AgClips
Recent AgClips
Obama antibiotics proclamation points no fingers at ag
Watt Ag Net | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Federal NewsAnimal agriculture far too often gets more than its fair share of the blame for the global problem of antibiotic resistance, so when I saw that U.S. President Barack Obama proclaimed November 13-19 as Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, I had to see what he had to say. The proclamation was pleasantly surprising.
Animal Ag on the ballot last week: how did we fare?
Meatingplace (registration required) | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsIn Massachusetts, the measure (inaccurately) titled “An Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals” which defined how pigs, veal calves and laying hens could be housed passed by a large margin.
Whole egg prices at all time lows
American Egg Board | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Food NewsThe egg supply has completely recovered from the impact it suffered due to the avian influenza (AI) outbreak in 2015, surprising industry analysts. Initial forecasts had predicted an 18-month timeline for flocks and supply to return to pre-AI levels, yet producers have achieved this goal in one year’s time. Prices for both shell eggs and egg ingredients reflect this abundant supply. In fact according to industry analyst, Rick Brown, senior vice president, Urner Barry, whole egg prices are at a 10-year low.
Massive Illinois energy bill divides clean energy groups
Midwest Energy News | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Energy NewsMembers of the Clean Jobs Coalition who have negotiated together for many months over a massive Illinois energy bill have broken ranks after the bill’s introduction Tuesday, with some still supporting the bill, some opposing it, some hoping for pieces to be spun off and others remaining silent. The schism within the coalition comes largely over the bill’s inclusion of demand charge rates — which are ardently opposed by solar developers and consumer groups — as well as over supports for coal plants that were introduced late in the game.
Transmission line from Canada to Minnesota approved
Duluth News Tribune | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Energy NewsThe U.S. Department of Energy has issued a so-called presidential permit giving federal approval for Minnesota Power's plan to bring electricity into Minnesota from northern Manitoba hydroelectric dams. The permit approves the cross-border aspects of the Great Northern Transmission Line, in the works since 2012, and Minnesota Power officials declared it the last major regulatory hurdle before construction can begin on the power line early next year.State regulators in February approved the route for the 500-kilovolt line.
Northeast Iowa sand company gets go-ahead for underground mining
The Gazette | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Rural NewsThe Clayton County Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 Tuesday night to approve a zoning change to allow the Pattison Sand Co. to expand its operations. The panel’s approval was the final step in a yearlong process to rezone 746 acres from agricultural to heavy industry to facilitate underground mining of the silica sand used in the hydraulic fracturing process of extracting oil and natural gas. A standing-room-only crowd packed the meeting room, and more than a dozen attendees spoke both for and against the proposal during the nearly three-hour meeting.
Oil production continues downward trend
Bismarck Tribune | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Energy NewsOil production in North Dakota continued its slide in September, dropping about 1 percent from the previous month at a rate state officials projected in their most recent forecast for the next biennium. September oil production was averaging 971,658 barrels per day, according to preliminary numbers from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. This was a drop of 10,353 barrels from the August figure of 982,011 barrels per day.
Simmons named Democratic staff director on House Ag Committee
Agri-Pulse | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsVeteran House Agriculture Committee staffer Anne Simmons has been named to serve as the panel's Democratic staff director. Simmons currently serves as the committee's senior policy advisor. She has been on the panel's staff since 1993. Before that, she was on the staff of then-Congressman Tim Johnson of South Dakota. Simmons was raised on a corn, soybean and livestock farm near Spencer, Iowa, and graduated from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
Immigration hardliner says Trump team preparing plans for wall, mulling Muslim registry
Reuters | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Federal NewsAn architect of anti-immigration efforts who says he is advising President-elect Donald Trump said the new administration could push ahead rapidly on construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall without seeking immediate congressional approval. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped write tough immigration laws in Arizona and elsewhere, said in an interview that Trump's policy advisers had also discussed drafting a proposal for his consideration to reinstate a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries. Kobach, who media reports say is a key member of Trump's transition team, s
Demand for organic feedstuffs far outstrips domestic supply
DTN | Posted onNovember 17, 2016 in Food NewsOrganic and non-GMO sales in the U.S. amount to chicken feed, but that chicken feed is increasingly imported because U.S. farmers aren't in a position to fill demand for certified organic or even non-GMO feed. The gap between supply and demand in organic and non-GMO feed markets offers an opportunity for farmers, but price takers aren't jumping to join the marketing wave. Premiums are also there for non-GMO crops, but they are significantly lower than organic and harder to predict. Regional factors play more into that.