Topic: Animal Production

The price of milk: Low for milk drinkers, but sinks family farms

With the price of milk low and feed and fuel costs spiraling, family dairy farms struggle to compete with large farms. In Vermont, the MacLaren family gives up dairy farming after three generations, joining the gradual national decline of small farms.

Mad cow: Latest episode raises questions about cattle feed

The riskiest parts of rendered cows aren’t supposed to be fed back to other cows. But they are fed to chickens, whose waste can be fed back to cattle in what one critic calls ‘cow cannibalism.’

10 best self-help books of all time

From Benjamin Franklin to Norman Vincent Pearle to Stephen Covey, here are 10 of the best self-help books ever written.

Mad cow disease: Big deal abroad. US? Not so much. (+video)

Mad cow disease has hit the US only four times since regulators took steps to control it 15 years ago. Although the latest announcement of mad cow disease may alarm American consumers, the biggest reaction may come from nations that decide to ban US beef.  

Is corn syrup killing the honeybees? (+video)

A trio of recent studies faults a common family of corn pesticides for disorienting honeybees, potentially leading to colony collapse disorder. The German chemical company Bayer, which manufactures the pesticides, disagrees.  

Pink slime bankruptcy: After the backlash, what's next for beef?

Pink slime bankruptcy: A major beef processor has declared bankruptcy, citing the backlash against 'pink slime.' The economic fallout from pink slime is just beginning. 

Are pesticides responsible for bee deaths? (+video)

Important pollinators, both bumblebees and honeybees have trouble functioning after being exposed to pesticides, two new studies say. Industry experts question several aspects of the work.

Five ways to make aquaculture more sustainable

Combining rice paddles and fish ponds, and using locally caught fish as feed, are just two of the ways that fish farming, or aquaculture, can be made more environmentally friendly.

'Pink slime': Health crisis or misunderstood meat product?

Pink slime is what critics call 'lean, finely textured beef' – a filler used in ground beef. It's not dangerous, but it's a byproduct that some say should be clearly labeled. 

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: movie review

'Salmon fishing in the Yemen,' based on a satirical novel, manages to lose the satire in damp whimsy despite a good cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Top 10 richest US presidents

Mitt Romney earned nearly $22 million in 2010. If elected, he would be in the Top 3 most wealthiest presidents. You may be surprised by who ranks among the Top 10 wealthiest US presidents.

Insights from a pile of manure

Her un-anniversary was fast approaching, but how to reinvent that day remained elusive.

Why all the attention on the Falklands? Five key questions.

April 2 is the 30-year anniversary of the Falkland Islands War. Argentina and Britain have been at odds over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands for decades, and tensions kicked up when Britain deployed some of its modern warships to the islands, as well as Prince William, as a pilot.

Rare turtle back in the wild with fancy new satellite tracking device

Only about 200 Southern River terrapins still exist in the wild, and on Monday one of them plodded into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia wearing a satellite tag as a crowd of officials and well-wishers cheered it on.

Aquaculture could help feed rising world demand for protein

Fish farming needs fewer resources than raising livestock and can be more environmentally sound than open-water fishing.

High-seas stabbing of Korean commando worsens ties with China

The killing of a Korean coast guard commando by a Chinese commercial fishing captain is just the latest in a series of clashes, and reinforces popular Korean belief that China is a threat.

How to star in your own reality show: Cook more

Only 40 percent of American cooks at least 5 times a week, and 75 percent classify cooking as using frozen and prepared foods. Here are three reasons Americans should cook from scratch more, besides the fact that it's healthier and less expensive.

Thanksgiving turkeys get presidential pardon (video)

Two 45-pound turkeys, named Liberty and Peace, got a presidential Thanksgiving pardon today.

Jack-o'-lanterns and more: five symbols in the history of Halloween

Halloween has its own collection of seasonal iconography, much like a Christmas tree or an Easter basket. Since the October holiday straddles the line between celebration and superstition, it's no surprise some of the day's symbols are of a darker origin.

Here are five things that are intertwined with the history of Halloween.

“We are what we read”: 4 lessons from David McCullough

Here are four pieces of advice from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and author David McCullough.

Fishing ban brings species back to Mexico park. But can it rebuild a fishery?

A study finds that a fishing ban at a Mexican marine park – with critical help from local residents – has successfully restored the fish population. Whether it's enough to restore the industry is not clear.

East Asia's top 5 island disputes

Many of the island territories are small, isolated from the countries’ mainlands, and sparsely populated. But strategic interests and abundant natural resources make them valuable.

Will Asian carp turn up in fishing expedition near Lake Michigan?

Federal officials start the four-day expedition Monday. Its aim is to determine whether the Asian carp has infiltrated water locks that are designed to keep the species out of Lake Michigan.

Zambian banana plantation teaches at-risk youth useful life skills

At-risk teens and young adults in the Chongwe and Luagwa districts of Zambia work with ChildFund International to build a business in bananas. The banana plantation, built and cared for by the young people, will see its first harvest in November.