AgClips
Recent AgClips
U.S.–China Trade Dispute and Potential Impacts on Agriculture
Choices magazine | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Agriculture, Federal NewsThreats of Chinese tariffs on U.S. agricultural imports shook the U.S. agricultural sector. Attention focused on the potential loss of farm income, with a surge of short articles published in the popular media. To help provide a deeper analysis on the trade policy impact, we organize this China theme issue with five articles: Zheng et al. and Taheripour and Tyner estimate the loss on multiple relevant crops using a partial equilibrium model and a general equilibrium model, respectively. Both studies focus on soybeans, while wheat, pork, and a few other commodities are also considered.
As Smaller Marijuana Businesses Get Squeezed, State Revenue Takes a Hit
Pew Charitable Trust | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in NewsTyler Kearns, owner of the cannabis cultivation company Seven Leaves, stood in one of his half-dozen temperature-controlled grow rooms on a recent day, surveying a crop derived from the same mother plant.“We have really tried to educate the general public through talks, tours, communication and presentations,” Kearns said, “to bring a better understanding of the legal California cannabis industry.”But winning public favor is only half the battle for operations such as Seven Leaves.
Kentucky's pension reform law struck down by judge as unconstitutional
Louisville Courier Journal | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsFranklin Circuit Court judge struck down Kentucky’s pension reform law on Wednesday, saying the rapid manner in which it was passed was unconstitutional. Judge Phillip Shepherd said the process, which took six hours after the pension language was substituted into an unrelated sewer bill on March 29, violated safeguards to ensure "legislators and the public" can know the content of bills under consideration. Democrats and advocates for teachers and public employees hailed the decision.
Overhaul of ethics rules approved in Arkansas Senate vote
Arkansas On Line | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsThe Arkansas Senate approved an overhaul of its rules to create a committee on ethics, prohibit senators from certain activities involving conflicts of interest and require more disclosure of other conflicts and their personal finances. With Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, as the only audible dissenter, Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, ruled that two-thirds of the body voted by voice to approve changes to its code of ethics.
House Rejects Conservative Immigration Bill; Delays Consideration of Compromise
Roll Call | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Federal NewsGoodlatte-sponsored bill goes down as leaders look to round up support on second measure. The House on Thursday rejected, 193-231, an immigration bill conservatives favor, an outcome Republican leadership had been predicting for months, even as House leaders delayed a vote on a compromise immigration bill. The vote on final passage of the compromise measure is being moved to Friday to provide more time to answer members' questions about the bill, a GOP aide confirmed. The measure by Judiciary Chairman Robert W.
HSUS targets McDonald’s on animal welfare
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Food NewsThe Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) said today it is launching a new TV ad campaign aimed at getting McDonald’s to improve its welfare standards for the broilers that are raised and processed for the restaurant chain’s various chicken menu items. The 30-second spot, which depicts chickens “genetically selected to grow too large and too fast” experiencing “abuse and suffering” on “factory farms,” will reportedly air in the Chicago market, McDonald’s home base.
Ag Pesticide Applicator Certification Now Available To Ky. High School Students
WKMS | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsThe Kentucky Department of Education and Department of Agriculture is partnering to give high school students the chance to become certified agricultural pesticide applicators. The partnership plans to offer pesticide applicator certifications in agriculture, forest, ornamental and lawn care, golf course turf care, interior plantscape care and sports turf care.
New Michigan Zoning Order Aims to Fight Bovine TB
Dairy Herd Management | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsFor almost 25 years, we have been working to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from Michigan’s northeastern Lower Peninsula (LP). While bovine TB remains a worldwide issue, the U.S. has seen very little bovine TB since the late 1970s, apart from Michigan’s northeastern LP. It has infected more than 60 cattle herds in this area, where the disease has a natural reservoir in free-ranging white-tailed deer. Unfortunately, the disease still exists, despite much work by agency staff, farmers, hunters, and others.
Immigration Bill in House Changes Ag Guest-Worker Program, But Passage Unlikely
DTN | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Agriculture NewsAn overhaul of the agricultural guest-worker program will be part of the immigration packages that the U.S. House of Representatives will likely debate on Thursday, but basically has little chance of passing.The House will vote on a pair of immigration bills, but lawmakers and observers expect both bills will go down in defeat. One of the bills, the so-called "compromise bill," HR 6136, focuses on spending $25 billion for a wall along the southern border and making it harder to immigrate to the U.S. by ending the visa lottery program.
Rate of Farm Loan Rejections Almost Doubles Among Banks
Creighton University Economic Outlook | Posted onJune 21, 2018 in Agriculture NewsIn reaction to weak farm income, the percentage of banks increasing farm loan rejection rates expanded from 23.9 percent to 42.9 percent over the past year. Almost two-thirds of bankers indicated their banks had increased collateral requirements on farm loans in reaction to weak farm income. On average, bankers expect farmland prices to decline by 2.1 percent over the next 12 months. This is less than the 3.1 percent projected fall recorded last year at this time.