In Montgomery's day, his oils primarily appealed to well-off farmers and businesses linked to the Corn Belt, such as grain dealers, seed companies, banks and livestock exchanges. BLOOMINGTON - Known as "the farmer who paints and the painter who farms," Alfred Montgomery's exquisitely rendered rustic still lifes of corn tell the story of an unconventional artist who called Bloomington home. Painted 100 years ago, these oils ranged from simple compositions featuring one or two ears to more...

That will go into producing 15 billion gallons of ethanol, along with keeping the livestock, and export and human food satisfied as we go. Democratic candidate John Edwards has swapped his four-wheel drive for a hybrid model, and he's made a pledge to have his campaign reduce its energy use. As well, America's biggest car companies have now announced that in five years, almost half of their new cars will be able to run on the fuel. With 114 ethanol plants operating across the US, he says...

Since the announcement of the temporary delegation of powers to his younger brother Raul July 31, Fidel Castro has only been seen in half a dozen videos and several pictures, the last ones published in March with Colombian Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Since the announcement of the temporary delegation of powers to his younger brother Raul July 31, Fidel Castro has only been seen in half a dozen videos and several pictures, the last ones published in March with Colombian Nobel...

The talks, named for the city in Qatar where they were launched in 2001, stalled last year because developing countries were upset by rich states' refusal to significantly cut farm subsidies and by wealthy countries' demand for greater access to markets in the developing world. The talks, named for the city in Qatar where they were launched in 2001, stalled last year because developing countries were upset by rich states' refusal to significantly cut farm subsidies and by wealthy...

We still work the ground, we plant the seed and we expect it to come up just like we always did. At suppertime, the Schwarzes seem like any suburban family, eating one of those pre-assembled meals, talking about their day and squeezing in a little time together before their evening activities. After college, Schwarz worked as a farm manager, but the family farm, and his grandpa, kept calling. It's pretty far from the metro, but not far enough to avoid the problems that occur when urban and...

Instead of remaining true to myself, I found that no matter how hard I tried it was simply impossible to resist those perennial sunflowers that were calling from across the yard. These monsters get more than fifteen feet tall and until the last frost a few weeks ago were still blooming. This area is located on the south side of my house and an ideal location for anything that might be considered tropical or delicate. They loved my yard so well that they seemed to bloom much earlier than...