April Research & Technology Briefs

Research & Technology Briefs

Calculating Economic Returns for Conservation Tillage and Cotton

Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have improved the precision of calculating the costs and benefits of using conservation tillage in cotton production.

Learn more at this web site: www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090317.htm.
 

EPA Announces Video Contest

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award $2,500 to the winning video that educates homeowners, farmers and communities about water pollution issues. Video submissions must be 30- or 60-second video that can be used as a TV public service announcement or a 1- to 3-minute instructional video (one winner in each category). The deadline for submitting videos to EPA is Earth Day, April 22, 2009.

Get more details at: www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html.
 

Three Factors Sent Farm Prices Up, Same Three Driving Prices Down

Purdue University agricultural economists report in a new study that the value of the dollar, biofuels and global production and demand — the same factors that drove commodity prices up in 2008 — are causing a decline in farm prices in 2009.

See the full story here: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090311TynerPrices.html

USDA Publication Explains Increase in Fertilizer Prices

The USDA Economic Research Service published in February a report that investigates the rise of U.S. prices of fertilizer nutrients and points to several domestic and global supply and demand factors.

Find out more from ERS: www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AR33/