A pair of federal efforts could make it more profitable to turn organic waste from agriculture and other sources into energy by taking advantage of the Renewable Fuel Standard. One is a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate that would create a 30 percent investment tax credit for qualifying biogas and nutrient-recovery systems. [node:read-more:link]
An Oregon livestock nutrition company has prevailed in a lawsuit over trade secrets against a former employee who was found to have intentionally destroyed evidence. A federal judge has entered a default judgment against Yongqiang Wang, the former employee, as punishment for deleting emails and giving away a computer likely containing information related to trade secrets owned by Omnigen Research.U.S. [node:read-more:link]
The beleaguered research station, the only USDA-ARS research facility dedicated to the sheep industry, is being threatened with closure for the third time since 2014.The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois, Idaho, is one of 17 Agricultural Research Service laboratories slated for closure under President Donald Trump’s Department of Agriculture FY 2018 budget proposal.Brown said it’s a one-of-a-kind facility in the U.S. doing research on sheep breeding, range management, reproduction and wild/domestic sheep interaction. “It would be irreplaceable. [node:read-more:link]
Beekeepers across the United States lost 33 percent of their honey bee colonies during the year spanning April 2016 to April 2017, according to the latest preliminary results of an annual nationwide survey. Rates of both winter loss and summer loss -- and consequently, total annual losses -- improved compared with last year. Winter losses were the lowest recorded since the survey began in 2006-07 [node:read-more:link]
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to host officials for a demonstration of planter technology and precision agriculture in April 2017. Check out this video to learn a little bit more about the day's activities, and the modern agriculture practices that are making farming more efficient and sustainable than ever. [node:read-more:link]
A new tax credit will benefit Virginia’s farmers and the food banks to which they donate. The Food Crops Donation Tax Credit was approved by the General Assembly last year. [node:read-more:link]
Glencore Plc, the commodity giant led by billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, has made a takeover approach for U.S. grain trader Bunge Ltd., in a move that could reshape an industry long-dominated by four companies. Bunge operates three grain facilities in Louisiana: Vidalia, Destrahan and Darrow. [node:read-more:link]
A deadly virus is threatening Louisiana crawfish. Aquaculture specialist Mark Shirley with the LSU AgCenter says the white spot syndrome virus showed up in Acadiana about a decade ago. He says the virus is showing up again in ponds across southwest Louisiana, and it’s hurting the crawfish harvest. [node:read-more:link]
The California State Assembly approved a bill this week that will allow the citrus industry to increase spending for activities related to halting the spread of citrus greening disease. Additional funds will be provided to protect residential and commercial citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the deadly plant disease it can carry, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The bill allows for an additional US$9.6 million in grower assessments to be spent by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA [node:read-more:link]
Farmers aren't the only ones buzzing around busily during spring planting season.Honey bees also pick up their foraging pace at this time of year, when pollen sources abound. [node:read-more:link]
