Agriculture News
Tyson ends chicken site search by selecting western Tennessee
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted on November 21, 2017After months of controversy that ultimately resulted in Tyson Foods Inc. abandoning plans to build a chicken complex in Kansas, the protein giant instead will construct the plant in Humboldt, Tenn.
CA pot rules open way for potentially larger fields
ABC News | Posted on November 21, 2017California released long-awaited rules that will govern the state's emerging legal marijuana industry, while potentially opening the way for larger-scale cultivation that some fear could strangle small-farm growers. The thicket of emergency regulations will allow the state to begin issuing temporary licenses for growers, distributors and sellers on Jan. 1, when recreational sales become legal.They provide a regulatory roadmap for business operations, from licensing fees to establishing guidelines for testing, growing and distribution of marijuana in what is projected to be a $7 billion economy, the nation's largest.As for infused munchies, "edible products cannot be shaped like a human, animal, insect, or fruit," according to a summary of the rules.And if you are thinking about alternative transportation for that pot, don't: It's prohibited to use "aircraft, watercraft, drone, rail, human-powered vehicle and unmanned vehicle."The regulations have been in development for months and in some cases covered familiar ground: At first, the state will issue only temporary licenses to growers and retailers, provided they have a local permit to open for business.
Michigan Department of Agriculture seeks pesticide notification
Ionia Sentinel Standard | Posted on November 21, 2017Residents with verifiable medical conditions are being asked to submit their applications for the 2018 annual Pesticide Notification Registry. The registry enables individuals with verifiable medical conditions to be notified prior to a turf or ornamental application of pesticides on property that is adjacent to their primary residence. “Pesticide application firms use the registry to determine where individuals with verifiable medical conditions reside and notify them before applications are made on adjacent and other surrounding properties,” said Gina Alessandri, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division director at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I encourage those with verifiable medical conditions to register.”Pesticide Notification Registry applicants must submit an application and a physician’s certification form no later than Feb. 1, 2018. The application and forms are available on MDARD’s website at
Dicamba Update (Part II)
Texas Agriculture Law Blog | Posted on November 21, 2017There are been a number of articles in the news recently discussing insurance and dicamba drift. Of course, drift damage is not covered by the damaged farmer’s crop insurance policy. Generally, injured producers look to the applicator’s liability insurance policy for compensation. Stories have reported that these claims have been denied for several reasons. First, claims may be denied if the insurance company determines that their applicator did nothing wrong. For example, if an applicator somehow violated the label by spraying with wind speeds that were too high or too low or using the wrong nozzle, the insurance company would likely cover that. If, however, the applicator followed all of the rules, acted reasonably, and there is no evidence of wrongdoing, yet damage occurred, a company may deny coverage. Second, on the other end of the spectrum, companies will deny claims if they determine their insured knowingly violated the law or the label when applying pesticides. Third, coverage may be denied due to lack of proof of causation–it may be difficult for the injured farmer to prove exactly who caused the crop damage, particularly if numerous neighbors all applied dicamba. Finally, concerns have been vocalized that insurance premiums for policies covering spray drift could dramatically increase as a result of the ongoing issues.
Iowa Program Offers Crop Insurance Premium Reduction for Cover Crop Use
Pro Ag | Posted on November 21, 2017The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has announced a new program aimed at increasing acres of cover crops in the state. Iowa farmers who plant cover crops this fall may be eligible for a five dollar per acre premium reduction on their crop insurance in 2018. IDALS worked with the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), which oversees the federal crop insurance program, to establish a three-year demonstration project aimed at expanding the usage of cover crops in Iowa.“We see this new crop insurance premium reduction as a great way to reach a broader group of farmers and landowners in order to promote continued interest in planting cover crops,” says Iowa deputy secretary of agriculture Mike Naig. “This streamlined incentive coupled with traditional state and federal cost share programs provides farmers and landowners with a variety of options to gain experience with cover crops and expand their use. Cover crop seeding dates have recently been extended, so there is still an opportunity to seed more acres this fall.”The online sign-up and application process for farmers and landowners to certify eligible land for the program can be found here.
