SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " farming " 100 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Sign in to save shuffle history.
Business After Hours at Farmington Historical Society, Sept 17th
Franklin County Chamber invites you join them for Business After Hours at the Titcomb House, Academy Street. Farmington on Thursday, September 17th hosted by the Farmington Historical Society.
Lab-Grown Meat: Separating the Science From the “Yuck”
Is lab-grown meat the sustainable future of food or an unsettling science experiment? Dive into the complex world of cultivated protein as this insightful article explores the “yuck” factor, steep economic hurdles, and structural shifting driving the cutting-edge future of farming.
Sustainable Seaweed Farming Could Boost Coastal Communities, Economies, and Marine Health
The cold, nutrient-rich waters off British Columbia and Alaska are home to some of the most spectacular and diverse marine ecosystems in the world, featuring more than 500 known seaweed species, from smaller red and green seaweeds to towering giant kelp that can grow as much as 2 feet a day.
Platner’s ‘living on the sea’ claim dismantled by critics as financial docs paint a different picture
Graham Platner claims he makes a living on the sea, but financial disclosures show his oyster farming income is dwarfed by disability payments.
Farm succession stories: You can go home to the farm
An Ord, Neb., native and UNL agribusiness major found an enterprise that adds value to the farming operation and allows him to return to the family farm.
Binding us through science: Mt. Blue High honors biology Open House
FARMINGTON — The food court at Mt Blue campus is dotted with tables of poster presentations encircled by curious community members, serving up slices of science, community service, and free pizza for…
City of Heroes: Homecoming hosts the Players Choice Awards for Architect Entertainment arcs
Any dedicated player of City of Heroes: Homecoming knows that there are many arcs in Architect Entertainment which are there for farming or leveling. This is just how it is. But there are also many arcs that weave interesting narratives, and the Players Choice Awards is returning to the server from back when the game was [...]
UK urged to ban imports of Brazilian meat over health concerns
Brazil failed to prove compliance with EU rules on use of antibiotics in cattle and poultry farming
Grayson College program teaches the business of agriculture
Grayson College has launched a new agricultural sciences program designed to prepare students for careers in farming, ranching, and agribusiness, addressing the gap left by retiring producers and offering hands-on learning and dual-credit options.
Maryland Business Helps Landowners Restore Wildlife Habitats
Wildlife specialist Luke Macaulay runs Land & Wildlife, helping landowners improve wildlife habitat and balance farming with conservation.
Healthcare workers call for new labor agreement prior to deadline
13WHAM ABC Rochester provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, health reports, notices of events and items of interest in the community, local sports and entertainment programming for Rochester and nearby towns and communities including Greece, Victor, Pittsford, Penfield, Henrietta, Webster, Irondequoit, Fairport, Chili, Gates, Rush, Wheatland, Canandaigua, Farmington, Spencerport and Hilton.
Local advocates mark Medicare, Medicaid anniversary, push for affordable health care
13WHAM ABC Rochester provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, health reports, notices of events and items of interest in the community, local sports and entertainment programming for Rochester and nearby towns and communities including Greece, Victor, Pittsford, Penfield, Henrietta, Webster, Irondequoit, Fairport, Chili, Gates, Rush, Wheatland, Canandaigua, Farmington, Spencerport and Hilton.
Election stakes are high for Colorado’s farming future
U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans is running to defend his seat against Manny Rutinel. I don’t know either of the two, but I was able to visit with Evans for half an hour earlier this week and while we aren’t aligned on everything, we have similar feelings about dear Manny. Evans said he’s hearing the same […]
Amy Acton opens up about her painful childhood after an attack ad featuring her estranged mother
Amy Acton was talking school budgets, local hospitals and generational farming at a farm event in northwest Ohio when she called on an attendee and asked her if there was anything she wanted to share.
