International Business News - Agriculture http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Like any farmer, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey is eager to put the pains--and the rains--of 2008 behind him. By any measure, Northey said, it has been a trying year for Iowa farmers--record rain fall, record flooding, fitful weather throughout. The irony is that 2008 was a year that started with great expectations: Inputs, the costs that go into farming, were higher than ever but prices for corn and soybeans lingered near record highs. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/146584-farm-scene-iowa-agriculture.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/iowa-agriculture-secretary-discusses-a-trying-year.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/iowa-agriculture-secretary-discusses-a-trying-year.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:13:25 EDT U.S. farmers and ranchers, already feeling the crunch from rising costs for fuel and other production needs, may have a tougher time getting loans they need next year because of the national credit crisis, agriculture officials said. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081002/farmers-ranchers-could-feel-credit-crunch.htm Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:34:48 EDT From Texas rice farms to Midwest cornfields, some farmers in the path of Hurricane Ike's remnants saw profits sink as strong winds battered crops. Along with prospects of lower yields, those farmers will have to take more time to harvest as they slowly move equipment through fields to try and scoop up crops knocked down by the tempest. And that means farmers have to spend more money on fuel to keep combines in the fields longer. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/133126-farm-scene.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080918/ikes-remnants-batter-farm-crops-in-south-midwest.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080918/ikes-remnants-batter-farm-crops-in-south-midwest.htm Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:51:07 EDT At least 20,000 head of livestock roamed loose throughout several Southeast Texas counties Monday, said state officials who are working to get feed and water to the cattle and horses that have been without either since Hurricane Ike came ashore Saturday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080916/20-000-cattle-horses-wandering-in-southeast-texas.htm Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:53:48 EDT Cuba says it will speed up plans to give private farmers and cooperatives idle plots of government land as it rushes to produce food after a pair of hurricanes ravaged island crops. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080915/cuba-pushes-for-production-of-idle-land.htm Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:40:44 EDT Russia and Ukraine are set to significantly expand their agricultural plantings this year as higher prices for commodities such as wheat, coarse grains and rice spur investment, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080911/russia-ukraine-set-to-expand-agricultural-output.htm Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:32:51 EDT Hurricane Gustav caused an estimated $372 million in damage to Louisiana crops, flattening fields and dumping as many as 20 inches of rain, agriculture officials said Tuesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080909/gustav-damages-to-la-crops-fisheries-hits-419m.htm Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:49:33 EDT The first estimates of Hurricane Gustav's damage to Louisiana's crops is in, and it's substantial: $372 million. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says that price tag is only expected to grow. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080909/louisiana-gustavs-ag-damage-372-million-so-far.htm Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:48:13 EDT Farmers in northeastern Louisiana planting six of the state's standard-bearing crops are looking at flooded fields and facing disaster following an unexpected trip through the region by the remnants of Hurricane Gustav. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080904/farms-in-northeast-louisiana-looking-at-disaster.htm Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:26:56 EDT Agricultural lobbyists didn't want to give up federal subsidies to see the WTO negotiations succeed. But that doesn't mean they are happy the talks collapsed Tuesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/us-farmers-disappointed-at-failed-wto-talks.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:19:30 EDT Hurricane Dolly probably doomed South Texas's cotton and sorghum crops already damaged by heavy rains earlier in the summer. But analysts said the loss, while devastating for local producers, will have only a short-term effect on the markets. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080724/dolly-destroys-texas-cotton-sorghum-crops.htm Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:33:13 EDT Fresno County topped the $5.3 billion mark in agriculture production last year, holding onto its place as the No. 1 farming county in the country. The county's 2007 crop report released Tuesday shows grapes, almonds and milk as the top three commodities. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080723/california-countys-ag-production-tops-5-billion.htm Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:11:02 EDT A state audit criticizes the Missouri Agriculture Department for trying to use an improper fund for a sexual harassment settlement and for lax administration of several programs. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/audit-criticizes-mo-ag-department-over-legal-bill.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:39:23 EDT More than half of Cuba's agricultural land is idle or underutilized, prompting a series of government reforms intended to dramatically boost farm production, government statistics released last week show. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/cuba-pushes-for-more-farm-output.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:36:39 EDT The U.S. Agriculture Secretary said Thursday he was concerned that legal hurdles prevented much immediate federal help for farmers faced with serious setbacks because of the Midwest floods. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/us-ag-secretary-meets-ill-lawmakers-on-flood.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:21:20 EDT The U.S. agriculture secretary says he is concerned that legal hurdles prevented much immediate federal help for Midwestern farmers faced with serious setbacks because of flooding. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/80629-flooding-economy.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/ag-secretary-lawmakers-discuss-farmers-flood-aid.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/ag-secretary-lawmakers-discuss-farmers-flood-aid.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:11:08 EDT Huge swathes of farmland were destroyed by the earthquake in central China, but the losses should not cause food shortages or big price hikes nationally, a senior official said Saturday. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/48137-china-earthquake.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/china-says-earthquake-wont-affect-food-prices.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/china-says-earthquake-wont-affect-food-prices.htm Sat, 17 May 2008 07:41:35 EDT Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to millions of dollars of agricultural tax breaks that provide state aid for farm equipment, fencing materials, gas stations, ethanol producers and dairies. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/mo-lawmakers-approve-millions-in-ag-tax-breaks.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 14:27:25 EDT Wheat rallied on speculations that low grain prices will increase buying by flour millers and cereal makers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080508/wheat-commodities-futures-grain-agriculture.htm Thu, 08 May 2008 16:30:29 EDT Reversing course, Gov. Rod Blagojevich agreed Thursday to release state money to agriculture programs, although it was not clear if agencies would get all of the $36 million that had been tied up in a state budget standoff. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080502/reversing-course-ill-governor-agrees-to-release-ag-money.htm Fri, 02 May 2008 13:39:19 EDT