This week, the Maryland governor and agriculture secretary toured a state-subsidized, pilot, on-farm manure-to-energy project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The project burns poultry litter that heats the poultry house while also reducing humidity and ammonia. It also underscores the role states can play in helping ag producers produce clean energy, meet their stewardship responsibilities and even potentially open new revenue streams for their operations. The system that Gov. [node:read-more:link]

The purpose of days like Day WIthout Latinos and Day Without Immigrants is to show the value of immigrant workers in our communities, which is especially true in the dairy industry, where immigrant workers make up more than 50 percent of farm employees. "They are a significant impact on agriculture, especially the dairy industry," Jennifer Blazek said. "Having those people who are willing to work and who are hard workers, a lot of farmers have really enjoyed the work ethic of their employees," Blazek said. She said without them there could be significant impacts. [node:read-more:link]

A task force set up by Gov. Jerry Brown is seeking solutions as drought, pests and other factors have killed 102 million trees in California forests since 2010. Aerial surveys by the U.S. Forest Service last year found 36 million more dead trees, bringing the number of trees that have died in California forests since 2010 to more than 102 million. [node:read-more:link]

Within the organic community, some worry the movement — and that’s how many see it, as a movement — will lose its soul as “Big Ag” takes over organic production and snaps up small organic processors.  “If we continue to mainstream, is there anything left of what was organic, or do we just become product manufacturers?” asked Oregon organic pioneer David Lively.  As the Costcos, Wal-Marts and Krogers of the world continue to enter the organic market, “Are they really concerned with what we’re doing, or is it a marketing opportunity?” Lively said. [node:read-more:link]

Economists painted a gray outlook for the farm economy and called for a stronger federal safety during a congressional hearing meant to set the stage for drafting a new farm bill. Economists from USDA, the Kansas City Federal Reserve, Texas A&M and the University of Missouri all said farm finances look to dip in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year. Farmers are struggling, but not as bad as the 1980s yet and low prices are buoyed by higher yields. [node:read-more:link]

The State of Missouri is appealing to the the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to California's Proposition 2 law, which took effect in 2015.  Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, in a press release, stated that he has asked the high court to hear arguments in the state’s challenge to the California law, which requires that eggs produced and sold in the state are laid by hens that have adequate room to stand up, sit down, turn around and extend their limbs without touching another bird or the sides of the cage. [node:read-more:link]

In a bid to make up for a shortfall of high-quality nutritious food, some Canadian food banks are growing their own produce — and even farming fish. The Mississauga Food Bank recently launched AquaGrow Farms, where tilapia is being raised in tanks and lettuce is raised through hydroponics, or without soil. [node:read-more:link]

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s proposal to let power cooperatives get into the broadband business looks like an improvement for Tennessee consumers. But, in my view, the proposal is mostly a bait and switch.  The plan, which the governor announced at a press conference last month, maintains strict limitations on the ability of public entities to improve their citizens’ broadband options. [node:read-more:link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and Irish agri-tech company Biomass Heating Solutions Limited, or BHSL, have committed nearly $3 million toward manure-to-energy technology that they hope will significantly reduce the impact of Murphy's chickens — and perhaps one day all Eastern Shore poultry — on the Chesapeake Bay.  "Our main objective is bird enhancement," BHSL project engineer James O'Sullivan said. "We want to completely diminish ammonium (from Murphy's chickens to the bay). [node:read-more:link]