Retiring from Farming
Start now to ensure your farm passes to the next generation Deborah Jeanne Post [caption id=attachment_11062 align=alignright width=405] Adam C. Howell, outreach director at Cornell’s NY FarmNet: “Retirement from farming is atypical planning,” he says.[/caption] Roughly 70% of family-owned farms will transfer ownership withing the next two decades, according to data from to the USDA census. Only 30% of those will remain in the family. The number of farms in New York is shrinking as the size of farms increases. In other words, there are fewer farms in the state, but they’re much larger. This is why succession planning is so important for family farms. A farm represents not only a way to make a living but a legacy and family tradition. Many families want to preserve the small farm segment of agriculture and the values it represents. Passing the family farm to the next generation can’t be left to chance. And it shouldn’t be left for “the kids to figure out” after the older generation dies. Succession planning in agriculture isn’t like other types of business retirement planning or personal final planning. “Retirement from farming is atypical planning,” said Adam C. Howell, outreach director at Cornell’s NY FarmNet. “Most farmers, their assets and the way they live and survive in retirement is tied up in the equity in the farm. Those conversations must take place a lot earlier than they think. They’re dealing with something asset-heavy that may require a trust and tax planning.” NY FarmNet offers farmers free, confidential consultation services regarding financial and business management, and family, and mental health support for farmers in New York state. It’s a program of Cornell University in Ithaca. Howell urges farmers to begin the conversation early. Most family farms are run by generations with the oldest generation most involved and typically with fewer of the middle-aged adults and young adults involved. Some of the younger generation may have off-farm jobs and not live on the homestead. “Different people have different expectations on their legacy,” Howell said. “Intergenerational conflict and discussions can be difficult. It may be good to check with NY FarmNet or Ag Mediation to help mediate these conversations with a third party. A lot of farms have broken up because people can’t decide how to divide things.” New York State Agricultural Mediation Program is a USDA‑certified, free or low‑cost service for farmers. Fair is not always equal. A sole owner simply stating that he wants to divide things equally among his children may leave one-quarter of the farm operation to an adult child who moved away and hasn’t sat in a tractor for decades. The three adult children who have toiled on the farm for 30 years may need to buy out the fourth, non-farming sibling but cannot because all of their money is tied up in the equipment, land and stock that supports their livelihood. Their payrate may not allow them to set aside much to buy out the non-farming sibling. As a result, they may need to sell parts of the farm off in order to keep it. However, doing so may limit their ability to sufficiently support their families. The farm owner may need to bequeath more assets to the farming siblings because their efforts have kept the farm going and without those assets and their work, the farm will cease operations. Howell advises seeking professional help on tax and legal issues. Without it, families can be exposed to expensive problems and infighting. A third-party expert can help farm families navigate what is truly fair in the family’s succession plans. Beyond the practical aspects of inheritance, succession also relies upon planning who will operate the farm and how. “I think it’s important that farmers understand the means and methods of farming are always changing,” Howell said. For example, many young adult farmers earn a degree at a school such as Cornell, SUNY Cobleskill or Morrisville, work on a different farm for a while and then return to their family farm with big ideas on how to improve the farm — if only their dad and uncles will agree. Intergenerational conflict is often centered on newer ideas such agritourism, online marketing and shipping goods. “It causes conflict,” Howell said. “A lot of it comes down to communication and respect within the family. If no one in the family wants to take on farming, what we’ll see is older farmers start to help trusted managers buy into the farm.” The middle-aged generation, now in their 40s and 50s, often struggle with wresting the helm from their parents. Howell said that many older farmers don’t discuss with their grown children their vital business information such as vendors, ordering supplies, pricing, recordkeeping and farm planning. They even claim that “the kids” aren’t ready yet. These gaps in cross-training may cause significant problems even before the older generation dies, if there’s an illness or injury. Howell urges farmers to document these processes and cross-train others on the farm how to handle these areas “to make sure if one person is incapacitated, the entire operation is not at risk,” he said. Mark Modzeleski, financial adviser, financial planner and president at Legacy Wealth Advisors of NY in Syracuse, advises families to talk sooner than later about who should be operating the farm. “Someone is driving the farm,” he said. “Have you decided who? Be honest when you have that conversation. Who do they turn to when there’s a question? Or who has the potential to be leaders?” Planning for leadership continuity is vital. Unfortunately, talking like this can become fraught with emotions if it’s only the family involved. Modzeleski advised finding a third party who can help drive the conversation. “Invite the right people to the conversation who can get you from point A to point B,” he said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” It may take sitting down a few times with an estate planning attorney who specializes in farm transition, along with a tax professional and others who can help moderate and plan. Family members, owners and possibly, integral farm managers should attend the meetings. “Figure out what you want your legacy to be,” Modzeleski added.
Destiny 2 Has a New Armor Farming Glitch For Easy T5 Meta Sets
A Destiny 2 player shares a glitch that allows fans to easily farm Tier 5 meta armor sets, and the good news is it won't be fixed.
