AgClips
Recent AgClips
Water, taxes and regulations dominate state legislatures
Capital Press | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in Agriculture Newsn Oregon, a $1.8 billion budget gap will force legislators to look for more revenue — taxes and fees — or cut services. The gap, caused by runaway state employee health care and retirement costs, will force lawmakers to make hard choices as the administration of Gov. Kate Brown settles in for the next two years. In Idaho and Washington, water issues have floated to the top of the legislative agendas.
Argentine lemons’ return will be lengthy process, USDA says
Capital Press | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in NewsThe USDA’s process of allowing Argentine lemons back into the United States will be lengthy and include several layers of verification, a USDA spokeswoman said. Allowing Argentine lemons to return to the U.S. after a 15-year ban will be a lengthy process that will involve several layers of verification, a USDA spokeswoman said. Publishing the final rule on Dec. 20 was the first of several steps that must be completed before Argentina can begin shipping lemons, spokeswoman Suzanne Bond told the Capital Press.
Feds investigating $2.6MM in missing Okla. Checkoff funds: report
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in Agriculture NewsThe U.S. Attorney’s office in Oklahoma City reportedly is investigating the alleged embezzlement of $2.6 million by a former employee of the Oklahoma Beef Council. The council, responsible for the state’s beef checkoff investments, has filed a civil lawsuit in state court against its former accounting and compliance manager, Melissa Morton. StateImpact Oklahoma reported that an independent audit indicated Morton had allegedly forged checks dating back to 2009.
Swiss town denies passport to vegan anti-cowbell campaigner 'for being annoying'
Independent | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in Agriculture NewsA woman has been denied a second application for a Swiss passport after local residents took offence to her rejection of traditions and her “annoying” campaigning. Nancy Holten, 42, who was born in the Netherlands, moved to Switzerland when she was eight. She is fluent in Swiss German and her children have Swiss citizenship. The animal rights activist has campaigned publicly against the local traditions of putting bells around cows’ necks and piglet racing
Bill would codify landmark water rights victory in Idaho law
Capital Press | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in Agriculture NewsIdaho lawmakers in 2017 will again attempt to introduce a bill that codifies in state law a 2007 Idaho Supreme Court decision over who owns in-stream stock watering rights on federal land. Rep. Judy Boyle, a Republican rancher from Midvale who tried unsuccessfully to introduce the bill last year, said she will introduce a similar bill this year that addresses concerns about the proposed legislation that arose in 2016. Southern Idaho ranchers and the U.S.
Agriculture is bumper crop for Utah's economy
Deseret News | Posted onJanuary 14, 2017 in Agriculture NewsUtah's agricultural sector pumped more than $21 billion into the state's economy, according to an analysis of 2014 numbers, making it just slightly more than 15 percent of the state's total financial output.
Why Going Organic Just Got Easier For Farmers
National Public Radio | Posted onJanuary 13, 2017 in Agriculture News[For farmers looking to switch to organic production, there has always been a catch.] You'd have to follow the organic rules, renouncing synthetic pesticides and fertilizer, for three entire years before any of your crops could be sold as organic. For those three "transition" years, you'd have the worst of all worlds: Low organic yields and low conventional prices.
Farming rated as one of most dangerous jobs in the U.S.
High Plains Public Radio | Posted onJanuary 13, 2017 in Agriculture NewsFarming is one of the most dangerous professions in the nation.
As High Plains Journal reports, the pitfalls and hazards of farming are so many and varied that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls it one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S.
Ready for Ag's Reset?
DTN | Posted onJanuary 13, 2017 in Agriculture NewsAgriculture is in the midst of an economic reset that will thin the ranks of some of the largest farm operators but offer growth opportunities for those who have patiently held on to cash. That was the counsel from Dave Kohl, a professor emeritus in ag economics from Virginia Tech who spoke to the 2017 The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) class in Austin this week. "Most lenders haven't seen their customers' financials for a year, but when they do, some will be saying 'Oh my God,'" Kohl said. Jan.
U.S. Sen. Baldwin pushes “Dairy Pride Act” to crack down on non-dairy “milk” products
WBAY | Posted onJanuary 13, 2017 in Food NewsHow do you define milk? Does almond milk or soy milk count? That question is now the focus of federal legislation. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced the “Dairy Pride Act”, it fights back against non-diary products that are labeled as milk, yogurt, and cheese — and local dairy famers are definitely behind her. On a farm near Eldorado, Janet Clark has about 130 cows to milk and she’s one of many dairy farmers in the state now fighting for more transparency when it comes to labels placed on food products. “The FDA has already defined that milk comes from a dairy animal.