Soil News: July 2005

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Fri, 29 Jul 2005 10:44 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

Farmers in county could lose 60% of crops
Galesburg Register-Mail Fri, 29 Jul 2005 11:14 PM PDT
GALESBURG - Crop losses are estimated as high as 60 percent in Knox County, where a drought has plagued crops since they have been planted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday declared 93 Illinois counties agricultural disaster areas, including Knox, Warren and neighboring counties.

South Perth, Western Australia July 29, 2005
SeedQuest Fri, 29 Jul 2005 7:26 AM PDT
A world authority on potato cyst nematode (PCN) is assisting the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia in planning the preliminary stages of a survey to prove State-wide freedom from the pest.

More cases of livestock anthrax are found
KOTA Fri, 29 Jul 2005 3:40 PM PDT
State officials say anthrax is suspected of killing some 200 head of livestock in South Dakota. The agriculture department says anthrax has been confirmed in six herds and is suspected in four others.

Time is ripe for Milford-area gardeners
Delaware State News Fri, 29 Jul 2005 5:50 PM PDT
MILFORD â€” The dew is still on the lawn most mornings when Rodman Mills, 87, ambles out to his garden. Although he's long-since retired from farming, Mr. Mills is still a sturdy man. And he still loves working with his hands and the soil.

USDA to extend program contracts
Waxahachie Daily Light Fri, 29 Jul 2005 1:42 PM PDT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation has announced that farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year.

Grain Outlook: Best Guess Estimates
CattleNetwork.com Fri, 29 Jul 2005 1:31 PM PDT
The biggest guessing game in agriculture is to estimate the size of grain and oilseed crops. Estimates of acreage planted, yield per acre, and resulting total production affect the number of acres planted and prices before and during the growing season.

From Dirt to Diamonds
Agricultural Research Magazine Fri, 29 Jul 2005 7:25 AM PDT
Carbon stored in soil during the first five years of bermudagrass management was two to three times greater when the grass was grazed than when it was harvested for hay or left unharvested, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.

News
Palatka Daily News Sat, 30 Jul 2005 4:32 AM PDT
SATSUMA - Although there are only a handful of grape growers in Putnam County, they have all found markets for their fruit.

Briefs
Monterey County Herald Sat, 30 Jul 2005 3:02 AM PDT
WOW Camp, Tanimura & Antle's summer enrichment program for children of company employees, is under way and in its fifth year.

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21 state Soil Conservation jobs cut

21 state Soil Conservation jobs cut
The Indianapolis Star Thu, 28 Jul 2005 1:06 AM PDT
The Indiana Department of Agriculture this week cut almost one-third of the work force in the Division of Soil Conservation as part of a restructuring plan, marking the latest round of job-trimming among Indiana agencies.

State lays off agriculture staffers
The Indianapolis Star Wed, 27 Jul 2005 3:05 PM PDT
The Indiana Department of Agriculture this week laid off almost one third of the workforce in the Division of Soil Conservation as part of a restructuring plan.

American Soil Technologies Launches Online Store -- Expanding Further into the Retail Market
RedNova Wed, 27 Jul 2005 7:26 AM PDT
American Soil Technologies Inc.

Deputy Ag Secretary Halling Announces Candidacy For Top Job
KCCI 8 Iowa Thu, 28 Jul 2005 4:30 AM PDT
Iowa's deputy secretary of agriculture says he'll run for the top job in his agency.

DEP'T EYES GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PHILIPPINE TOBACCO INDUSTRY
Asia Pulse via Yahoo! Australia & NZ Finance Thu, 28 Jul 2005 2:22 AM PDT
Food The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming to transform the Philippine tobacco industry into a globally competitive sector to help improve socio-economic conditions nationwide.

Heat, drought punch America in breadbasket
Detroit News Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:10 PM PDT
When Brad Temple surveys the 1,000 acres of fertile soil he farms near Serena in northern Illinois these days, he finds himself confronted with wilting corn stalks, insatiable insects and cracks in the earth so big "you can stick your whole hand down in them."

The blooming world of community supported agriculture
Minnesota Women's Press Wed, 27 Jul 2005 12:25 PM PDT
Once a week, Barb Shumskerâ€™s vegetables come to her.

Opinion
AG Weekly Wed, 27 Jul 2005 10:05 PM PDT
Humanity's future in a Kansas field? As I drove here from Kansas City (to Salinas), rain fell nearly all the way and pooled in wide fields of crops. Eventually the water would run off, carrying away precious top soil and leeching chemical fertilizers into the ecosystem.

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:06 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

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Industry body challenges CSE findings of pesticides in blood

'Terroir' Conference to Examine Link Between Wine and Earth ...
UC Davis (press release) - Davis,CA,USA
... by UC Davis' Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. ... Terroir is the French word for soil, but in ... the influence of the natural environment on grape ...