Corbin Advisors Named 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Award Winner by Hartford Business Journal
Firm recognized in Women-Owned Business category for business excellence, leadership, innovation, and impactFARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corbin Advisors, a leading strategic investor relations and investor communications advisory firm, today announced it has been named the inaugural winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Awards in the Women-Owned Business, 51–250 Employees category. The recognition celebrates Connecticut organizatio
Andy Burnham and the rise of ‘aura farming’ in politics
Is “aura farming” the new political superpower? There are some days in TV news when you find yourself standing in the middle of a farm, surrounded by baby goats, trying to explain internet slang. Subscribe This was one of those days. There I was, in wellies, trying to unpack aura farming - a Gen Z term for carefully cultivating your image online so that you look effortlessly cool, authentic and charismatic. The trick, apparently, is that it can’t look like you’re trying too hard. Which, I’ll admit, felt slightly ironic as we filmed an entire report on a farm purely because the word farming is in the title. ‘Shaped by algorithms’ Whether you like it or not, politics increasingly feels like it’s being shaped by algorithms as much as manifestos. Take Andy Burnham. Since arriving at Number 10, he’s been impossible to miss online. One minute he’s out for a casual jog with Mo Farah. Next he’s announcing policy alongside TikTok high priestess Bus Aunty. His social media paints a very deliberate picture: less polished Westminster operator, more bloke from the North who just happens to be running the country. It’s not accidental. Burnham’s “King of the North”, New Order-loving persona has become part of a carefully constructed political brand. Authenticity is now something politicians work incredibly hard to make look effortless. But Burnham isn’t inventing this playbook. Like so many of us doomscrolling on an evening, he’s been influenced online. The digital strategy of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, pictured above right, has become a case study in viral political communication, and some of the people behind that campaign have recently been advising the Labour Party in Britain. Their message is simple: if you want to reach younger voters, you need to show up where they already spend their time. Embracing content creators And increasingly, that doesn’t mean traditional news interviews (awkward). It means speaking to content creators like Max from The Career Ladder, whose channels reach around 20 million followers worldwide. His interview with Burnham, pictured below, was posted almost immediately after he became Prime Minister. What struck me wasn’t just the audience size, but something Max told me afterwards: many people in the comments said they’d discovered Britain had a new Prime Minister through his interview. Think about that for a moment. Not through rolling news. Not through newspapers. Through a creator they were already following while scrolling. Share That’s a profound shift in how political information reaches people, one that’s been gathering momentum for some time. It also explains why politicians are embracing content creators and spending millions on digital marketing. Of course, this isn’t unique to one party. ‘Personality before policy’ In many ways, the right were quicker off the mark in building their aura online. Donald Trump built much of his political identity on social media. Nigel Farage remains one of Britain’s strongest political performers on TikTok. Politicians across the spectrum now understand that personality often reaches people before policy does. During a six-week UK general election campaign alone, overall digital ad spending routinely tops £11m. Share Channel 4 News Former Number 10 social media adviser Andrew Wong put it well when he told me that “vibes” can help someone get noticed, but they only work if they’re rooted in a genuine personality. Force it, and audiences spot it instantly. The bigger question is whether internet charisma can backfire on you - especially when you’re Prime Minister. Because behind Burnham’s carefully curated videos is a veteran politician with decades of Westminster experience. The spontaneity is produced. While the authenticity may be genuine, it’s managed. That’s not necessarily a criticism. It’s simply the reality of modern political communication. Aura farming alone is not enough to harvest change. But in the age of algorithms, winning attention may be the first battle. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
Farmington football forfeits 4 games for using ineligible players
Farmington football had to forfeit the first four games of its MHSAA season after two ineligible players suited up for the Falcons this season.
Irvington Springs Farm closes after 32 years in business
After more than three decades of farming and serving customers in the Lynchburg community, Kaye and Ben Moomaw are closing Irvington Springs Farm.
Xperia 1 VIII AI photos outrage: Nothing CEO calls out Sony for "engagement farming"
Sony's Xperia 1 VIII launch is facing backlash over its AI Camera Assistant, with critics roasting the flagship phone for its questionable AI image processing. Amid "engagement farming" accusations from Nothing CEO Carl Pei, the key to the controversy might be a marketing misunderstanding.
Arkansas gubernatorial nominees debate education, farming, prison space and maternal health
Arkansas’ three gubernatorial candidates took the stage at Arkansas TV in Conway on Tuesday to discuss issues facing the state ahead of the November election.
AeroFarms avoids shutdown, says it will be a ‘stronger, more stable business’
The indoor farming company in Pittsylvania County said in late March that it was working to sell its business.
New IFT White Paper Provides Blueprint for Building a Future-Ready Food Science Workforce
IFT covers building a future-ready food science workforce through AI, policy literacy and systems thinking.
New York state responds to federal concerns about solar farming
Not everyone agrees with the push to use New York’s farmland for solar farming.
Americans are angry about data centers. Politicians are feeling the pressure
From Michigan Avenue, Saline Township looks like any other farming community, with its corn and soybean fields, silos and grain elevators.
