AgClips
Recent AgClips
State firm develops Fitbit-like device for cows
Fon du Lac Reporter | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Agriculture NewsCook learned skills for his startup from an entrepreneur development course at Fond du Lac's Emergent Technology Center. The 12-week session aims to help people bring their business ideas to fruition. Wisconsin often tracks near or at the bottom of state-by-state start-up rankings, but the center is working to change that. Cook learned to develop back-end business planning steps to launch BoviSync. The software was largely completed when he enrolled in the course, but there are always more steps to starting a business than developing a good product, Cook said.
Getting Western States To Agree On Sharing Renewable Energy
NPR | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Energy NewsIn California, there is so much solar energy that grid operators have to switch off solar farms. One solution of dealing with the additional power generated is to share the renewable wealth across state borders – but in the West, it's sparking some not-so-neighborly opposition. Nancy Traweek's job is to balance California's electrical grid at the California Independent System Operator, keeping the lights on for 30 million people.
Tennessee proposed wind farm faces backlash
Knox news | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Energy NewsBrad Allamong understands the concerns about a proposed $100 million wind farm to be built near Crossville. He has heard directly from some who fear the project's impact on the community. But Allamong is urging everyone not to jump to conclusions until they get a full understanding of the project's pros and cons.
Baby Fish Prefer Plastic Over Natural Food
Smithsonian Magazine | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Rural NewsLarval perch gorge themselves on microplastics, which seems to be stunting growth and affecting natural instincts. Earlier this year a report from the World Economic Forum claimed there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050 and president Obam signed a ban on plastic microbeads into law late last year. Now, a new study shows that the problem may be more urgent than first thought—some baby fish choose plastic microparticles over natural food, leading to stunted growth and changes in behavior.
Farmer in North Dakota overturns 2009 Swampbuster accusation
Bismarck Tribune | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Agriculture NewsLeonard Peterson wants farmers to know that if they're wrongly accused of a Swampbuster, a national law prohibiting farm program payments if farmers drain wetlands to plant crops, they might be able to win in court. Peterson was accused of violating the law in 2009, and after two unsuccessful national administrative appeals, he took the case to federal court.
Pilgrim’s gets approval for expansion of Kentucky plant
Watt Ag Net | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Agriculture NewsCompany will invest $24 million in expansion that will add more than 155 jobs to area. Pilgrim's has received state approval for a $24 million expansion project at its poultry processing complex in Mayfield, Kentucky.
Hog Profits - Battle Between Higher Hog Prices and Higher Feed Prices
Farm Doc Daily | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Agriculture NewsHigher feed prices are once again the main story reducing prospects for profitability in pork production. In the first quarter of 2016, corn prices received by U.S. farmers averaged $3.60 per bushel and high protein meal at Decatur Illinois averaged $276 per ton. Today, those prices are closer to $4.00 per bushel for corn and nearby meal futures are above $400 per ton. Will higher feed prices erase hog profits? Fortunately, lean hog futures have also received a recent boost due to prospects for additional pork exports to China.
Catfish Inspections on chopping block, fight continues
KNOE | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in Agriculture NewsCatfish inspections could be on the chopping block. After a heated debate, the Senate narrowly voted to stop the U-S Department of Agriculture from inspecting the fish. Opponents of the inspections say there’s something fishy surrounding Wicker’s motives. They think he wants to squash competition from places like Vietnam, where the fish comes cheaper. They also believe an inspection program like this is waste of money.
Iowa GOP lawmaker dumps party to protest Trump
Des Moines Register | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsState Sen. David Johnson, one of the senior members of the Iowa Senate, says he has suspended his Republican Party membership to protest "the racist remarks and judicial jihad" by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The Challenges of Closing the Digital Divide
New York Times | Posted onJune 8, 2016 in NewsU.S. History is marked by moderinization efforts aimed at leaving no one behind. In the 1930s it was lighting up farmsteads with electricity. In the 1950s it was paving highways. Today the federal government is trying to bring broadband, which it considers a utility to an estimated 33 percent of resident who don't have the service.
The FCC has recently approved broadband subsidies for low-income families. They also converted rural phone service grants to companies willing to bring broadband to remote areas.