Industry body challenges CSE findings of pesticides in blood
Financial Express - Bombay,India
... has challenged the findings of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) relating ... human body as a result of expose to air, soil, water and ...

Extreme Agendas Harmful - Environmentalists Have Lost Their Way
Truth about Trade & Technology - Des Moine,IA,USA
... faced with environmental policies that ignore science and result ... to human health or the environment, and the ... pesticides, higher yield, and reduced soil erosion ...

MORRISON: Possess the Land
The Illinois Leader - IL,USA
... energy development can disturb or kill wildlife, degrade soil quality, pollute ... a group called the Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment. ...

Cancer cells' need to roam
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
... calls "crosstalk" between the cancer and the waiting - and vulnerable - environment of the ... to a 115-year-old theory called "seed and soil," which postulated ...

American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
Dedicated to the development of agriculture enabled by science, in harmony with
environmental and human values.

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State lays off agriculture staffers

State lays off agriculture staffers
Indianapolis Star - United States
... The division will be restructured into regions to mirror the structure of the US Department of Agriculture, soil conservation division Director Gail Peas said. ...

Suffering farmers still need more rain
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee,WI,USA
... to half in neighboring Manitowoc County, where there is lighter soil and the ... The agriculture agency called last week's rains spotty, ranging from 0.29 inches ...

Ag Department refuses to disclose field burning plan
Twin Falls Times-News - Twin Falls,ID,USA
... struck that balance," Wayne Hoffman, spokesman for the state agriculture agency, told ... maintained they must burn their fields to shock the soil into producing a ...

Anthrax outbreak grows in North Dakota livestock
In-Forum (subscription) - Fargo,ND,USA
... State Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson urges ranchers to report any unusual livestock ... bacteria that cause anthrax can lay dormant in the soil for decades ...

Beige Book Ag Highlights
AgWeb - USA
... the District remained generally dry, substantial rainfall greatly improved soil conditions and ... The US Department of Agriculture projects corn prices in 2005/06 ...

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Relationship of Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity to Claypan Soil

Relationship of Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity to Claypan Soil Properties
RedNova Wed, 27 Jul 2005 2:54 AM PDT
ABSTRACT Understanding relationships between sensor-based measurements and soil properties related to soil quality may help in developing site- specific management.

Soil Change, Soil Survey, and Natural Resources Decision Making: A Blueprint for Action
RedNova Wed, 27 Jul 2005 2:56 AM PDT
ABSTRACT Land managers and policymakers need information about soil change caused by anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic factors to predict the effects of management on soil function, compare alternatives, and make decisions.

Long-Term Fertilizer and Water Availability Effects on Cereal Yield and Soil Chemical Properties in Northwest China
RedNova Wed, 27 Jul 2005 2:57 AM PDT
ABSTRACT Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) rotation is important for the region's food security in Northwest China.

Influence of Grass and Agroforestry Buffer Strips on Soil Hydraulic Properties for an Albaqualf
RedNova Wed, 27 Jul 2005 2:55 AM PDT
ABSTRACT Agroforestry production systems have been introduced in temperate regions to improve water quality and diversify farm income.

Drought attacks Midwest crops
Billings Gazette Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:52 PM PDT
When Brad Temple surveys the 1,000 acres of fertile soil he farms near Serena in northern Illinois these days, he finds himself confronted with wilting corn stalks, insatiable insects and cracks in the earth so big "you can stick your whole hand down in them."

Webster County farmer makes run for top ag post
Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier Wed, 27 Jul 2005 3:22 AM PDT
HARCOURT --- Iowa's agriculture machine isn't broken, but a Harcourt farmer says it could use a good tune-up. Eddie Peterson recently announced plans to run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

Opinion
AG Weekly Tue, 26 Jul 2005 10:04 PM PDT
Humanity's future in a Kansas field? As I drove here from Kansas City (to Salinas), rain fell nearly all the way and pooled in wide fields of crops. Eventually the water would run off, carrying away precious top soil and leeching chemical fertilizers into the ecosystem.

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Tue, 26 Jul 2005 9:23 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

UA studies underground irrigation
KVOA Tucson Tue, 26 Jul 2005 9:49 AM PDT
A University of Arizona study of underground drip irrigation could help farmers save water and increase crop yields, researchers say. According to the state Department of Water Resources, agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of Arizona's water use.

Planting Is a Form of Protest for Some Gush Katif Farmers
Crosswalk.com Wed, 27 Jul 2005 7:03 AM PDT
Gush Katif, Gaza Strip (CNSNews.com) - Farmers in the Jewish settlement bloc of Gush Katif are planting and tending their crops, even though they may not be around to harvest some of those crops when the time comes.

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Hayburners pulling their weight on farms again

Hayburners pulling their weight on farms again
Lincoln Journal Star Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:46 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture.

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Sun, 24 Jul 2005 9:50 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

Search Site/Web enhanced by
Rocky Mount Telegram Sun, 24 Jul 2005 7:34 PM PDT
NASHVILLE â€” Food, facts, friends and fun were the orders of the day Friday at the Nash County Agriculture Center.

