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.
Expanding supplies are weighing on global coffee and cocoa prices.
March 18, 2026 06:00 AM
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Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities discusses how tensions in the Middle East are impacting producer’s spring planting decisions.
March 17, 2026 02:13 PM
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Farm Legal expert Roger McEowen discusses new dicamba regulations, compliance requirements for growers, and the evolving outlook for herbicide use.
March 17, 2026 01:52 PM
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Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and the potential impact on agriculture as farmers navigate ongoing global uncertainty.
March 17, 2026 12:53 PM
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The action follows the March 13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld a district court decision denying a preliminary injunction that sought to halt the exchange.
Strong exports support ethanol margins and corn demand.
March 17, 2026 08:00 AM
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