Goodlatte Discusses Agriculture in the Valley From NBC 29 News Goodlatte hopes to give Valley farmers a break by incorporating them into this year's farm bill, which was the topic of conversation at this year's agriculture conference. Goodlatte wants to modernize the new bill and extend its reach. The sooner a new bill passes the better, especially for farmers who need to select their spring crops. If a new bill isn't passed in the next few weeks it's possible for the 2002 farm bill to be extended again.

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Louisiana's Agriculture Industry Looking For New Generation Of Farmers From KSLATV "When we walk into a grocery store, we take for granted everything is going to be there and maybe four or five or six brands of it," said Farm Bureau Agent Manager Don Brown. But agriculture experts say the number of farmers is dwindling, and they say it's critical for a new generation to take interest in the industry. Hubert Wilkerson, a county agent for the LSU Ag Center, says he can remember when nearly 80 people farmed in Natchitoches Parish.

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Agriculture roundup kicks off on Wednesday From Monitor EDINBURG - Hidalgo County high schoolers are set to strut their livestock this week - and have the chance to raise some serious dough. Future Farmers of America and 4-H students have raised all kinds of livestock - lambs, goats, cattle, hogs, chickens and rabbits - to showcase at the roundup. It gives students a chance to showcase their animal husbandry talents and allows auction bidders to donate money to those who have raised the finest livestock, Carter said.

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USDA Inspectors Claim Vacancies Put Consumers at Risk From Newsinferno.com The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is so shorthanded that the safety of the US food supply is at risk. Critics say shortages are compounded by a change in USDA regulations giving slaughterhouses more responsibility for devising their own safety checklists and reporting downer cows to the USDA when inspectors are not present. The policy places slaughterhouses on an honor system that can lead to abuses in a cost-conscious industry, said Stan Painter, chairman for the National Joint...

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Agriculture Can Speed or Slow Climate Change, Groups Say From GreenBiz Feb. 26, 2008 -- Organic fertilizers can significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions if used properly, according to a new scientific report; In the article, the authors find that soils treated with organic compost materials can absorb and sequester carbon better than soils that are farmed with conventional fertilizers, which serve to deplete and release carbon from the soil.

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