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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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Ethanol vs. Environment: How's the balance?
Critics of the ethanol industry question its environmental effect, especially regarding land and energy usage.
Of concern to some conservationists is the effect of the ethanol industry on the number of acres of cropland put into or taken out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) set-aside. The CRP program was established by the 1985 Farm Bill and is administered by the Farms Service Agency (FSA) with technical assistance from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), all under the umbrella of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). — Full Story »
Renewable fuels legislation: What's the impact?
Will the cost of transportation fuel cause job losses? What part does the ethanol industry play in the national economy?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offered this fact: on average, every time oil prices go up 10 percent, 150,000 American's loose their jobs. — Full Story »
Food vs. Fuel: Where's the corn going?
During these times of ever increasing economic hardship most families are trying to find every way to save on their expenses. It will be difficult to spend less at the grocery store considering the costs of basic essentials are increasing at twice the rate of inflation. — Full Story »
 Denison FFA goes trap shooting
The Denison (IA) FFA chapter activities are diversified to cover the many different interests of all FFA members. Denison FFA members participated in a chapter-sponsored trap shoot on October 26 at the Izaak Walton League. This was a new event that was added to the program of events for the chapter. — Full Story » |
Farm subsidies as link between sweeteners and
obesity is tenuous, ISU researchers say
When a major television network aired a news report in 2004 that directly linked farm subsidies for corn sweeteners to obesity, few people may have questioned its leap from cause to effect. The report came from a credible source and its logic seemed sound: America's food and beverage supply is chock full of subsidized corn sweeteners. — Full Story »
Slater cows spoiled with waterbeds and TV
There's no question, Kirk Christie spoils his family rotten. What with new digs, warm and cool waterbeds and flat-screen television, they've got it made. Especially when you consider the fact that his family consists of 21 milk cows. — Full Story »
Prairie Pedlar blooms
Jack and Jane Hogue started planting flower gardens at their Odebolt home in 1985.
The Hogues got their parents and their three children, Janna, Tyler and Emily, involved in growing the flowers. Seven acres of land, west of their home, became available for sale in 1995 so the Hogue family purchased the land to expand their flower gardens. They spent two years restoring the bow-truss barn and school, landscaping and adding theme gardens. The gardens became known as "Prairie Pedlar" and officially opened to the public in 1997 for viewing. "The word 'pedlar' is an old English spelling," explained Jack Hogue.
— Full Story »
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