Bob Brachmann of the town of Mansfield, who has about 300 hives and breeds Russian queen bees, said last year was the worst season he had ever experienced. He believes the primary reason for the colony failure is a systemic pesticide that is contained in corn and some other genetically-modified crops like cotton, cannola and soybeans. Honey production has been declining over then past six or seven years about the same time frame as the introduction of the genetically-modified crops, he...

She said agricultural officials still hold some hope for later-maturing cotton, peanut and soybean crops, if the state gets rain soon. USDA and state agriculture officials use the report to measure conditions in agriculture each week. He sees impact on gasoline, food products and in employment at cotton gins, in the shipping industry and other sectors. While the final figures may not be in for Alabama, nobody expects a banner year for the farm and forestry industry, whichbrought in more...

A senior trader, Ghulam Rabbani said due to rough weather conditions, trading remained dull and majority of the market players remained on the sidelines. Dealers said that leading buyers bought fine quality lint on slightly higher price while ginners from Punjab offered their poor stocks on competitive rates during the trading session. China import activity was expected to jump over the near-term as the trade seemed extremely tight stocks in China and a strong world demand for its...

They bought a 38-acre farm in Hunterdon County in 2004, and they are confident of converting the entire operation into an organic farm by the end of this year. Canright and Hansen have begun growing fruits and vegetables on Comeback Farm using natural substances such as manure-based compost and ground-up fish to nourish crops, instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides like their conventional farm neighbors in the fertile Musconetcong River Valley. Canright and Hansen have begun...

Deciduous tree fruit, nuts and grapes: Grape growers continue fungus and insect-control spray applications with harvest of southern county vineyards starting as early as next week. Peach varieties such as Ice Princess and Snow Blaze, nectarines Ruby Pearl and Grand Pearl, plums Hromi Red and Black Beaut, pluots Early Dapple and Dapple Fire are being packed for both domestic and export shipments to Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom and Taiwan. Peach varieties such as Ice Princess and Snow...

Farmers and custom cutting crews made considerable wheat harvest progress over the last week, but remain well behind the normal pace for this time of year, according to Monday's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report. Wheat harvest remains behind pace; status quo for corn, soybean conditions. Other crop conditions, including for cotton, sorghum, oats and barley, were at or near the levels they were last week and at this point last year. Corn and soybean crop conditions were unchanged and slightly...

The fair opened in 1886 as an exposition where people could have fun, share ideas for improving farm yields and show off the area's best livestock and crops. There will be more local and Michigan-based entertainers, first-rate amusement park rides and all the animals everyone can handle without having to fork out a fortune in gas money to get there. With a $5 admission price, free parking and free daily performers, the fair is the county's best "bang for the buck'' this summer, Morris...

Montana's agricultural sector is the largest natural resource industry in the state, approaching $3 billion in cash income each year. In Wyoming, livestock and crops add more than $1 billion to the state's revenue every year. farm subsidies, arguing that unless or until there is a world agreement on agriculture trade, U. farm law and agricultural subsidies immune to challenge by other members of the World Trade Organization. The House Agriculture subcommittee that deals with commodities...

Readings over 50% in the ISM diffusion index indicate that more firms are growing than contracting. The ISM tracks the breadth of growth across firms, asking purchasing managers if business is better this month than last. Economists believe the economy may have grown faster than 3% in the just-concluded second quarter and may be slowing to about 2. High input prices and the continuing corrections in the housing and automotive sectors remain the biggest concerns for manufacturers, ISM said....