‘Veronica Mars’ star Jason Dohring shares why he left Hollywood to become a farmer
‘Veronica Mars’ actor Jason Dohring turned his back on Hollywood to focus on a new career: organic farming.
Fast 15: Justin Macedo - Talk Business & Politics
Justin Macedo was 23 when he purchased the outdoor retail business he had joined the day after graduating from Farmington High School. He started at Uncle Sam’s Safari Outfitters in...
Mississippi farming family brings new life to downtown Leland
A Mississippi family is transforming downtown Leland, bringing new businesses and making it a destination for shoppers and visitors.
Editorial: Illinois farmers are farming the government for cash
The fall harvest is looming, and you might think Illinois’ farmers and landowners would be preoccupied with bringing in the corn and soybean crops. But they’re also focused on reaping
'Jay and Silent Bob' Weed Farming Video Game in the Works
The newly launched indie company Nitrate Games is backing the project, described as an "adult cozy farm sim."
A sip of Pepsi keeps an 87-year-old farming
Eddie Brown remains active on the family farm, but he prepares the next generation to lead. It starts by passing on wisdom to his grandchildren.
Bhutan business bets on hazelnuts for farming future
Farmer Pema Dema had never even heard of hazelnuts when she was first recruited to begin growing them on her land in Bhutan's Thimphu region.Pema is one of thousands of Bhutanese growing hazelnuts as part of a social enterprise hoping to help subsistence farmers develop a high-value crop.
The farm crisis
If you haven’t figured it out yet, we have a farming crisis. We’ve had a farming crisis for years, and the Band-Aids and shortcuts and starts and stops and handouts...
The best new popular science books of August 2026
From which diets work best to the ethics of octopus farming, here’s Liz Else’s round-up of the most interesting popular science books published this month
Water scarcity a top concern for Maui County political candidates
Candidates say water should be reserved for affordable housing, farming and fire mitigation, not luxury developments, as Hawai’i emerges from years of drought.
Pritzker’s swagger stunt backfires as critics roast viral video: ‘Cringiest thing he’s ever posted’
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's black-and-white "aura-farming" video drew widespread mockery on social media, with critics targeting his weight and taxes.
Carlisle Cathedral, University of Cumbria secure grant to explore science and faith connections in local farming landscapes - Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology
Carlisle Cathedral and the University of Cumbria won a £9,850 grant to explore how science and faith connect in Cumbria's farming landscapes.
The Science Behind Dry Farming
Winemakers and researchers say dry farming can improve vine resilience and soil health—but only under the right conditions…
Trauma Farming: the New Politics of Public Suffering | Ash Sarkar meets Catherine Liu
The new politics of public suffering.
The “Asian water tower” is losing 24 billion tonnes of groundwater every year
The “Asian Water Tower” is losing roughly 24.2 billion tonnes of groundwater every year, with some of the worst declines hitting densely populated farming regions. Glacier melt may temporarily soften the crisis around the 2060s, but without changes in water use, researchers expect depletion to accelerate afterward.
Parasitic infections likely linked to farming practices, not restaurants
Two state experts break down the mysteries around a complicated foodborne infection, Cyclosporiasis, that’s been gaining traction in North Carolina and across the nation.
Why Big Bend businesses should partner with 4-H clubs
Beyond farming 4-H is a vital network for youth leadership and workforce development in the Big Bend region.
Scientists mapped beneath Utah’s Great Salt Lake and found a potentially vast reservoir of freshwater hiding under one of America’s saltiest lakes — in places, it extends more than three kilometres underground
Reeds do not grow on salt flats. Yet dozens of near-perfect circles of them have shoved their way up through the crust of Farmington Bay, in the
Unearthed paper exposes Dem House hopeful's 'insane' proposal for meeting climate goals
Manny Rutinel's resurfaced paper argued governments should incentivize ranchers to transition to plant-based farming in Colorado's top cattle district.
UMF announces retirement of Katherine Yardley, longtime dedicated faculty member, dean and co-provost of the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation
FARMINGTON —The University of Maine at Farmington has announced that Katherine Yardley, a longtime UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation faculty member, dean and co-provost who has…
How farmers, business are working to grow demand for shopping local
A Greenville County farming couple and small grocer are working on bolstering the accessibility of local produce and meat
Should a small town try a solar-powered garden?
Master of Public Health student Libby Meier tested how practical that alternative would be for Enfield, North Carolina.
Who is Howard Buffett? Meet Berkshire Hathaway's new chairman
Warren Buffett's son Howard is Berkshire Hathaway's new chairman. Here's a look at his career in farming, business, and philanthropy.
Chinese Scientists Propose Turning Abandoned Coal Mines Into Farming Laboratories
It makes more sense than you might think.
