Topic: agriculture

From Greenhouse to Store Shelves in a Matter of Minutes

March 18, 2013 |

Written by Tanya Brown, Writer/Editor
Farm Service Agency

Washington, D.C. – BrightFarms wants to disrupt the produce supply chain and eliminate the amount of miles vegetables have to travel before landing on supermarket shelves.

“The produce will be at least a week fresher, taste better and be more nutritious and safer,” said Paul Lightfoot, CEO of BrightFarms. “It also reduces environmental input, uses less land, less fuel and less greenhouse gases.”

The concept? Hydroponic gardens on supermarket rooftops or in greenhouses next door or a few blocks away from grocery stores.

Chris Williams is the operator of a BrightFarms greenhouse in Yardley, Pa., that will provide fresh produce to a supermarket only a half a block away.

«Read the rest of this article»

USDA’s Accomplishments in 2012

December 29, 2012 |

Written by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
USDA

Washington, D.C. – Over the course of 2012, farm families and rural communities faced a number of challenges. A record drought impacted much of the country and many were impacted by a major hurricane, flooding and severe storms. However, thanks to the resilience of rural Americans, our communities are still going strong.

Over the course of this year, USDA continued our record efforts to help folks across our nation, and I am proud of the work we carried out.

Dr. Tim Cross, dean of UT Extension; Dr. Shirley Hastings, associate dean and head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Martha Pile, UT Extension family and consumer sciences agent; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during his visit to the Montgomery County Agricultural Extension Office

«Read the rest of this article»

NASA funded researchers report on the Fall of the Maya Civilization, “They Did it to Themselves”

December 15, 2012 |

Written by Dauna Coulter
Science at NASA

Washington, D.C. – For 1200 years, the Maya dominated Central America. At their peak around 900 A.D., Maya cities teemed with more than 2,000 people per square mile — comparable to modern Los Angeles County.

Even in rural areas the Maya numbered 200 to 400 people per square mile. But suddenly, all was quiet. And the profound silence testified to one of the greatest demographic disasters in human prehistory — the demise of the once vibrant Maya society.

Mayan ruins in Guatemala. (Photo by Tom Sever)

«Read the rest of this article»

Agricultural Weather and Drought Update for July 30th, 2012

August 1, 2012 |

Washington, DC – Based on weather developments last week (July 22-28), U.S. corn and soybean conditions further declined in today’s USDA/NASS crop condition report.  The most significant crop deterioration occurred across the southern and western Corn Belt, where little or no rainfall accompanied temperatures that averaged 5 to 10°F above normal.

Multiple days of triple-digit (100°F) heat were noted last week in parts of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and on the Great Plains from South Dakota to Texas.  In contrast, there was enough rain (locally 1 to 2 inches or more) across the northern Corn Belt, mainly from the Dakotas to Michigan and Ohio, to help stabilize crop conditions in some fields.  Parts of central and eastern Iowa also received highly beneficial rainfall in excess of an inch.

«Read the rest of this article»

Austin Peay University Students conduct important Research on the Bats at Dunbar Cave

July 3, 2012 |

Clarksville, TN – On a muggy evening in late June, several Austin Peay State University graduate and undergraduate students hiked up to the mouth of Dunbar Cave in the hopes of finding a few bats.

The group brought with them a large Harp trap, consisting of a metal frame inset with rows of thin fishing line, and three high-frequency microphones and computerized recording units. After setting up their equipment, they sat in the cool dark of the cave opening and waited.

APSU graduate student Veronica Mullen and former APSU graduate student Josh Schulte prepare for a night of monitoring bats at Dunbar Cave.

«Read the rest of this article»

Tennessee Department of Agriculture hosting Agriculture and Forestry “Listening sessions”

April 8, 2012 |

Focus on Farm and Forest Issues, Rural Development Opportunities

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is hosting a series of listening sessions across the state in April and May for farmers, forest landowners and agribusinesses. The purpose of the meetings is to hear stakeholder concerns about current issues and to explore opportunities for developing our rural economy and increasing farm and forest income.

“We want to be available to our producers, landowners and agribusinesses to hear their concerns and to get their input on how to enhance our rural communities and economy,” Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson said. “This is also about ongoing efforts to look at how we, as an agency, can provide better service and be more responsive to challenges and opportunities. «Read the rest of this article»

Tennessee Department of Agriculture unveils new Ag and forestry industry magazine

March 24, 2012 |

Comprehensive Guide Promotes Agriculture to Consumers, Businesses and Policy Makers

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture recently unveiled the premiere issue of Tennessee Ag Insider magazine, a comprehensive guide to the state’s farms, food and forestry. The department unveiled the magazine to the public March 20th at the annual Ag Day on the Hill celebration at Legislative Plaza in Nashville.

The yearly magazine serves as a primer for government and business leaders and consumers about the impact of agriculture and forestry on the state’s health, environment and economy.

The new Tennessee AG Insider magazine.

«Read the rest of this article»

APSU AG Teacher helps National Guard team raise honey bees in Afghanistan

June 18, 2009 |

An Austin Peay State University adjunct faculty member who serves in the Tennessee Army National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) is part of a new and unique mission in Paktya, Afghanistan — helping the locals raise honey bees.

Sgt. Robert Moore, who teaches agriculture at APSU, is project leader of the ADT, which is working with the Paktya Beekeeping Association to help raise 700 new bee colonies within the region and to educate new beekeepers.

«Read the rest of this article»

Agriculture Enhancement Program funding now available

June 12, 2009 |

Farmers and Agritourism Operators encouraged to apply for TAEP Funding. Application deadline is July 1st.

Agricultural Commissioner Ken Givens along with State Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) has announced the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program. Most applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis and should be filled out completely. Applications cannot be postmarked earlier than June 1. The deadline for submission is July 1.

According to Pitts, “Agriculture continues to be one of the most important industries we have here in Tennessee and these grants means hundreds of farms across the state have a better chance of being here for years to come.”

«Read the rest of this article»

Capitalism has corrupted the reason for which money was created!

February 16, 2009 |

Let’s remember how money, on which our economy is based, started out simply as a system of “trade.” Now days money is capital, and capital is for making more capital. It’s called capitalism. And it’s not the market with which my mother traded…not at all!

Too many years ago, when my mother would go to town from our farm, she didn’t go to the store. She went to “trade.”

I never thought twice about why she would say “trade,” and the rest of us would say we were going to buy something.

Of course, Mom wasn’t a dummy. Maybe she was more of an economist than the guys who deal with capitalism for the Federal Reserve. «Read the rest of this article»

© 2006-2010 Clarksville, TN Online is owned and operated by residents of Clarksville Tennessee.
» We are Hosted by Compu-Net Enterprises; In Partnership with Discover Clarksville and Discover Paris