Chairperson of the Planning Commission s Task Force on Agro-biodiversity and Genetically Engineered Organisms and founder of Gene Campaign, Suman Sahai has been advocating for farmers rights and against the dangers of genetically-modified (GM) crops for more than a decade. Chairperson of the Planning Commission s Task Force on Agro-biodiversity and Genetically Engineered Organisms and founder of Gene Campaign, Suman Sahai has been advocating for farmers rights and against the dangers of...

The genetic mutation recently isolated by Cornell plant geneticist Li Li and colleagues -- and described in the December issue of The Plant Cell -- allows the vegetable to hold more beta-carotene, which causes the orange color and is a precursor to the essential nutrient vitamin A. The genetic mutation recently isolated by Cornell plant geneticist Li Li and colleagues -- and described in the December issue of The Plant Cell -- allows the vegetable to hold more beta-carotene, which causes...

French Market's $5 million makeover nearing completion NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans candy maker Loretta Harrison had been selling pralines and other sugary treats at the city's French Market for more than 15 years before Hurricane Katrina shut her business down. French Market's $5 million makeover nearing completion NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans candy maker Loretta Harrison had been selling pralines and other sugary treats at the city's French Market for more than 15 years before Hurricane...

The farmers, all of whom are located east of Crowley's Ridge, allege in the suit that the 2,4-D they bought was defective in design and inadequately labeled. It was the first successful "selective herbicide," able to control weeds without damaging the crop on which it was used. Rice farmers favor 2,4-D because of its low cost. The board acted after complaints of herbicide drift from rice fields were confirmed. Little Rock, AR Northeast Arkansas Farmers File Suit Against Herbicide...

As a model hybrid rice cluster, more than 200 hectares of rice fields were planted to hybrid rice this 2007 dry cropping season. He said that the highest yield in the cluster was 246 cav/ha while the lowest was 173 cav/ha, which is still much higher than what they would usually get from ordinary or inbred rice varieties. Domingo, Nueva Ecija are again overwhelmed with the benefits that they are reaping from their hybrid rice farms. The DA provides them adequate irrigation, postharvest...

The Prairie Star: Opinion The Prairie Star. Just when you thought you'd heard just about everything, along comes a New York Times op-ed piece that blames the obesity and bad eating habits of the American people right on the front step of the American farmers and the farm bill. Noting that the farm bill, among other things, determines which crops will be subsidized, he claims that in the case of the Twinkies and the carrots, the farm bill &#8220offers a lot more support to the cake than to...