AgClips
Recent AgClips
Study says cougars, wolves save human lives
Capital Press | Posted onJuly 29, 2016 in Rural NewsA new study by university scientists seeks to foster rural acceptance of large carnivores by showing that cougars save lives by reducing the number of deadly collisions between vehicles and deer. Researchers affiliated with colleges in Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Alberta, Canada, compared data from 19 states in the East, South and Midwest. The scientists concluded that recolonizing cougars in those states would thin deer populations and prevent five traffic fatalities and more than 700 injuries a year.
Cows break free, defecate on neighboring organic farm's crops, spur $210,000 lawsuit
The Oregonian | Posted onJuly 29, 2016 in Agriculture NewsAn Aurora organic farm is suing a co-founder of New Seasons and his son, saying they failed to stop their dairy cows from escaping and defecating on the farm's crops. The $210,000 lawsuit states that the cows belonging to Chuck Eggert and his son, Charlie Eggert, forced neighboring Simington Gardens to throw out its contaminated winter squash and leafy greens and shut down the field for 120 days because of the exposure to manure. The cows got out of a gated enclosure about midnight on April 16, 2014.
Major global partnership to speed antibiotic development launched
The Washington Post | Posted onJuly 29, 2016 in Agriculture NewsU.S. and British officials announced an ambitious collaboration designed to accelerate the discovery and development of new antibiotics in the fight against one of the modern era’s greatest health threats: antibiotic resistance. CARB-X, for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator, will create one of the world’s largest public-private partnerships focused on preclinical discovery and development of new antimicrobial products. The undertaking includes two agencies within the U.S.
Oregon farmer challenging order to confine hogs
Capital Press | Posted onJuly 29, 2016 in Agriculture NewsA pig breeder is challenging the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s order to build a confinement facility for his hogs, arguing it would hurt their health. Luther Clevenger and his wife, Julie, raise Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs and other livestock on their 15-acre property near Aumsville, Ore., which has experienced water drainage problems during heavy winter rains. ODA inspected the operation repeatedly this year after receiving several complaints that Clevenger’s 200 pigs were “creating a huge mess and affecting the property values of all the adjacent property owners” and that water
Handling of chicks blamed in multi-state salmonella outbreak
Star Tribune | Posted onJuly 29, 2016 in Agriculture NewsHandling baby chicks or other young poultry can be dangerous to your health and has caused an upswing in illness from salmonella this year. The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed 19 cases of salmonella infections associated with live poultry contact between early April and early July, including three that required hospitalization. As a result, officials are warning people to wash their hands and take other precautions if they touch or hold newly hatched chicks, ducklings or young turkeys.
Migratory Birds Not a High Path Avian Flu Reservoir, Research Finds
The Poultry Site | Posted onJuly 28, 2016 in Agriculture NewsThe H5 avian influenza A virus that devastated North American poultry farms in 2014-15 was initially spread by migratory waterfowl, but evidence suggests such highly pathogenic flu viruses do not persist in wild birds. While wild ducks and other aquatic birds are known to be natural hosts for low pathogenic flu viruses associated with milder symptoms, the results of this study indicate that is not the case with the highly pathogenic flu viruses that are associated with more severe illness.
General Mills expands retail flour recall
General Mills | Posted onJuly 28, 2016 in Food NewsConsumers are reminded not to eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour. Due to four new confirmed illnesses, General Mills is adding additional flour production dates to the previously announced U.S. retail flour recall that was originally announced on May 31, 2016. The illnesses reported to health officials continue to be connected with consumers reporting that they ate or handled uncooked dough or ate uncooked batter made with raw flour. No illnesses have been connected with flour that has been properly baked, cooked or handled.
Buy-out program successfully protects imperiled California species
Yuba Net | Posted onJuly 28, 2016 in Agriculture NewsThrough cooperative agreements with farmers in California’s Central Valley, a historic one hundred percent of rare Tricolored Blackbird colonies on agricultural fields were protected during the 2016 harvest season. Working with the USDA California Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and their Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Tricolored Blackbird Project, Audubon California helped seven farmers delay the silage harvest, saving roughly 57,000 birds on 378 acres.
Prolonged Need for Lending Pressures Farm Finances
Federal Reserve Bank | Posted onJuly 28, 2016 in Federal NewsThe pace of agricultural lending in the second quarter remained strong. Respondents to the Survey of Terms and Bank Lending to Farmers indicated the total number of non-real estate loans made to farmers in the second quarter increased 6 percent from a year ago (Chart 1). Moreover, the number of non-real estate loans larger than $100,000 made to farmers climbed 11 percent, continuing the trend of recent years. Reduced cash flow also has led to extended maturities for many loan categories to help reduce annual debt payments.
Meet Iowa's first edible-cricket farmer
Des Moines Register | Posted onJuly 28, 2016 in NewsLike many farmers, Becky Herman bounces from enclosure to enclosure, feeding and watering her livestock. There are thousands of them, but Herman knows some well enough to assign them human traits. Those two over there are bullies, she says. And though she's new at this gig, Herman has already learned not to name her stock, lest she grow too attached. While farmers are no rarity in this eastern Iowa town of 600, Herman's operation stands alone. Her farm, the Iowa Cricket Farmer, is the state's first insect farm growing critters for the purposes of human consumption.