Agricultural research

Over half of ag economists say U.S. row crops face recession, while Congress stalls on a new farm bill and USDA plans to close key research facilities.

This week's Farm News & Views Report covers market declines, budget cuts to agricultural research, and tips for farm business management. Also, time for soil testing in April.

You may have heard about the large underground seed vault in Svalbard, Norway, which opened in 2008. But you might be surprised to learn there is a similar facility in the Rocky Mountain region. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado, has been operating since the 1950s.

Residents of Montezuma County, Colorado, mostly support the development of solar farms. But as coops build out solar farms, concerns about farmland loss, wildlife, and quality of life for residents crop up.

Colorado State Senator Cleave Simpson, a Republican from Alamosa who represents District 6, is sponsoring legislation to provide opportunities for those looking to reduce their emissions in agriculture. And fifteen Native American tribes will get a total of $580 million in federal money this year for water rights settlements.

Opportunities and threats to agricultural businesses in the new year, including the prospect of cultivated "artificial" meat products and their potential impact on farmers and ranchers.

Agriculture was a bit of a contentious topic at the recent Glasgow Climate Summit, domestic production of fish could lower carbon footprint for fish consumption, hemp production shifts from CBD oil to the production of fiber for building materials, and Congress looks into the lack of competition in the meat packing industry.

Food prices, especially meat, are on the rise. Farmers are feeling the economic squeeze of higher input costs. And a couple weed species are starting to become immune to popular herbicides.

Calving season on ranches and farms in the Four Corners Region usually runs from February through April, but research suggests that the season would fit…

President Donald Trump's nomination of Sam Clovis for Undersecretary of Agriculture, with responsibility for science and education has drawn criticism…