Under the traditional federal farm program, farmers pocket a subsidy when prices dip below a government-guaranteed price but only up to $75,000 a year. Under the provision, farmers sell their whole crop to the government at a guaranteed price. But the money that each individual farmer gets is even bigger than has previously been disclosed. New data released last week by the Environmental Working Group, a Washington advocacy organization, spotlighted a loophole that lets big operators...

For these and other reasons, organizations represent ing taxpayers, consumers, environmentalists, inter national trade, Third World countries, and even farmers themselves have united around the shared conclusion that the current farm subsidy system is failing and in dire need of reform during this year's reauthorization. For these and other reasons, organizations represent ing taxpayers, consumers, environmentalists, inter national trade, Third World countries, and even farmers themselves...

Most Virginia farmers believe crop insurance and disaster programs need more certainty so farmers know what to expect when faced with a crop disaster, Stoneman said. The bill, which expires in September, changed commodity payments to farmers and provided farm-income support for times when prices fall below targets. Many Virginia farmers raise livestock, poultry and vegetables and don't get the income support that corn, cotton and small-grain producers, located primarily in the Midwest and...

Angela Balakrishnan Tuesday June 12, 2007 The Guardian Campaigners are today urging shops to help stamp out child labour by ensuring the cotton they sell is ethically produced. Article continues "The true cost of the shirt you are wearing may well be much higher than the bargain price you paid in one of the UK's many 'value shops'," said Steve Trent, executive director of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), which is organising the campaign. Children as young as seven are exposed to...

Early 2007 finds cotton spinners uncharacteristically concise with their commentary, which may reflect some uncertainty about where the business is headed. A ring spinner that does considerable Pima business says business is excellent and the new Pima crop is running good. In the West, for the second consecutive year, California growers intend to plant less area to upland cotton, with the shift this year to ELS cotton and wheat. Under ideal conditions, a 22 million-bale crop would not be...

And while the moisture is beneficial to most crops - except wheat and other crops awaiting harvest - it also has produced abundant weeds, according to Texas Cooperative Extension officials. For some, that means checking ponds which may have dried up in recent years to determine what plants are growing and whether they need to be managed, according to Dr. Cotton planting is nearly complete and fields are doing well, except for some weed problems. Recent weather has not been favorable for...