Monsanto, one of the world’s largest agriculture companies, is asking the Supreme Court to over turn a decision made by federal courts to prevent the company from selling genetically engineered alfalfa seeds.

Geertson Seed Farm opposes to the sales of these seeds and took the company to federal court. Geertson objects to the sales because the farm feels that the Roundup Ready alfalfa will cross-pollinate with other seeds preventing the ability to grow organic crops. The farm claims, “In a few years, it will be extremely difficult to avoid contamination from [genetically engineered] alfalfa to conventional alfalfa seed.”

Monsanto disagrees and claims the product is stronger seeds that is necessary and have “become a mainstay of American agriculture.” This is because genetically engineered seeds allow for higher yields and stronger seeds which is ultimately more money for farmers.

Charles Breyer, a federal judge, issued an injunction against Monsanto so the company has turned to the Supreme Court because the “science fiction-like scenarios” are unreal. One supreme court justice, Breyer’s brother (Stephen Breyer), removed himself from the case therefore only eight justices are voting on the issue. If the decision is split in half, the injunction will stay in place.

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Legislators are talking with farmers and agricultural groups to discuss the 2012 Farm Bill. The first hearings were held in Idaho.

The United States House Agriculture Committee wants to know what farmers want or would like to see in the new farm bill.

“We haven’t decided what to do yet,” said Representative Walt Minnick. “But hearing from Idaho producers, whether they grow potatoes, or cattle, or grow mint in the Treasure Valley will help us put together a bill that will better suit Idaho.”

Organizations and farmers are happy to be included in the process.

“(This) gives Idahoans the opportunity to testify on what we believe the farm program should look like,” Scot Brown, president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, said. The committee has challenged farmers to come up with a new farm bill, pretending that there wasn’t an original farm bill- what would producers want it to offer and protect?

Group leaders agree all industries are struggling, not just dairy or livestock. “Having the agriculture committee here at the very beginning of the process of formulating the next farm bill is the most important time for Idaho agriculture to be heard,” Minnick said. Producers want a bill that will help more than just the dairy industry, a bill that addresses all industries.

After the U.S. House Agriculture meets with producers about their desires they will meet with farmers to see how they current Farm Bill worked for them.

The 2008 Farm Bill expires in 2012. The bill covers farm support, food assistance, trade, rural development and marketing.

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Google may be best known for the famous search engine, but as of April 30, 2010 the company made its first investment in renewable energy.

The company has invested $38.3 million in two NextEra wind farms located in North Dakota. The farms generate 169.5 megawatts of power, that is enough power for 55,000 homes.

Since 2009 Google has taken an interest in renewable energy after investing money in to PowerMeter, a service that allows people to monitor how much energy they consume. Google has also invested money in solar power companies eSolar and Alta Rock. As one of the leaders in Internet companies the investment may not seem as off as it could appear at face value.

Renewable energy is a growing trend across the United States in an effort to become a resource-independent country. It is one of the Obama administration’s most popular goals for his term in office as well. Wind farms are popular and an innovated way for farmers to make money aside from traditional crops.

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According to a survey conducted by the Information Resources Inc. (IRI) consumers prefer caged-housed eggs 40:1 over cage-free eggs. The information comes from data collected at grocery store’s registered across the United States.

In 2009 the survey found that 92 percent of egg sales came from caged operations, 2 percent from cage free, 1 percent from free range and 5 percent from other operations. The numbers may be unsettling as consumers have growing interest in organic food and knowing where their food comes from.

However, one of the biggest factors in this study is the cost. It’s no secret during the current recession people pinch every penny, and free free eggs run almost twice as much as caged-housed eggs. As of April 30 a dozen cage-housed eggs cost $1.99, cage-free $2.99 and free range $4.38. According to the data 44 percent of American prefer cage free, despite what numbers show.

Another discovery by the IRI is that Americans pay a third less than Europeans for eggs.

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From January 2009 through January 2010 the agriculture industry in Washington grew, adding 12,300 new seasonal and permanent jobs according to a state report.

Not only did jobs increase in number, but wages grew from $8.79 per hour in January 2009 to 49.42 in 2010. This information follows a survey conducted with 1,800 farmers across Washington.

Many producers say the mild weather in January contributed to the growth of seasonal employment across the state. Workers were needed in north-central, southeast and south-central regions to prune fruit trees, especially apple trees.

“There’s no such thing as a recession in the agriculture industry,” said Bruce Grim, executive director at the Washington State Horticultural Association. “People have to eat.”

Over the year season jobs grew from 15,010 to 22,120 in 2010. “I don’t think people realize how huge an industry agriculture is in our state,” Dean Schau a regional labor economist said. “We measure our foreign exports in billions of dollars and it’s going all over the world.”

