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Agriculture News

Proposals could make it easier for farmers to profit from manure bioenergy

Midwest Energy News | Posted on May 30, 2017

A pair of federal efforts could make it more profitable to turn organic waste from agriculture and other sources into energy by taking advantage of the Renewable Fuel Standard. One is a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate that would create a 30 percent investment tax credit for qualifying biogas and nutrient-recovery systems. That would put renewable compressed natural gas on a similar footing with solar and wind energy.A separate approach, currently before the Environmental Protection Agency, aims to create a pathway that would pay biogas producers for providing power for electric vehicles.An energy consultant from Des Moines is one of several people in the U.S. trying to devise a record-keeping system that ultimately would pay biogas producers much more than they now earn for generating electricity.


Oregon livestock company prevails in trade secrets dispute

Capital Press | Posted on May 30, 2017

An Oregon livestock nutrition company has prevailed in a lawsuit over trade secrets against a former employee who was found to have intentionally destroyed evidence. A federal judge has entered a default judgment against Yongqiang Wang, the former employee, as punishment for deleting emails and giving away a computer likely containing information related to trade secrets owned by Omnigen Research.U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said the “extreme measure” of a default ruling against Wang was justified because he severely interfered with the orderly administration of justice in the case.


Sheep research station on USDA chopping block, again

Capital Press | Posted on May 30, 2017

The beleaguered research station, the only USDA-ARS research facility dedicated to the sheep industry, is being threatened with closure for the third time since 2014.The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois, Idaho, is one of 17 Agricultural Research Service laboratories slated for closure under President Donald Trump’s Department of Agriculture FY 2018 budget proposal.Brown said it’s a one-of-a-kind facility in the U.S. doing research on sheep breeding, range management, reproduction and wild/domestic sheep interaction. “It would be irreplaceable. It would be devastating to lose that continuity,” he said.


American beekeepers lost 33 percent of bees in 2016-17

Science Daily | Posted on May 30, 2017

Beekeepers across the United States lost 33 percent of their honey bee colonies during the year spanning April 2016 to April 2017, according to the latest preliminary results of an annual nationwide survey. Rates of both winter loss and summer loss -- and consequently, total annual losses -- improved compared with last year. Winter losses were the lowest recorded since the survey began in 2006-07


Equipment Manufacturers, Corn Growers and Seed Assoc.share technology with EPA and USDA

Youtube | Posted on May 29, 2017

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to host officials for a demonstration of planter technology and precision agriculture in April 2017. Check out this video to learn a little bit more about the day's activities, and the modern agriculture practices that are making farming more efficient and sustainable than ever.


VA:Tax credit benefits both farmers and food banks

Augusta Free Press | Posted on May 25, 2017

A new tax credit will benefit Virginia’s farmers and the food banks to which they donate. The Food Crops Donation Tax Credit was approved by the General Assembly last year. It allows Virginia farmers who donate edible food crops to a nonprofit food bank to receive up to a 30 percent tax credit for their donation.“This is a way for farmers and food banks to support one another and allow food bank patrons to access local foods,” noted Tony Banks, a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation commodity marketing specialist.“Sourcing food on the local level helps Virginia’s agriculture industry,” explained Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, which represents seven food banks and over 2,000 nonprofit food pantries and feeding programs. “It reduces food waste and provides an incentive to growers to donate produce. But, most importantly, it gives food-insecure individuals across the commonwealth access to food they need to thrive and prosper.”


Glencor Plc Wants to buy Bunge Ltd

Voice of Louisiana | Posted on May 25, 2017

Glencore Plc, the commodity giant led by billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, has made a takeover approach for U.S. grain trader Bunge Ltd., in a move that could reshape an industry long-dominated by four companies. Bunge operates three grain facilities in Louisiana: Vidalia, Destrahan and Darrow.


Deadly Virus Threatens Louisiana Crawfish

Voice of Louisiana | Posted on May 25, 2017

A deadly virus is threatening Louisiana crawfish. Aquaculture specialist Mark Shirley with the LSU AgCenter says the white spot syndrome virus showed up in Acadiana about a decade ago. He says the virus is showing up again in ponds across southwest Louisiana, and it’s hurting the crawfish harvest.


California approves additional funds to fight HLB spread

Fresh Fruit Portal | Posted on May 25, 2017

The California State Assembly approved a bill this week that will allow the citrus industry to increase spending for activities related to halting the spread of citrus greening disease.  Additional funds will be provided to protect residential and commercial citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the deadly plant disease it can carry, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The bill allows for an additional US$9.6 million in grower assessments to be spent by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA


New Study Shows Bees Encounter Neonics Frequently During Corn Planting

DTN | Posted on May 25, 2017

Farmers aren't the only ones buzzing around busily during spring planting season.Honey bees also pick up their foraging pace at this time of year, when pollen sources abound. That spells trouble, according to a new study from Purdue University.The study, led by entomologist Christian Krupke, concluded that more than 94% of honey bees in the state of Indiana are at risk of exposure to varying levels of neonicotinoid insecticides, including lethal levels, during corn planting.That exposure occurs when the insecticides, which are coated on individual seeds, "dust off," from those seeds during planting and the dust drifts beyond the field borders.The study also concluded that the neonicotinoid treatments in Purdue corn research plots from 2012-2014 did not provide any yield benefit.This research is sure to face pushback from neonicotinoid manufacturers and seed companies, for which seed treatments have become a steady and productive revenue stream over the past decade.


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