AgClips
Recent AgClips
California pet rescue bill would legalize mouth-to-snout resuscitation
KCRA | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Agriculture NewsAs is often seen when animals are rescued from burning homes or are suffering emergencies, first responders save their lives in what's known as mouth-to-snout resuscitation. However, under the current law, they can be held liable. A new bill introduced Friday in the California Senate would allow first responders to use emergency care on animals under duress without fear that they could be held legally liable for their actions.
Idaho bill clarifies who owns stock watering rights on federal land
Capital Press | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsA bill that would further codify in state law a landmark Idaho Supreme Court decision on who owns stock watering rights on federally administered land has been sent to the House floor with a “do-pass” recommendation.
Georgia: Legislation introduced for rural prosperity center
Valdosta Daily Times | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Rural, SARL Members and Alumni NewsState Rep. Jason Shaw, R-Lakeland, introduced legislation that would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation. “Our state has experienced tremendous economic success in recent years, and we are proud to be named the number one state in the country to do business or five consecutive years,” Shaw said. “However, this significant growth has been largely focused within the Metro Atlanta region, and rural Georgia has not seen the same level of economic prosperity. Rural Georgia faces distinct economic challenges, and with this legislation, we could continue to study these issues.
Iowans to Ted Cruz: Blocking Northey nomination could harm future presidential aspirations
Des Moines Register | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Federal NewsU.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s ongoing blockade against Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey’s appointment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture could do lasting damage to his standing in the first-in-the-nation caucus state and perhaps imperil a future run for president, several leading Republicans said this week.
USDA Releases 10-Year Agricultural Projections- Focus on Corn, Soybeans
Illinois Farm Policy News | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in NewsOn Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 10-year projections for the food and agricultural sector. The report noted that, “Over the next several years, the agricultural sector continues to adjust to lower prices for most farm commodities. Planted acreage drops slightly despite continued low energy costs. However, marked shifts occur – most notably strong global demand for soybeans is expected to induce soybean plantings that exceed corn acreage. Lower feed costs and continued strong global demand provide economic incentives for expansion in the livestock sector.”
United Ag expands virtual care services for farmers
United Ag | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in NewsUnitedAg, a member-owned agricultural trade association representing more than 800 companies in California and Arizona, has expanded the list of healthcare services available to its members through Teladoc’s virtual care delivery platform. Effective January 1st, all of the health plans’ 45,000 members received access to the Best Doctors Expert Second Opinion service for answers to a range of chronic, complicated health conditions including cancer, heart disease and musculoskeletal issues.
Kansas Projects Tackle Pesticide, Sediment in Cooperative Effort With Farmers
DTN | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Agriculture NewsCities looking to address water-quality challenges in watersheds leading into their drinking water supply may want to see how Wichita, Kansas, works with upstream farmers to reduce pesticide and sediment in the Little Arkansas River watershed. Litigation over water quality, especially the federal case in Des Moines, Iowa, in recent years, has drawn a lot of attention.
Fixing the RFS is Getting Easier and Easier
Farm Doc Daily | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Energy NewsThere has been no shortage of ideas in recent months about how to "fix" the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These include application of the various waiver authorities under the RFS, expanding the number of small refinery exemptions, and a $0.10 per gallon cap on the price of the RIN credits used to comply with the RFS. The reason cited over and over for the need to fix the RFS is the high cost of ethanol RINs borne by independent "merchant" refiners. In late January, Philadelphia Refining Solutions declared bankruptcy, citing high RIN costs as a major contributing factor.
Montana first state to prorect net nuetrality
Montana.gov | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Rural, SARL Members and Alumni NewsGovernor Steve Bullock signed an executive order to protect net neutrality in Montana by requiring that successful recipients of state contracts adhere to internet neutrality principles. As the first governor in the country to implement action in the wake of the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality rules, Governor Bullock invited other governors and statehouses to join him. Governor Bullock’s administration will offer the framework to other states who wish to follow.
Group weighs in on humane handling Supreme Court cases
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onFebruary 22, 2018 in Federal NewsThe Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) in Washington, D.C., has filed amicus briefs in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court involving state limits on food products sold based on animal care, the group said in a news release. Both cases — Missouri, et al. v. California and Indiana, et al. v. Massachusetts — push back on state laws in California and Massachusetts that limits the types of meat and eggs that can be raised or sold within their borders.