AgClips
Recent AgClips
Webinar - Unmanned Aircraft and Animal Agriculture
Extension.org | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Agriculture NewsJune 17, 2016 Webinar on unmanned aircraft and animal agriculture
School lunch advocates oppose House block grant plan
Meatingplace (registration required) | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Federal NewsCritics of a U.S. House bill by the education committee say the legislation, which would set up a block grant pilot program in three states, is a first step toward eliminating a federal guarantee of nutritious meals for all school children. The block grant provision will cut funds for school meal programs and nullify crucial federal mandates, including student eligibility rules for free and reduced price meals and nutrition standards, the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) said
2016 U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index
Cleanedge | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Energy NewsSee how your state ranks! The U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index tracks and ranks the clean-tech activities of all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. – from EV (electric vehicles) and renewables adoption to policy and investment activity. The objective of the Leadership Index is to serve as a tool for regional comparative research, a source for aggregated industry data, and a jumping-off point for deep, data-driven analysis of the U.S. clean-tech market.
Mapping the large-scale loss of natural areas in the West
High Country News | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Rural NewsEnergy development was the biggest force transforming landscapes in Colorado and Wyoming in recent years, according to an interactive mapping project called the Disappearing West released earlier this week by the Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal think tank based in Washington, D.C. Some 362 square miles of Colorado and 491 square miles of Wyoming were altered by energy development between 2001 and 2011, increasing the total land area covered by energy development in those states by 33 percent and 38 percent.
Can Minnesota stop polluting its lakes, rivers?
MPR News | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Agriculture NewsAt the Capitol, lawmakers are divided on how far to go to fix the problems. Gov. Mark Dayton has made water quality an issue central to his legacy. He's pushed to boost the number of buffer strips along Minnesota lakes and rivers to help trap farm runoff, although he stepped back from some of those efforts amid pressure from some lawmakers and farm groups. In southeastern Minnesota, about 45 minutes from Rochester, farming and water quality are regular topics for debate.
Healthy eating gets no boost after corner store interventions
EurekAlert | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Food NewsA lack of access to healthy food is often blamed for poor eating habits in low-income urban areas, but a recent Drexel University study found that simply adding healthier stock to a local convenience store may not actually have any effect. By upgrading local corner stores in East Los Angeles through adding fresh fruits and vegetables, improved shelving, training and social media marketing, a team of researchers led by Alex Ortega, PhD, professor in Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health, poured more resources into a healthy eating intervention than are usually available -- and very litt
Honeybees pick up 'astonishing' number of pesticides via non-crop plants
Phys.org | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in NewsThe pollen samples represented up to 30 plant families and contained residues from pesticides spanning nine chemical classes. The highest concentrations of pesticides in bee pollen, however, were pyrethroids, which are typically used to control mosquitoes and other nuisance pests. "Although crop pollen was only a minor part of what they collected, bees in our study were exposed to a far wider range of chemicals than we expected," said Krupke. "The sheer numbers of pesticides we found in pollen samples were astonishing. Agricultural chemicals are only part of the problem.
Maryland to Become First State to Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides for Consumer Use
Eco Watch | Posted onJune 2, 2016 in Agriculture NewsThe bipartisan legislation would take neonicotinoids away from everyday consumers who spray their home gardens and trees with these harmful pesticides. They would not be able to buy neonic-products such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, All-In-One Rose & Flower Care, Lesco Bandit Insecticide from the thousands of hardware stores, garden centers, nurseries in the state that sell such products. Farmers and professional gardeners, who better understand how to apply the chemicals, are exempt from the law which will come into effect in the year 2018.
Battle Reignites Over Proposed GIPSA Rules
DTN | Posted onJune 1, 2016 in Federal NewsUSDA, livestock producers and Congress could find themselves in a race to see whether the Obama administration is going to dramatically overhaul rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act this year or face another appropriations rider that would block such action.
Farm Belt Banks Tighten the Buckle
Wall Street Journal | Posted onJune 1, 2016 in Agriculture Newsanks are tightening credit for U.S. farmers amid a rise in delinquencies, forcing some growers to turn to alternative sources of loans. When U.S. agriculture was booming this decade, banks doled out ample credit to strong performers and weaker growers alike, said Michael Swanson, an agricultural economist at Wells Fargo & Co. But with the farm slump moving into its third year, banks have become pickier, requiring some growers to cough up more collateral and denying financing outright to some customers who need it to pay for seeds, crop chemicals and rent.