The following is the United States Department of Agriculture’s weekly world weather roundup. INTERNATIONAL CROP AND WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS USDA/WAOB Joint Agricultural Weather Facility February 9, 2016 NORTHWESTERN AFRICA – Highlight: Severe Drought Continued In Morocco Severe drought continued to cut yield prospects for wheat and barley in Morocco and western Algeria. Sunny skies accelerated winter […] Read more
Stories by USDA
Oats rich in beta glucan
Beta glucan is fast becoming a household name to the health-conscious. Consuming three grams daily of this soluble fibre, when combined with a healthy diet, may lower the blood’s level of so-called bad cholesterol, diminishing the risk of heart disease. Beta glucan is in a functional food market that generates several billion dollars in annual […] Read more
Water wins out over salt
Ranchers have traditionally used water and salt to coax cattle from one place to another. Now, a U.S. Department of Agriculture rangeland scientist has found that while water is an effective tool for moving cattle, salt isn’t as helpful as was once thought. David C. Ganskopp tracked the movement of cattle on large western rangelands […] Read more
Chemical brighteners take shine from diamondback moth
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service are looking into how brighteners similar to those found in laundry detergent can help fight diamondback moths. The moth is a worldwide pest of cruciferous crops such as canola, cabbage, turnip and broccoli. Scientists are using naturally occurring viruses as a new approach to help […] Read more
Timing key to range management
Range grass sees its greatest growth in the spring. United States Department of Agriculture researchers are using this fact to help them develop guidelines for ranchers making management decisions during droughts. According to research leader Rod Heitschmidt, one of the biggest problems facing ranchers is knowing when to implement drought management strategies. Many wait until […] Read more
New hog feeder tested
A joint project in the United States plans to test an automated feeding system that eliminates the need for crating sows during their four-month pregnancies. Called “trickle feeding,” the system allows sows to be kept in social groups in open pens. The system has been developed and tested in Europe, but this project will be […] Read more
Keeping cattle cool makes sense
While nobody is suggesting placing cattle on beach blankets with sunglasses, researchers at the United States Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, have new information to help producers planning for relief in a heat wave. A heat wave is three or more consecutive days of extremely hot conditions. These have occurred more often […] Read more
New alfalfa may be ideal for poor soils
United States Department of Agriculture scientists in St. Paul, Minnesota, have added a gene to alfalfa that not only makes it tolerant to acidic soil and aluminum, but also lets it naturally produce more nitrogen to stimulate plant growth. Aluminum makes up about seven percent of the earth’s crust, but it only causes a problem […] Read more
New crop turns nickel from soil into big dollars
Mining for nickel now requires little more than a green thumb, thanks to a patented process created by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and Viridian Resources, L.L.C. of Houston, Texas. The process involves metal-loving plants that can extract nickel and other metals from the earth without machinery. ARS and Viridian worked […] Read more
Ag Notes
Ag hall of fame Alberta’s Agriculture Hall of Fame is accepting nominations until March 15. Every second year, Albertans who have made outstanding contributions to rural life and agriculture are named to the hall, which spotlights those who exemplify leadership and accomplishment in their careers at the community, provincial, national or international level. Since it […] Read more
