Mississippi Business Journal » farming

Undersecretary: ‘I understand the frustration’ over catfish inspections

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:03:55 +0000

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has received word that the U.S. Department of Agriculture could complete a final rule for implementing a catfish inspection program by this October, Cochran reports in a release. Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, USDA undersecretary for food safety, today told Cochran the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is committed [...]

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Federation president praises lawmakers for Farm Bill effort

MBJ Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:44:54 +0000

JACKSON — The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) leadership is commending U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss) and his staff for their diligent work to reach a solid compromise on a Senate Farm Bill package. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed a piece of farm legislation that garnered a 15-5 vote. [...]

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Catfish farmers challenged by markets lost to imports

Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:40:41 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Catfish farmers continue to address production challenges as the industry works to reclaim markets lost to imported fish. Jeremy Robbins, vice president of The Catfish Institute based in Jackson, said farmers have struggled in recent years with high feed prices, their No. 1 expense, while dealing with increased competition from imports. “There [...]

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Senator presses ag secretary again on fish inspections

MBJ Staff — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:23:20 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has once again pressed the U.S. secretary of agriculture to explain why a catfish inspection program authorized five years ago has not been implemented. Cochran, who has been fighting to ensure a fair and level playing field for U.S. catfish producers, raised the issue again with Agriculture [...]

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Biotech group sends letter to Cochran urging mandatory funding

MBJ Staff — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:52:13 +0000

AROUND MISSISSIPPI — A group of Mississippi biotechnology companies and state associations have written Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), urging him to support mandatory funding for renewable energy programs in a new Farm Bill. Elevance Renewable Sciences of Natchez and DuPont Corporation, which has operations in Pass Christian and Pascagoula, sent the letter along with supporters [...]

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Hay and forage producers hoping for blue skies

MBJ Staff — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:23:17 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — As pastures transition from cool-season to warm-season grasses, the state’s hay and forage producers hope for sunny days that are better suited to growing and harvesting quality crops. “We’re finishing up with our cool season forages, which are annual ryegrass, wheat and oats with some clovers mixed in,” said Mark Mowdy, an [...]

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Bank cooperative sees huge jump in net income

MBJ Staff — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:28:41 +0000

AUSTIN, Texas — Farm Credit Bank of Texas (FCBT) reports net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, totaled $53.8 million, a 57 percent increase from the same period of 2012. The increase was due largely to a $6.4 million increase in noninterest income, combined with a $13.7 million decrease in provision for loan [...]

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Farmers waiting for blue sky; rain stymies planting

MBJ Staff — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:28:00 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Farmers should be nearly finished planting corn and going strong with soybeans, rice and cotton, but instead Mississippi fields are quiet as rain keeps tractors in the barn. As of late April, the state had gone more than five weeks with only an occasional day or two suitable for planting. Mississippi corn [...]

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Poultry producers face myriad of challenges this year

MBJ Staff — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:22:54 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The impact of last year’s drought on feed costs is not the only challenge poultry growers face in 2013. Production costs, expansion issues, waste regulations, competition from other meat sources and the next grain crop are major factors impacting the poultry industry this year. “Some of the corn produced last year had [...]

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Spring rains helpful, but crops need summer moisture

MBJ Staff — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:00:15 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Springtime’s soggy fields are no guarantee that summer’s row crops will have the moisture they need to thrive until harvest in the fall. Jason Krutz, irrigation specialist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said winter and spring rain helps recharge the soil profile, but moisture must be replenished during the [...]

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