Dynamic Organics
Cootamundra Herald Sun, 24 Jul 2005 7:25 PM PDT
Local organic farmers, Mary and David Booth are excited at the prospect of local farmers and gardeners having the opportunity to change direction and keep pace with the changing nature of agriculture in the new millennium.

La Trinidad coops get P50M agri aid
Sun Star Sun, 24 Jul 2005 9:45 AM PDT
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Two cooperative groups in the province are recipients of the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Acef) of the government, acquiring P25 million each.

Roland Smith Named Texas Cooperative Extension Associate Director
AgNews Sun, 24 Jul 2005 8:14 AM PDT
COLLEGE STATION Dr. Roland D. Smith has been named Texas Cooperative Extension's associate director for agriculture, natural resources and community economic development.

UA farm project shows efficiency of drip irrigation
The Tucson Citizen Mon, 25 Jul 2005 6:07 AM PDT
A University of Arizona research project could help Arizona farmers save water and increase crop yields, a UA professor said.

Tata Chemicals launches agri solutions in Jharkhand &WB
India Infoline Mon, 25 Jul 2005 4:21 AM PDT
Tata Chemicals Ltd. on Monday announced the entry of 'Tata Kisan Sansar' into West Bengal and Jharkhand. Tata Kisan Sansar benefits farmers by offering end-to-end agri solutions including the latest in agro services and specialized input products.

Local RC&D celebrates 40 years Monday, July 25, 2005 - Bangor Daily News
Bangor Daily News Mon, 25 Jul 2005 6:00 AM PDT
PRESQUE ISLE - Local Resource Conservation and Development officials celebrated the program's 40th anniversary in style recently, taking local, state and national dignitaries on tours of some of its major projects and reflecting on how RC&D has impacted the local area in the last four decades.

GM crops created superweed, say scientists
Guardian Unlimited Mon, 25 Jul 2005 3:57 AM PDT
Modified genes from crops in a GM crop trial have transferred into local wild plants, creating a form of herbicide-resistant "superweed", the Guardian can reveal.

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Iowans put farmland in conservation program

Iowans put farmland in conservation program
The Des Moines Register Tue, 26 Jul 2005 2:09 AM PDT
The USDA program pays farmers who have taken steps to protect soil and water and to benefit the environment. Jefferson, Ia. - Jim Andrew 's dream came true Monday when the Greene County conservationist-farmer signed his farm into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Security Program.

Majoring in Organics; OSU Students Get Hands-on Education in One of the Few Profitable Areas of Agriculture
RedNova Mon, 25 Jul 2005 2:03 PM PDT
CORVALLIS, Ore. James Cassidy knows perfectly well that in some circles, organic produce, meats and dairy are dismissed as the latest boutique-y trend, a fad that too shall pass.

Scarce, Degraded Land is Spark for Africa Conflict
Environmental News Network Tue, 26 Jul 2005 4:09 AM PDT
On a continent where a man's worth is often measured by his cattle, rivalry for the beasts and the degraded land they graze on is sparking lethal conflicts across Africa. Observers say the violence is rooted in increasingly parched soil which has been battered by overgrazing, erosion, population growth and global warming, exacerbating struggles among human communities with ancient and

Growing Greener II Plan Dedicates $625 Million to Boost Keystone State's Environmental Protection and Urban
Smart Growth Online Mon, 25 Jul 2005 10:42 PM PDT
''We are entrusted as the stewards of our environment, and have a moral obligation to leave our soil, water and air in better condition than we found it for future generations,'' said Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Edward G. Rendell, signing into law his Growing Greener II plan, which dedicates $625 million over six years to boost the state's environmental protection, land conservation and

Manitoba Experiences Drier Week
Ag Report Mon, 25 Jul 2005 4:19 PM PDT
WINNIPEG - Jul 25/05 - SNS -- Manitoba experienced one of its driest weeks since April, allowing soil in parts of the province to start drying out and growers in other areas were able to get into fields to deal with the devastation left by weeks of excess moisture.

High Plains Journal Farm and Ranch Magazine
High Plains Journal Tue, 26 Jul 2005 5:38 AM PDT
OMAHA (DTN) -- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced that USDA will offer 12,700 Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts across the nation. These 2005 contracts being offered translate into more than a $1 billion long-term commitment to conservation over the next ten years.

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Mon, 25 Jul 2005 9:53 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

Opinion
AG Weekly Mon, 25 Jul 2005 11:48 AM PDT
Humanity's future in a Kansas field? As I drove here from Kansas City (to Salinas), rain fell nearly all the way and pooled in wide fields of crops. Eventually the water would run off, carrying away precious top soil and leeching chemical fertilizers into the ecosystem.

