AgClips
Recent AgClips
This farm said it had a USDA inspector onsite daily. But people still got sick.
Indy Star | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsAt Indiana-based Rose Acre's North Carolina farm, 3 million chickens produce about 2.3 million eggs every day, apparently under the watchful eye of a U.S. Department of Agriculture grader.That grader is supposed to be at the farm every day. Which raises a question: Why did it take an outbreak of salmonella, one that sickened 23 people in nine states, to alert officials to problems at the farm? A USDA spokeswoman acknowledged to IndyStar that a typical day for a grader involves checking a facility's equipment prior to that day's operation.
New Markets for State Inspected Meat Act looking for sponsors
Congressional report | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in NewsThe New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act would allow meat and poultry products inspected by Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) approved state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines.Currently, there are 27 states with inspection programs "at least equal to" federal meat and/or poultry inspection programs.
New biodiesel mandate takes effect in Minnesota this week
Minnesota Public Radio | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in NewsMinnesota's biodiesel industry will get a boost Tuesday when a new state fuel mandate takes effect. Starting May 1, the fuel most used by truckers, No. 2 diesel, must contain at least 20 percent biodiesel — double the current requirement.Biodiesel is mostly made from soybeans, but can also be made from waste products such as used cooking oil.Many petroleum companies and truckers oppose the new mandate, saying it will increase their business costs.Minnesota Trucking Association President John Hausladen said his group opposes the mandate, in part because the fuel can gel in cold weather.
FDA to take ‘fresh look’ at dairy mislabeling
Feedstuffs | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Food NewsU.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said his agency is taking a “fresh look” at how to address the mislabeling of imitation dairy products, with misbranded plant products using terms such as “milk,” “yogurt,” “cheese” and “ice cream.” Gottlieb recently said FDA announced a request seeking additional information on the agency’s overall approach. In response to questions from Sen.
Animal Welfare--New CAST Task Force Report
Council for Agriculture Science and Technology | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsThis report shows a growing emphasis on animal welfare regulations. The priorities, state of the science, challenges, and approaches to addressing the topic have also evolved considerably. Increased collaboration has occurred between scientists and philosophers to address agricultural bioethics in an effort to facilitate conflict resolution.
Researchers weigh the tradeoffs of antimicrobial policies in dairy production
Cornell | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture, Food NewsDairy farmers use antibiotics to keep their herds healthy and production high. At the same time, these treatments threaten to harm public health through the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While the quantitative impact of such antibiotics on humans is not completely understood, a new Cornell study has pinpointed the financial toll that eliminating antibiotic use would have on dairy farms, a finding that could help guide regulatory policy.
Kentucky Milk Processing Plant to Close, Eliminating 52 Jobs
U.S. News & World Report | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture, Rural NewsA Kentucky milk processing plant is slated to close next month, resulting in the loss of 52 jobs.The Paducah Sun reports the general manager of the Prairie Farms Dairy plant, David Atchley, notified the Kentucky Division of Workforce and Employment Services on Tuesday.
Alaska bill to protect spawning habitats could affect rural development
Webcenter 11 | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture, Rural NewsHouse Bill 199, also known as the "Wild Salmon Legacy Act" updates "Title 16, an older fish habitat protection and permitting law. According to the updated bill a broader definition of what constitutes salmon spawning environments, or "anadromous fish habitat" is the aspect of the legislation that is causing so much debate.
Governor Dayton Thanks Republican Legislators for Supporting Water Quality Buffer Tax Credits
Minnesota Governor | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsProposal would provide eligible landowners $50 per acre, each year, for farmland converted to water quality buffers. Governor Mark Dayton today thanked Republican legislators for supporting a tax credit to help alleviate the cost of compliance with state water quality requirements. The tax credit would provide eligible landowners $50 per acre, each year, for farmland converted to water quality buffers.
With their way of life in jeopardy, dairy farmers search for ways to stabilize markets
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Posted onMay 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsGina Stokes says she will keep fighting for her family’s dairy farm, where the cows have names, not numbers, and the land tugs at her heart. That’s a tall order these days for many farmers. Wisconsin lost 500 dairy farms in 2017, and about 150 have quit milking cows so far this year, putting the total number of milk-cow herds at around 7,600 — down 20 percent from five years ago.