AgClips
Recent AgClips
Social responsibility to go, please
Feedstuffs | Posted onApril 11, 2017 in Food NewsHowever, as consumers continue to demand more value from their food, many fast food companies have been trying to meet expectations for social responsibility in the products they offer. McDonald’s, for example, now aims to “make sustainability the new normal” for their business practices. As an industry giant, the corporation is consistently at risk of criticism for contributing to human health problems, such as obesity because of their menu offerings.
Agriculture is depleting world aquifers, new satellite measurements show
Minnesota Post | Posted onApril 11, 2017 in Agriculture NewsAgriculture’s heavy demand on the world’s freshwater resources is well understood from the output end — of all water consumption for all uses, the United Nations estimates, 70 percent goes to produce food.
Oregon Representative defends farmers with example of his own family's dilemma
Oregon Capital Insider | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsRep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, recently rose to the defense of Oregon's farmers after agriculture was criticized for receiving an oversized helping of government support.
Bill for N.H. dairy farmer dough on to governor’s desk for signature
Concord Monitor | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsA measure providing up to $2 million in emergency funding for New Hampshire dairy farmers strained by last year’s drought is ready for Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s signature. The Senate on Thursday concurred with changes made by the House last month to the measure. The bill originated in the Senate.Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, a Republican from Wolfeboro, was the bill’s prime sponsor. He said the legislation provides a fair formula for distributing the money.
While cause remains unclear, earthquake prompts new look at Ohio fracking
Midwest Energy News | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Energy NewsRegardless of how regulators resolve their investigation into an April 2 earthquake in southeastern Ohio, drilling and well operators in the area will almost certainly need to do more careful monitoring and reporting in the future, now that there’s a known seismic risk. “Any time an earthquake occurs, that’s an indication that there’s a fault there,” said geologist Michael Brudzinski at Miami University in Oxford.The magnitude 3.0 quake on April 2 took place at 7:58 a.m. in the Marietta unit of Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio.
Glyphosate-free label unveiled in U.S.
The Western Producer | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Food NewsFood label claims have become about as rare as air molecules. Seemingly, every food item in the grocery store is either free range, free run, humanely raised, organic, GMO-free and of course, gluten-free. But a label officially launched in March and now on the market might generate more controversy than any of the previous claims.Yesterday, Leaf & Love Lemonade, made by a California company, became the first product in America to be certified as “Glyphosate Residue Free.”
Activist report finds humane slaughter enforcement lacking
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Federal NewsA new report from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) concludes that the level of enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act varies dramatically by state, and says repeat violators are a major problem.
Brazil finds contamination in 8 meat samples, will close other plants
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Food NewsContamination by bacteria capable of affecting public health was found in eight meat samples from two processing facilities investigated in Brazil's corruption probe “Operation Weak Flesh,” the country's Ministry of Agriculture said Thursday. Other unrelated problems found in two meat processing facilities owned by Peccin, and in a third plant by Central de Carnes Paranaense, located in Colombo (Paraná state), led the government to order the cancellation of their Federal Inspection Service (SIF) registrations, closing them permanently.
Current Tax Breaks Defended
DTN | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Federal NewsWitnesses at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on opportunities for tax reform in rural America declined Wednesday to take a position on the proposed border adjustability tax while saying that a range of current farm and ranch tax breaks should remain in place.
Lab-Grown Meat May Save a Lot More than Farm Animals’ Lives
NBCnews.com | Posted onApril 10, 2017 in Food NewsImagine a backyard barbecue where the parents grill burgers and chicken kebabs they've grown from single cells using a home meat-making machine. Meat is essentially muscle tissue, so if it grows naturally from a just few cells into a thick chunk, why can't the same process happen in the lab? Over the past few years, scientists have made progress in figuring out how to use self-renewing cells to grow this tissue outside the body, and some hope to scale it up for mass production soon.