AgClips
Recent AgClips
FDA Slated to Extend Compliance Dates for Agricultural Water Standards
The National Law Review | Posted onJune 8, 2017 in Agriculture, Federal NewsFDA announced its intention to extend the compliance dates for agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule (other than for sprouts). According to the announcement, FDA intends to use this additional time to work with industry to develop an approach that addresses stakeholder concerns while achieving the Agency’s enumerated public health goals. FDA intends to extend the compliance dates using appropriate administrative procedures at a later time.
Montana Governor Announces $1.1 Million to Help Montana Main Street Businesses Create Jobs, Train Employees and Plan for Growth
Montana.gov | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Rural, SARL Members and Alumni NewsGovernor Steve Bullock announced $1,124,030 in economic development grants to assist Main Street businesses across Montana with creating 116 jobs, providing workforce training and developing plans for growth and expansion. “As Montana’s strong economy continues to grow, Main Street businesses in communities across the state are adding jobs and seeking a skilled workforce to fill them,” Governor Bullock said.
Texas Dept of Agriculture starts Radio Show!
Texas Dept of Agriculture | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsThe Texas Department of Agriculture has partnered with KRFE AM 580 in Lubbock for a new weekly radio show, Texas Agriculture Matters. This show will air throughout the week — on Tuesdays and Fridays — on KRFE and will feature the latest news about what’s happening at TDA and in our ag industry. The show will also help listeners learn more about TDA in our Did You Know and GO TEXAN segments. Each week, you’ll hear from a special guest who will sit down with our host, Rick Rhodes.
Wyoming ranchers gain new option as plant gets USDA certification
Meatingplace (free registration required) | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Agriculture NewsWyoming Legacy Meats has persevered in its efforts to obtain USDA certification to process meat, and now Wyoming ranchers no longer have to leave the state to have their cattle processed. The Cody, Wyoming-based company began updating its facilities after Frank Schmidt acquired the former Cody Meat operation last fall.The work included remodeling, new floor installations and cooler and freezer upgrades to qualify for USDA certification.
Can America’s farms survive the threat of deportations?
The Atlantic | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Agriculture News“My ancestors are Irish and they were called all sorts of names,” Pete, a 58-year-old farmer, told me. He said the country has swung back around to how it was a century ago. “Now people say Hispanics are taking their jobs,” Pete said. “Come on. You can’t get a kid who can flip a burger to come here and do this job for $15 an hour.
Mexico agrees to sugar trade deal, but U.S. refiners remain unhappy
The New York Times | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Federal NewsMexico agreed to demands from the United States to cut exports of refined sugar, striking a deal on Tuesday in a contentious trade negotiation that was closely watched as a prologue to talks on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.The dispute stemmed from complaints by American sugar refiners that Mexico was taking advantage of unfair trade practices to dump refined sugar in the American market and at the same time limit the amount of raw sugar it exported to American refineries.The preliminary deal heads off the threat of punitive tariffs and maintains Mexico’s access to t
NY lawmakers vote to strengthen animal cruelty penalties
NY Daily News | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsPeople convicted of extreme animal cruelty would be prohibited from owning a companion animal under legislation passed by the New York state Senate. The Senate also voted to increase potential jail time and fines for aggravated animal cruelty and require offenders to undergo psychological testing.The measures were passed on the Legislature's annual animal advocacy day, which brought several dogs, captive owls, hawks, reptiles and one pony to the state Capitol for a day of lobbying and outreach.
Cattle Producers Call Nebraska Brand Rules Obsolete
Courthouse News | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsChallenging a Nebraska law that requires all cattle to be branded, operators of cattle feedlots cast the practice as obsolete and costly in a federal complaint.The Nebraska Beef Producers Committee, a nonprofit that filed the lawsuit at hand Tuesday in Lincoln, notes that the regulations hearken to a bygone era.Back when the Nebraska Legislature formed a committee to investigate stolen cattle in 1941, livestock operations “were often located in large, open, rural settings with limited human oversight,” the 13-page complaint states.Today, however, the Brand Act’s relevance is waning, and the
Nevada Legislature Passes Bill to Restore Net Metering for Rooftop Solar
Green Tech Media | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Energy NewsThe Nevada State Legislature has passed a bill that's expected to revive the state's ailing rooftop solar market. The Assembly voted to approve a Senate version of the bill late Sunday night, with just a day remaining in the legislative session. The bill (AB 405) would reinstate net energy metering for residential solar projects, but at a discounted compensation rate. AB 405 would immediately allow rooftop solar customers to be reimbursed for excess generation from a solar system at 95 percent of the retail electricity rate. Over time, though, customer compensation would decline.
Pet food, pet care to keep growing, driven by ecommerce
Pet Food Industry | Posted onJune 7, 2017 in Rural NewsThe global pet care market cracked the US$100 billion sales ceiling in 2016, thanks to a healthy 4.7 percent increase over the year before. Euromonitor International projects that growth to continue, with sales for all pet products and services globally reaching US$117 billion by 2021, a compound annual growth rate of 2.4 percent at constant prices. Pet food will maintain its significant contributions; it accounted for US$75.25 billion of the 2016 sales (at 4.8 percent growth), or nearly 73 percent of all pet care.