AgClips
Recent AgClips
Beginning Farmers: I want to start farming. Is it feasible?
Center for Rural Affairs | Posted onJanuary 24, 2017 in Agriculture Newshis is a time of tremendous opportunity in farming and ranching. Commodity production (undifferentiated crops and livestock
Federal Reserve: Observations on the Ag Economy- January ’17
Illinois Farm Policy News | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Agriculture NewsRichmond– “Reports on agricultural activity in recent weeks were mixed. A South Carolina farmer indicated that improved weather conditions after Hurricane Matthew allowed crops to dry out enough to be harvested; yields, however, were down markedly from historical averages. A Maryland contact said that the fall harvest finished early, which allowed grain farmers to get moderately better prices than growers in the Midwest. Dairy farm consolidation continued and milk production was stable due to technology enhancements.
Five Myths Surrounding the Veterinary Feed Directive
Pork Network | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Federal NewsWhile it is true change can be a good thing, it rarely occurs without a learning curve. Not surprisingly, then, that is the case with the Veterinary Feed Directive after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently tightened the federal rule.
As of Jan. 1, producers must obtain an authorization or prescription to purchase medically important antibiotics and administer them to food animals through feed and drinking water. Medically important antibiotics are medicines critical to treating human diseases.
States See Value in Backing ‘Food Hubs’ for Farmers, Consumers
Pew Charitable Trust | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Food NewsThe state of New York has taken notice of its role in the regional food supply chain and in August allocated $15 million of the $20 million needed to build Greenmarket’s new 20,000-square-foot distribution center, commonly known as a food hub.
Beef Checkoff Suit Could be a “Test Case”
Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Agriculture NewsA lawsuit in Montana is grabbing the attention of checkoff boards across the country. The Rancher-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund sued the Montana state beef checkoff council in May, asking a federal court to issue a preliminary injunction prohibiting the council from spending federal checkoff dollars on advertising unless the state cattle producers paying the fees agree to it. This past fall, a magistrate heard arguments from both sides, and in December he made an official recommendation to the federal judge to stop the council's advertising spending without cattlemen approval.
Utah ranchers forming LLC in innovative grazing plan
Capital Press | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Agriculture NewsRanchers in northern Utah are consolidating their grazing permits and livestock to implement rest rotational grazing across 10 allotments and 136,000 acres. The project aimed to demonstrate good stewardship, switching to rest rotational grazing across 136,000 acres, consolidating 3,200 cows into two herds of 1,600 and facilitating three summer bands and four winter bands of sheep. The allotments allow 17,218 AUMS, and the plan is to rest about 20 percent of range annually. An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month.
Ireland confirms atypical BSE in cow
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Federal NewsIreland’s agriculture department confirmed Wednesday the discovery of a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an 18-year-old cow. The finding derived from the department’s surveillance of rendering facilities processing animals that died on farm, officials said. The animal tested positive on a screening test and follow-up tests confirmed the result.
Milk is from mammals, say lawmakers
La Crosse Tribune | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Food NewsGot “lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows”?Doesn’t quite have the same marketing zing as the traditional four-letter word for moo juice, but according to the Food and Drug Administration rule 21 CFR 131.110, that is the legal definition of milk.But the definition should be upheld, according to 32 members of Congress — including six from Wisconsin — who recently sent a letter to U.S. Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to crack down on almond-, coconut- and other plant-based fluids.
NC Senator blogs about the Ag Chairs Summit
Senator Brent Jackson Blog | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsEarlier this month, Ross Barnhardt and I, along with first-time attendee Senator Bill Rabon, attended the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders (SARL) conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. SARL is a group of state legislators and agriculture industry representatives from across the United States and Canada that get together every year to discuss and study issues and policies affecting the agriculture industry and rural communities. I have had the privilege to attend the conference the past 4 years and have served as a SARL board member for the past several years.
Purdue's 2017 Agriculture Outlook Not Encouraging
Purdue.edu | Posted onJanuary 22, 2017 in Agriculture NewsWelcome to our 2017 Agricultural Outlook. It’s a new year that will bring opportunities and challenges for agricultural industries. While no one can accurately predict the future, it is our mission to help you understand the major economic drivers of the agricultural economy in 2017. That begins with a new administration in D.C., which is expected to immediately pass an economic stimulus package to accelerate economic growth. That should have some positive impacts for U.S. agriculture but what about the strength of the U.S.