In 2009 Washington was able to have enough workers to complete their large, annual harvest. The recession is attributed to the employment growth with many people jumping from construction or building trades to agriculture.

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Livestock producers are excited over numbers recorded by the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF). According to the group imports to Russia have increased from 800 to 1,200 metric tons per week.

“We think this is going to be a good year for exports to Russia,” USMEF Senior Vice President Thad Lively said. These large numbers to Russia have no been seen since 2008, which totaled $95.3 million for the livestock industry.

“This is an area we are very enthusiastic and excited about at this stage in the game,” Lively said. “We track the export sales on a weekly basis and qe’re off to a start this year that could put us on track to equal the export volume we had to Russia in 2008, which was a record year.”

Russia has played an important part in export sales in a variety of meat markets including beef liver and variety meats, but rarely in the beef market as it is now.

“With the exchange rate of the Russian currency to the Brazilian currency, Brazil’s our principal competitor in Russia, (makes the U.S.) very competitive in that market,” Lively said.

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For years consumers have been turning vegetarian in fear that consuming meat will increase global warming. However, air quality experts found that eating meat does not reduce global warming.

Cows and pigs are often blamed for contributing to global warming because of the gas they release, how much food they consume and the emissions created from producing meat.

“We certainly can reduce our greenhouse gas production, but not by consuming less meat and milk,” air quality expert, Frank Mitoloehner, said at the University of California-Davis said at a conference at the American Chemical Society in California.

Experts believe that the UN report “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” which first made the claims against meat is inaccurate and distracts people from making changes that will in fact help lower emissions. Mitoloehner admits that those not eating meat are well-intentioned, but the lack of consumption is also hurting the agriculture industry.

“Smarter animal farming, not less farming, will equal less heat,” Mitoloehner said. “Producing less meat and milk will only mean more hunger in poor countries.”

The United States’ biggest contributing factor to global warming is transportation which is attributed to 26 percent of all greenhouse gas emission, and raising cattle and pigs accounts for three percent.

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As of May 1 farmers will earn eight cents more a gallon for milk according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Prices will then be increased to $1.33 per gallon, which is still lower than the cost to produce the milk in California. Butter, cheese and powdered milk prices will also increase in May, ultimately raising the price paid for milk as well. Analysts expect the demand for cheese to drop though which meals there is still no certain outlook for dairy producers.

While dairy producers struggle with prices, producers across the state are also looking for relief.

Going on the fourth year of drought-conditions, California producers are still dealing with tight water supplies in California.

Although the Sierra snowpack is at 130 percent average, the Department of Water Resources said the state has not recovered from three years of drought. Many storage areas in various reservoirs across the state still sit below average. Hydrologists believe the snow run off will just absorb into the dry ground. Water conservation is necessary by all California citizens.

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Sonoma County is working to fight European grapevine moths.

A thousand acres in Sonoma Valley have been quarantined when three moths were found west of Calistoga. Investigators said the damage from the pest will not be known until May or June. The insect itself does not spread quickly by itself, but it moves with infected fruit and plants. It can also spread when farm equipment moves and the insect is attached to the equipment. The quarantine is intended to prevent any further infestations. Farmers are also fighting damages by applying fungicides to the vineyards.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also researching citrus plants to find ways to fight a disease that is currently threatening a number of citrus plants across Florida and could make its way to California.

Researchers are working with periwinkle plants to find ways to fight HLB or citrus greening. Field trials are underway in California because although the disease has not been found, the insect that carries the disease has.

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The American Farm Bureau Federation said it stands behind the Grow Renewable Energy from Ethanol Naturally (GREEN) Jobs Act of 2010. The legislation was recently introduced to Congress by senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Kent Conrad (D. North Dakota). The GREEN Jobs Act of 2010 is another effort to move America towards energy independence.

Producers often plant crops for renewable energies because of government subsidies. This bill would extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and the Small Ethanol Producers Tax Credit through 2015. It would otherwise expire this year. It also extends the Cellulosic Ethanol Production Tax Credit through 2015.

“Clean, renewable domestic energy will help American achieve long-term economic growth, create a cleaner environment and shield our economy from unreliable foreign energy sources,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “American farmers and ranchers are playing a bigger role in supplying our nation with the energy it needs through the production of agricultural-based, renewable energy resources. Tax incentives play a key role in the development and production of renewable energy.”

The extended incentives encourage diverse crops and price competition. The renewable energy industry appeared in the 1980s with the aid of tax credits and now produces over 10 billion gallons of fuel every year.

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