Articles by Jim Webster

CAST report finds no advantages to free-range poultry, cage-free eggs

07/18/18 5:15 PM By Jim Webster

Free-range poultry and cage-free eggs may command higher prices in the supermarket but they offer consumers little or no demonstrable benefit in food safety or quality, animal health and welfare or healthful food, a panel of scientists concluded after a review of a battery of research papers they called "inconclusive and often contradictory."

OECD sees rising farm output, lower income

07/11/18 5:20 AM By Jim Webster

World agricultural production is increasing and demand growth weakening, causing lower real farm prices for the next decade, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Farm Credit System prepared for weaker farm economy

06/20/18 6:32 AM By Jim Webster

“Some deterioration in credit quality” for borrowers in the agricultural sector is evident in a new set of financial indicators of the Farm Credit System posted last week by the system’s federal regulatory agency, the Farm Credit Administration.

History suggests moving USDA food programs unlikely

06/13/18 6:25 AM By Jim Webster

If the Trump administration goes ahead with a reported plan to move USDA food assistance programs to a renamed welfare department, it will run counter to the advice of one of the wisest Republican officials to serve agriculture in Washington

Animal terrorism eases; activists shift to video exposés

05/09/18 6:30 AM By Jim Webster

Although outright sabotage of livestock operations and animal research facilities has declined in the U.S. since enactment of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) in 2006, the threat of “animal rights” extremists remains. according to a former mink raiser whose Washington-state operation was put out of business by a 2003 raid.

Suicide higher in rural areas, not necessarily among farmers

04/25/18 6:40 AM By Jim Webster

Recently there's been a spike in news media attention to farmer suicides brought on by depressed farm-product prices, but there appears to be a lack of solid data to compare the current incidence of suicide on the farm to that of the mid-1980s farm crisis.

Scientists say regulation stifles many new biotech traits

03/28/18 6:30 AM By Jim Webster

Federal regulation of agricultural biotechnology needs to be based on risk and not on process, a wide range of scientists and food industry executives agreed at the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit.

Few USDA scientists pressured to alter research results

03/07/18 6:05 AM By Jim Webster

The overwhelming majority of scientists at USDA appear satisfied that they can do research and publish the results without interference.

Seed, chemical firm mergers face antitrust constraints

02/28/18 6:19 AM By Jim Webster

The Trump administration’s approach to mergers and acquisitions in the agriculture-related industries appears to follow the antitrust enforcement policies of previous administrations, in the view of a former Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust lawyer.

‘Post mortem’ faults Democratic efforts in rural areas

01/17/18 5:44 AM By Jim Webster

Political pundits who see a “blue wave” for Democrats in the November election may need to consult a Midwestern congresswoman’s sobering assessment of Democratic performance and chances in Middle America.

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September 22, 2024

Open Mic: Rob Larew- President, National Farmers Union

This week’s Open Mic guest is Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. He says the ag economic climate is burdening farmers with high input costs and lower crop commodity prices and some may have difficulty obtaining financing next year. Larew talks about the importance of passing a new farm bill, expanding exports and securing an adequate workforce in county FSA offices.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

09.27.2024

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sept. 27, 2024: Mary Kay Thatcher on elections, ESA from WIA Summit

Nearly 1,000 women gathered in Denver for the Women in Agribusiness Summit this week. We connected with Mary Kay Thatcher from Syngenta to discuss EPA's Final Herbicide Strategy and an outlook for the November election.

Then, Terryn Lawrence from Rabobank discusses her experience at Climate Week in New York City and Fidela Irigoyen with Wells Fargo Agribusiness discusses water and ag labor challenges for the Western U.S.

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