USDA Announces 2005 Conservation Security Program Contracts
PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance Mon, 25 Jul 2005 5:47 PM PDT
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced that USDA will offer 12,700 Conservation Security Program contracts across the nation. These 2005 contracts being offered translate into more than a $1 billion long-term commitment to conservation over the next 10 years.

Horse-and-plow farming making a comeback
Picayune Item Mon, 25 Jul 2005 7:17 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. (AP) - To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture, but the practice is making a comeback.

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Agriculture Department Soil Testing Lab Improves Efficiency

Agriculture Department Soil Testing Lab Improves Efficiency
Southern Pines Pilot Sun, 24 Jul 2005 4:41 AM PDT
The Soil Testing Section of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services analyzed 314,000 samples for state residents in fiscal year 2005.

Teachers get an education in agriculture
Galesburg Register-Mail Sat, 23 Jul 2005 9:31 PM PDT
Twenty teachers. Six days. Fifteen tours in five counties. And a new perception of local agriculture. "I was raised on a farm and I was amazed at how much change has happened and how knowledgeable farmers are," said Stephanie Watters, a Galva first-grade teacher.

Horse-and-plow farming sees resurgence in tight economy
The Clarion-Ledger Sun, 24 Jul 2005 3:07 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. â€” To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture. But in fact, the practice is making a comeback.

Hayburners pulling their weight on farms again
Lincoln Journal Star Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:16 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture.

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts
Rapid City Journal Sat, 23 Jul 2005 9:59 PM PDT
WASHINGTON Farmers and ranchers with certain Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, contracts expiring this year may extend their contracts for one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC.

Horse-and-plow farming making a comeback
Picayune Item Sat, 23 Jul 2005 3:16 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. (AP) - To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture, but the practice is making a comeback.

The Habitat and Plant Associates of Eriocaulon Decangulare L. In Three Southern Appalachian Wetlands
RedNova Sun, 24 Jul 2005 2:43 AM PDT
ABSTRACT Eriocaulon decangulare is a wetland species that is rare in the North Carolina mountains. The mountain populations are disjunct from those in the Coastal Plain, where the species is more common. We investigated the habitat and plant associates of E.

A peaceful spot amid development
Bismarck Tribune Sun, 24 Jul 2005 2:12 AM PDT
Once described as being located "two miles south of Bismarck," the Lincoln-Oakes nursery is now surrounded on three sides by city limits. While the area is developing rapidly, the nursery seems like a "peaceful park."

Multifunctional Mesoscale Observing Networks
RedNova Sun, 24 Jul 2005 2:37 AM PDT
More than 120 scientists, engineers, administrators, and users met on 8-10 December 2003 in a workshop format to discuss the needs for enhanced three-dimensional mesoscale observing networks.

Valley crops still plagued by drought conditions
The Monitor Sun, 24 Jul 2005 1:51 AM PDT
Adam Estrada and many other citrus farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are breathing a sigh of relief after Hurricane Emily dropped much-needed rain on their crops....

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Soil in south Minneapolis to be tested for arsenic

Soil in south Minneapolis to be tested for arsenic
Grand Forks Herald Fri, 22 Jul 2005 12:24 PM PDT
MINNEAPOLIS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says soil will be tested for arsenic contamination next month at 600 homes and businesses in south Minneapolis.

Brown County Ag Agent: Crops are "on the Edge of Crashing"
WBAY 2 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 4:19 PM PDT
Agricultural experts say farmers are seeing significant crop damage in some areas with lighter soil. Agriculture agent Dan Schreiner says crops are growing slower, and the corn is tasselling several weeks early.

Emily Mostly Beneficial for South Texas Agriculture
AgNews Fri, 22 Jul 2005 7:29 AM PDT
WESLACO Hurricane Emily's sideswipe appears to have been beneficial for South Texas agriculture. With landfall 75 miles south of Brownsville, the storm brought little more than badly needed rainfall to the area.

Soil Fertility Management Strategies on the Jos Plateau: the Need for Integrating 'Empirical' and 'Scientific'
RedNova Sat, 23 Jul 2005 1:52 AM PDT
Tin mining carried out on the Jos Plateau since the beginning of the last century has disturbed some 320 km^sup 2^ of agricultural land. Formal attempts at reclamation of this land failed, but local farmers have developed a successful informal strategy for reclamation.

Saturday, July 23, 2005
Morgan Hill Times Sat, 23 Jul 2005 5:44 AM PDT
The bell isn t tolling for South Valley farmers just yet. Total agriculture revenue in Santa Clara County grew by a healthy 7 percent in 2004 to $258,359,850, up from $241,113,8490 in 2003, according to the annual crop report released this week.

Horse-farming makes a comeback
Arizona Daily Star Sat, 23 Jul 2005 0:09 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. - To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture. But in fact, the practice is

Emergency CRP grazing authorized
Galesburg Register-Mail Fri, 22 Jul 2005 10:14 PM PDT
GALESBURG - The Department of Agriculture on Friday released conservation acreage for emergency grazing because of the severe drought.

