AgClips
Recent AgClips
Sportsmen Defeat Montana Trapping Ban
AmmoLand | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Rural NewsMontana’s Initiative 177 was soundly rejected by voters in the Gem State on the Nov. 8 ballot. The initiative would have banned trapping on all public lands, including city and county parks, municipal golf courses and more.
States to join federal probes of Dow-DuPont, Bayer-Monsanto mergers
St Louis Post Dispatch | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Agriculture NewsU.S. state attorneys general have joined a federal antitrust probe of the planned merger between DuPont and Dow Chemical Co., according to three people familiar with the matter, heightening risks to a deal that could help reshape the global farm industry. A separate group of state attorneys general are expected to join a probe of Bayer AG's $66 billion plan to buy Monsanto Co., one of the sources said. The involvement of the state attorneys general increases scrutiny of the mega-deals and will complicate what are already expected to be tough and lengthy reviews by U.S.
Alaska Eyes New Crops for Added Food Security
News Deeply | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Food NewsWith the right investments in research and infrastructure, farming could become more profitable in Alaska and less of an alien concept, says Milan Shipka, the director of the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Root crops and tubers do well in Alaska, but grasses and grains, leafy greens and flowers can also succeed. There are more than 750 farms in Alaska, including some that produce more than $500,000 annually. But, like elsewhere in the U.S., the average age of a farmer in Alaska is tipping toward 60.
So, What’s Algae Flour? And Why Is It Making People Sick?
Cooking Light | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Food NewsIn October, consumers began reporting cases of gastrointestinal distress, including symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, after eating Soylent Bars and a specific version of the company's powder. Soylent recalled the bars, stopped selling the latest powder mix, and investigated. After looking into the formula issues, the company believes that all those who experienced GI distress ate a product containing algal flour, Rob Rhinehart, the co-founder of Soylent, told Bloomberg Technology. Soylent uses AlgaVia, a whole algae powder manufactured by a company called TerraVia.
Florida voters reject solar solar-energy ballot initiative
Fox 35 | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Energy NewsA controversial solar-energy ballot initiative fell short of the 60 percent voter approval it needed Tuesday, concluding for now one of the most-expensive constitutional amendment campaigns in Florida history. Opponents who argued the amendment would hinder the development of alternative energy in Florida, celebrated the defeat of the measure, known as Amendment One, as most counties continued posting results.
$30 million backing for biofuel pioneer
Innovators | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Energy NewsFulcrum BioEnergy will be able to accelerate the development of its waste to jet fuel renewable plants after agreeing a multi-million dollar partnership with BP. The $30 million investment by BP is designed to give its Air BP business – one of the world’s largest suppliers of aviation fuel products and services – guaranteed access to Fulcrum BioEnergy’s product for the next decade. Fulcrum converts municipal solid waste (MSW) into biofuels and will use the investment to progress its plans to build waste-to-fuel plants in North America and, longer term, globally.
Pennsylvania farmers struggle as milk prices remain low
Magic Valley | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Agriculture NewsDean and Suzanne Curtis paid a price in sweat, 14- and 16-hour workdays, scraped knuckles and vacations they never took.But together, the Venango Township couple built something. They own 515 acres, a herd of 150 dairy cows and the buildings and equipment needed to produce thousands of gallon of milk each year.In 2009, they were just months from having all of it paid off.Then came the recession and a historic tumble in the price of milk.
Mexico stealing factory jobs? Blame automation instead
CBS | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Rural NewsDonald Trump blames Mexico and China for stealing millions of jobs from the United States. He might want to bash the robots instead. America has lost more than seven million factory jobs since manufacturing employment peaked in 1979. Yet American factory production, minus raw materials and some other costs, more than doubled over the same span to $1.91 trillion last year, according to the Commerce Department, which uses 2009 dollars to adjust for inflation. That’s a notch below the record set on the eve of the Great Recession in 2007. And it makes U.S. manufacturers No.
GMA vows to fight $18M campaign finance fine
Agri-Pulse | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Food NewsThe Grocery Manufacturers Association says it will “vigorously pursue its legal options” to overturn $18 million in fines levied by a Washington state court judge for campaign violations associated with the group's opposition to a GMO labeling referendum in 2013.
World trade declining as U.S. faces 'tsunami of meat'
Feedstuffs | Posted onNovember 10, 2016 in Federal NewsPhilip Seng, USMEF president and chief executive officer said the U.S. eclipsed $13 billion in meat exports.