Arizona Forage Producers Association Weblog

Monday, June 9, 2003

A plan is in the works to build the West's largest cow town, a nearly 2,000-acre gated community in the Mojave Desert where 600 dairy farmers and their families would live alongside about 90,000 cattle.
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As such, California -- the nation's largest agricultural producer -- is poised to take center stage in the ongoing debate over use of biotech crops. With $28 billion annually in farm products, the state is being looked to as a bellwether for the future of genetically engineered fruits and vegetables.

The hotly contested topic will take shape in Sacramento on June 23-25, when agriculture ministers from more than 100 countries gather for a U.S.-sponsored conference on using agricultural technologies to reduce world hunger.
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BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is setting up incentives for farmers to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the battle against global warming, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said.

Veneman said the USDA will provide an unspecified amount of financial incentives for farmers, as well as technical assistance and training in management practices to increase the removal of harmful carbon dioxide and other gases from the atmosphere, a process called "carbon sequestration."
1:16:47 PM    comment []

"Forages return more money directly to Arizona producers than any other crop, including cotton and produce. The value of all hay alone produced in Arizona was $183 million in 2001(according to USDA figures), about twice value as much as cotton, while farmers themselves realize only a minor portion of the value of the produce crop. The value of our silage crops adds to the Arizona forage total value. And, forage production is increasing! I urge every Arizona forage producer to give this new organization your support with both membership and participation. Go get a neighbor to join up, too. Let's take charge of our futures by defining our products, supporting common objectives and sharing information." -- Lee Banning President

Copyright 2003 Arizona Forage Producers Association