The USDA to open new NASS Operational center near St Louis

The USDA are planning to open a new NASS operational center near St Louis to centralise and streamline operations and better serve the staistical needs of agriculture and rural America. The new center will open in late 2011 and will be located in the Charles F. Prevedel fedral building. The Administration plans to invest US$35 million into improvements over the next five years. Read more...

Sharefair in Africa on rural development and agriculture knowledge

There is an enormous amount of innovation and experimentation across the continent of Africa. This event will showcase the ways that agricultural and rural knowledge in and of Africa is created, shared, communicated, and put to use. At present this information is only known to the small communities involved. Read more...

The Compassion in world farming is due to launch bus campaign

The CIWF is launching a bus campaign to protest against the new super dairy in Lincolnshire. The message will read: "Mega-dairies have no place in the UK, and cows belong in fields". Already well known TV stars have back the campaign against the 8100 unit dairy farm, and it is expected that hundreds of local residence will object to the initial plans for the mega dairy farm. Read more...



Vietnam uses GM corn to help towards self-sufficiency

Vietnam is growing maize from genetically modified seeds to help it become more self sufficient, in the production of animal feed. The country relies on foreign sources to produce supplies, 1.6 million tonnes of maize will be imported this year an increase of 350,000 tonnes on last year. Read more...

Victam Largest feed show in the World

At the prestigious Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre in Cologne Germany from the 3-5 May 2011 three shows will run together creating the largest feed show in the World. FIAAP, a new trade show
with a series of conferences dedicated to ingredients, formulation and additive for feed. Victam International will host a conference and technology show on feed processing technology and a large number of exhibitors displaying biomass pelleting technology. GRAPAS a new show with its own conference for grain and milling. Read more...


Obama promotes fuel from renewable sources

The Obama Administration is promoting the production of fuel from renewable sources, by look at biofuels as one source. Secretary Tom Vilsack says  "Domestic production of renewable energy, including biofuels, is a national imperative and that's why USDA is working to assist in developing a biofuels industry in every corner of the nation," . Read more...

Weed control a problem for organic agriculture

The most critical problem facing organic growers today is weed management, the USDA identified that weeds rob the crops of nutrients and the fieds of moisture, reducing yields and driving up costs. The USDA are looking at innovative ways to deal with this issue. One particularly innovative project underway in California involves a prototype cultivation device that uses 'machine vision' to attack weeds growing in the crop row. Read more...