Digging for Agriculture News

Neighbors are starting to hand fresh produce over the back fence, even here in the Midwest where summer temperatures don’t seem to have kicked in quite yet. They’re casting a critical eye over their gardens and weighing in on this year’s horticultural successes and failures.

With agriculture a key part of most state and local economies, you might want to do the same. Stories about crops and the people who grow them are always interesting, informative and offer great photo ops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture site offers information overload and story ideas galore, from economics and research to crop marketing and food safety. Its Agriculture Fact Book, while someone dated, will give you an overview of topics and resources.

Naturally you’ll want to explore your state’s agriculture department as well. And for more information about trends and concern, check out the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture - who knew?! – a sort of trade and lobbying group for these related government agencies. Here’s the membership list and links to state offices.

If your state or region is known for one main crop, you could focus on the health of that business and any positive or adverse conditions this year that could affect jobs and revenue. Commodity prices are set at the Chicago Board of Trade, a sort of stock market for crops. If you aren’t up to speed on commodities don’t overlook the CBOT Web site’s helpful glossary and educational channels.

Keep in mind that crops grown for animal feed, research or for use in non-edible products all have a tale to tell. Biotech firms in your area may be researching genetically altered foods; your state university’s agriculture school or extension service might be a good place to get some leads.

If you need small business stories, look around for interesting companies related to agriculture and find out how the weather and the economy are treating them. Check roadside fruit and vegetable stands, farmers markets, small nurseries and specialty growers. What are they doing to compete?

Any interesting seed companies or mail-order suppliers in your area? Processing plants? Landscape supply companies selling giant palms to Las Vegas golf courses? How are the plants doing at the local cranberry bog or winery?

Agriculture stories practically scream for multimedia coverage. Try a sunrise scene at the local produce market or an explanatory video of blueberries going from field to muffin. Don’t laugh – in 1999 The Oregonian won a Pulitzer Prize for its biz package that followed a batch of potatoes from their field in the Pacific Northwest to their fate as french fries in Indonesia. Read all about it, along with some great advice for making business news relevant to readers, in this American Journalism Review piece.

Come back to Your Daily Tipsheet each morning for advice on where to find sources, background and creative ways to make financial news and trends relevant to your audience.