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]

“This is the seventh straight month the overall index has moved below growth neutral. Recent declines are the result of lower agriculture and energy commodity prices and downturns in manufacturing. Since June of last year, prices for farm products have fallen by approximately 11 percent, and fuel by roughly 25 percent," said Ernie Goss,  at Creighton University's Heider College of Business. [node:read-more:link]

The analysis shows that animal agriculture increased gross national product by $123 billion in economic output, improved household earnings by more than $21 billion and added 645,629 jobs from 2004 to 2014.
According to the "Economic Analysis of Animal Agriculture," during 2014 alone, U.S. animal agriculture’s support of the national economy included $440.7 billion in economic output, $76.7 billion in earnings and $19.6 billion in income taxes.  [node:read-more:link]

Since the beginning of this year, China has spent about $84 billion in foreign mergers and acquisitions, though some estimates are even higher, according to Thomson Reuters. The country and its corporations are on pace to blow out of the water last year's record Chinese foreign purchases, which reached $109 billion. [node:read-more:link]

Located on a sprawling nine-acre lot in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, Camino de Paz is one of a kind. The solar-powered property boasts three greenhouses, an old barn, a commercial dairy, a fiber arts/marimba studio, and more.

Students spend the early mornings and late afternoons completing farm chores, rotating between the horticulture, dairy, animal, and indoor “crews” each semester. Time in between is spent in the mixed-grade classroom where lessons often relate to what’s going on at the farm. [node:read-more:link]

What’s it like to grow old in rural America?

When it comes to attention and medical resources, “we’re kind of underrepresented,” said Dr. Bill George, who practices at Beartooth Billings Clinic in Red Lodge. “People sometimes feel forgotten.”

The rural American population is older: About 15 percent of residents are 65 or older, compared with 12 percent in urban areas, largely because many people have left in search of education and jobs. [node:read-more:link]

any Georgians are surprised to learn that agriculture contributes approximately $75.35 billion to the state’s economy, according to University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness, which is the state’s top industry.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black was in Albany Tuesday to deliver an address to the Dougherty County Rotary Club about the plight of the state’s farmers and a new program called “Georgia Grown.” [node:read-more:link]