Record corn production combined with no increase in demand and a leveled-off ethanol market have led to the lowest prices for corn in six years. And it’s not just corn …
Is the era of junk-food passing?
“Big Food” has fallen on hard times. Conglomerate Conagra (among its brands are Hunts, Orville Redenbacher, and Chef Boyardee) recently cut its profit projections. Kraft (its brands include Oscar Mayer, …
Strains in U.S. grain sector become more evident in Midwest
Strains in America’s grain farming sector are becoming more evident. Plunging grain prices in the Midwest are creating financial tensions between landowners and the tenant farmers they lease land to. …
Labor dispute at West Coast ports hurts California agriculture
A protracted contract dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and West Coast ports is wreaking havoc on California’s agricultural industry. The union represents 20,000 workers; 29 ports have been …
U.S. ag census data: most farms are small
Background: Every five years, the USDA conducts a Census of Agriculture. (This is twice as often as the U.S. Census). The data collected in the ag census is used for …
U.S. farm size may grow at faster pace as farmers age
Information for this piece came via Chuck Abbott of the Food and Environment Reporting Network (FERN). Background: Agricultural Economic Insights: Perspectives of Two Agricultural Economists is a blog written …
Imagining a future without Florida oranges
Florida’s citrus industry is in a sharp decline, and it’s causing both economic and cultural angst in the Sunshine State. Orange production has dropped 63% in the last ten years, …
The World Economic Forum is being held in Davos, Switzerland. A Huff Post Live segment entitled “Food Versus Forest” featuring thought leaders Anna Lappe, Roger Thurow, and Tom Philpott addresses …
Bee economy is local and global
We are fascinated with bees. Honey bees are essential for the pollination of many fruit, nut, vegetable, and seed crops. The value is placed at $15 billion annually in the …
Low-income students now a majority in U.S. public schools
A report issued by the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) indicates that 51% of American public school students are now eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, one indicator of the nation’s …