The farming sector is further disadvantaged by outdated farm equipment, the limited availability of important crop inputs such as fertilizer and herbicides, and generally poor agronomic practices. However, despite the availability of over 10 million hectares of land for agricultural use, Iran imports 30 to 50% of its annual food requirements. Iranian farmers are involved in the production of a wide array of crops including wheat, rice, barley, corn, pistachio nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and...

Many businesses consider the tax confusing and unfair, with some warning it will cause them to lose business to out-of-state competitors or have to leave the state themselves. LANSING (AP) -- Michigan's fragile state budget agreement was reached in the middle of the night after months of sometimes painful give-and-take between lawmakers and Gov. Businesses would pay about three-fourths of the new tax, which would bring in about $725 million a year, raising concerns that it could discourage...

That s a familiar story in many mountain counties, where burley tobacco has shifted from automatic cash crop to a less certain prospect since the federal tobacco buyout went into effect in 2005. This year s severe drought affected some growers, but tobacco is a fairly drought-resistant crop that can thrive with rains from roving thunderstorms and benefits from a reduction in wet-weather molds and diseases. Fuel and fertilizer prices are at all-time highs, migrant labor is increasingly hard...

Perkins said his tobacco crop dried up rather than curing, and he said the rains will help darken the color of his crop, but he doesn't think it will help much. Richardson said it's rained 4.5 inches at his house this week, which is causing some runoff into streams and ponds, providing his cattle with fresh water. The rain this week has been a big help to Jimmy Richardson's cattle operation, and he said he hopes the wet weather continues. While it's late in the season, Richardson said he's...

Mike Miller talks to reporters after the Senate narrowly passed a plan yesterday that increases the sales, tobacco and corporate income tax rates to close a $1. Many of the elements of the plan being considered by the House are identical to what the Senate approved, but the two chambers remain divided over how progressive to make the individual income tax and how to ensure that corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Many of the elements of the plan being considered by the House are...

More deaths are caused annually by tobacco use in this country than HIV/AIDS, illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, car accidents, suicides and murders combined. Here are 10 tips on how to kick the cigarette smoking habit: 1 Make a list of why you want to stop smoking, the benefits of not smoking and obstacles that may occur. Tobacco is responsible for about one in five deaths annually, or about 438,000 deaths per year. He said the list could include wanting to walk up a flight of stairs with...