AgClips
Recent AgClips
China warns US trade deals off if tariffs go ahead
Washington Examiner | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Federal NewsChina warned Sunday after another round of talks on a sprawling trade dispute with Washington that any deals they produce "will not take effect" if President Donald Trump's threatened tariff hike on Chinese goods goes ahead. Tuesday's announcement revived fears the conflict between the two biggest economies might dampen global growth or encourage other governments to raise their own barriers to imports.
In Colorado, a Fracking Boom and a Population Explosion Collide
The New York Times | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Energy NewsA new oil rig will rise behind a middle school in this sprawling county in the coming months, its slender tower bearing an announcement: fracking is back. After a downturn that began in 2015, oil and gas production is booming again, and new projects are sprouting along American freeways and padding government budgets, cheered by state legislatures, the fossil fuel industry and the Trump administration.
Ruling provides new rationale for blocking Oregon solar project
Capital Press | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Energy NewsThe Oregon Court of Appeals has provided a new legal rationale for why an 80-acre solar power project on farmland in Jackson County was improperly approved. Last year, the county government granted Origis Energy, the project’s developer, an exception to Oregon’s land use goal of preserving farmland, but the decision was reversed by the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals. According to LUBA, the solar project didn’t qualify for the exception because it’s not dependent on a “unique resource” that would require converting farmland for industrial development.
Dairy farmers are struggling as they are squeezed out of a changing milk market
CNBC | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Agriculture NewsDean Foods canceled contracts with about 100 dairy farmers in eight states. It's part of a larger trend as the dairy market is getting hurt by competition among retailers, low milk prices and shrinking milk consumption. At a national average of $3.23 a gallon, retail milk prices are lower now than ten years ago.
Farm and Biofuel Coalition Demands that EPA Account for Lost Volumes
Ag Net West | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Agriculture NewsA coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups petitioned the U.S.
USDA to Warn Some Facilities Ahead of Animal Welfare Inspections
The Scientist | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Newshe US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent a letter last month to organizations regulated under the Animal Welfare Act announcing a pilot program that will sometimes alert facilities that inspectors are coming. Until now, such inspections have been unannounced.
USDA Will Not Recognize Third-Party Inspections Regarding Animal Welfare
Ag Net West | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Agriculture NewsThe Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will not establish new criteria for recognizing third-party inspection and certification programs when determining the Agency’s own inspection frequency under the Animal Welfare Act. USDA says stakeholders on all sides of the issue expressed concern about APHIS’ ability to maintain responsibility for inspections and Animal Welfare Act compliance should third-party inspections be taken into account when determining APHIS inspection frequencies.
Trade, Trust and Trump
DTN | Posted onJune 5, 2018 in Agriculture, Federal NewsRegardless whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or a card-carrying Mugwump, I think we can all agree that President Donald Trump is a man not afraid to change his mind. Of course, that's not to say that everyone would characterize this unique flexibility in the same way.
Mexico pork tariff threats push Iowa losses to $560 million
Des Moines Register | Posted onJune 4, 2018 in Agriculture, Federal NewsIowa pork producers already dealing with a 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork exports to China could face another trade hit, with Mexico considering a 20 percent tariff on hams and pork shoulders.Growing trade worries have cut pork prices in recent weeks, costing Iowa producers about $560 million, said Dermot Hayes, an Iowa State University economist.Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. pork, based on volume.Mexico bought $1.5 billion of U.S.
Human Trafficking Uncovered On Ohio Egg Farm
Plant Based News | Posted onJune 4, 2018 in Agriculture, Rural NewsThe victims, predominantly Guatemalan minors, were told by a trafficker that a better life awaited them in the US and were brought to Trillium Farms to pay off $15,000 of imposed debt.There, they were forced to work in poor conditions, allowed to keep only a fraction of their pay checks, and met with death threats in the event of protest.They were given such little freedom that one teen was at Trillium for four months before he managed to call his uncle in Florida for help.