Former Murton doctor's farm aiming to boost health and wellbeing
A former County Durham doctor says she is trying to improve health through food, farming and nature.
Organic acres offer soil health lessons in Will County
Speakers talk about soil health, organic farming and more at Will County Field Day.
Faropoint adds another Long Island property to its portfolio
Faropoint purchased a 33,500-square-foot industrial building in Farmingdale for $6.35 million, expanding its Long Island portfolio.
Op-Ed | A New Future for Farming, Food, and Health
Regenerative farming systems focused on building soil health offer the potential to chart a new path toward a sustainable future.
CT employment lawyers launch AI startup to help companies manage workplace issues
Farmington startup COMP uses AI to help restaurant managers document employee incidents, apply workplace policies and reduce employment-law risks.
MDARD marks National Farm Safety and Health Week
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, farming is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States
Microbes—dead or alive—can be early indicators of soil health under regenerative farming
Researchers have demonstrated a series of biological tests that could serve as "proxies" for measuring how different regenerative agriculture practices could improve soil carbon—years before it would ...
After near shutdown, AeroFarms has new owners
AeroFarms in Danville has new owners and a new CEO after nearly shutting down, signaling renewed hope for vertical farming in the region.
32 dogs seized from Iowa breeder who allegedly blocked inspections of her business
Law enforcement officials have seized 32 dogs from an Iowa breeder facing civil charges related to inspections of her facility in Farmington.
$160K in designer merchandise stolen from Rochester business, owner says
13WHAM ABC Rochester provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, health reports, notices of events and items of interest in the community, local sports and entertainment programming for Rochester and nearby towns and communities including Greece, Victor, Pittsford, Penfield, Henrietta, Webster, Irondequoit, Fairport, Chili, Gates, Rush, Wheatland, Canandaigua, Farmington, Spencerport and Hilton.
Anthropic And Gates Foundation Sign $200 Million Partnership For AI Use In Health, Education, Agriculture
The partnership commits $200 million over four years to develop AI tools for use in vaccine research, farming guidance, education and other areas.
$100,000 Donation Expands Grants for Veterans Starting Farming Businesses
Tractor Supply Company, which supplied the grant, has supported efforts the past eight years.
Inside the Soil Health Practices of the David Brandt Farm
Ohio Ag Net’s Allison Kinney is joined by Jay Brandt of the David Brandt Farm to discuss the operation’s long-standing commitment to no-till farming, cover crops and soil health. Brandt shares how decades of conservation practices have transformed the farm’s soils, improved water infiltration and cr
RRH marks one year of free genetic screening program that identifies health risks
13WHAM ABC Rochester provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, health reports, notices of events and items of interest in the community, local sports and entertainment programming for Rochester and nearby towns and communities including Greece, Victor, Pittsford, Penfield, Henrietta, Webster, Irondequoit, Fairport, Chili, Gates, Rush, Wheatland, Canandaigua, Farmington, Spencerport and Hilton.
Farming is risky business. This app helps Turkish growers succeed
Built on Microsoft Azure, an AI farming app for Turkish growers offers crop analysis, weather alerts and tools for smarter farm decisions.
The “Lobe Rangers” are fighting to make farming in Iowa more sustainable
“From my perspective, it’s not radical. It’s common sense.”
Undergraduates Learn Ways AI Can Help Produce Happier Livestock
A joint workshop has given undergraduates from a variety of disciplines a hands-on look at the ways precision livestock farming and artificial intelligence can create better living conditions for hogs.
For Sustained Soil and Water Health, Farmers Are ‘Playing the Long Game’
With the help of farmers like Kristin Duncanson, the AGree Coalition is proving that regenerative farming is key to a more resilient U.S. agriculture system
Is smart farming really smart business?
From eerie driverless tractors to precision spraying and sowing, AI is transforming America’s agricultural life
Finally: Rose-Tinted Solar Panels Could Let Crops And Electricity Share The Same Land
Could this be the future of solar farming?
Records show prior mental health petition for man accused of killing grandmother in Farmington Hills
Records show a petition was filed over three years ago seeking court-ordered mental health treatment for the 34-year-old man accused of killing his grandmother inside the home they shared in Farmington Hills.
