Abel & Cole | B Corp™’s Post

The Emerging Farmers Conference was held this weekend in Minneapolis, MN! Organized by local, state and federal organizations, Emerging Farmers serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses and strengthen all components of the local food system. Organizations like Emerging Farmers are doing incredible work to promote and strengthen small grower communities. That said, if there isn’t a change to the outdated federal H-2A wage program and all produce is imported from other countries, similar organizations may no longer serve a purpose. Learn more about the how the outdated federally mandated wage rate is impacting local food systems here: ProtectOurProduce.com #ProtectOurProduce #LaborPolicy #MichiganFarms #MichiganEconomy #Farming #Agriculture #USEconomy #USFarms

It’s time to pay farmers properly - and more. My piece for Friends of the Earth on why farmers doing the right thing need proper reward. https://lnkd.in/dgwjRd6V Extract: “It’s also foolish to expect farmers to play their part for paltry sums. Properly paying farmers who do the right thing, and ending the injustice of them being paid less for their goods than they cost to produce, would make it easier for farming to play its full part, not only in food security but also in nature’s recovery and action on climate change, which farmers see the effects of every day. “Properly rewarding farmers would also make farming more viable and attractive to new entrants, without being hit with a triple whammy of unfairly low prices for their produce, unpredictable energy and feed prices, and a falling share of public funds just when everyone wants farming to raise its game. “Ministers, farmers and the public all say the nation wants farming to succeed without the many downsides of over-industrialised agriculture. Paying farmers and growers properly, and more, would help secure the high standards of farming and management of the land everyone says they want. And it would help all those working in farming, from struggling hill farmers to millionaires like Jeremy Clarkson, to truly earn the "friends of the earth" name.” #Farming #Agriculture #ELMs #SFI #FarmtoFork #FarmtoForkSummit #Nature #Soils #Rivers #Water #WaterQuality #AirPollution #climate

Kieran Mailey from the Irish Farmers Journal outlines tips to get summer grazing back on track as warm weather this week will hopefully see an increase in grass growth, building covers ahead of stock and taking the pressure off grazing. 👉 Splitting paddocks into smaller grazing lots can help with clean-out, as it concentrates stock on a smaller area for 1 to 2 days. 👉 Another option to improve grass utilisation and sward clean-out is to strip-graze animals for a short period. 👉 Topping rejected grass will become necessary, especially on farms with lower stocking rates. The aim should be to cut grass down to 4cm to replicate animals grazing and leave a cleaner residual for growth. 👉 Aim to spray a herbicide on fields that have been closed off for second silage and weeds have started to regrow. Are you looking for local friendly Agri Finance? talk to us about Cultivate - Farmer Friendly Finance, for more https://buff.ly/3Rbqg8v

DW: New Zealand sheep farmers fight for their future Wool was once New Zealand’s biggest export product. Now global competition from synthetic materials is putting sheep farmers under pressure. Sheep and beef farming is a key component of New Zealand’s agricultural industry and the nation’s economy. Like many other agricultural sectors, sheep and beef farmers are impacted by weather fluctuations, evolving consumer preferences, global trade dynamics, and economic factors. So how are these farmers doing currently, and what can they expect in the coming months? Business leaders across New Zealand are grappling with challenging economic conditions, and beef and sheep farmers are not immune. Farm profitability was worse than forecast in 2023-2024, and Beef + Lamb NZ is forecasting farm profit to decrease by 7.4% in the 2024-2025 season, due to increased expenditure and high interest rates. More positively, farmers will likely be pleased with the Reserve Bank’s recent OCR cut and may see some light at the end of the tunnel, however the impact of reduced interest rates will take time for the sector to feel significant relief. https://lnkd.in/dS7wqJUz #sheep #lamb #wool #farming

"The progressive greener dream for UK farming has died." "Any kind of progressive vision for rural Britain needs farmers in their thousands to be agents of change — which is impossible when they’re under vast financial pressure. When the government cuts farmer support, it reduces the amount of “public goods” in the country — which crudely means less hedgerows, less wetlands, less birds, and less insects. It is profoundly self-defeating." #Food #Farming #Wildlife #Biodiversity #NaturesRecovery #FoodSecurity https://lnkd.in/eeX2m8F8

This article (https://ab.co/3Tt0IZ8 ) raises awareness of a critical issue, merging personal narratives with broader policy implications, and invites further conversation on finding a balance between environmental needs and agricultural viability. It highlights the challenges faced by rice farmers Robert and April Andreazza under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP): the main takeaway is the tension between environmental conservation efforts and agricultural sustainability. The article underscores the real-world impacts of water management policies on local farmers, highlighting the Andreazzas' apprehensions about the future viability of their farming due to water buybacks. It foregrounds the complexities of balancing ecological goals with the livelihoods of individuals in the agricultural sector. The broader implications of such environmental policies for the community, food production, and employment in the region, are given. The inclusion of efficiency of their water use presents a nuanced view of the potential for sustainable farming within regulatory frameworks. However, the article could have delved deeper into potential solutions or alternative approaches to these challenges. More insights into how organisations like Landcare NSW can assist farmers in adapting to these changes would have enriched the discussion and given a more balanced view.