HORSE-AND-PLOW FARMING MAKING A COMEBACK
KPVI-TV Fri, 22 Jul 2005 2:34 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. (AP) -- The horse and plow are making a comeback in the world of farming. The publisher of the "Small Farmer's Journal" says increasingly, small farmers are finding horse-powered agriculture a workable alternative to mechanization.

Horse-And-Plow Farming Makes Comeback Many Farmers Find Horses More Economical
Bakersfield Channel.com Fri, 22 Jul 2005 12:12 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. -- To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture. But in fact, the practice is making a comeback.

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Local soil scientist helps Afghans restore pistachio crops

SeaLife Corporation Announces Test Results For Algeria
Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance Fri, 22 Jul 2005 6:30 AM PDT
SeaLife Corporation today announced the preliminary results of recent tests of its soil treatment product, ProTerra Plant & Soil ResQ. The test was conducted by the Algerian Department of Agriculture's Institut Techniques des Grandes Cultures .

Horse-and-Plow Farming Making a Comeback
AP via Yahoo! News Fri, 22 Jul 2005 0:23 AM PDT
To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture. But in fact, the practice is making a comeback.

Local soil scientist helps Afghans restore pistachio crops
Bozeman Daily Chronicle Thu, 21 Jul 2005 9:35 PM PDT
Henry Shovic sat in his office Wednesday and flipped through photographs of Afghanistan on his computer screen. There was a picture of a poppy field, "enough to grow somebody's (heroin) habit," he said.

Farms show off methods for success
Maine Today Fri, 22 Jul 2005 5:57 AM PDT
Rose Hoad of the Knox-Lincoln Soil Conservation District pets cows at Highland Farm in Cornish while on a bus tour of York County farms on Thursday. The tour showcased a variety of agricultural enterprises.

Horse-and-plow farming making a comeback
KRON 4 Bay Area Fri, 22 Jul 2005 3:24 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. The horse and plow are making a comeback in the world of farming. The publisher of the "Small Farmer's Journal" says increasingly, small farmers are finding horse-powered agriculture a workable alternative to mechanization.

FARM SCENE: Horse-and-plow farming making a comeback
WHO-TV Des Moines Fri, 22 Jul 2005 5:24 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture.

Horse-and-Plow Farming Making a Comeback
WJLA-TV Washington D.C. Fri, 22 Jul 2005 1:23 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. (AP) - To some, the thought of a farmer patiently working the field behind a horse and plow might evoke pangs of nostalgia for the early days of agriculture. But in fact, the practice is making a comeback.Ol' Dobbin hasn't run the tractors out of the fields yet.

Scarce, degraded land is spark for Africa conflict
Reuters via Yahoo! News Fri, 22 Jul 2005 5:55 AM PDT
On a continent where a man's worth is often measured by his cattle, rivalry for the beasts and the degraded land they graze on is sparking lethal conflicts across Africa.

Weekend rain provides limited relief for Flamborough farmers
Oakville Beaver Thu, 21 Jul 2005 9:21 PM PDT
Last weekend's rain did more than just water lawns- it saved countless crops across the region. "It was more than a million dollar rain. It was more like a billion dollar rain for Flamborough," said Rob Pasuta, president of the Hamilton Wentworth Federation of Agriculture (HWFA).

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Comparative efficiency of P-Carriers in Saline Sodic Soil

Soil Amelioration Technique of Cover Drainage Combined Subsoiling ...
salinity and alkalinity with improving soil physical properties. ... some soils
of Egypt. Ph.D.Thesis, Fac. Agric., Cairo University. ...

© Comparative efficiency of P-Carriers in Saline Sodic Soil
soils in Indus plains of Pakistan. Ph.D. Thesis, Deptt. Soil. Sci., Univ. ...
fertilizers with particular regard to salinity and alkalinity. conditions. ...

Potentials and constraints of soil salinity studies in two ...
constraints of satellite data in mapping soil salinity in two ... for the study
of soil salinity and. alkalinity, Int. J. Remote Sensing Vol.19, 506-610. ...

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Air pollution: role of nitrogen oxides emission from soil underestimated

Air pollution: role of nitrogen oxides emission from soil underestimated
The Hindu Wed, 20 Jul 2005 1:21 PM PDT
NITROGEN OXIDES produced by huge fires and fossil fuel combustion are a major component of air pollution. They are the primary ingredients in ground-level ozone, a pollutant harmful to human health and vegetation.

Release No. 0268.05
USDA Thu, 21 Jul 2005 4:04 AM PDT
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2005-Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced the availability of $5 million in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) for restoration activities in 20 states. These funds will restore and protect nearly 40,000 acres of wetlands.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005
The Gilroy Dispatch Wed, 20 Jul 2005 9:37 AM PDT
Gilroy - The bell isn t tolling for South Valley farmers just yet. Total agriculture revenue in Santa Clara County grew by a healthy 7 percent in 2004 to $258,359,850, up from $241,113,8490 in 2003, according to the annual crop report released this week.

