How should we as food producers interpret the media’s looming concern about headlines saying, “Rising Food Prices Bite Budgets.”Examples given from previous 12 months’ list of percentages increases show: ground beef, 4.9 percent; eggs, 5.7 percent; tomatoes, 6.9 percent; pork sausage, 8.7 percent; potatoes, 9.2 percent; fresh fish, 9.9 percent; and oranges, 12.2 percent.

“Bronc to Breakfast” is my favorite Charlie Russell painting. The scene represents the typical roundup out West. In the foreground is a campfire with cooking pots and pans on the fire or hanging from the crossbar.

During a recent trip east of my duty station here in New York, I happened to stop along the roadside and walk to a cropfield. Here, I found the magnificent example of our biosphere in one place. As I stood there, I realized again the wonder of the world that is a cropfield.

Irrigation pumping plant efficiency calculator App
A new mobile app – IrrigatePump – can help you identify irrigation pumping plants that are underperforming and need to be adjusted, repaired or replaced with a better design. Developed by University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension, this app uses existing records to help determine when pumping plants should be tested by a professional.

Long considered one of the top lobbyists in Ottawa, Dairy Farmers of Canada’s Executive Director, Richard Doyle, will retire this year, after a remarkable career of 38 years of continuous service to Canadian dairy farmers. While he plans Aug. 31 will be his last day as executive director, he will stay on as special adviser to the president until December.

Rabobank has published a new report on the global dairy industry. As anticipated, global dairy prices softened considerably through Q2. According to Rabobank’s "Dairy Quarterly Q2: Beyond the tipping point," prices fell as a result of improved milk production in export regions and the easing of forward purchasing by China.

Rusty Bevel Central Sales Manager Advanta USAmarillo,Texas

On June 19, Agriculture Secretary George Greig announced that Pennsylvanians will be able to access milk at food banks in 27 counties through an innovative milk distribution pilot program.