facts straight from the farm

Agriculture Census deadline of May 31.

More words on food labels – for the sake of fear or fact

Sun, 12 May 2013 12:50:00 +0000

Everybody knows who is behind the GMO labelling scheme — the organic industry.