INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
May 31, 2014

Sugar byproducts boost tissue engineering

By using byproducts of the sugar industry, an LSU engineering science graduate student is working to provide biodegradable scaffolds for use in tissue engineering.
— Read More
May 30, 2014

An anniversary not worth reliving

In case you've forgotten, May marks the 72nd anniversary of sugar rationing in the U.S. Sugar was the first crop rationed in 1942, and it was the last commodity removed from the rationing list five years later.
— Read More
May 29, 2014

House appropriators back sugar policy again

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House Appropriations Committee reaffirmed lawmakers’ support of the sugar policy included in the 2014 farm bill Thursday by rejecting an amendment designed to weaken that policy and leave Americans more dependent on subsidized foreign
— Read More
May 29, 2014

Oregon voters ban GMO crops amid labeling uproar

Voters in two small Oregon counties on May 20 approved controversial ballot measures to ban cultivation of genetically engineered crops within their boundaries, though one measure is vulnerable to legal challenge under a new state law.
— Read More
May 29, 2014

New sweetener gains FDA approval

Ajinomoto North America Inc. announced that Advantame, an innovative new sweetener, has successfully completed the food additive petition process for general use in foods and beverages according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
— Read More
May 28, 2014

Irrigation Foundation releases 2013 annual report

The Irrigation Foundation has released its 2013 annual report summarizing initiatives and accomplishments. IA members can download this year’s report on the foundation website.
— Read More
May 27, 2014

GMO ban could spark legal challenge

Opponents of a ban on genetically engineered crops passed by Jackson County voters say the prohibition is ripe for a court challenge under Oregon’s right-to-farm law, which restricts private lawsuits and local ordinances against common farming practices.
— Read More
May 27, 2014

Oregon county approves GMO ban

MEDFORD, Ore.—Voters passed a county-wide ban on genetically engineered plants here May 20 by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
— Read More
May 27, 2014

Oregon counties ban genetically modified crops

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Residents of southern Oregon’s agriculture-heavy Rogue Valley have voted to ban genetically modified crops from the area, setting up the next stage of a fight that has gained widespread attention.
— Read More
May 27, 2014

Small tractors selling well

Total U.S. farm tractor sales are running ahead of year-ago levels thanks to two-wheel-drives under a hundred horsepower.
— Read More
May 26, 2014

Idaho irrigators expect prolonged natural flows

A cool and damp spring has prolonged the melting of an above-average mountain snowpack throughout much of Idaho.
— Read More
May 25, 2014

Beware outdoor workers risk of skin cancer

The month of May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and as many may know, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which is radiated from the sun, tanningbeds and sun lamps, s
— Read More
May 24, 2014

“Farm Mom of the Year” chosen

A first-generation dryland farmer from Texas has been named National “Farm Mom of the Year.”
— Read More
May 23, 2014

Colorado, Louisiana proclaim July 2014 Smart Irrigation Month

FALLS CHURCH, Va.—Colorado, the city and county of Denver, and Louisiana have officially proclaimed July 2014 as Smart Irrigation Month.
— Read More
May 22, 2014

Cargill, Copersucar to form world's No. 1 sugar trader

U.S.-based agribusiness trader Cargill and Brazil's Copersucar announced plans to form a business to create the world's biggest sugar trader through a 50-50 joint venture.
— Read More
May 21, 2014

California bill would require labels on GMO crops, foods

SACRAMENTO—Less than two years after California voters narrowly rejected the idea, proponents of labeling of genetically engineered crops are trying again with a bill in the Legislature.
— Read More
May 20, 2014

Organic rule dispute leads to arrest

An organic advocate recently found herself in handcuffs due to a dispute over synthetic substances used in organic farming.
— Read More
May 19, 2014

Scientist: Conservation more important as climate changes

As weather volatility increases due to climate change, soil conservation practices will become much more critical.
— Read More
May 18, 2014

Increasing competition for the organic dollar

Organic continues to be the fastest-growing segment in the food industry and the competition for the organic consumer is increasing as well.
— Read More
May 17, 2014