Judge issues blow against Trump's sanctuary city order
CNN | Posted on November 21, 2017President Donald Trump's latest executive order aimed at implementing the hardline immigration policies he championed during his campaign has been blocked by a federal court.US District Court Judge William Orrick issued a permanent injunction Monday blocking Trump's executive order seeking to strip so-called sanctuary cities of federal funding.The ruling represents a major setback to the administration's attempts to clamp down on cities, counties and states that seek to protect undocumented immigrants who come in contact with local law enforcement from deportation by federal authorities. Monday's ruling, which followed lawsuits from two California counties, nullifies Trump's January executive order on the matter, barring the administration from setting new conditions on spending approved by Congress.
Confusion over GMOs must stop, farmers tell a listening FDA
Southeast Farm Press | Posted on November 16, 2017Two farmers told a public hearing sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration that biotechnology allows farmers to increase yields while using less fuel, less chemicals and with less impact on the environment. Bryant Chapman, a dairy, beef, poultry and grain farmer in Alexander County, N.C., and Don Duvall, a grain farmer from Carmi, Ill., both emphasized that biotechnology allows farmers to produce abundant and affordable food with less inputs.
Long-term Study Finds That the Pesticide Glyphosate Does Not Cause Cancer
The Scientist | Posted on November 16, 2017A new study has found no conclusive link between exposure to glyphosate—the main ingredient in a popular weedkiller—and cancer. The new study, which was seen by Reuters, draws on long-term data collected through the Agricultural Health Study. This has monitored the health of nearly 90,000 people in Iowa and North Carolina from 1993 to 2010, including farmers licensed to apply pesticides to their crops, and their spouses. The researchers tell Reuters that among more than 54,000 pesticide applications taken into account in the study, 83 percent contained glyphosate. Yet they found no significant increase in cancers among those exposed to the chemical.The widespread use of glyphosate, which is the main ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup, has become increasingly controversial as studies have produced mixed results on the hazards it poses to humans.
Are there antibiotics in my meat? Let’s clear the confusion
Huffington Post | Posted on November 16, 2017I was stunned to hear a mother express guilt about being “unable to afford meat that doesn’t have antibiotics in it.”I wondered how many parents who are trying to provide the best for their children have the misconception that their kids are consuming large doses of antibiotics because they can’t afford meat labeled “antibiotic free.”One look at common questions being asked on Internet search engines tells us this misconception is distressingly common: “Are there antibiotics in my meat?” “Why is it bad to eat meat with antibiotics?”There is one undeniable fact that should bring comfort to parents trying to provide safe, healthy meals for their families on a budget: multiple safeguards are in place to ensure the meat we buy in the grocery store – regardless of the label – is safe.Before an antibiotic is ever approved for use in animals, it must go through a rigorous Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process. The process begins with testing to determine how long an antibiotic remains in an animal’s body, which is called the withdrawal period. Withdrawal periods are required by law. Animals cannot be processed until the drug, in this case the antibiotic, has cleared from their bodies.Additional studies are conducted to assess the potential for the development of resistant bacteria and to examine whether public health could be affected by using the antibiotic in animals.On top of that, food companies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) routinely test meat during processing to confirm there are no unsafe antibiotic residues. This is true for all meat. With or without an “antibiotic free” label.So, parents take heart. Whether the meat you buy is labeled “antibiotic free” or not, its safety is confirmed by extensive studies, mandatory withdrawal periods, and routine testing to ensure there are no unsafe antibiotic residues.
NC:Suit seeks to stop new union limits around farm operations
Bradenton.com | Posted on November 16, 2017North Carolina's only farmworker union is challenging a law limiting organized labor's activities in and around the state's vegetable and tobacco fields and other agricultural operations. Their lawsuit filed Wednesday called the restrictions unconstitutional and discriminatory.A last-minute House amendment inserted into the General Assembly's annual farm law last summer prohibits farming operations from collecting union dues from workers. It also blocks any future legal settlements requiring a farm to enter into a collective bargaining agreement.