farm news

Dairy Prices Bring Some Relief
FarmPlate Mar 04, 2011 farm news 0 comments
According to WCAX, participants at the annual UVM Extension Dairy Producers Conference on February 24 received some good news about the dairy industry: milk prices are rising and expected to remain high throughout 2011. Although the price increase offers Vermont's dairy farmers some relief, the volatility of dairy prices in recent years gives most farmers reason to proceed cautiously, noting that the market will likely continue fluctuating. Some suggest that the best way to counter this uncertainty is to establish a national dairy supply management system that would monitor milk production, thus preventing farmers from over-producing and driving prices down. More National News Mar. 1: Mark...
College Campuses Sprouting Food Co-ops
FarmPlate Feb 01, 2011 farm news 0 comments
The Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFed) announced the launch of its nationwide campaign to empower university students to create campus food co-ops as a source of sustainable, ethical and local food. CoFed evolved out of a campaign at UC Berkeley against a proposed fast-food restaurant on campus. The movement against the restaurant turned into a successful effort to create a campus food co-op, which opened its doors in November of 2010. In January, CoFed held its first national training and leadership retreat for student leaders. According to launch committee member and Slow Food USA President Josh Viertel, the campaign will help students across the country start similar efforts...
Stonyfield Granting Organic Wishes
FarmPlate Jan 12, 2011 farm news 0 comments
New Hampshire organic yogurt company Stonyfield Farm has launched a new initiative to support organic farming- the Stonyfield Organic Farmers Grant-a-Wish Program. Judges from Stonyfield and Organic Valley have chosen six finalists from an original pool of 72 farmers from across the country. Their selection was based on the level of innovation, adherence to organic farming practices and overall environmental impact of the farmers' proposed projects. Consumers can now check out the finalists’ own stories and videos on Stonyfield’s Facebook page and vote for their favorite project. In March, Stonyfield will distribute $31,000 in grant money to the finalists based on voting results. There will...
A New Business Model for Farmers' Markets
FarmPlate May 25, 2010 farm news 1 comments
Farmers' markets might be the easiest way for a consumer to connect directly with the farmers that grow their food. Outdoor markets are a social scene in themselves--a weekend venue where community members can connect, socialize and buy fresh food that supports the local economy. Why then, aren't more people shopping weekly at farmers' markets? A new article by The American Prospect highlights the areas in which the farmers’ market business model could be improved to address problems facing low-income consumers: high prices, limited availability of food staples and awareness of farmers’ markets. Picking up a few items at a farmers’ market to make dinner can get pricey quickly, especially if...
Late Blight May Strike Again
FarmPlate May 18, 2010 farm news 0 comments
Plant experts are warning growers to take steps against late blight, the plant disease that can rapidly kill tomato and potato crops and potentially cost farmers millions of dollars in lost produce, pesticides and extra labor. Last year, the unusually early outbreak of the disease affected crops from Florida to New England and spread as far west as North Dakota.  The Associated Press reports that another outbreak is likely this year, and some gardens have already been affected in Florida and Louisiana.  Weather experts in Vermont predict a wet summer, which will provide favorable conditions for blight, which thrives in a cool, damp environment. Late blight is caused by a fungus-like...
The Organic Label's "Health Halo"
FarmPlate May 04, 2010 farm news 0 comments
The organic label is everywhere--from produce and meat to grocery items. According to a new study, consumers often underestimate the calorie values of food with an organic label. The Cornell University Food and Brand Lab set out to investigate the impact of the organic label on the consumer. The findings of the study were presented last week at the Experimental Biology Conference in Anaheim, California. Cornell University Food and Brand Lab researchers gave a group of 54 college students Oreo cookies made with organic flour and sugar. Half of the group ate cookies that were labeled “organic” and the other half of the group was given unlabeled cookies. When asked to estimate the calories...
Gates Foundation & U.S. to Support Global Ag Fund
FarmPlate Apr 27, 2010 farm news 0 comments
Four countries and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have come together to create the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, a fund dedicated to increasing food production and encouraging sustainable farming practices in the world's poorest countries. In the wake of the economic crisis and rising food prices, there are approximately one billion hungry people worldwide. According to the World Bank, three quarters of those one billion people depend on agriculture for a living. The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program will invest in farm machinery, improving planting and irrigation techniques and building better roads to link farmers to their markets. The U.S. has already...