Idaho sugarbeet crop off to good start

Idaho sugarbeet growers say their crops are mostly planted and are off to a good start, though cold and wet weather has delayed planting in other major sugarbeet states.
— Read More
May 17, 2014

Mosaic to cut 500 jobs

U.S. fertilizer producer Mosaic Co. will eliminate 500 jobs in the next 12 months, part of a plan to cut $500 million in costs over five years, CEO Jim Prokopanko said.
— Read More
May 16, 2014

CBO update confirms, adds to farm bill savings

On April 14, more than two months after enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the farm bill), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its revised estimates of the spending baseline for farm policy.
— Read More
May 16, 2014

GMO campaign mailers focus on public safety funds

A well-financed campaign aimed at defeating a proposed ban on genetically modified crops in Josephine County, Ore., is targeting voters concerned about crime.
— Read More
May 16, 2014

Implications of mandatory GE labels

A paper released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) outlines the potential impact of mandatory labeling for foods with genetically engineered ingredients.
— Read More
May 15, 2014

Census shows more young people are farming

The 2012 Census of Agriculture shows some positive trends in the numbers of young people coming back to the farm.
— Read More
May 15, 2014

Drought declaration providing help for growers

EAGLE POINT, Ore.—Farmer Ron Bjork has called his ranch home for decades. That long-standing ownership gives him water rights to Little Butte Creek. But Bjork said others aren’t so lucky.
— Read More
May 15, 2014

McCarthy, Vilsack pressed on Clean Water Act

South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem is one of a number of federal lawmakers asking EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to stop the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule under the Clean Water Act.
— Read More
May 14, 2014

“Fed Up” film doesn’t provide facts

It should be stated emphatically at the outset that obesity—the subject of “Fed Up,” produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David—particularly in the United States and other industrialized nations has unquestionably reached epidemic proportions.
— Read More
May 14, 2014

3D sugar printing breaks the mold

Like many groundbreaking advances, the journey toward transforming sugar into a dimensional, structural medium began somewhat by accident.
— Read More
May 13, 2014

New ASGA Officers Face Trying Times: “EACH DAY WE MUST RISE TO THE OCCASION,” SNYDER TELLS GROWERS

— Read More
May 13, 2014

Bill seeks higher Idaho interstate truck weight

BOISE, Idaho—A provision included in a federal spending bill increasing Idaho’s maximum truck weight on interstate highways to 129,000 pounds cleared an early hurdle May 7, when it survived a vote by a House subcommittee.
— Read More
May 13, 2014

Sugar's key role in savory foods and food safety

Sugar is of course an important component in many sweet treats and indulgences, but what some overlook is the significant role all-natural sugar (or sucrose) plays in other foods.
— Read More
May 12, 2014

New budget estimates show Injury to growers continues

WASHINGTON—American businesses and taxpayers have been harmed by the unfair trading practices of Mexico's sugar industry, which has dumped subsidized sugar onto the U.S. market, according to a preliminary ruling May 9 by the U.S. International Trade Commi
— Read More
May 12, 2014

New poll takes "pot" shot at sugar

When we saw the headline, "Sugar is More Harmful Than Marijuana, Americans Say" we, like many others, thought we were reading a headline from the satirical news site, The Onion.
— Read More
May 11, 2014

Sugar’s getting a bad rap

Look no further than Heinz Field for evidence of the proud history shared by Pittsburgh and food industries that use sugar. For decades, the Steel City has also been Food City.
— Read More
May 10, 2014

Sugar producers want to spread good news about Big Candy

The American Sugar Alliance has been posting stories on its website about the recent good fortunes of America’s candy makers. It ran a story earlier this year looking back at 2013 under the headline “Big Candy Profits Impress,” in which the sugar industry
— Read More
May 09, 2014

Man sentenced for shooting at crop duster

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP)—A 42-year-old south-central Idaho man convicted of shooting at a crop duster has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation.
— Read More
May 09, 2014

