10 Agriculture Stories You Should Read Today

(WesternFarmPress) - Organic narcissism? Wine tasting and junk science. Ag's Silicon Valley moment. Hippy defends GMOs. Cotton candy grapes. Invasive species liberty. Wall Street and the perfect pig. And more.

1. Wine-tasting and Junk Science: In case you missed this June article, David Derbyshire chunks a stinkbomb into the wine-tasting room. (The Guardian)

2. Is Organic Agriculture 'Affluent Narcissism?' The organic community remains unswayed by either biology or history? (Forbes)

3. Agriculture Waiting on Silicon Valley Moment: Whether it’s with traditional companies, rookie startups, or the sustained appeal of farmland, investors are hungry for agriculture yields. More agriculture innovation is coming — and the market knows that. (Western Farm Press)

4. A Hippie’s Defense of GMOs: "Saul of Hearts" is a crazy hippie; attends Burning Man every year; teaches yoga; thinks Monsanto is evil; and lives in a co-op. But he is also fascinated by genetics — and isn't scared of GMOs. (Slate)

5. Hitting the Sweet Spot with Cotton Candy Grapes: David Cain's latest invention is part of a designer-fruit craze in which farmers try to create the next Cuties Clementine orange or Honeycrisp apple. (LA Times)

6. Invasive Species Liberty: A Michigan farmer faces $700,000 in fines for raising pigs that Michigan authorities believe violate an invasive species order. Mark Baker says Michigan officials have targeted him because he refused to shoot his Russian boar pigs. (Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

7. The Ants from Hell: Fire ants’ annual impact on the economy, environment, and quality of life in the United States totals $6 billion. (Salon)

8. Big Dough for the Perfect Pig: Chris Andersen is in the premier league of Wall Street investment bankers and financial magicians. He may also be on track to enter the elite ranks of pig farmers. (Modern Farmer)

9. Racing to Save the Orange: Under the greening gun in Florida. (NYT)