Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:
1. How to survive Black Friday
Black Friday is one of the most hyped-up days of the year. If you’re joining the thousands of shoppers nationwide in the early-morning hours of Nov. 28, consider planning ahead.
Preparation goes beyond knowing what you want to buy; you should also have a “Black Friday game plan” ready so that you make the most of your shopping excursion. Also, taking safety precautions is vital, considering it will be easy to lose track of your wallet or purse in the excitement of the day.
2. Honey Bee Habitat: Ohio funding available in early 2015
Honey bees pollinate an estimated $15 million worth of crops each year. That’s why the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service recently provided some Midwestern states with $4 million in funding to protect honey bee health.
Although Ohio wasn’t one of the states included in the national pollinator program, Ohio farmers can still get a share of funding by applying for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, funding, especially if they are using cover crops.
3. Who wants to be a beekeeper? Plan spring hives now
Honey bees have a lot to give when it comes to our crop supply. Although funding provided by the USDA to protect pollinator health and habitats of honey bees was given to several Midwestern states, starting a backyard hive could help to improve pollinator numbers.
If you want to start a hive in the spring, take time to plan now. There’s more behind-the-scenes work to beekeeping than meets the eye.
4. U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to visit Marietta
On Nov. 18, the National Christmas Tree made a stop in Marietta, Ohio, on its way to Washington, D.C. Hauled on an 85-foot trailer, the tree was from the National Chippewa Forest in north central Minnesota.
This 50 year tradition brings a tree to the West Lawn of the Capitol each holiday season.
5. Economists advise grain producers to watch the bottom line as prices dive
Due to lower crop prices, net incomes are down. These downturns could last for several years, so farmers should wait until the market stabilizes before making big investments in land and machinery.
A collapse in the grain sector is unlikely, due to growing demand and low interest rates. The current trend is just part of the boom and bust cycle.
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