AgClips
Recent AgClips
Court applies Building Permit Rule to large dairy farm
Daily Reporter | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Agriculture NewsWisconsin state Supreme Court removed a regulatory hurdle Tuesday for a large dairy farm in central Wisconsin, ruling that the right to use thousands of acres for crops was locked in when project officials applied for a building permit.Wisconsin is the nation’s second-leading milk producer. Dairy operations in the state account for nearly 80,000 jobs. But the industry has been struggling with declining milk and other commodity prices the past three years, largely because of an abundance of milk on the market.
Lawsuit Over Smelly Hogs Shows PA Law Makes It Near Impossible To Sue Over Nuisance Farms
WESA | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Agriculture NewsFor several years, a hog farm in Luzerne County has been under legal fire for emitting a stench that people say can make the surrounding area almost unlivable. A lawsuit is now awaiting consideration before the state Supreme Court.But the outlook isn’t good—and that’s largely because Pennsylvania law makes it near-impossible to sue farms for nuisances like smells.Will-O-Bett Farm’s hog feeding operation—which is causing the smell—began in 2013 in Salem Township.
Mexico imposes tariffs on US agricultural products
Watt Ag Net | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Federal NewsIn retaliatory move, Mexico targets American farm products, including pork, cheese, apples, potatoes, whiskey and cranberries
Microbiome differences between urban and rural populations start soon after birth
Science Daily | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Rural NewsAn analysis comparing the intestinal microbiomes of both infants and adults living in rural and urban areas of Nigeria has revealed that not only are there many differences in adults living in subsistence environments versus urban ones but also that these variations begin at a very young age.
Measuring broadband's return on investment
Daily Yonder | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Rural NewsA new study commissioned by the Blandin Foundation may help small communities put some hard numbers behind broadband’s public benefit. “Return on Investment: Measuring Impact of Broadband in Five Rural Minnesota Communities” looks at communities that have spent public funds on building out networks. The words “high speed” are critical.
In rural health, location matters
Daily Yonder | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Rural NewsWhen it comes to your health, place matters. If you live in a rural county, the bottom-line truth is that you’re less apt to be healthy than if you lived in a more urban one. A couple of recent reports shed some light on both the issues and potential solutions. According to the 2018 County Health Rankings, published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, rural counties continue
Colorado integrates storage into utility planning process
Util | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Energy, SARL Members and Alumni NewsColorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed legislation on Friday to encourage the installation of energy storage in the state and to integrate storage procurement mechanisms into utilities' long-term planning processes. House Bill 18-1270, also known as the "Energy Storage Procurement Act," sets a deadline of Feb. 1, 2019, for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to develop procurement rules. Utilities will be able to file applications for rate-based projects by May 1, though they cannot exceed 15 MW.
Puerto Rico's Push For Food Independence Intertwined With Statehood Debate
NPR | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsHurricane Maria has reignited a small movement in Puerto Rico aimed at strengthening the local food system so the island can survive and thrive without dependence on the mainland U.S. Before the hurricane struck in September 2017, Puerto Rico imported about 85 percent of its food. And to make matters worse, Maria wiped out 80 percent of crops on the island. Local food supporters acted quickly, cleaning debris, helping to replant farms and spreading their belief that a self-sufficient Puerto Rico would be more resilient to future challenges.
America's Dairyland is hurting and Wisconsin seeks solutions
Fox News | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsWisconsin lost 500 dairy farms in 2017 while the total number of milk-cow herds is down about 20 percent from five years ago. The dairy industry has been shifting toward larger, corporate farms over the last 15 years, creating conflicts with local residents and environmental activists because the farms produce massive amounts of waste. Announcement of the task force came on the same day that the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of a massive dairy farm in central Wisconsin that was looking to expand but had been blocked over zoning concerns.
Scott Walker says crisis team needed to help state's crippled dairy industry
Wisconsin State Journal | Posted onJune 11, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsWhen larger and well-managed dairy operations in other parts of the country were threatening to steamroll Wisconsin’s sagging dairy industry about 30 years ago, it began making some radical changes recommended by a group of industry experts that made it more economically viable and ensured the state’s continued status as “America’s Dairyland.” With the state dairy industry at a crossroads once again, a new group of state experts will soon begin meeting and eventually make recommendations that the group’s leader is hoping will put the state dairy industry back on another strong track.