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These photos of a South African farm show the effects of the country’s land reform. I got these two photos from this link:Original: https://martinplaut.com/2024/09/02/the-utter-failure-of-the-south-africas-agricultural-reforms/Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20240902055937/https://martinplaut.com/2024/09/02/the-utter-failure-of-the-south-africas-agricultural-reforms/This is the first photo. The caption says, “Irrigated fields of potatoes and other vegetables at Dawn Valley farm in 2002, six years before the land claim settlement. (Source: Google Earth Pro).”This is the second photo. The caption says, “A satellite image of the same fields in 2022, shows few signs of any cultivation. (Source: Google Earth Pro).”

Associated Press just reported:https://apnews.com/article/chickens-euthanized-animal-neglect-farm-61459549d78555f7fe121d6461b6bd41Animal welfare officers faced the grisly task of euthanizing more than 350,000 chickens by hand after they were left starving and cannibalizing each other when a South African state-owned poultry company ran out of money to feed them, officials said Tuesday.I’m an anti-communist who has always been very much against government owing or controlling farms, whether it be in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, or any other country.The fact that the Marxist African National Congress that was elected by the voters of South Africa couldn’t figure out how to feed these 350,000 chickens on...

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins took bold action to protect America’s food supply and ranching industry from an imminent biological threat. Effective immediately, all live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry have been suspended in response to the reemergence of the New World Screwworm. The New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly whose larvae (maggots) are flesh-eating parasites that infest warm-blooded animals, including cattle, wildlife, pets, and humans. It is considered one of the most destructive parasites known to livestock. According to the CDC:

American farmers are behind President Donald J. Trump and his relentless push to restore fairness in global trade and secure new markets for homegrown producers.According to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer:70% of farmers expect the President Trump’s tariffs to strengthen the agricultural economy in the long-term.Farmer sentiment improved in April, marked by rises in current and future expectations.The Farm Capital Investment Index rose to its highest reading since May 2021. “This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments, nearly double the percentage of respondents who said it was...

For nearly five decades the left has been trying to impose a socialist and confiscatory land reform on Brazil. From the beginning, the so-called Catholic left, and particularly the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), has been the leading proponents and the most important driving force of that policy. With strong links to this Catholic left, the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made land reform one of its main goals. For this purpose it designated Miguel Rossetto from the Workers Party's most radical wing as the Minister of Land Reform. The party also gave the government posts...

(College Station, T.X., April 29, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced a second round of payments coming this week for specialty crop producers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, providing up to $1.3 billion in additional program assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) already delivered just under $900 million in first round payments to eligible producers.

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...

Mexico will no longer deny Texas farmers the lifeblood of their business, according to the Trump administration. Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico is obligated to send Texas water from the Rio Grande while the U.S. sends Mexico water from the Colorado River. The current five-year deal calls for about 490 billion gallons from the U.S. to flow to Mexico each year, while 570 billion gallons from Mexico is to head north, according to CNN. Because Mexico has been far behind in its obligations, the State Department denied a request for water for Tijuana, marking the first U.S. denial since the...

In a nutshell * Rice malt could help the brewing industry adapt to climate change, yielding twice as much extract per hectare as barley while requiring 50-67% less land * While rice malt costs 20% more to produce than barley malt, it offers significant advantages for gluten-free brewing and can reduce costs when used as an adjunct * As climate change threatens barley production, rice provides a more resilient alternative that’s already grown abundantly in warmer regions worldwide ****************************************************************** FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beer prices might soon rise as climate change threatens barley crops, but an unexpected savior is emerging from...

In a nutshell Young children have better survival rates when animal protein makes up a larger portion of their diet due to essential amino acids and easily absorbed nutrients like iron and zinc. Adults over 60 benefit more from plant-based proteins, with higher life expectancy in countries where plant proteins are more prevalent in the food supply. The research suggests dietary guidelines should consider age-specific recommendations, especially as countries transition to more sustainable food systems. ******************************************************************** SYDNEY — New research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to diet, at least when it comes to protein sources. Scientists have discovered that eating meat...

