AgClips
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What the West’s trees tell us
High COuntry News | Posted onMay 20, 2016 in Energy NewsHow can biomass and carbon data help us mitigate the effects of human activity? Every tree tells part of the story of Earth and its atmosphere, from the planet’s available carbon and oxygen to its soil and water health. Tree height and forest undergrowth help scientists study biodiversity and predict wildfires, while the location and density of growth are linked to hydrology and erosion in mountainous regions. Scientists have long studied these patterns, but until five years ago, there was no comprehensive way to keep track of them.
New Overtime Rules - Are Your Employees Still Exempt?
OFW Law | Posted onMay 20, 2016 in Federal NewsThe Department of Labor this week announced a final regulation that changes the tests for determining whether executive, administrative, and professional employees are exempt from federal overtime requirements. Now is the time to evaluate whether your employees qualify as exempt. The Final Rule focuses primarily on updating the salary and compensation levels needed for Executive, Administrative and Professional workers to be exempt.
Minnesota farmers need Minnesota's U.S. senators to act on food labeling
Grand Forks Herald | Posted onMay 20, 2016 in Food NewsUnless the U.S. Senate takes immediate action, Minnesota farmers stand to be seriously hurt within two months by a Vermont law requiring special labels for products made with genetically modified ingredients. The safety of GMOs is well-established in the scientific community. They have been part of our nation's food supply for more than 20 years without incident. Every major scientific and health organization that has examined GMOs has concluded they are as safe as any other food.
Vermont’s immediate impact is becoming clearer
Food Business News | Posted onMay 20, 2016 in Food NewsThe patchwork of state laws requiring food and beverage companies to label products that contain bioengineered ingredients is emerging and underscores the challenging situation the industry faces if a federal statute that addresses the issue is not passed into law.
A Cheese Glut Is Overtaking America
Wall Street Journal | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in NewsRise in production comes just as exports are hit by strong dollar; can you eat three pounds more? And it isn’t just cheese. The growing stacks of cheddar, which can be kept frozen for years, and other cheeses such as feta, which can be stored for only a couple of months, are just the tip of a surplus of U.S. agricultural products that is swamping markets for grains, meat and milk.
Rural Mainstreet Economy Remains Weak for April: Almost One-Third of Bank CEOs Support April Fed Rate Hike
Creighton University Economic Outlook | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in Federal NewsFor an eighth straight month, the Rural Mainstreet Index fell below growth neutral. • Almost one-third of bankers support an April Federal Reserve short term interest rate hike. • Farmland prices remained below growth neutral for the 29th straight month. Cash farmland rents are down by 7 percent over the past year. • More than four of ten bankersreported rising regulatory costs are the biggest threat to banking operations over the next five years.
Rabbits and skunks can pass bird flu to ducks
Phys.org | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in Agriculture NewsA government wildlife researcher has found that rabbits and skunks can become infected with the bird flu virus and shed it enough to infect ducks—offering scientists one more clue about how bird flu may move in the environment and spread between farms.
Service allows farmers to share machinery
Washington Times | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in Agriculture NewsHe listed his combine on a new sharing website for farm machinery. Within weeks, he had wheat farmers in Colorado and Washington state lined up to lease his combine after he completes his own harvest this June. Uber offers a ride-sharing service and AirBNB gives folks a website to list and find lodging. Now, that same sharing economy mindset has come to the farm.
Farms That Sell Directly To Consumers May Stay In Business Longer, USDA Study Shows
Growing Produce | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in NewsAlthough all growers face price fluctuations and unpredictable yields, ERS’ examination of the Census of Agriculture data shows that 61% of farms with direct-to-consumer sales in 2007 were in business under the same operator in 2012, compared with only 55% of farms without direct-to-consumer sales. This stability held true even when comparing farms in four different levels of annual sales: in each category, farm marketing operations had a higher survival rate.
Examining Two Ways To Enhance Tomato Flavor
Growing Produce | Posted onMay 19, 2016 in Food NewsResearchers divided 60 tomatoes into three groups — refrigerating one group, keeping a second group at room temperature and dipping the third group in 122°F water for 5 minutes to simulate blanching. The results showed that refrigeration greatly reduced 25 of 42 aroma compounds and reduced volatile levels overall by 68%. Blanching also greatly reduced 22 of 42 compounds and reduced volatile levels overall by 63%. The results spell out why it is better to store tomatoes — and wash them before use — at room temperature.