Local News Heshelman receives award
Linton Daily Citizen Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:55 AM PDT
A former Eastern Greene teacher has received an outstanding service award for his many years of dedicated service to Future Farmers of America. Garry Heshelman, of eastern Greene County, began teaching vocational agriculture at the Eastern-Greene School Corporation in 1964.

South America s New Militarism
La Nueva Cuba Thu, 21 Jul 2005 4:04 AM PDT
Research Dept. South American societies are militarizing as a result of the regional superpowerâ€™s intervention, which is undoubtedly a crucial factor on the continent, but also as a consequence of the profound economic and political changes we have come to call neoliberalism.

Farms' runoff pollutes lakes
Detroit News Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:03 PM PDT
MADISON, Wis. -- Farmers' routine application of chemical fertilizers and manure to the land poses a far greater environmental problem to freshwater lakes than previously thought, potentially polluting the water for hundreds of years, according to research.

Challenged by rising expenses, state's family farms persevere
Lansing State Journal Thu, 21 Jul 2005 1:05 AM PDT
Running a farm is in Judy Shultz's blood. Her family has operated a 66-acre hay and soybean farm in Clinton County's Olive Township for more than 100 years.

SeedQuest - Central information website for the global seed industry
SeedQuest Wed, 20 Jul 2005 5:10 PM PDT
While South Texas farmers are bracing for the possible damage that Hurricane Emily could inflict, many of the agricultural producers in other areas of the state will welcome the moisture, according to Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural experts.

Horse power
Missoulian Thu, 21 Jul 2005 0:01 AM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. - If the thought of a farmer patiently working his field behind a plow and horses floods you with pangs of nostalgia, take heart. It's on the rebound.

What Newcomers Need to Know
Orlando Sentinel Thu, 21 Jul 2005 0:09 AM PDT
With thousands of new residents pouring into Central Florida, questions about the Sunshine State abound. Questions may be e-mailed to southwest@orlandosentinel.com or faxed to 863-422-0033.

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billingsgazette.com - Montana and Wyoming news and classifieds

American Soil Technologies Launches Online Store -- Expanding Further into the Retail Market
Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance Wed, 20 Jul 2005 6:00 AM PDT
American Soil Technologies Inc. , a leading supplier of super-absorbent polymer soil amendments and other related products in the multibillion-dollar turf, retail, horticulture and agricultural markets, announced today that it has launched an online store to sell its superior products to the retail market that can be reached at http://www.americansoiltech.com/our_store/index.asp.

billingsgazette.com - Montana and Wyoming news and classifieds
Billings Gazette Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:53 PM PDT
It's easy to take American agriculture for granted. We are used to grocery shelves stocked with a bounty of fresh and prepared food, and extensive restaurant menus whenever we decide to eat. Most people don't spend much time thinking about what it takes to get this food from farms to our tables.

"Comfortable" monsoon rains in India seen keeping growth on track
AFP via Yahoo! News Wed, 20 Jul 2005 4:20 AM PDT
Plentiful monsoon rains in India should help ensure a good harvest, boosting chances that the farm-dependent nation will achieve its seven-to-eight percent growth target, officials said.

Extreme weather worries farmers
USA Today Wed, 20 Jul 2005 6:41 AM PDT
The progression from too cold, to too wet, to too dry has made farming in parts of Minnesota even more of a roller-coaster ride than it usually is. Wet fields have been a particular problem in northern and western Minnesota. Dry weather has been the problem in central Minnesota lately.

Like Rest of Midwest, Minnesota Farms Suffer From Drought Effects
RedNova Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:52 AM PDT
Jul. 19--Upper Midwest farmers need a good soaking, state agriculture statisticians said Monday, with Wisconsin already under a drought emergency and Minnesota needing rain to restore rapidly drying fields. Sunday's rain showers across much of Minnesota will help.

Opinion
AG Weekly Tue, 19 Jul 2005 7:35 AM PDT
Humanity's future in a Kansas field? As I drove here from Kansas City (to Salinas), rain fell nearly all the way and pooled in wide fields of crops. Eventually the water would run off, carrying away precious top soil and leeching chemical fertilizers into the ecosystem.

Tuesday July 19, 08:36 PM
Yahoo! India News Tue, 19 Jul 2005 8:16 AM PDT
New Delhi, July 19 (ANI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar stressed on the need for synergy among the technical and agricultural universities and urged the academicians to take up collaborative projects and programmes so as to give Indian agriculture a competitive edge.

Lords of the land
Daily Telegraph Wed, 20 Jul 2005 7:05 AM PDT
THEY are usually found wearing old boots in dusty paddocks but last night they dressed to the nines and kicked up their heels on Sydney Harbour. Farmers honoured two of their own at the NSW Farmers Association awards dinner at the overseas passenger terminal.

