New Research Shows Benefits of Peanuts

New research shows new benefits of peanuts....

New Research Presented on Peanut Components

By Rosalie Marion Bliss
June 30, 2008

Fat free peanut flour, whole peanuts and peanut oil all may have cardio-protective properties, results from a new animal study suggest. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are presenting the findings at this week's Institute of Food Technologists 2008 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La.

For the study...(complete news release here).

African Agriculture Needs New Approach

The issue is infrastructure and good government. Until those issues are resolved there will continue to be a food crisis in parts of Africa.

Africa: Global Food Crisis Demands New Approach to Agriculture

Ag Export Data Tables Updated

An excellent resource for state-by-state agricultural export data from the USDA --

State Export Data

DOE Renewable Energy Loan Guarantees

There are plenty of ways to encourage investment in renewable energy.



DOE Announces Solicitations for $30.5 Billion in Loan Guarantees



Second Round of Solicitations includes renewable energy, nuclear, and ‘front-end’ nuclear power facility projects


WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced three solicitations for a total of up to $30.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for projects that employ advanced energy technologies that...(complete news release here).

Impact of Farm Bill on Conservation Funding

How does the new Farm Bill affect Conservation Funds?

Germination of Conservation Fortunes in the New Farm Bill Remains Uncertain

After months of negotiations and several extensions of the 2002 legislation, Congress was finally able to craft a 2008 Farm Bill that garnered enough support on Capitol Hill to override the veto issued by the White House. As with most legislation similarly comprehensive, there are good points, and others not so good from a wildlife conservation perspective, according to the Wildlife Management Institute.

Among the more disappointing...(complete article here).

The Panhandle Wind & Wildlife Conference

A very important event will be occurring August 8 & 9, 2008, in Amarillo, Texas. It is the Panhandle Wind & Wildlife Conference. The 2-day event will include guest speakers, round-table discussions and end with a tour of one of the area's wind farms. It is designed to bring together all of the various groups that have an interest in the huge wind farm developments occurring in the Texas Panhandle and neighboring areas of the High Plains.

Wind Farms are being touted as one of the most environmentally friendly alternative energy sources. The conference will take a hard look at some of the issues surrounding that development and the impact to landowners, wildlife and citizens in the area. It is designed for anyone with an interest in wind energy or wildlife. It promises to be extremely informative as well as an opportunity to share various perspectives on the issues. Follow the link to obtain information on how to register.

Ozone Being Eaten by the Ocean

Greenhouses gases being gobbled by the earth?

Destruction of greenhouse gases over tropical Atlantic

26 June 2008
Large amounts of ozone - around 50% more than predicted by the world's state-of-the-art climate models - are being destroyed in the lower atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Published today in the scientific journal Nature, this startling discovery was...(complete article here).

Requested Ethanol Waiver

Thank you Governor Perry.

Texas governor urges EPA to grant ethanol waiver

By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday urged the U.S. government to help consumers and businesses cope with record-high grain prices by granting his request to cut this year's federal ethanol mandate by half.

The Republican governor...(complete article here).

EU Pesticed Controls

The EU continues down the path of reactionary measures to the "screeching" of the extreme environmentalists and MSM fear-mongering. Without clear scientific evidence, they will eliminate the use of many pesticides and limit the use of others. The result will be lower crop yields which will further increase the price of food. The question is NOT will people die of pesticide poisoning or die of hunger -- but it could be will they die of hunger because of irrational fears that pesticide use "might" harm the environment.

EU to tighten pesticide controls

Good stewardship of our resources should be for the benefit of mankind -- NOT for the self-interests of an elite few.

India's Potential is Unrealized

India has tremendous potential to become a food exporter. Instead, it imports many crops.

India’s Growth Outstrips Crops

By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Published: June 22, 2008

JALANDHAR, India — With the right technology and policies, India could help feed the world. Instead, it can barely feed itself. (complete article here)

South Korea and U.S. Finally Reach Beef Deal

This is good not only for the U.S. beef industry but for our balance of trade as well.

South Korea and U.S. Reach Deal on American Beef

By CHOE SANG-HUN
Published: June 22, 2008

SEOUL — South Korea and the United States reached an agreement after a week of negotiations to restrict exports of American beef to South Korea, officials here said on Saturday, just hours before a large protest rally was scheduled to demand more concessions from the United States.

