AgClips
Recent AgClips
Virginia Beach is placing a cap on the value of agricultural land
The Virginian Pilot | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture Newsarmers want the city to cap the value of agricultural land so property taxes don’t get out of control when crop prices are doing well. Over the past seven years, the value of an acre jumped by $1,820. Land values rise and fall based on the price of corn, wheat and soybeans. When crop prices were up, those increases were passed on to farmers. “If you owned, your tax costs went up,” Agriculture Director David Trimmer said.
Ohio and Michigan report H3N2v ‘swine flu’ infections linked to pigs at fairs
Outbreak News Today | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsFour human infections with influenza viruses that normally circulate in swine (swine influenza) were reported by CDC this week. When swine influenza viruses are detected in people they are called “variant” viruses and are designated with a letter v at the end of the virus subtype. The four human infections were caused by H3N2v viruses in Ohio (2) and Michigan (2). All four patients reported attending fairs where they had exposure to pigs during the week preceding illness onset. Pigs at the fairs have reportedly tested positive for swine influenza A (H3N2) infection.
Rep Lauwers and Roberts attend signing of Farmland Preservation upgrade
Michigan Farm Bureau | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsDesigned to help ensure timelier processing of Michigan farmers' applications and tax credit payments through the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (PA-116), the legislation saw overwhelming support earlier this year in both the state House of Representatives (109-0) and Senate (36-1). Sponsored by Dist. 81 Rep. Dan Lauwers and Dist. 65 Rep.
Rapid US cage-free egg farm expansions lead to ‘chaos’
Watt Ag Net | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsCal-Maine president says potential US retail egg market conversion to cage-free eggs has already caused losses for egg producers. The number of non-organic cage-free layers housed in the U.S. rose to 16.6 million head in April of 2016, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures. This is roughly double the 8.7 million head housed in 2014. With all the pledges made by retailers, foodservice outlets and food manufacturers to purchase cage-free eggs, it would seem cage-free eggs would be flying off the grocery store shelves in the U.S. But, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Florida Locals Bugged by Proposed Release of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
U S News | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Rural NewsLocals in the Florida Keys are concerned about the prospect of their community becoming a testing ground for the release of thousands of genetically modified mosquitoes marketed as a solution to the Zika virus, and plan to protest the potential experiment.Ultimately, however, the decision will be up to the five-member mosquito control board.
California is in flames right now, with fires fueled by historic drought
The Washington Post | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Rural NewsCalifornia is burning. The state has nine active wildfires as large as 25 acres or more, including the massive Clayton fire north of San Francisco that forced nearly 1,500 residents to flee their homes after it erupted Saturday in dry conditions created by the state’s extreme drought. On Sunday the blaze doubled in size. “The winds really kicked up, and the fire crossed over tentative lines in place [to slow its advance] and started impacting a whole new area,” Suzie Blankenship, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Monday.
FDA Revamps Rules for Food Ingredients Recognized as Safe
Bloomberg | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Federal NewsThe Food and Drug Administration issued final rules today updating how the agency determines a substance used in food to be “generally recognized as safe,” known by the shorthand GRAS. Unlike food additives, substances determined to be GRAS are not subject to pre-market approval by regulators, thought they must meet the same safety standards as additives.
University's new technology blossoming in agriculture
Magic Valley | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsWilliamson is referring to two projects Bulanon is developing at NNU. One is the IdaBOT, which is a robot that can move on its own through vineyards and orchards. The other is a multi-spectral camera, which captures multiple color wavelengths that would aid in counting fruit blossoms to estimate crop yield. The idea came to Bulanon when talking with Williamson in April during the blossom season. Bulanon flew a drone over the orchard and took near-infrared pictures of the blossoms, which showed up more clearly on the image than if a normal camera would take it.
State to consider $11.5 million in tax credits for Prestage project
Des Moines Register | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsIowa economic development leaders will consider providing about $11.5 million in tax credits for Prestage Farm’s $240 million proposed hog processing plant near Eagle Grove. Prestage, a North Carolina hog and turkey producer, would need to create 922 jobs, with 322 of them paying a minimum of $15.54 an hour, plus benefits, to receive the incentives.
Credit Becomes Gatekeeper
DTN | Posted onAugust 17, 2016 in Agriculture NewsA year ago, university economists warned that typical Illinois corn farmers would need to shave $100 an acre off average cash rent and production costs if they hoped to break even in 2016. Renters hesitated, landlords balked, most input suppliers held firm. Big savings didn't happen. Now, worse prospects for 2017 grain markets mean many cash renters will have little choice but to plead poverty when renewing leases this fall.