He said rain had come just in time for farmers to plant a winter crop. In the high cattle country in Victoria, where at the start of this year torrid conditions drove the bushfires that razed more than a million hectares of forest, the rivers are filling. But, for now, just the feel and smell of damp soil after such a long dry spell is helping to instill faith that there's a future in farming. The views expressed in the articles are not necessarily those of earthtimes.org and we accept no...

And with total rainfall down almost 14 inches from the annual average, Parker, and the many other farmers who invested heavily in corn, are feeling the heat. Riggins said he won't have official statistics regarding the drought's effect on local corn crops until after harvests in July and August, but based on seeing the fields and talking with farmers, he said it doesn't look good. At this point, Riggins said it's most likely only those who planted their corn late, for whatever reason, who...

THE federal government's commodity forecaster expects the 2007/08 winter crop to jump by 21 million tonnes to 37 million tonnes due to improved weather conditions. ABARE's crop production forecasts assume a return to average crop yields. But in a note of caution it said continued dry conditions throughout Queensland and parts of Western Australia meant that winter crop prospects in those states are below average at this stage. ABARE said autumn rainfall across the majority of NSW, Victoria...

Pakistan : Textile Policy on anvil - Textile News Pakistan. With Pakistan s textile industry contributing almost 65 percent to the export basket and employing about 35 percent of the total workforce, industry insiders feel this as the right time to set up a Textile Policy which will provide necessary impetus for growth and promotion of this economically important industry. With Pakistan s textile industry contributing almost 65 percent to the export basket and employing about 35 percent of...

Oxfam International - Reform of US cotton subsidies could feed, educate millions in poor west African countries English . Espa ol . Fran ais. The study, one of the first of its kind after the US reformed a controversial export subsidy program called Step 2, estimates by how much farmer incomes in West Africa could actually increase after further subsidy reform, and what these gains would mean in practical terms for a typical West African cotton farmer s household. Oxfam International -...

New UF computer system could one day help citrus growers count fruit before harvest Farmers are told not to count chickens before they hatch, but for citrus growers it s a little different knowing how much fruit is on their trees can help them make better decisions about managing and harvesting the crop. New UF computer system could one day help citrus growers count fruit before harvest Farmers are told not to count chickens before they hatch, but for citrus growers it s a little different...