The Back 40

FAO, an organization, based in Italy, whose mission is to “raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy,” recently proposed a new framework for agricultural water management. FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, during his comments at World Water Week in [...]

As an example of the problems the Endangered Species Act can cause for America’s farmers and ranchers, this article discusses the Utah prairie dog, listed as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act, and its impacts on ranchers in southwestern Utah. Utah prairie dogs, and their destructive nature, have traditionally been a thorn in [...]

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture entitled, Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2012 examines “trends in economic, structural, resource, and environmental indicators” in the agricultural sector that have developed since the previous report was published in 2006. We are encouraged to see improvements in water efficiency, conservation tillage, nitrate recovery, as well [...]

Todd Eggerling (pictured at right (holding his son) with his family), whose family received the 2009 Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska, provides a glimpse into the struggles America’s farmers and ranchers are facing due to the drought and the lack of government aid, which is stalled because of Congressional conflict over the Farm Bill. As [...]

An innovative new partnership between Dane County and farm families that will keep fields full of crops and area lakes and streams cleaner kicked off early this morning. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi joined Town of Springfield farmer Jeff Endres and other officials this morning to survey some of the 280 acres of farmland that [...]

Farmers and brewers working together. What could be better? The Flying Dog brewery in Maryland recently bought over 100 pounds of hops from seven local farmers and invited them to help brew a new batch of the brewery’s Harvest Ale. Although the brewery can’t buy all of its ingredients locally, Flying Dog sees its Harvest [...]