Mississippi Business Journal » producer

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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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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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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Board endows chair, supports soybean research

MBJ Staff — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:04:27 +0000

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board (MSPB) has invested in the Edgar E. Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy at Mississippi State University (MSU). Named after the late Edgar E. Hartwig, a renowned soybean breeder, MSPB’s investment will help fund an endowed chair in MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. MSPB’s funding leveraged [...]

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Researchers touting ‘RISER’ system to Delta farmers

MBJ Staff — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:14:48 +0000

STONEVILLE — Mississippi State University experts have a new program to help Delta producers irrigate row crops more efficiently and economically. MSU Extension Service irrigation specialist Jason Krutz is leading a multi-faceted approach to water conservation, dubbed Row-crop Irrigation Science and Extension Research, or RISER. The researchers are working with producers to help reduce irrigation [...]

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Bad market conditions have peanut growers exploring options

MBJ Staff — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:32:51 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — A significant decline in price potential has last year’s peanut growers looking to other crops in 2013. According to the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Prospective Plantings report, acreage is declining in every peanut-producing state except Oklahoma. Mississippi is expected to post the greatest percentage decline, down 58 percent from the previous [...]

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Report gives impact of extension service, experiment stations

MBJ Staff — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:14:51 +0000

STARKVILLE — The South’s extension service and experiment station systems are still relevant nearly a century after they were founded. This according to a new report released by an Ohio-based charitable trust. Battelle Technology Partnership Practice and BioDimensions, an independent research and development organization, released results of a study of the economic impact Extension Service [...]

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Specialty crop grants available through Ag Department

MBJ Staff — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:25:24 +0000

JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is now accepting proposals for Mississippi’s FY 2013 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to solely enhance the competitiveness of Mississippi’s specialty crop industry. Projects funded through the program must address at least one of the following priority areas — research, [...]

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Cochran backs bill exempting small farms from EPA rules

MBJ Staff — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:42:18 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has endorsed legislation that would provide relief to small farms from Environmental Protection Agency fuel storage requirements that are set to take effect in May. Cochran is an original cosponsor to the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (S.496) that would amend the EPA Spill Prevention, Control [...]

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County to build year-round farmer’s market

Associated Press — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:39:20 +0000

CORINTH — Alcorn County is getting a year-round farmer’s market. The board of the Fulton Drive farmer’s market, where a covered shed is soon to be constructed, has set up operating rules for the site. The Daily Corinthian reports the decision to move to a 12-month market reflects increasing availability of some crops. “We do [...]

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