Farm bill on the move as Senate hearings set
<div class="field-byline"> NAWG </div> The agriculture community took a number of important steps toward a 2012 Farm Bill, with commodity groups meeting in Washington to discuss the issues and the Senate Agriculture Committee announcing a hearing schedule. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/government/farm-bill-move-senate-hearings-set" target="_blank">read more</a></p>DOL re-proposing part of child labor rule
<div class="field-byline"> NCC </div> In response to requests from congressional members and the public, including comments submitted by the NCC and other agricultural interest organizations, the Department of Labor (DOL) is ?re-proposing? the portion of their proposed child labor rule regarding the agricultural parental exemption. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/government/dol-re-proposing-part-child-labor-rule" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Cotton flow strides conveyed to USDA
<div class="field-byline"> NCC </div> During a Washington, D.C., meeting, cotton industry representatives briefed USDA officials on industry efforts to improve cotton flow and sought the agency?s cooperation with future industry initiatives. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/government/cotton-flow-strides-conveyed-usda" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Farm groups discuss next farm bill
<div class="field-byline"> NCC </div> In a statement issued by 13 farm and commodity groups, the organizations stated they are committed to work together to come up with a viable farm policy. Also confirmed is their common belief that Congress should pass and the President should sign a strong new farm bill into law this year. The law expires at year?s end and producers ? like all job creators ? need certainty from Washington. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/government/farm-groups-discuss-next-farm-bill" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Super Bowl goes organic
<div class="field-byline"> Shayla Mae Bailey, AMS Public Affairs </div> The push to bring organic and locally-grown options to the concession stand came from a partnership between non-profits that support family farms, celebrities and Centerplate, the NFL?s largest concession provider. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/management/super-bowl-goes-organic" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Skin in the game may help dairy industry
<div class="field-byline"> Phil Durst, Michigan State University Extension </div> One of the complaints that dairy owners often have about employees is they don?t seem to care or that they don?t take ownership in the operation. Yet, should we be surprised when employees don?t take ownership in a business in which they have no ownership? <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/management/skin-game-may-help-dairy-industry" target="_blank">read more</a></p>California Crop Weather: rain, warm temps spur field crops
Pre-emergent spraying, irrigation, orchard removal, planting, and pruning continued in California nut orchards. Growers also applied some fertilizers, herbicides, and soil amendments. Walnut orchards were pruned. <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/tree-nuts/california-crop-weather-rain-warm-temps-spur-field-crops" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img src="http://westernfarmpress.com/site-files/westernfarmpress.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2012/02/winter-wheat-usda-photo-1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" width="355" height="200" /></a> </div> <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/tree-nuts/california-crop-weather-rain-warm-temps-spur-field-crops" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Attractive but unbalanced dairy growth creating challenges
<div class="field-byline"> Rabobank </div> Solid market growth, supply constraints and a structural shift in the costs of producing milk may sustain high milk and dairy commodity prices over the medium term. But this won't translate to increased profits for all. The unprecedented leap in farm gate milk prices in recent years has caused the position of dairy farmers to generally improve, but less than many outsiders might imagine. <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/markets/attractive-unbalanced-dairy-growth-creating-challenges" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img src="http://westernfarmpress.com/site-files/westernfarmpress.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2012/02/dairy-cows.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" width="355" height="200" /></a> </div> <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/markets/attractive-unbalanced-dairy-growth-creating-challenges" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Wine production gives blueberry producers a market for extra berries
<div class="field-byline"> Robert H. Wells, University of Florida </div> Wine production offers blueberry producers a market for extra berries they might not be able to sell due to slight imperfections or late ripening. <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/grapes/wine-production-gives-blueberry-producers-market-extra-berries" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img src="http://westernfarmpress.com/site-files/westernfarmpress.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2012/02/bluez.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" width="355" height="200" /></a> </div> <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/grapes/wine-production-gives-blueberry-producers-market-extra-berries" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Child labor controversy grows like grassfire
Following uproar in the agriculture sector and pushback from Congress, the Department of Labor has decided to revisit the language of a proposed rule regarding children who work their family?s farm. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://westernfarmpress.com/government/child-labor-controversy-grows-grassfire" target="_blank">read more</a></p>

Euro zone loses patience with Greece (Reuters)
Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers told Greece on Saturday it could not go ahead with an agreed deal to restructure privately-held debt until it guaranteed it would implement reforms needed to secure a second financing package from the euro zone and the IMF.Eurogroup's Juncker warns of possible Greece default (Reuters)
Reuters - The possibility of a sovereign default by Greece cannot be ruled out, Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers from the single currency zone, said in a German magazine on Saturday.Clock ticks on Greece's bailout deadline (Reuters)
Reuters - Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos faces a critical task of convincing international lenders and political party leaders on Sunday to agree to the stringent terms of a 130 billion euro ($171 billion) rescue plan to stave off looming default.Micron appoints Durcan CEO after Appleton's death (Reuters)
Reuters - Memory chipmaker Micron Technology's board appointed company veteran Mark Durcan as chief executive a day after longtime Chairman and CEO Steve Appleton was killed in a plane crash.Hungary seeks 15-20 billion euro IMF/EU credit line: official (Reuters)
Reuters - Hungary is seeking an international credit line of 15 to 20 billion ($20 to $26.3 billion) euros, the secretary of state heading the prime minister's office, Mihaly Varga, was quoted on Saturday as saying.Markets rally after forecast-busting US jobs data (AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120203/ap_on_bi_ge/world_markets"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20120203/i/r78344388.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=9q_wCwntJjJqHUPn7rWO6w--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="A specialist trader watches his screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, February 3, 2012. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS)" border="0" /></a>AP - Stocks spiked sharply higher on Friday after forecast-busting U.S. jobs figures reinforced hopes that the recovery in the world's largest economy is gathering pace at a time when other regions, notably Europe, may be heading back into recession.</p><br clear="all"/>Unemployment rate hinges on more than job gains (AP)
AP - For most people, the 8.3 percent unemployment rate is the most visible sign of the economy's health. The rate's every movement is closely watched, especially in an election year.Aon Q4 profit rises, but margin pressures persist (Reuters)
Reuters - Aon Corp posted a higher quarterly profit that narrowly beat market estimates, but the world's largest insurance broker continued to face margin pressures in its Aon Hewitt segment for the second-straight quarter.

Estate planning, a process invented by Charles Ives, is the process of accumulating and disposing of an estate to maximize the goals of the estate owner. ...