Headwater Food Hub and McCann's Local Meats are teaming up to establish a new United States Department of Agriculture-inspected butchering facility, which they expect to open at Headwater's headquarters in Ontario, Wayne County, early next year. It is expected to create five to eight new jobs. [node:read-more:link]
When the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were issued in January, bitter debates over the role of meat in a healthy diet were expected to take a break, at least until drafting the 2020 guidelines begins. [node:read-more:link]
The Food and Drug Administration has posted a document answering key questions that had been posed to the agency regarding the new policies and requirements concerning the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food animals. The questions were asked during a series of workshops conducted last year by Farm Foundation at 12 locations nationwide. At the workshops, producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers had the chance to discuss the new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and two related guidance documents with FDA and USDA officials. [node:read-more:link]
The Center for Food Integrity’s (CFI) Animal Care Review Panel has examined video released this week from West Virginia broiler farms. It is contained in a report produced by the group Compassion in World Farming (CWF). CFI created the Animal Care Review Panel program to engage recognized animal care specialists to examine video and provide expert perspectives for food retailers, the poultry industry and the media. The expert panel in this case was comprised of Dr. Patricia Hester, Purdue University; Dr. Sacit Bilgili, Auburn University; and Dr. Bruce Webster, University of Georgia. [node:read-more:link]
Opponents of large animal feeding operations in Bon Homme County have submitted petitions seeking a moratorium on further permits. Opponents want the county zoning board to review ordinances and consider more restrictions for feedlots to safeguard the health and property of others, and also the environment. Proposed new hog operations in the county have created sharply-divided opinions among many residents, prompting the zoning board to hold an informational meeting [node:read-more:link]
The goal of Illinois' Conservation Story Map is to show how farmers in Illinois work to keep nutrients in the field for their crops, and not lose them to our streams and waterways. It will help Illinois farmers – and the government agencies and conservation organizations that work with them – to share the best management practices they use on extremely diverse conditions across Illinois. [node:read-more:link]
Massachusetts farmer James Dunn joined with local anti-poverty activist Diane Sullivan in a lawsuit asking the courts to toss a proposed 2016 animal rights ballot measure. The proposed initiative petition (no. 15-11) would create strict new regulations on farmers and place new restrictions on interstate commerce. Experts warn that the proposed rules will actually harm animals while driving up the cost of food for Massachusetts families. [node:read-more:link]
The evidence set forth by the counties shows the unprecedented nature of Des Moines’ claims. Iowa and USEPA have for over 40 years not required NPDES permits for farmers’ drainage tiles. The environmental agencies have made it perfectly clear these permits are not required and yet DMWW charges that the expert agencies in charge of nonpoint runoff from farmers’ fields have been wrong for over 40 years and Congress has sat on its hands doing nothing. [node:read-more:link]
In the past two years there has been a great deal of discussion about net-pen aquaculture in the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Much of the concerns around Great Lakes net-pen aquaculture is the generation of large quantities of fish waste from these fish production operations. The main issue with fish waste is the release of phosphorus which is the growth-limiting nutrient for primary production in freshwater ecosystems. [node:read-more:link]
Over four public meetings, the Working Group agreed to over a dozen recommendations to revise, consolidate and modernize the law, including:Reorganizing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, Consolidating Licenses,Modernizing New York's Blue Laws,Supporting Craft Manufacturers. [node:read-more:link]