Sugar war between Mexico, U.S. threatens broader trade relations

MEXICO CITY—There’s nothing sweet in the sugar war that’s unfolding between Mexico and the United States.
— Read More
May 09, 2014

USDA says climate change hurting ag

The National Climate Assessment report announced May 6 claims climate change is affecting every region of the U.S. and critical sectors of the economy like agriculture. The weather change is being blamed on many risk factors for farmers and ranchers as we
— Read More
May 08, 2014

Governor signs Vermont GMO labeling bill

Vermont governor Peter Shumlin signed the state’s GMO labeling bill Thursday.
— Read More
May 08, 2014

A sugary-sweet lesson on consumer freedom

Liberals’ latest assault on consumer freedom could soon target the packet of sugar you put in your morning coffee. Like most big-government power plays, the main objective appears to be fattening government coffers at taxpayers expense.
— Read More
May 07, 2014

Evaluating the need for sugarbeet replanting

In Michigan, it is not unusual for 3-7 percent of sugarbeet acres to be replanted in any given year.
— Read More
May 07, 2014

Majority of House tells EPA to back off Clean Water Act rule

Led by U.S. Representatives Chris Collins (R-NY) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), 231 lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the EPA and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to back off its proposed rule to expand federal control under the Clea
— Read More
May 06, 2014

Judge postpones first West Fertilizer trial

The start of the first of three civil lawsuits against West Fertilizer has been delayed. The lawsuits stem from the April 17, 2013, explosion at the West Fertilizer facility in West, Texas.
— Read More
May 06, 2014

Proposed water rule under fire

More than 230 members of the House of Representatives are calling on the Obama administration to withdraw its proposed rule to expand federal control under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
— Read More
May 06, 2014

History: Leafhoppers trounced sugarbeet investors

RENO, Nev.—As early as the 1880s, the University of Nevada suggested that sugarbeets would be a good cash crop for Nevada farmers. Yet, not until 1909, did any growers consider planting beets.
— Read More
May 05, 2014

Pressure bombs a popular tool to determine water needs

RED BLUFF, Calif.—With drought drastically reducing water availability for many farms, fruit and nut growers are making use of technology that helps them maximize their irrigation efficiency, university experts say.
— Read More
May 05, 2014

Vermont first state to mandate GMO labeling

Vermont on May 8 became the first U.S. state to mandate labeling of foods made with genetically modified organisms as Governor Peter Shumlin signed a law that is widely expected to be challenged in court by some food and agriculture companies, reports Car
— Read More
May 04, 2014

GMO battle rages in Oregon county

MEDFORD, Ore.—To Elise Higley, it’s about “a big company coming in here” and growing genetically engineered sugarbeet seed.
— Read More
May 04, 2014

Putting a price on GMO ban enforcement

How much would the ban on GMO crops cost taxpayers?
— Read More
May 03, 2014

Southern Oregon growers divided on GMO ban

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP)—Southern Oregon farmers are choosing sides in a pair of local campaigns to ban genetically modified crops.
— Read More
May 02, 2014

"Proper" sentence sought for crop duster shooter

TWIN FALLS, Idaho—Farm groups are sending letters to an Idaho judge asking him to dole out a “proper” sentence to a Filer man convicted of shooting at a crop duster last August.
— Read More
May 01, 2014

Ag leaders wary of Clean Water Act "power grab"

Agriculture leaders say a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to clarify Clean Water Act protections has raised more questions than it answered.
— Read More
May 01, 2014

Mexico, confectioners fight proposed sugar duty

The Mexican sugar industry and American manufacturers of sweetened products have taken issue with a petition by U.S. sugar producers seeking to impose antidumping and countervailing tariffs on Mexican sugar.
— Read More
May 01, 2014

Sugarbeet root maggot activity to peak soon

BOISE—Sugarbeet growers in the Treasure Valley area have been alerted that peak sugarbeet root maggot fly activity is forecast to occur the first week of May.
— Read More