This article (https://ab.co/3Tt0IZ8 ) raises awareness of a critical issue, merging personal narratives with broader policy implications, and invites further conversation on finding a balance between environmental needs and agricultural viability. It highlights the challenges faced by rice farmers Robert and April Andreazza under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP): the main takeaway is the tension between environmental conservation efforts and agricultural sustainability. The article underscores the real-world impacts of water management policies on local farmers, highlighting the Andreazzas' apprehensions about the future viability of their farming due to water buybacks. It foregrounds the complexities of balancing ecological goals with the livelihoods of individuals in the agricultural sector. The broader implications of such environmental policies for the community, food production, and employment in the region, are given. The inclusion of efficiency of their water use presents a nuanced view of the potential for sustainable farming within regulatory frameworks. However, the article could have delved deeper into potential solutions or alternative approaches to these challenges. More insights into how organisations like Landcare NSW can assist farmers in adapting to these changes would have enriched the discussion and given a more balanced view.

This article (https://ab.co/3Tt0IZ8 ) raises awareness of a critical issue, merging personal narratives with broader policy implications, and invites further conversation on finding a balance between environmental needs and agricultural viability. It highlights the challenges faced by rice farmers Robert and April Andreazza under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP): the main takeaway is the tension between environmental conservation efforts and agricultural sustainability. The article underscores the real-world impacts of water management policies on local farmers, highlighting the Andreazzas' apprehensions about the future viability of their farming due to water buybacks. It foregrounds the complexities of balancing ecological goals with the livelihoods of individuals in the agricultural sector. The broader implications of such environmental policies for the community, food production, and employment in the region, are given. The inclusion of efficiency of their water use presents a nuanced view of the potential for sustainable farming within regulatory frameworks. However, the article could have delved deeper into potential solutions or alternative approaches to these challenges. More insights into how organisations like Landcare NSW can assist farmers in adapting to these changes would have enriched the discussion and given a more balanced view.

This article (https://ab.co/3Tt0IZ8 ) raises awareness of a critical issue, merging personal narratives with broader policy implications, and invites further conversation on finding a balance between environmental needs and agricultural viability. It highlights the challenges faced by rice farmers Robert and April Andreazza under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP): the main takeaway is the tension between environmental conservation efforts and agricultural sustainability. The article underscores the real-world impacts of water management policies on local farmers, highlighting the Andreazzas' apprehensions about the future viability of their farming due to water buybacks. It foregrounds the complexities of balancing ecological goals with the livelihoods of individuals in the agricultural sector. The broader implications of such environmental policies for the community, food production, and employment in the region, are given. The inclusion of efficiency of their water use presents a nuanced view of the potential for sustainable farming within regulatory frameworks. However, the article could have delved deeper into potential solutions or alternative approaches to these challenges. More insights into how organisations like Landcare NSW can assist farmers in adapting to these changes would have enriched the discussion and given a more balanced view.

This article (https://ab.co/3Tt0IZ8 ) raises awareness of a critical issue, merging personal narratives with broader policy implications, and invites further conversation on finding a balance between environmental needs and agricultural viability. It highlights the challenges faced by rice farmers Robert and April Andreazza under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP): the main takeaway is the tension between environmental conservation efforts and agricultural sustainability. The article underscores the real-world impacts of water management policies on local farmers, highlighting the Andreazzas' apprehensions about the future viability of their farming due to water buybacks. It foregrounds the complexities of balancing ecological goals with the livelihoods of individuals in the agricultural sector. The broader implications of such environmental policies for the community, food production, and employment in the region, are given. The inclusion of efficiency of their water use presents a nuanced view of the potential for sustainable farming within regulatory frameworks. However, the article could have delved deeper into potential solutions or alternative approaches to these challenges. More insights into how organisations like Landcare NSW can assist farmers in adapting to these changes would have enriched the discussion and given a more balanced view.