Immigration Issues

Much of production agriculture depends on migrant labor to plant, tend and harvest crops. Immigration reform will affect how producers are able to utilize migrant workers as a viable part of their workforce. Articles will discuss pending legislation, programs available to provide legal workers and the requirements employers must follow.

Feb. 8, 2012

Article

Premiums on Trend-Adjusted APH Endorsements

The Trend-Adjusted Actual Production History (TA-APH) allows farmers to increase yields used in calculating guarantees for plans within the COMBO product. For the same guarantee level, farmer-paid premiums will almost always be the same or lower using the TA-APH yield endorsement than without the endorsement....More
Feb. 8, 2012

Article

CAST examines balance between conservation tillage and herbicide-resistant weed management

A new Issue Paper from CAST, Herbicide-resistant Weeds Threaten Soil Conservation Gains: Finding a Balance for Soil and Farm Sustainability, examines the impact of certain weed management practices on soil conservation objectives and addresses ways to mitigate negative effects....More
Feb. 6, 2012

Article

Southeast Farm Press

Alabama conducting immigration law impact survey

In an effort to gauge current and potential labor shortages resulting from enactment of the state’s immigration law, the Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) is asking farmers, producers and agribusinesses to complete a Web-based survey by Feb. 13.  ...More
Feb. 6, 2012

Article

Child labor regulations on farm get second look

The U.S. Department of Labor will be re-proposing the portion of its regulation on child labor in agriculture interpreting the "parental exemption." The decision was prompted by responses from the public and members of Congress who requested that the agency allow for more input on this aspect of the rule....More
Feb. 2, 2012

Article

Honey bees under threat from emerging fly parasite

So far, an emerging fly parasite has only been found in honey bee hives in California and South Dakota. The possibility that it is an emerging parasite underlines the danger that could threaten honey bee colonies throughout North America, especially given the number of states that commercial hives cross and are deployed in....More
Jan. 30, 2012

Article

Even the wealthy understand the need for GMO research to address world hunger 2

Self-made billionaire, software magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates may not know everything about agriculture, but when it comes to addressing the problem of world hunger, he understands the meaning of making sound investments in the future....More
Jan. 26, 2012

Article

Global warming: Fact or myth? 2

Global warming facts raise as many questions as answers....More
Jan. 26, 2012

Article

Now is best time of year to aggressively control wild pigs

Landowners trying to deal with feral hog populations may find that between now and spring green-up may be the best time to reduce those numbers....More
Jan. 24, 2012

Article

TDA meets with Valley citrus growers on citrus greening

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples addressed growers and nursery owners in the Rio Grande Valley, commending their preventative efforts to control Asian psyllid populations in recent years....More
Jan. 24, 2012

Article

Conditions mixed as farmers mull spring planting

Thanks to rains, more of Texas transitioned from exceptional to extreme drought, or from severe to moderate, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor....More