Most of the productive farmland is being used to grow grass for livestock, as well as green chop and corn silage for the dairy industry, according to the study. The county has about 63,000 acres of farmland, but a new study released by the county revealed that only about 33,110 acres actually were being used for farming, including raising cattle and crops and operating nurseries and orchards. EVERETT -- Snohomish County has started two pilot programs to protect farmland from development...

The unusual spring and early summer weather is indicating that cattle producers are probably in for another dry summer. Cattle producers have been managing around drought and extreme dry condition for the past two years. If rainfall is below average in June, many cattle producers will be short of forage for the second hay cutting. It looks like another dry year for cattle producers. Before Easter, many producers reported the hay crop was two to three weeks ahead of schedule, mainly because...

Acreage Reports Deadline is Today HARRISBURG -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff recently reminded Pennsylvania farmers of two upcoming crop insurance deadlines July 16 for acreage reports for 2007 spring crops; and July 31 for 2008 fall forage seeding enrollment. Acreage Reports Deadline is Today HARRISBURG -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff recently reminded Pennsylvania farmers of two upcoming crop insurance deadlines July 16 for acreage reports for 2007 spring crops; and July 31...

The NGFA believes that a voluntary self-inspection program (VSIP) should be a cornerstone of FDA s initiative to develop a more comprehensive and risk-based approach to feed safety under its Animal Feed Safety System (AFSS) initiative, the NGFA said in a statement submitted to the agency. The NGFA believes that a voluntary self-inspection program (VSIP) should be a cornerstone of FDA s initiative to develop a more comprehensive and risk-based approach to feed safety under its Animal Feed...

Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss the progress we are making at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of agroterrorism, major disease outbreaks or natural disasters affecting the Nations livestock, crops and food supply. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss the progress we are making at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)...

Instead of planting the cover and the crop in the same direction, they found greater success when planting the cover in one direction and planting it the other for the crop. In organic production, producers use cover crops to accomplish the same thing. A roller flattened the cover crop, but the first thing to touch the cropland was the tractor's tires and not the roller, he said. No-till farming works just fine for organic producers. Some producers may plant 15 pounds, others more than 28,...