American farmers are pleading for exemptions from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Republican members of Congress from farm states are working to deliver the relief farmers want. But farmers do not deserve special treatment and should not get it.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, with termination effective in 90 days. The current agreement has failed to protect U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports, as Commerce has been flooded with comments from them urging its termination. This action will allow U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.With the termination of this agreement, Commerce will institute an antidumping duty order on July 14, 2025, resulting in duties of 20.91% on most imports of tomatoes from...

President Donald Trump threatened Mexico on Thursday with tariffs and sanctions if it continues "stealing" water from Texas. Trump's comments referred to a 1944 water treaty for the "Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande," which requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande every five years. The U.S. is required to send Mexico 1.5 million acre-feet of water every year from the Colorado River. The New York Times, based on International Boundary and Water Commission data, stated that from October 2020 to October 2024, Mexico provided only...

A top House panel that oversees public land policies is investigating five green groups that brokered a settlement with federal officials in the waning days of the Biden administration, forcing family-owned ranches to vacate their leases on federal property over environmental concerns, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. Under the January 2025 settlement between the green groups, owners of 11 multi-generational ranches, and the National Park Service, 12 of the 14 existing organic dairies and cattle ranches located across Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California will be abandoned by early 2026. The agreement was made possible by the Nature...

President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs, and possibly sanctions against Mexico, if it continues to rob South Texas farmers of Rio Grande water promised under a decades-old treaty. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump proclaimed that Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, though Mexico was violating their obligation. “This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly,” the president wrote. “Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the...

1. PURPOSE Executive Order (EO) 14225, Immediate Expansion ofAmerican Timber Production (March 1, 2025), highlights the importance of timber production and how forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities. The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources and made us reliant on foreign producers. It is vital that we reverse these policies and increase domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security. We can manage our forests to...

What if the Romans had potatoes? This video ponders the historical implications. Could Potatoes have Saved the Roman Empire? | 9:27 toldinstone | 558K subscribers | 34,106 views | April 1, 20250:00 Introduction0:34 The Columbian Exchange1:00 Potatoes in modern Europe2:24 What if...2:49 AG14:08 Potatoes in Rome4:50 Population growth5:34 Potato belt economics6:38 Potential pitfalls7:23 Spuds and duds

A British farmer has warned that Britons could be facing "rationing" of bread products as the agricultural industry has slapped the Labour Government with a wheat strike, amid their ongoing inheritance tax raid. In a fresh round of protests against Chancellor Rachel Reeves, farmers have been urged to accelerate a bread shortage and "empty supermarket shelves" by refusing to release the wheat they produce. The goal of the protest, according to one of the organisers, is to trigger a situation akin to "panic-buying" across the country, similar to what was experienced with petrol and toilet rolls in the past during...

Did you know medieval farmers cultivated a variety of unique and nutritious vegetables that have almost disappeared from modern diets? From skirret to good King Henry, these forgotten crops were once essential for survival and they deserve a comeback!In this video, we explore 15 incredible medieval vegetables, their health benefits, and why they should return to our gardens and plates today. Whether you're a history buff, gardener, or food lover, you won’t want to miss these lost gems of the past! 15 Forgotten Vegetables Medieval Farmers Grew That NEED to Come Back | 22:55 Medieval Times Discovered | 22.3K subscribers...

On top of the tariffs on Mexico and Canada set to go into effect at the end of the month the Trump administration is also planning on invoking reciprocal tariffs on all countries. This is in an effort to level the playing field for the U.S. in global trade but what does it mean for agriculture? Dan Basse, president of Ag Resource Company, says these tariffs are different than those that were imposed during the first Trump administration or even recently with the 10% increase on China imports. He says trade officials will go through with each trading partner and...