Crops in need of more rain
Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier Wed, 20 Jul 2005 3:36 AM PDT
WATERLOO --- Last week's heat wave accelerated crop development and the need for rain. Crop conditions deteriorated overall throughout the state as daytime temperatures exceeded 90 degrees for much of the week, or 4.5 degrees above normal.

Picked-to-perfection fruit is just a stone's throw away
San Francisco Chronicle Wed, 20 Jul 2005 5:14 AM PDT
Pick up a red bucket and traipse down corridors of full green trees and shrubs. Quick, keep step with the man with the bullhorn and long strides, and he'll stop and show you where you can pick some of the most delectable fruits of the summer.

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Drought Chokes State

South Perth, Western Australia July 18, 2005
SeedQuest Mon, 18 Jul 2005 8:11 AM PDT
The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia has kicked off its campaign to guide new field pea growers on the back of a massive expansion in field pea plantings this season.

Drought Chokes State
WISC Channel3000.com via Yahoo! News Mon, 18 Jul 2005 8:51 AM PDT
The National Weather Service says this is the worst drought statewide in several years. The extremely hot and dry weather is slowly damaging the crops, which could mean higher prices at the grocery store.

Continued dry spell could mean the end of many crops in region
Green Bay Press-Gazette Tue, 19 Jul 2005 1:13 AM PDT
What started out as a promising growing season for farmers has taken a decided turn for the worse this month as the rain has simply stopped.

Horse power
Missoulian Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:01 PM PDT
SISTERS, Ore. - If the thought of a farmer patiently working his field behind a plow and horses floods you with pangs of nostalgia, take heart. It's on the rebound.

Too cold, too wet, too dry - extreme weather vexes farmers
Grand Forks Herald Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:24 PM PDT
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - First it was winter kill devastating alfalfa roots. Then spring rains flooded fields. And then July drought withering crops on lighter soils.

Farm culture
The State News Mon, 18 Jul 2005 7:30 PM PDT
Ag Expo displays livestock, research, equipment in Mich. For people who don't know how to manage manure or handle cattle, the MSU Agricultural Expo can help.

Smoke from burning fields threatens Persepolis
IranMania.com Tue, 19 Jul 2005 0:34 AM PDT
LONDON, July 19 (IranMania) - The smoke caused by the annual burning of farm fields surrounding Persepolis causes serious damage to the historical site, the director of the Persepolis Complex announced, MNA said.

Rainfall has farmers smiling
Canoe Mon, 18 Jul 2005 10:52 PM PDT
Corn and bean farmers in the London area are breathing a collective sigh of relief after this weekend's downpours. But the region's watersheds aren't out of the drought woods because the summer has brought heat and more heat -- but not enough rain.

HISTORY OF GIBSON COUNTY
Tri-State Media Tue, 19 Jul 2005 0:18 AM PDT
In this section you will find an interesting historical account of the communities that make up Gibson County. Gibson County was once a wilderness situated in the Northwest Territory which, in 1784, was ceded to the United States of America by Virginia.

High fuel costs, weather wallop struggling farms By Sue Halena
St. Cloud Times Mon, 18 Jul 2005 10:24 PM PDT
Too cold, too wet, too dry. The roller-coaster ride of farming in Central Minnesota got a little scarier than usual this season, with winter kill devastating alfalfa roots, spring rains flooding fields and July drought withering crops on lighter soils.

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A Register special report: Turning over the soil

A Register special report: Turning over the soil
The Des Moines Register Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:01 AM PDT
A major transfer of wealth will sweep Iowa over the next 10 to 15 years as aging farmers sell or pass on to heirs roughly half of the stateâ€™s farmland. What will happen to our farms, economy and way of life?

A Register special report: Turning over the soil
The Des Moines Register Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:08 AM PDT
In Iowa, we've always been able to take for granted that the land will provide. But think about this: Almost half of the state's farmland is owned by people older than 65.

Turning Over the Soil
The Des Moines Register Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:11 AM PDT
Last in line? Patrick Puhl discs a field outside Struble. He farms land for his father and an aunt, both of whom live in a Le Mars nursing home. Puhl wonders whether he'll be the last generation to farm in his family.

Ministry to continue cocoa subsidy
Viet Nam News Sun, 17 Jul 2005 6:16 AM PDT
HA NOI After a successful trial period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has decided to subsidise cocoa crops in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands).

Women bag a quarter of ICAR awards
The Hindu Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:48 PM PDT
NEW DELHI: Women agriculture scientists have cornered 30 per cent of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) awards. More than 50 awards in 12 categories were given on Saturday to meritorious agriculture scientists and research institutions.

Sewer plan for Rte. 20 gets a boost
Boston Globe Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:44 AM PDT
Sudbury officials are stepping up efforts to build a sewer system for the town's central business district on Route 20, saying the viability of businesses there is at stake.

