The government has also compensated 800 out of more than 4000 white farmers who have already lost their land under the controversial land reform programme, a junior government minister was quoted as saying in the official Herald newspaper. A total of 226 white farmers were given eviction notices, which expire before the end of September, the Herald reported Flora Buka, minister of state for special affairs responsible for land resettlement, as saying. There is room for negotiation when we...

Less familiar are biotech battles in the agricultural sector, where multinational seed companies are using patents to deny farmers or entire nations the right to use and sell seeds from patent- protected crops. This week, however, a drawn-out battle against Monsanto's entrenched corporate monopoly will come to a head not in the streets or the fields but in an arcane technical hearing at the European Patent Office. Monsanto, the biotech giant, has drawn public protest across the world. The...

The organic pet food is about $3 for 13 ounces right now, but if interest persists, the price likely will go down. Our scientists are just trying to help out by doing diagnostic testing of food samples and tissue of diseased animals to identify the cause of illnesses of these pets, she said. McDowell started the business after her terrier died of cancer and she researched ingredients in pet food. People need to be reassured they don t have to rely on these big pet food chains because that...

Manuse/Daily News staff GHS Mon Apr 30, 2007, 01:23 AM EDT Story Tools: Email This . Print This Natick - This spring's weather may be delaying crop planting and the launch of agricultural attractions, but farmers with diverse crops and activities said last week they weren't too concerned about the rain and cold. Manuse/Daily News staff GHS Mon Apr 30, 2007, 01:23 AM EDT Story Tools: Email This . Print This Natick - This spring's weather may be delaying crop planting and the launch of...

WASHINGTON - Families victimized by tainted spinach and peanut butter put a human face Tuesday on a recent string of high-profile outbreaks of foodborne illness, urging lawmakers to strengthen federal oversight of the nation's food supply. In March, Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans of dog and cat food after the deaths of 16 pets, mostly cats, that had eaten products contaminated with the chemical melamine. Congress shines spotlight on food safety. The two girls fell ill - Ashley gravely...

Oyster production increased by 54 percent from the year before, while clam production rose almost three times at fast, at an increase of 158 percent. Like most shellfish farmers in the state, who are improving their productivity per acre faster than they are expanding the actual acreage under cultivation, Warfel is concentrating on ways to nurture more baby oysters to maturity. In the past decade, however, clam farming has remained relatively flat, with oyster farming seeing the lion's...

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Both Monsanto executives will provide an update on the company's business performance and expectations, strategic initiatives, product performance, research-and-development pipeline, and other business matters at these conferences. LOUIS, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) Carl Casale, executive vice president;...

April 28, 2007 Keeping farmers safe while operating tractors It's a big job with many dangers and now local leaders are taking steps to make farming safer. On Saturday, many who share his farming profession learned how to avoid accidents like the one that took Pollard's life. He was feeding his cattle at his home when his tractor flipped over. In January, Bedford County Supervisor Bobby Pollard died in a farming accident. Pollard was finishing his second four-year term as District six...

A 23-member coordinating committee composed of representatives from farm organizations, agriculture and conservation interests and others who deal with farming and rural life compiled the recommendations after hearing from farmers and interested citizens at six regional forums held throughout the state during the past year. A 23-member coordinating committee composed of representatives from farm organizations, agriculture and conservation interests and others who deal with farming and...