Drought is spreading, indoor farming and NAFTA among ag topics in the news this week.

Janet Kubat Willette, E-Content Editor

January 20, 2018

2 Min Read
NolanBerg11/flySnow/SteveOehlenschlager/ThinkstockPhotos

Need a quick catch-up on the news? Here are seven agricultural stories you might have missed this week.

1. Drought is building across the United States, with 61% of the country in some stage of drought, according to the latest Drought Monitor released this week. Meanwhile, drought is deepening across Kansas, covering 17% of the state. – Farm Futures & Kansas Farmer 

2. U.S. indoor farming startup Plenty is seeking urban sites for new farms in Chinese cities. The company has already hired a team in Japan and has selected sites there. A Plenty farm is designed to be 3 to 10 acres. – Fortune

3. There’s new dicamba application requirements for 2018. Growers need to keep in mind that dicamba will move in the right conditions and applicators will be held accountable when off-target movement occurs. – Prairie Farmer

4. New research in Nebraska has found that oats could be a host for bacterial leaf streak.- Nebraska Farmer

5. The next round of North American Free Trade Agreement talks begin Jan. 23 in Canada and word is that the Trump administration is serious about its threat to withdraw from the agreement. Meanwhile, the Mexican government says it will leave the negotiating table if Trump gives notice that he intends to withdraw from NAFTA. However, Geronimo Gutierrez, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, says the U.S., Canada and Mexico have reached general agreement on 40% of the topics being discussed. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says Trump has come to see that the agreement has some benefits for the United States. – Farm Futures

6. Beef exports to China appear to be growing sporadically. In November, beef exports to China were 1.97 million pounds, making China the tenth-largest U.S. beef export market. – Beef Producer

7. Engineers at the University of Colorado-Boulder have received a $2.45 million USDA grant to develop a scalable, cost-effective greenhouse material that splits sunlight into photosynthetically efficient light and repurposes inefficient infrared light to aid in water purification. – University of Colorado-Boulder

 And your bonus:

Farming and football are coming together for the Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl, which pairs farmers and football players in a unique contest of strength and skill. Participants include: Jerome Bettis, Hall of Fame running back and former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings tight end; Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers former wide receiver; Jason Brown, former center for the then-St. Louis Rams; and farmers Katie Dotterer, Union Bridge, Md.; Darin Johnson, Johnson Farms, Wells, Minn.; Amber Horn-Leiterman, Brillion, Wis.; Dave Ribeiro, Tulare, Calif.; JJ Nunes, Tulare, Calif., and Craig Roerick, Swanville, Minn.. – Western Farmer Stockman

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