AgClips
Recent AgClips
Senate passes bill to combat wildlife trafficking
Seattle PI | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Federal NewsThe Senate has approved a bill to boost efforts to combat illegal wildlife poaching and trafficking, a growing problem worldwide with an estimated cost of up to $10 billion a year. The measure is aimed at protecting a variety of animals, from lions, elephants and rhinos to exotic birds and sharks. It supports ongoing work of a presidential task force on wildlife trafficking and directs U.S. agencies to work with countries affected by wildlife crime, such as the 2015 killing of Cecil the lion by an American during an illegal hunt in Zimbabwe.
Under NY law, injured police dogs get ambulance transport
Syracuse.com | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Rural NewsIn New York state, it's the law that working police dogs injured in the line of duty must be transported to the nearest veterinarian in an ambulance. The law to authorize paramedics to transport injured police dogs to appropriate facilities was sponsored by State Senator David J. Valesky and passed during the 2015-2016 Legislative Session.
Small Business Retirement Plan Mandates Coming In 2017 in some states
Forbes | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Federal NewsHalf of private sector employees don’t have access to a workplace retirement savings plan, but by next year several states expect to have new plans up and running. Washington state is anticipating an early 2017 start date for its Small Business Retirement Marketplace, where financial services firms will offer low-cost plans to businesses with less than 100 employees, including solo business owners. The Marketplace will be voluntary for employers—and employees.
Massachusetts governor Baker orders new rules to reduce greenhouse emissions
Boston Globe | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Energy NewsGovernor Charlie Baker signed an executive order directing state officials to develop regulations for specific, annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by next summer. The order comes on the heels of a court ruling that the state has not done enough to meet its obligations under the state’s 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires Massachusetts to cut its greenhouse gases 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
Most states on track to meet emissions targets they call burden
Reuters | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Energy NewsThe 27 states challenging Obama’s Clean Power Plan in court say the lower emissions levels it would impose are an undue burden. But most are likely to hit them anyway. Already, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Dakota appear to be meeting the CPP's early targets. And changes in the power market, along with policies favoring clean generation, are propelling most of the rest toward timely compliance, according to researchers, power producers and officials, as well as government filings reviewed by Reuters. We are seeing reductions earlier than we ever expected,” U.S.
USDA releases new proposal for emerging animal disease framework
USDA- APHIS | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Federal NewsThe National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD) was created through a deliberative process led by the United States Animal Health Association/American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians’ Committee on Animal Health Surveillance and Information Systems and the National Animal Health Reporting System Steering Committee. The paper proposes a single, standardized list of reportable animal diseases, and outlines who will be responsible for reporting, and describes how diseases are to be reported.
Survey shows how food standards differ by generations
Feedstuffs | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Food NewsIt’s no secret that Millennials are changing the food and nutrition landscape, but Baby Boomers have their own set of unique ideas about what they want on their plate.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Local Initiatives to Address the Rural Opioid Epidemic
USDA | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Rural NewsAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new USDA initiatives to strengthen outreach and education resources at the local level to combat the rural opioid epidemic, including an expanded series of state-led opioid awareness events and increased access to information in USDA local offices. The effort begins on Monday, Sept. 19, coinciding with President Obama's designated Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week from Sept.
NCBA seeks to intervene in OCM lawsuit
http://www.agri-pulse.com/NCBA-seeks-to-intervene-in-OCM-lawsuit-09162016.asp | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Agriculture NewsThe National Cattlemen's Beef Association is looking to have a say in a lawsuit seeking to force disclosure of records that USDA gathered in an audit of the beef checkoff program. NCBA filed a motion to intervene this week in the case originally brought in 2014 by the Organization for Competitive Markets with the help of attorneys from the Humane Society of the United States.
Big crops, high dollar mean tough year for grain growers
Capital Press | Posted onSeptember 20, 2016 in Agriculture NewsAnother year of bumper crops and high inventories are likely to spell another year of lower prices for corn, soybean and wheat growers, and alternately keep some feed costs in check for livestock producers. Ag economists at Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture laid out what grain growers are facing in a crop outlook webinar on Sept. 13 based on USDA’s latest crop estimates and world supply and demand report. The wheat crop is expected to bring record yields of 52.6 per acre, although lower acreage won’t bring record production.