Return to TFB Main Page
Return to Current Edition
Texas Agriculture Archive

June 3, 2005

E. coli infections show dramatic drop
For the first time, cases of E. coli O157 infections, one of the most severe foodborne diseases, are below the national Healthy People 2010 health goal.

From 1996-2004, the incidence of E. coli O157 infections decreased 42 percent. Campylobacter infections decreased 31 percent, Cryptospordium dropped 40 percent, and Yersinia decreased 45 percent.
Source: AFBF; Policy-Links;April 18, 2005

Bioenergy crops could increase prices 14 percent
USDA's feasibility studies suggest crop prices would be up to 14 percent higher with bioenergy crops—assuming 40 million planted acres.

This would boost farm incomes $3 to $6 billion due to higher receipts for existing crops and receipts from bioenergy crops. As a result of improved crop prices, there would be reduction in farm program costs of $2-$3 billion, with lower commodity payments due to higher prices, and conservation costs reduced by allowing CRP contract holders to grow bio-energy crops on reserve acreage in return for a lower rental payment.
Source: AFBF; Public Policy Bulletins; May 20, 2005

Biotechnology celebrates 10th anniversary in U.S.
Just how vital is agricultural biotechnology to America's farmers?

The fact is that today, after reaching the milestone of 10 full years of proven biotech crop production, a majority of farmers in the United States would likely have to rethink, if not relearn, how to economically grow row crops without this valuable farming tool.

Survey results show farmers choose to grow biotech crops for two main reasons—to increase yields through improved pest control and to decrease pesticide costs. That's great for the environment, good for farmers' bottom lines and, because far fewer hours of field work are required, biotechnology even helps boost the time that farmers can spend with their families. Given the choice, it's doubtful that many would return to the old way of doing business.

Planting biotech crops usually also means reduced tillage and less erosion, farmers better distributing their seasonal workload, reduced environmental impact from crop protection products, improved overall work safety and, not least of all, higher quality food and fiber harvested. It is no wonder that this 10^th year of biotech crops is being marked as a historical event.

Industry estimates are that 80 percent of soybeans and 40 percent of corn acres in the United States were planted with biotech seed varieties in 2004. Trends indicate biotech cropping in the U. S. will continue to increase.
Source: AFBF; Focus on Agriculture; May 16, 2005

Income potential from wind energy increasing
Information collected from Department of Energy (DOE), the Government Accounting Office (GAO), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines the current and potential gains of wind energy to the agricultural industry.

While there are several types, a typical leasing agreement provides $2,000 per year for a 750-kilowatt wind turbine, roughly two to three percent of a wind project's gross revenue. A 250-acre farm could increase annual income up to $14,000 per year, given the common turbine spacing requirements.

With DOE's goal of producing 5 percent of the nation's electricity through wind energy by 2020, farmers and rural landowners could see $1.2 billion in additional income from wind energy over the next 15 years.
Source: AFBF; Public Policy Bulletin; May 20, 2005

The future? 'No time to peel fruit'
A special report published by the World Future Society, "53 Trends Now Shaping the Future," includes a number of forecasts with implications for agriculture.

According to the report, by the year 2050, the world's population will grow to 9.2 billion. It's about 6.5 billion at present.

"To meet human nutritional needs over the next 40 years, global agriculture will have to supply as much food as has been produced during all of human history," the report states.

According to the report, "By 2050, fully two-thirds of the world's population could be living in regions with chronic, widespread shortages of water." The report further concluded that drought, periodic famine and desertification are expected to grow more frequent and severe in coming decades.

Ironically, this study seemed more concerned about running out of water than oil. The authors predict that oil will remain the world's most important energy resource for years to come, but in two or three decades oil will have less of a choke-hold on the global economy. Growing competition from other energy sources, including renewable fuels, will limit the price of oil.

But the most precious commodity in the world will be time.

Increasingly fast-paced lifestyles will lead to people reaching out more and more for time-saving products and services.

At the Food Marketing Institute trade show recently in Chicago, vendors previewed new grab-and-go-cups of water-packed carrots and celery. Similar cups of fruit sold in convenience stores are already a success. People don't even have time to peel fruit, or so it seems.
Source: AFBF; Focus on Agriculture; May 9, 2005

Natural gas the `fuel of choice'
Since the 1980s, natural gas has become "the fuel of choice" to meet environmental goals of every class of user.

U.S. demand for natural gas is up 40 percent since 1986 and accounts for 25 percent of U.S. energy use. By 2025, U.S. natural gas demand is projected to grow another 40 percent.

Production has risen less than 1 percent annually since 1998, and the price has tripled compared to the average of the past decade.
Source: AFBF; News Release; May 17, 2005

Angus association offers radio ID tags
The American Angus Association (AAA) has introduced two new radio frequency (RF) ID tag options for cattle producers. Producers interested in ordering BIR tags can do so online at www.angusonline.org/store/ or by contacting the AAA.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 68, No. 18-1; May 6, 2005

Americans eating more spinach
Consumption of spinach increased 66 percent between 1992 and 2002, according to the most recent comparisons available from the Agriculture Department.

Most of the increase in spinach consumption was for fresh spinach.

Even though per capita consumption is only about 2.5 pounds, this is a major jump.

The USDA reported two reasons for the increase: the popularity of bagged spinach in grocery stores and more restaurants offering baby spinach salads.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; April 15, 2005