American trade envoys agreed to restrict beef exports to...(complete article here).

New Solar Technology From MIT

The future of our energy supply will be in new technologies.

MIT prototype solar dish passes first tests

Low-cost system could revolutionize global energy production

David Chandler,
MIT News Office
June 18, 2008

A team led by MIT students this week successfully tested a prototype of what may be the most cost-efficient solar power system in the world--one team members believe has the potential to revolutionize global energy production.

The system consists of...(complete article here).

Geothermal Investment

We need continued investment into developing all of our energy potential.

DOE Seeks to Invest up to $90 Million in Advanced Geothermal Energy Technology and Research

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $90 million over four years to advance the research, development and demonstration of next-generation geothermal energy technology which will harness the earth's interior heat extracted from hot water or rocks. Currently, DOE has up to...(complete article here).

Farm Bill Override Expected

I think that an override is inevitable.

Bush Vetoes $290 Billion Farm Bill, Again

Switchgrass Ethanol Project in Oklahoma

Growing crops for cellulosic ethanol doesn't address the issue of competing uses for land, however, it does move us closer to energy independence.

Farming for cellulosic ethanol gets started

Switchgrass planted, idea is to avoid fuel vs. food competition

GUYMON, Okla. (AP) - Work has started on the planting of a 1,000-acre switchgrass field in the Oklahoma Panhandle that researchers plan to use in the production of cellulosic ethanol.

The field is being touted as the world's largest for switchgrass, a drought-resistant perennial plant that grows even on marginal lands. Scientists at...(complete article here).

Australian Drought Impact

The drought situation in Australia is one of the largest impacters of food prices around the world. Add to that the current floods in the upper Midwest of the U.S. and you have a formula for further increases -- especially as rising petroleum prices continue to put upward pressure on transportation costs.

Australia food bowl areas "beyond repair in months"

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Parts of Australia's key Murray-Darling river food bowl may be beyond recovery unless a prolonged dry spell and political wrangling over water use ends by October, a leaked scientific report warned on Wednesday.

"There has been 10 years at least that people have said you have got to...(complete article here).

McCain Backs Opening Reserves to Drilling

Let's utilize the resources at hand while continuing to develop new sources of energy.

McCain touts energy conservation and oil exploration

By Jeff Mason

DALLAS (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain will call on Tuesday for energy conservation and the lifting of a ban on oil and natural gas exploration as two ways to help address the nation's "dangerous" dependence on foreign oil.

McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up his party's presidential nomination, has made...(complete article here).

UK Farm Labor Crisis

Agricultural labor is also an issue in the U.S. Few people are attracted to it because of the long hours and less-than-ideal working conditions.

UK 'facing farming labour crisis'

The UK is facing a labour crisis in the agriculture and horticulture industry, a trade union warns.
Unite says an ageing workforce, combined with migrant workers returning home, is leading to a labour gap which could affect food supplies.

It is calling on...(complete article here).

No Beef Exports to Korea Yet....

The "fear-mongers" strike again.


US, South Korean officials end beef talks

By FOSTER KLUG
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top U.S. and South Korean trade envoys broke off talks Sunday without resolving a crisis over the resumption of American beef shipments that has shaken South Korea's pro-U.S. government.

South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon, who flew into Washington on Friday for discussions, was returning home, U.S. Trade Representative spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel said.

Kim and Susan Schwab, the U.S. trade envoy, held "frank and candid discussions" Friday and Saturday, Hamel said, but, "in order to...(complete article here).

Saudi's Indicate Increased Oil Production

It will take a while for any increase to have an impact at the pump due to the lag time from production through the transportation and refining phase before ultimately being shipped to the local fuel distributor. The most immediate impact will likely be on the futures market.

Saudi Arabia says more crude on way

Kingdom may be getting nervous about the effects of high oil prices

By Jad Mouawad
New York Times

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is planning to increase its output next month by about a half-million barrels a day, according to analysts and oil traders who have been briefed by Saudi officials.

The increase could bring Saudi output to...(complete article here).