Where science meets fashion: Raha Saremi turns agricultural waste into biomaterials
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”” el_id=”text-container first-paragraph” el_class=”text-container first-paragraph”] When cracking a pecan, most people throw away the shell. Raha Saremi wants you to wear it. How? As a material scientist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Saremi witnessed firsthand the sheer volume of agricultural byproducts going to waste across Georgia’s farming communities and natural environment. … Continue reading “Where science meets fashion: Raha Saremi turns agricultural waste into biomaterials”
A historic moment during another major drought
Gustav Sumnick emigrated from Germany, traveled to Oklahoma and decided rather than be a Sooner, he wanted to be a farmer. He moved north to Nebraska and married an Irish immigrant farmer’s daughter. They farmed near Fremont, Nebraska, where the Platte and the Elkhorn rivers meet and grew the family farming operation to more than […]
How an obscure government code unlocks opportunity for businesses
What rhymes with "snakes" and helps the government classify economic activity? NAICS — or the North American Industry Classification System. These codes categorize every industry from artificial turf installation to zucchini farming. But they’re not exactly easy to get. Today we look at one business’ quest for a NAICS code and what makes them so valuable. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen — How to take the temperature of the US consumer Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Regenerative fields, animal science and new markets
What does the future of farming in the Western Balkans look like? The LAN Belgrade team went looking for answers at three recent events. We visited a regenerative farm near Subotica that works with Dutch machinery, joined an animal science...
Climate change and farming gave rise to ‘genetically distinct’ swan goose: study
New population of the migratory waterbird has emerged in the Chinese capital over the past century, according to researchers.
How Do U.S. Farmers Vote? It’s Complicated.
Political scientist Michael Shepherd studies rural communities. Here’s what his research says about farmers as voters.
Penn State, Pa. Dept. of Ag say Animal Diagnostic Lab expansion will protect farming, public health
Penn State broke ground on a $65 million expansion of its Animal Diagnostic Lab Monday, a project Pennsylvania's secretary of agriculture said will help the state continue to protect farming and public health.
Understanding the conversation around solar farming in New York
Not everyone agrees with the push to use New York’s farmland for solar farming.
The Future of Health Starts on the Farm
Nutrient density takes center stage at Climate Week NYC, with a summit exploring how farming practices shape food, health, and longevity.
Franciscan Health, Diocese of Gary partner for Respect Life celebration
DYER, Ind. – More than 600 Catholic school students from across Northwest Indiana gathered at Franciscan Health Dyer last week for the 33rd annual Respect Life Celebration. The event, co-hosted by Franciscan Health and the Diocese of Gary during Respect Life Month, aims to celebrate life at all stages with the goal of drawing attention to the lives lost to abortion. The theme for this year’s Respect Life Month is “Mary, Mother of Life.” The Most Rev. Bishop Robert J. McClory of the Diocese of Gary presided over the service. Bishop McClory used the analogy of pumpkin farming
Semiconductor decoupling. Powell's politics. Industrializing Ogaden. Free trade and the Magna Carta.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 8th Army’s Front, Italy 1944 Semiconductor decoupling Source: FT One thing that Jerome Powell deeply understood is that chairing the Fed under current conditions is a deeply political job. “Powell has successes and mistakes to his name. But he stands out as having thought more carefully about the Fed’s democratic legitimacy than any chair since Paul Volcker,” said Paul Tucker, a former deputy governor at the Bank of England, referring to the Fed chair who successfully fought the great inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s. … While Powell was at the Treasury in the early 1990s, he watched Alan Greenspan build relationships within the government. That convinced Powell he needed to follow the former Fed chair’s lead and spend more time in Congress than his predecessors Yellen and Bernanke. “The accountability for the Fed runs through Congress,” said Claudia Sahm, a former Fed official who is now chief economist at New Century Advisors. “That’s not just about having people on speed dial — it’s answering questions, explaining policy and getting feedback.” Source: FT Ethiopia’s PM Abiy and Nigerian business tycoon, with Chinese engineering, are driving industrialization in Ogaden/Somali region of Ethiopia. - Michael Masri’s reporting for Africa Report if fascinating. Ethiopia has launched a cluster of large industrial schemes in the Somali region, laying foundation stones for a urea plant and an oil refinery in Gode while opening the first two phases of the Ogaden LNG project. Abiy Ahmed framed the push as part of a broader strategy to link energy, agriculture and industry. “These projects embody more than industrial growth,” he said. “They represent our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen co-operation and promote peace.” The Gode urea plant, backed by Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is designed for 3m tonnes a year. Dangote owns 60%, while EIH holds 40%. Officials say Dangote’s equity totals about $2.5bn, while the state provides land and implementation oversight. Gas from the Calub fields will be piped 108km to the site. Construction is slated for 40 months, with operations targeted for 2028. Ethiopia imports most of its fertiliser, spending more than $1.2bn a year for 1.5m–2m tonnes. Usage was roughly 1.7m tonnes in 2023, almost half of it urea, and demand for 2024–25 is put above 2.4m tonnes. If delivered on time, the Gode plant could cover domestic needs and allow exports to neighbours. Brook Taye, chief executive of EIH, called the venture “a significant milestone in the journey toward industrial self-sufficiency”. Dangote told the groundbreaking crowd that the complex would be integrated with gas supply and a polypropylene unit to support local inputs. He pointed to Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with a capacity