AgClips
Recent AgClips
Two-year-old law has brightened future of solar energy in Illinois, led to new proposals in 2018
CSG Midwest | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsWith one glance at the most recent U.S. rankings on solar energy, it becomes clear the Midwest has a long way to go if it wants to catch up to other regions on the use of this renewable source. Only Minnesota and Indiana placed in the top half of states as of 2017.
With binational tensions unusually high, trends in key Midwest sectors are reminder of value of U.S.-Canada partnerships
CSG Midwest | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Federal NewsRecent headlines have pointed to some of the strains (a mix of new tensions and a flare-up of longstanding conflicts) in the U.S.-Canada relationship. There have been proposed U.S.
Meat alternatives take criticism — from environmentalists
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Food NewsA new report from Friends of the Earth calls into question the environmental benefits attributed to meat analogs and lab-grown animal products, and emphasizes the need for more research. “Second-generation, lab-created animal protein replacement products are not yet proven to be safe or sustainable by regulators or via transparent, independent third-party assessments. Rather, there are increasing concerns and questions that remain unanswered, and existing analyses show that these products may be problems masquerading as solutions,” the report said.
Impossible Burger and the Road to Consumer Distrust
EcoWatch | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Food NewsFor anyone who wonders why consumers aren't inspired to trust the GMO industry, consider this bizarre statement from Impossible Foods Chief Communications Officer Rachel Konrad in defense of the Impossible Burger, a veggie burger made more meat-like via genetically engineered yeast.Konrad was upset by a June 27 Bloomberg article Is it too early for fake meat? that raised concerns about insufficient research, regulation and labeling in the realm of new food technologies.Konrad took to Medium, blasting critics of the Impossible Burger as "anti-science fundamentalists" and "setting th
Pruitt aides reveal new details of his spending and management at EPA
The Washington Post | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in NewsTwo of Scott Pruitt’s top aides provided fresh details to congressional investigators in recent days about some of the EPA administrator’s most controversial spending and management decisions, including his push to find a six-figure job for his wife at a politically connected group, enlist staffers in performing personal tasks and seek high-end travel despite aides’ objections.
Farm bill heads to conference committee with concerns over food stamps, animal rights
Lawrence Journal World | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Federal NewsRoberts, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with the ranking Democrat on the committee, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, of Michigan, were largely responsible for coordinating the drafting of the Senate version of the bill.
EPA Wants Judgement in NY WOTUS Case
DTN | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Agriculture NewsThe EPA is expected to ask a federal judge in New York to rule in its favor on a lawsuit challenging the delay of the 2015 waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule, according to a document filed last week announcing plans to file for summary judgement. Attorneys general of 10 states and the District of Columbia sued the EPA in February, alleging the agency's final rule suspending the WOTUS rule is unlawful. A motion for summary judgement asks a court to rule on the merits of the case without a trial taking place. In addition, the states filed a prior similar motion, asking the U.S.
Perry warns Northeast states opposing pipelines will face 'reckoning'
Washington Examiner | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Energy Newsnergy Secretary Rick Perry on Thursday warned the leaders of Northeast states who are trying to block natural gas pipelines that they will face a “real reckoning” of higher energy costs and vulnerabilities in their power grid.“The citizens of New York are paying more for energy,” Perry said during a panel session at the World Gas Conference in Washington. “Their health and well-being is being put in jeopardy.
Pa. dairy farmers find happy collaboration for surplus milk
The Philadelphia Tribune | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Rural NewsLast year, food banks statewide came up with an idea. Using funding from the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System and donations from the dairy industry, they got 12 tanker loads of surplus milk a local co-op was going to dump. (Milk-transport trucks can hold anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 gallons.) They took the rescued milk to local cheesemakers and made thousands of pounds to give away free at food pantries and shelters. For farmers, it meant total revenue of $165,000. Philabundance purchased 27,680 pounds of that cheese for donations, but then took the idea one step further.
The U.S. has too much milk on its hands — so its cheese stockpile just hit an all-time high
Regina Leader Post | Posted onJuly 5, 2018 in Food NewsThe United States has amassed its largest stockpile of cheese in the 100 years since regulators began keeping tabs, the result of booming domestic production of milk and consumers’ waning interest in the dairy beverage.The 1.39 billion-pound stockpile, tallied by the Agriculture Department last week, represents a 6 percent increase over this time last year and a 16 percent increase since an earlier surplus prompted a federal cheese buy-up in 2016.Analysts say warehouse stocks have swelled because processors have too much milk on their hands, and milk is more easily stored as cheese.