AgClips
Recent AgClips
Reducing the RFS, Bad for the Environment and Economy, Farmers Tell EPA
Hoosier Ag Today | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Energy NewsThe Environmental Protection Agency must protect the Renewable Fuel Standard as Congress originally defined it nearly a decade ago, Iowa farmer Randy Caviness told the EPA at a public hearing today. He testified on behalf of Iowa Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Owner of loose bull in fatal crash charged with manslaughter
Capital Press | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Rural NewsA man whose loose bull wandered onto a road and was hit by a car, killing the driver, is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge, the prosecutor said, and farmers are worried about the harm a conviction could do to the state’s agriculture economy. Farmers and friends packed a legal proceeding at a courthouse Monday in support of bull owner Craig Mosher, whose lawyer has called the car crash “a horrible accident.”
Maine governor, HSUS engage in war of words
Meat + Poultry | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Agriculture NewsThe Humane Society of the United States intended to call attention to alleged animal abuses at New England’s largest egg producer in Turner, Maine, but the state’s governor recently took issue with the animal rights group’s tactics — the use of undercover video. In a strongly worded letter to HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle, Gov. Paul LePage took the organization to task for using the undercover video to publicly rebuke the company in order to prompt an investigation instead of notifying his office directly.
Humane Society seeks probe of New England egg farm
Boston Herald | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Agriculture NewsAn animal welfare group released undercover video Tuesday of what it called cruel and inhumane conditions at New England's largest egg-producing farm, and said it had asked state and federal officials to investigate. The employee had been hired to work at the facility, managed by Pennsylvania-based Hillandale Farms, but was secretly investigating for the society, said Paul Shapiro, the Humane Society of the United States's vice president of farm animal protection.
Farming ain’t easy
Texas Farm Bureau | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in NewsYou think farming is easy? It can seem that way from the outside looking in. Plant seeds. Watch them grow. And harvest the crop a few months later. That’s how it works in our gardens, right? Yes. But this is different. It’s running tractors and plows. Early mornings. Night owls. Farmers and ranchers hedging their bets that their crops and livestock will be a success.
Cage-free egg pledges continue in May
Watt Ag Net | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Food NewsThe number of grocery stores, restaurant chains, foodservice companies, food processors and travel companies to commit to a 100-percent cage-free egg supply has continued to grow. Since an infographic listing the companies that in 2016 committed to commit to use, serve and sell only cage-free eggs was published on WATTAgNet in April 27, 30 more companies have announced similar commitments. The infographic has been updated to include all companies to make cage-free pledges so far in 2016.
Why Iowa farmers should win drainage case
Farm Futures | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsThe Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) federal case is coming to a close. DMWW sued Sac, Calhoun, and Buena Vista Counties in Iowa, as trustees of numerous Iowa Drainage Districts. After the complaint was filed by DMWW, the Counties sought summary judgment in federal court regarding the Clean Water Act (CWA) issues. The U.S. District Court referred the common law issues to the Iowa Supreme Court for review and decision. The CWA claims are now fully briefed. The Drainage Districts filed their reply brief on May 31, 2016. It is a homerun.
N.Y. bill proposes burials with pets
Trib Live | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Rural NewsNew York state may soon allow pet owners to spend eternity with their furry companions. The state Legislature has passed a bill allowing cemeteries, except for religious ones, to offer people the option of being buried with the cremated remains of a dog, cat or other tame domesticated animal. Cemeteries wouldn't be required to allow pet remains.
Cranberry growers eye ways to compete with Wisconsin, Quebec
The Herald News | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsFaced with an influx of cranberries from Wisconsin and Quebec, agriculture officials have made a series of recommendations they hope will revitalize the 200-year-old Massachusetts cranberry industry and allow it to remain competitive. In a report to lawmakers, the Massachusetts Cranberry Revitalization Task Force, created by the Legislature in 2015, identified possible areas of innovation in cranberry farming, such as making renewable energy options more viable for growers and doing more to conserve water.
Greenpeace Sued Under Anti-Mafia Law
Consumer Freedom | Posted onJune 15, 2016 in Agriculture NewsGreenpeace just got hit with its own RICO lawsuit in federal court by a Canadian logging company. The saga started back in 2010 when “a cabal of radical environmental [NGOs] … agreed to stop their campaigns of customer harassment” if members of the Forest Products Association of Canada did what these activists demanded. Sound familiar?