In order to protect Texas’ endangered population of ocelots, special wildlife corridors are currently being built along a major highway in South Texas to make sure the animals are able to travel to other areas without being hit by vehicles. In South Texas, approximately 95 percent of the habitat has been cleared. [node:read-more:link]
The fate of a nuisance case against an Oklahoma wind farm is up to a federal judge after a hearing Tuesday in Oklahoma City. More than 60 members of the Oklahoma Wind Action Associated showed up for the hearing before U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti on a motion by Kingfisher Wind LLC to issue a summary judgment in the case. After the two-hour hearing, DeGiusti said he will rule at a later date. If he declines to grant the wind company's motion, the case will proceed to a bench trial. [node:read-more:link]
The Rural Broadband Association is applauding the House of Representatives for passing the Communications Act Update Act of 2016, which includes provisions to combat problems of telephone calls failing to complete to rural areas as well as measures to relieve small business network operators from burdensome broadband obligations. NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield said the legislation holds great significance for rural Americans and the small hometown businesses committed to providing them with quality voice and broadband services. [node:read-more:link]
Bayer CropScience has decided to drop any further attempts to challenge cancellation of its registration for the insecticide flubendiamide, which it had sold under the trade name Belt.
The Hogan administration has proposed rules that would prohibit the gas-drilling technique known as fracking within 2,000 feet of a private drinking water well, require steel casings around gas bores to a depth of 100 feet, and require energy companies to replace any water supply that is contaminated by the practice. The Maryland Department of the Environment submitted the measures to a legislative committee that reviews regulations, a year before a state ban on fracking ends. The plan was unveiled five days ahead of the Oct. [node:read-more:link]
Missouri is one of three most improved states in the 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which is published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The state ranked 32nd in 2016, rising 12 positions from its 2015 ranking. Missouri scored 13.5 points out of a possible 50, five more points than it earned in last year’s ranking. [node:read-more:link]
Midwest Energy News: What is impact investing? Pfund: It is a kind of investment that recognizes new business formation and investment that can have profound social impact. It harnesses the power of investment to make positive social impact, as well as returns for its investors. We’ve invested in iconic leaders in sustainability, health and nutrition, and digital music. We have proof points that it should be done more. You don’t have to sacrifice financial return if you introduce a social dimension to your approach. [node:read-more:link]
The governments of Canada and Manitoba will invest more than $366,000 in organic grain research at the University of Manitoba. This new initiative will be funded through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a five-year (2013-18) policy framework for Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector. GF2 is a $3 billion dollar investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments and the foundation for government agricultural programs and services. [node:read-more:link]
Hundreds of thousands of U.S. farmers have been granted class action status for their lawsuits against seed company Syngenta over sales of biotech corn seeds not approved for import by China. A judge in the U.S. District Court of Kansas certified a nationwide class and statewide classes in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota. At least 440,000 farmers sued after grain shipments containing traces of Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera corn were rejected by China, which had not approved the variety for import before it was launched. [node:read-more:link]
Atrazine, simazine and propazine are currently under EPA registration review, which is required for all pesticides every 15 years to update and modernize the science and risk assessments. As part of the review process, on June 2, 2016 EPA released its draft ecological risk assessments, which drew conclusions based on a number of scientific errors and flawed interpretations. The future of some essential crop protection tools are at stake. It is important for our industry to weigh in with EPA to ensure they are following sound science and accurate data prior to making any final decisions. [node:read-more:link]