of more than 5,000MW, and noted his group’s cement operations and expansion plans. The Gode refinery is being developed by Golden Concord Group of China. It is designed to process 3.5m tonnes a year of crude and condensate from the Hilala field, with associated storage. Backers say it will ease foreign-exchange pressure from fuel imports and anchor further industrial activity, including a proposed steel smelting site in Dire Dawa. GCL’s chair, Zhu Gongshan, cast the project as “a key step in Ethiopia’s path to energy sovereignty”, underscoring the Beijing–Addis ties. Financing details are still being finalised, but the refinery is central to the government’s energy-security narrative. Source: The Africa Report Dangote’s Ethiopian vision: Dangote began with cement. His crown jewel, Dangote Cement, dominates Nigeria’s market and has 10 operations in other nations in Africa. The formula has been consistent: identify sectors with chronic shortages – cement, fertiliser, sugar – commit massive local investments, and scale up to serve regional demand. Ethiopia was a natural extension of that model. In 2015, Dangote launched the Mugher Cement Plant outside Addis Ababa at a cost of $600m, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes. The investment gave him a firm foothold in one of Africa’s fastest-growing construction markets. But success came with risks. In May 2018, violent unrest led to the killing of Dangote’s country manager and temporary shutdowns at Mugher. While other investors might have retreated, Dangote doubled down. Today, he is preparing to spend $400m to expand Mugher’s capacity to 5 million tonnes, alongside a new grinding unit near Addis Ababa. Cement is just one market Dangote is targeting. Ethiopia’s enormous state-controlled sugar industry, long plagued by inefficiency and debt, has struggled for years to reform. Its Omo Kuraz Sugar Development Project, touted as one of the continent’s largest initiatives, continues to face delays and mismanagement. … The most ambitious venture of all is the planned fertiliser production complex in Gode, Somali region. Publicised on 28 August 2025, the Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) deal plans one of the world’s largest single-site urea manufacturing plants. The project costs an estimated $2.5bn and has an estimated capacity of 3 million metric tonnes annually, a rate that would not only render Ethiopia independent, but even a net exporter of fertiliser. EIH, the state wealth fund of Ethiopia, will hold 40%, while 60% is held by Dangote Group. … For Dangote, Ethiopia is a trifecta: Cement demand is projected to grow by 10% annually, its sugar consumption is growing with rapid urbanisation, and fertiliser demand is all but insatiable, given that farming supports the livelihood of 70% of Ethiopians. Source: The Africa Report The stakes for Abiy are high: For Addis Ababa, the $4bn fertiliser project in Ethiopia’s Somali region is no longer simply a manufacturing investment. It is increasingly being framed as a strategic state project tied to food sovereignty, import substitution and the government’s broader attempt to build economic resilience under mounting fiscal pressure. “Becoming self-sufficient in food is our main agenda,” Abiy says during the visit. “Land is needed; we have it. Water is needed; we have it. Human resources are needed; we have it.” The scale is enormous even by African industrial standards. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, potentially making it one of the continent’s largest fertiliser complexes. Ethiopian officials say the project now includes a 110km gas pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant. For a government grappling with chronic foreign exchange shortages, ballooning import bills and pressure on agricultural productivity, the numbers matter politically as much as they do economically. The decision to anchor the project in Gode is deliberate. Long viewed as peripheral to Ethiopia’s industrial economy, the Somali region is now being repositioned by the federal government as a future irrigation and agro-industrial corridor. Officials argue that the area’s vast land reserves and access to water could eventually support large-scale commercial farming capable of reshaping Ethiopia’s food economy. The government is simultaneously building housing infrastructure for about 5,000 residents near the plant, while officials project broader industrial expansion along the corridor. Abiy goes further, comparing the long-term revenue potential of the Gode development zone with Ethiopia’s flagship state enterprise. “The investments we are making in this Gode area, combined, will generate high revenue for Ethiopia, at par with Ethiopian Airlines,” he says. Source: The Africa Report Feliks Topolski 1907-1982 Topolski’s Chronicle, ‘Nazi Revival’, Vol. 8, Is. 1-2, 1960 HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $50. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Grim vision of drone warfare by Sylvie Kaufmann For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe The state of the art in Colbert-studies. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was Louis XIV chief minister from 1661 to 1683 and traditionally seen as an architect of absolutism and mercantilism. Alexander Hamilton later cited him as an inspiration in 1782. Now his legacy is disputed. Daniel Dessert, the chief critic, sees Colbert as the orchestrator not so much of an absolutist state as of an elite cabal. Would be great to have a good English-language review of this important debate. Source: lhistoire Didn’t know that the Magna Carta included free trade provisions Fighting for the right to the beach in Oregon in 1967: Source: Research Gate RAF Station – British and Polish Flags, c. 1940-45, The Ingram Collection Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 ink and wash If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
2026 Tobacco Heritage Day at L.W. Paul Living History Farm in Conway
For many in attendance of Tobacco Heritage Day on Saturday, Aug. 1, tobacco farming wasn't just history — it was part of their childhood. Generations of Horry County families made a living in the tobacco fields, where children often spent summers priming leaves, loading wagons or stringing tobacco by hand before it was cured in barns. Once the county's dominant cash crop, tobacco shaped the local economy and way of life for decades, with thousands of acres planted each year and warehouses bustling during auction season.
