Cotton rises again Sunday, April 3, 2011 Ethanol is one reason for the high price of corn. Another reason is pressure for farming acres from an old competitor, cotton.The Los Angeles Times reports that cotton-picking machines last fall chugged across fields that used to grow vegetables, vineyards or lay fallow. Growers were expected to plant 309,000 acres of upland and Pina cotton, up from 201,000 in 2010. Acreage is still far less than the one million planted in California in the 1990s. Acreage across the southern United States is expected to grow to 11.04 million acres, a 50 per cent jump in production.The benchmark cotton futures price bottomed at 37 cents a pound in November 2008 as the textile industry collapsed in the recession, and then stayed near the high of $1.57 this January. Poor weather resulted in short supplies in major growing areas around the world and demand is growing in – you guessed it – China and India. BF Smart phone usage by farmers expected to jump Behind the Lines - April 2011
Looking for a heritage machine Tuesday, February 10, 2026 A Brantford, Ontario area heritage organization—the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC)—is putting out a call to the Canadian agricultural community in hopes of locating a rare piece of machinery that helped transform grain harvesting around the world. The CIHC is preparing... Read this article online
Why farmers built their own renewable energy association Tuesday, February 10, 2026 When renewable energy developers come knocking on rural doors, farmers often find themselves staring at 40-page leases, unfamiliar terminology, and long-term commitments that could shape their land for decades. For many, the opportunity is exciting and enticing—but also... Read this article online
Food Freedom Day 2026 - What Canada’s Grocery Costs Really Tell Us Monday, February 9, 2026 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has announced that Sunday, February 8th, 2026, marked Food Freedom Day—the date by which the average Canadian household has earned enough income to cover its entire annual grocery bill. Each year, CFA analyzes how much of Canadians’... Read this article online
Canadian Grain and Pork Sectors Join Others in Sound Alarm Over AAFC Research Cuts Friday, February 6, 2026 The Grain Growers of Canada (CGC), the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), and Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) are expressing serious concern following recently announced staff reductions and facility closures or consolidations within Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC). The groups warn that... Read this article online
Red Tape Pushes 70% of Agri Businesses to Deter Next Generation from Farming Thursday, February 5, 2026 Canada’s food production system is under mounting pressure as agri-businesses warn that regulatory overload is discouraging the next generation from entering the industry. A new snapshot from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals that almost 70% of agri... Read this article online