Grape growers find ripe future in southern Illinois
Chicago Sun-Times Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:39 AM PDT
CARBONDALE -- From his vantage point in southern Illinois, Jim Ewers doesn't think adding his new winery to the state's growing list will squeeze the market dry.

Uprooting a way of life
The Des Moines Register Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:10 AM PDT
Over the next decade, changes in farmland ownership will determine who controls Iowa's most valuable natural resource - and which towns and businesses survive.

'Bit by bit,' farm towns blow away
The Des Moines Register Sun, 17 Jul 2005 2:09 AM PDT
Still standing - for now: Not much remains in the northwest Iowa community of Struble. St. Joseph's Catholic Church is one of the last places where townspeople can gather, but it is expected to close in the next few years.

Toxic elements found in infants' cord blood
TheExperiment Sun, 17 Jul 2005 6:55 AM PDT
In a benchmark study released today, researchers found an average of 200 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, including seven dangerous pesticides â€” some banned in the United States more than 30 years ago.

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Soil, Water Protection Helps Eritrea Farmers

Soil, Water Protection Helps Eritrea Farmers
Environmental News Network Thu, 14 Jul 2005 4:30 AM PDT
Redaegzy Gebremedhin, 64, an experienced farmer and entrepreneur in the Red Sea state of Eritrea, remembers fondly the days when he exported fruit and vegetables to Europe and meat to Saudi Arabia. But that was more than 30 years ago.

India heading for bumper foodgrain output: Pawar
Press Trust of India Thu, 14 Jul 2005 4:37 AM PDT
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Encouraged by the progress of monsoon so far, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the country was heading for a record foodgrain production this year despite initial hiccups due to delayed rains.

Pest may threaten trees
The Sacramento Bee Thu, 14 Jul 2005 5:22 AM PDT
The Asian longhorned beetle, a voracious tree borer that has killed thousands of trees in New York, Chicago and New Jersey, may be loose in Sacramento and threatening the city of trees, state and federal agriculture officials said Wednesday.

High-tech boost for agro sector: PM
The Sun Daily Wed, 13 Jul 2005 11:29 PM PDT
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) period (2006 to 2010) will be instrumental in changing the course of the country's agriculture and agro-based industries to a more hi-tech and valued added stage, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday.

Climate only partly to blame for Africa food woes
Reuters via Yahoo! News Thu, 14 Jul 2005 6:14 AM PDT
Africa may seem incapable of growing enough food to feed its starving millions, but in the fields of South Africa's Free State, farmers are taking in more maize than they know what to do with.

Organic Revolution
Free Times Wed, 13 Jul 2005 2:34 PM PDT
Can Sustainable Agriculture Save the South? Bouncing down a long, dirt road in Leesville, passing mobile homes nestled among Carolina pines and Confederate flags flapping in a warm summer breeze, itâ€™s strange to think the South may be poised on the brink of a cultural revolution.

Myainggyingu Special Region witnessing cumulative development
The New Light of Myanmar Wed, 13 Jul 2005 7:40 PM PDT
YANGON, 13 Julyâ€”Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein, together with member of SPDC Lt-Gen Maung Bo of the Ministry of Defence, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and

Ill. Proves Ripe for New Crop of Wineries
AP via Yahoo! News Thu, 14 Jul 2005 0:33 AM PDT
From his vantage point in southern Illinois, Jim Ewers doesn't think adding his new winery to the state's growing list will squeeze the market dry.

Organic Farms Produce Same Yields As Conventional Farms
Science Daily Wed, 13 Jul 2005 10:23 PM PDT
For corn and soybeans, organic farming yields the same size crop with a lot less fossil energy input and impact on the environment than conventional farming, according to a new study whose lead author is David Pimentel of Cornell University. Bioscience (Vol. 55:7, 2005).

Study: Toxins found in newborns
GJ Sentinel Thu, 14 Jul 2005 6:35 AM PDT
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. â€” In a benchmark study released today, researchers found an average of 200 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, including seven dangerous pesticides â€” some banned in the U.S. more than 30 years ago.

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Soil News

About Me

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Rapid City Journal: USDA to extend some CRP contracts

Saturday, July 30, 2005

21 state Soil Conservation jobs cut

Industry body challenges CSE findings of pesticides in blood

State lays off agriculture staffers

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Relationship of Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity to Claypan Soil

Hayburners pulling their weight on farms again

Iowans put farmland in conservation program

Monday, July 25, 2005

Agriculture Department Soil Testing Lab Improves Efficiency

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Soil in south Minneapolis to be tested for arsenic

Friday, July 22, 2005

Local soil scientist helps Afghans restore pistachio crops

Comparative efficiency of P-Carriers in Saline Sodic Soil

Air pollution: role of nitrogen oxides emission from soil underestimated

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

billingsgazette.com - Montana and Wyoming news and classifieds

Drought Chokes State

Monday, July 18, 2005

A Register special report: Turning over the soil

Soil, Water Protection Helps Eritrea Farmers