Meet 'Working-Class Mainer' Graham Platner's Oyster Farming Business Partner, an Elite Boarding School Graduate Who Drinks 'Foraged Spring Water' and Owns the Island Where the Farm Is Based
Maine's far-left Democratic Senate nominee, Graham Platner, has leaned on his career as a "working-class" oyster farmer to cast himself as a blue-collar everyman. His Ivy League business partner—who owns the secluded island where the farm is based—is, well, anything but.
St. Pete tech entrepreneur uses AI to help save family farms
AgWise is bringing a bushel of AI technology to an industry — farming — sorely in need of it.
What’s in the water? Farmington is dominating this spring
The school’s baseball, softball and boys lacrosse teams are ranked No. 1 in the state.
‘Nefarious activity’ complaints lead to massage business rules change in Farmington
FARMINGTON -- The city has changed its rules for massage businesses in the wake of complaints made to the Police Department of inappropriate behavior taking place at such businesses.
375-acre property holds vast potential for farming, recreation, retreats
A one-of-a-kind property in Union County is ready for a new owner and flexible enough to serve as everything from income-producing property to a private retreat.
'Food insecurity is no longer just about low-income countries': Environmental economist explains how climate change is pushing agricultural systems to the brink
As a U.N. report warns that extreme temperature swings are disrupting crops and endangering agricultural workers, we spoke with environmental economist Shouro Dasgupta about farming in an overheating world.
Stardew Valley creator's new game, Haunted Chocolatier, is "more of an action RPG" than farming sim
Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, has teased out a little bit more information about the un-dated upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier.
Can agritourism help small family farms in N.Y. survive?
From pick-your-own apples to hard cider and fall activities, farms are finding new ways to bring customers through the gates. But can agritourism help family farms navigate rising costs and labor challenges?
If Your Windshield Seems Cleaner Than It Used to Be Scientists Say That Could Be a Very Bad Sign (For Insects)
Insects are under threat partly because of man-made climate change, heatwaves and intensive farming.
How UGA Reaches Beyond Campus to Support Farmers’ Mental Health
UGA Cooperative Extension is helping Georgia farmers navigate mental health challenges through education, prevention and trusted relationships as financial pressures, unpredictable weather and the demands of farming take a toll.
Oyster farming is big business in the Big Bend
Wild caught Florida oysters used to be plentiful, but Florida fisheries have seen a massive decline in production. We feature oyster farming on today's Speaking Of.
Black Death had dramatic effect on species diversity as humans abandoned farmland, study finds
Researchers have found that during the Black Death, when a third of the population of Europe was wiped out, biodiversity fell. Understanding their farming practices could help us increase diversity in modern agriculture.
Community Rallies for West Hartford Resident, Business Owner Taken Into ICE Custody
Seyo Cecunjanin, who has lived in West Hartford since 1997 and is the owner of Portobello Restaurant on Park Road in West Hartford and The Laundry Room on the Ave on Farmington Avenue, also in West Hartford, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Dunkin Donuts at 56 Park Road, just east of his restaurant, on Saturday, June 20.
New "Retail LAB" gives entrepreneurs storefront opportunity in Farmington, Michigan
Ian Balint, Noah Tylutki Sweep MIAA Sports Information Awards
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Ian Balint and Noah Tylutki have each received sports information awards from the MIAA for the 2025-26 school year.
Minnesota agrivoltaics project shows promise of mixing farming, solar power
Winifred Sylvah is thriving with her cucumber harvest at a solar farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. She's part of an agrivoltaics project, blending farming with solar power. This initiative is
Summer Ag Fairs Draw New Audiences With Entertainment
Fairs use entertainment to get people interested and in turn to introduce them to agriculture where they are, even if that means concerts on the bed of a pickup truck.