Agriculture

A dry winter, El Niño and the warmest winter temperatures on record are contributing to ongoing dry conditions across the Midwest.

An Environmental Working Group report questions the effectiveness of some farming practices that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently added to its Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which incentives conservation practices. The USDA counters that the practices have gone through “a rigorous science-based evaluation process.”

Despite the fact that more women are going into veterinary medicine than ever before, some female practitioners in rural areas still face discrimination and pay gaps — problems experts say the industry will need to overcome to fill a shortage of animal care in those communities.

The sale of a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa to Koch Industries is shining a spotlight on consolidation in the industry. Several groups are asking the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to carefully review the deal.

According to the National Weather Service, Michigan is experiencing one of its mildest winters in recent years, leaving wheat farmers with a lot of questions.

The average farmer in the U.S. is now 58 years old, according to the Census of Agriculture, released Tuesday. There are also fewer farms in the country than there were in the last census.

At least 21 states are considering legislation to block foreign companies and individuals from purchasing farmland. The issue has gained momentum in recent years.

The recent drop in temperatures has lead some mid-Michigan farmers to implement new practices to ensure the safety of their livestock.

Congress kicked the can down the road by failing to negotiate a new farm bill last year. The bill has been extended through the end of September, but experts say it won't be easy for lawmakers to approve a new plan.

Canning — once a necessity so families could have fruits and vegetables through the winter — has turned into a hobby. A look at how canning evolved from the home to factories, and why people are returning to the practice.