No one saw this magnitude of cotton downturn coming. Rain has also returned, and while needed and good for the crop, this combined with continued bearish economic news has really hammered the cotton market....More

If approved, mandatory biotech labeling in California would require all foods to be labeled by July 1, 2014, if produced using genetically engineered (GE) crops. Also, GE foods would be prohibited from being advertised as "natural." Restaurants, direct public sales and dairies would be exempt from the requirement. Such a labeling requirement would essentially ban the sale of tens of thousands of common grocery products in California unless they are specially repackaged and relabeled just for that state....More

Newly appointed Cotton Board members are Aaron A. Barcellos, a producer from Los Banos, Calif., and Roger C. Glaspey, an importer from Fresno, Calif. They will serve terms expiring on Dec. 31, 2014....More

Those who turn their noses up at “genetically modified” food seldom seem to consider that all crops are genetically modified. The difference between a wild plant and one that serves some human end is a lot of selective breeding—the picking and combining over the years of mutations that result in bigger seeds, tastier fruit or whatever else is required....More

Health and convenience will be the leading drivers of increased demand for fresh vegetables in the next five years. A new report recommends that produce firms put more emphasis on creating value-added products that are not only healthy, but easy to prepare....More

Two witnesses at a congressional hearing, a beginning farmer from Nebraska and an urban farmer from Ohio, explained how important it is for agricultural producers to have access to credit to both start and support their operations because of the risks inherently involved with farming....More

Sens. Coburn (R-Okla.) and Durbin (D-Ill.) have called for a $40,000 payment limit to be imposed on crop insurance premium subsidies. In support of their position, the senators noted the increase in crop insurance premium subsidies in recent years, due in part to higher insurance liabilities that have resulted from higher crop prices....More

U.S. agricultural groups have reasons to pay attention to the talks even if the immediate impacts are minimal. The first is the desire of other countries to join. The second reason is the potential to develop compatible regulatory systems....More

Beginning this June, the members of United Fresh Leadership Class 18 will participate in a number of educational events and outings centered on the four core focus areas of the program: leadership development, business relationships, government and public affairs, and media and public communications....More

Socks, underwear, shirts, and other garments could become less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria, thanks to new antimicrobial treatments being investigated by USDA scientists....More