Poor or no internet for 3 in 10 of largest U.S. farmers – March 2, 2022

Poor or no internet for 3 in 10 of largest U.S. farmers

A sizable portion of America’s largest farmers “are unable to take advantage of many applications and services” on the internet because they don’t have a connection or it is of poor quality, said a Purdue University survey released on Tuesday. The gap in access exists at the same time the sector is embracing precision agriculture technology such as GPS guidance of tractors and combines.

Waive fertilizer dumping duties, corn farmers ask

U.S. companies should give farmers a break by withdrawing their petitions for anti-dumping duties on imported fertilizer, said a corn farmer group at a House hearing on Tuesday that was dominated by reports of rising crop production costs. Farm groups generally called for higher price supports in the upcoming 2023 farm bill, with rice, soybean and cotton growers saying the $125,000-a-person annual limit on crop subsidies was too low.

Indiana finds bird flu at sixth turkey farm

Avian influenza was identified at a sixth turkey farm in southern Indiana, and state officials said on Tuesday the 16,500 birds on the farm would be killed while the state waits for confirmation of the viral disease. Meanwhile, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said 1.6 million turkeys, chickens and other fowl have died as part of this year’s outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Today’s Quick Hits

TEFAP funding needed: One fifth of House members signed a letter in support of an additional $900 million this year for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to help food banks meet continued high demand for aid. (Rep. Panetta)

Rapid ASF test: A Purdue researcher received a $1 million grant in hopes of developing a pen-side test that will tell within 30 minutes if pigs are infected with highly contagious African swine fever, a deadly hog disease. (Purdue)

Wheat at 14-year high: U.S. wheat futures hit a 14-year high of $9.84 a bushel, propelled by the possibility of prolonged disruption of supplies due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; those two nations grow 14 percent of the world’s wheat. (Reuters)

NFU re-elects Larew: Delegates elected Rob Larew to his second two-year term as president of the National Farmers Union at the organization’s 120th annual convention. (NFU)

Potatoes go bananas: Researchers have found that planting potatoes in a paper pouch created from banana tree fibers vastly reduces the threat of damage by the potato cyst nematode, a microscopic worm that can reduce harvests by 70 percent. (Science)

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