Articles by Blake Hurst

Opinion: National parks are good for everyone? Think again

08/09/17 3:35 PM By Blake Hurst

The kids get on the bus every morning at 6:05. That’s because their bus ride in the tiny Alton school district in Oregon County, Missouri is an hour and a half long.

Opinion: Wouldn’t it be nice?

03/22/17 10:16 AM By Blake Hurst

“And wouldn't it be nice to live together, in the kind of world where we belong” -The Beach Boys. Suzy Friedman, of the Environmental Defense Fund, has channeled the Beach Boys in her recent opinion piece in Agri-Pulse, writing a sincere and attractive description of the kind of world where we belong, and yes, it would be nice.

Where is the modern day Henry Wallace for USDA?

01/02/17 10:57 AM By Blake Hurst

Thoughts on the Secretary of Agriculture needed to lead USDA in a Trump administration

How government can regain voters' confidence

08/25/16 4:41 PM By Blake Hurst

The lead up to this yearPs election has shown almost total agreement on at least one topic. No, make that two topics. We arenPt pleased with the candidates for president, and wePve lost faith in our leaders and in the government they lead.

So many regulations to write, so many groups to offend

06/17/16 4:52 PM By Blake Hurst

It must be wearing to man the ramparts in the final months of the Obama administration. So many regulations to write; so many groups to offend; so much to accomplish under the cover provided by the black hole of public attention that is Donald Trump.

A few thoughts on pickup trucks and international trade

03/27/16 8:38 PM By Blake Hurst

Farmers have to compete with international trading partners and adapt to change although there will be winners and losers

A farmer's thoughts on the presidential primaries

01/31/16 4:32 PM By Blake Hurst

Farmer Blake Hurst reflects on the GOP presidential debate, Iowa caucuses, and the candidates Trump, Cruz, Bernie, Hillary, Jeb and Rubio

The battle between man and plant-sucking bugs

12/30/15 8:54 AM By Blake Hurst

Some marriages break up on the rocks of infidelity. Drink, illness, and financial misfortune can all result in unhappiness, grief, or even divorce. Our happiness, the happiness that has blessed Julie and me during our nearly 40 year long union, has seen trials,

Do you really own it?

12/06/15 4:56 PM By Blake Hurst

Agri-Pulse Audio Web Page

Funny, that never happened before

10/08/15 9:32 PM By Blake Hurst

Harvest has started here in Northwest Missouri, and although we lost a lot of crop to excessive rain and flooding, the early corn yields on our better drained soils have been outstanding.

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January 05, 2025

Agri-Pulse Open Mic: Kevin Kelly, CEO, Emerald Packaging

This week’s Open Mic guest is Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging. The global packaging industry is expected to grow to over $600 billion dollars by 2033. Kelly says packaging is essential to limit food waste and maintain fresh produce quality for consumers across the country and around the globe. But just as health experts encourage higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, several states and countries are considering various restrictions on food packaging and waste disposal that would be very challenging for growers, shippers and packers to meet. Kelly says the packaging industry continues to research biobased packaging materials, but says thus far none have proven effective or affordable for retailers or consumers.

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01.10.2025

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Jan. 10, 2025: John Newton on farm aid payments, ag trade

Congress passed nearly $10B in farm market relief and $21B of disaster aid earmarked for agriculture in the December American Relief Act. John Newton, executive head of Terrain, breaks down who will receive the most from the payments and how ag exports markets may adjust in the future based on global population change.

Then, OFW Law’s Phil Karsting and Sharon Bomer Lauritsen of AgTrade Strategies LLC discuss how Trump’s tariff threats, if carried out, could force the U.S. to shift ag export markets.

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