A push is underway to have the U.S. government remove barriers to clinical trials of marijuana to see how effective it is in treating ailments in both pets and people, and one university in Colorado is already testing dogs with arthritis and epilepsy.People anxious to relieve suffering in their pets are increasingly turning to oils and powders that contain CBDs, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana. [node:read-more:link]
Canadian officials announced Thursday that they’ve secured expanded access to China’s market for beef and pork exports.The announcement followed completion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trade mission to China.The notable agricultural developments include:The launching of a pilot project for the export of Canadian chilled/fresh meat (beef and pork) to China. [node:read-more:link]
A rule change proposed during the 2018 Idaho Legislature would give the Idaho Wheat Commission the ability to collect the names and contact information of all wheat farmers in the state.After being delayed for two years, a proposed rule change that Idaho Wheat Commission officials say will benefit Idaho grain farmers will be re-introduced during the 2018 legislative session.IWC and Idaho Grain Producers Association board members last week agreed to move forward with the proposed rule change, which would require first purchasers of Idaho wheat, such as elevators, to submit the names and cont [node:read-more:link]
Many Californians in agriculture today have a laundry list of challenges facing them. Dairyman Richard Hughes has several, too.“I think the biggest challenge facing the dairy industry today is the fact that there is an over-supply of milk, due to large dairies,” he said.The excess supply tends to drive down milk prices, stressing many dairies, he said.“However, I would advise anyone who is really interested in getting into the dairy industry today to ‘Follow your dream,’” he said.Water is another challenge, and Hughes has built an answer to his need for it. [node:read-more:link]
The first complete bee census in Michigan has confirmed a new species and revealed that the actual number of bee species in Michigan exceeded earlier estimates. [node:read-more:link]
When the Produce Safety Rule became final in November 2015, the FDA began building the Produce Safety Network (PSN) to support the efforts of farmers, state regulators, and other key stakeholders to implement the rule, which is aimed at preventing foodborne illnesses associated with produce. The PSN is comprised of produce safety experts from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and specialized investigators from the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). [node:read-more:link]
A poultry company is planning to open a processing operation in Vineland, N.J., that is expected to create about 40 jobs next year, according to local media reports. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority last month approved plans to issue $2.2 million in tax credits over 10 years to Vineland Poultry under its Grow NJ program [node:read-more:link]
Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has finalized a rule that would require able-bodied adult recipients of food stamps to be screened and possibly tested for drugs.The move is the latest step in the ongoing battle over whether such testing is legal under federal law.Walker has framed the issue as addressing the state’s worker shortage and as a continuation of the state’s landmark welfare reform efforts begun in the 1990s under Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.“Employers have jobs available, but they need skilled workers who can pass a drug test,” Walker said in a statement. [node:read-more:link]
A U.S. District Court judge in North Carolina has directed Smithfield Foods to proceed with an evaluation of potential groundwater contamination from swine waste at eleven hog facilities in the state, according to court documents. Judge Malcolm Howard ruled in favor of plaintiffs Waterkeeper Alliance and Sound Rivers, which had asked the court to order Smithfield’s Murphy-Brown unit to allow a consultant to conduct further data collection under terms of a 2006 consent decree. [node:read-more:link]
ayer recently announced that it has launched a new website that focuses on transparency by enabling access to scientific data needed for the evaluation of plant protection products. In launching the website, https://cropscience-transparency.bayer.com, Bayer said it is taking a leadership role in driving transparency while safeguarding the company’s confidential product composition and manufacturing process data. [node:read-more:link]
