Archives

September 30, 2012 - Robot berry picker being developed

Researchers test robotic berry harvester By California Farm Bureau What has 10 arms and has intrigued strawberry farmers? The answer is a robotic harvesting machine being tested at the Monterey Bay Academy. The machine uses sensors to choose strawberries of the right color and size. Next, robotic arms gently pluck […]


September 29, 2012 - Bill to help farm bakruptcies introduced in Congress

By National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Tax Clarification Act of 2012 (S.3545).  The Act is intended to overturn the ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case Hall v. United States, a case that addressed the status of government […]


September 28, 2012 - Where Obama & Romney stand on Ag issues

By American Farm Bureau Federation President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney recently spelled out their positions on agriculture issues for the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a questionnaire, both candidates went into detail about their positions on energy, environmental regulations, farm labor and more. Every four years, the […]


September 27, 2012 - OR Farm Bureau takes full page ad for death tax, labor fight

Natural Resource News Note: The Oregon Farm Bureau has done a full-page ad insert into the state’s agriculture newspaper The Capitol Press.  The ad leads with many of the stirring issues going on right now including the statewide debate over to repeal the estate tax and the recent outrage over […]


September 26, 2012 - Oregon paychecks rise for farmers & ranchers

By Oregon Department of Agriculture Oregon farmers and ranchers enjoyed one of the best bottom lines in recent times last year thanks to a combination of strong agricultural production and good prices for many of the state’s crops and livestock. Despite concerns over historically high expenses, Oregon’s net farm income […]


September 25, 2012 - Kitzhaber’s new salmon & BPA plan

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber laid out his views on solving the salmon vs. dam battle in a guest opinion to the Oregonian.  Here is what he said: If you look only at the courtroom record, environmentalists are winning the war to save salmon in the Northwest. A year ago, U.S. […]


September 24, 2012 - 60 Ag groups fight California Prop. 37

By Cindy Corn Commentary National Association of Wheat Growers A growing number of organizations are coming out against a ballot initiative in California that would require labeling of many products containing genetically-engineered (GE) food. While those in favor of Proposition 37 include trial lawyers,  those urging Californians to vote No […]


September 23, 2012 - Wall Street Journal Editorial touts Oregon estate tax repeal

Wall Street Editorial, 9-14-2012 Small business owners and farmers have been some of the hardest hit by the tough economy, and those who stay afloat increasingly worry they won’t be able to pass on their enterprises to the next generation. In liberal Oregon, of all places, a measure will be […]


September 22, 2012 - Ethanol lobby blasts oil industry

New Oil Industry Paper Favors Gasoline Imports, Higher Diesel Prices Over RFS Renewable Fuels Association A report released this week by EPRINC, an oil industry-funded research group, suggests a multi-year suspension of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) could reduce U.S. ethanol use by more than half. To offset this loss […]


September 21, 2012 - Farm Union: Congress failed rural America!

By National Farmers Union National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement following U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s announcement of the remaining votes in the House, which does not include the 2012 Farm Bill: “The 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30. Congress is […]