Pollinators are vital to the agriculture world, but almond researchers have developed a self-fertilizing variety they are calling “Early Bird.”
“The early bird variety is actually double early. It blooms at the same time as sonora, so it’s an early bloomer, but the real value to the grower is that it harvests a week to 10 days before non-perel. In that harvest window, there are no other commercial varieties at this time. In our test plot, we’ve seen that for the last and 3rd and 4th leaf harvests, and in the mother tree that those are were propagated from, we’ve seen that for eight different harvests,” said Chuck Fleck with Fowler Nurseries.
Fleck says another big selling point is the kernel size, which is around 20 percent larger than other varieties.
The global rice surplus outweighs tighter U.S. supplies, pressuring prices.
February 19, 2026 08:00 AM
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A weaker dollar supports export demand and may strengthen crop prices.
February 19, 2026 06:00 AM
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Smaller supplies could support cotton prices despite weak demand.
February 18, 2026 04:18 PM
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Fred Nichols, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Huma, joined us with a sneak peek at Commodity Classic next week in San Antonio, Texas.
February 18, 2026 04:01 PM
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Federal aid helps, but producers will bear most of the losses. Balance sheets may look stable, but margins remain fragile without policy support.
February 18, 2026 01:49 PM
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Biofuel and corn producers await proposal as Renewable Fuels Association pushes for expanded ethanol access.
February 18, 2026 12:53 PM
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