Agriculture News
Idaho rancher’s family files wrongful death lawsuit
Capital Press | Posted on October 25, 2017Several family members of an Idaho rancher shot to death by law enforcement officers in 2015 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit over the killing. Rancher Jack Yantis had been called to euthanize a bull that had been hit by a car when he was shot 12 times by two deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.Last year, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office decided against pursuing criminal charges against the two officers, Cody Roland and Brian Wood, citing conflicting witness accounts about the incident.After his bull was injured by a car on the evening of Nov. 1, 2015, Yantis arrived at the scene with a rifle after being notified of the collision by police dispatchers.Yantis’ wife, Donna, and nephew, Rowdy Paradis, claim the rancher was preparing to shoot the bull in the head when one of the deputies grabbed him and then both deputies opened fire.
Governor Cuomo Announces $5 Million for County Fair Infrastructure Improvement Projects
New York Governor | Posted on October 25, 2017Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $5 million is being awarded to county and youth fairs across the State through the 2017 Agricultural Fairgrounds Infrastructure Improvement Program. The funding will be divided equally among the State's 52 eligible local fairs, with each receiving an award of $96,153 to offset the cost of improvements and renovation projects, including new construction, that support New York's agricultural industry. This second round of funding approved in the New York State Budget builds on the $5 million allocated for county fairs in 2016.
Texas Ag Law releases dozens of podcasts on variety of issues
Texas A&M | Posted on October 25, 2017You can listen to the podcast on computer or any phone podcast app. Episode 1 – Introduction to Ag Law in the Field. ,Episode 2 – Advice for Law Students , Episode 3 – Waters of the United States aka “WOTUS” , Episode 4 – Family Law for the Farm and Ranch aka “Horses and Divorces” , Episode 5 – Should You Incorporate Your Farm or Ranch? Episode 6 – Finding Your Dream Job and Legal Issues Facing the Dairy Industry, Episode 7 – Drones and the Law , Episode 8 – Settling Estates: Probate and Alternatives to Probate, Episode 9 – Exempt Wells, Episode 10 – Immigration Law, Episode 11 – Alice Kilborn (Employment Law – Hiring and Firing). Episode 12 – Judd Gardner (Farm Bill). Episode 13 – Shannon Ferrell (Farm Transition Planning). Episode 14 – Parks Brown (Rights of Surface Owners Dealing with Oil and Gas Production). Episode 15 – Pat Dillon (True Stories from a Small Town Lawyer). Episode 16 – Ask an Ag Lawyer Program Recap. Episode 17 – Erin Hawley (Clerking at the US Supreme Court). Episode 18 – Luke Ellis (Eminent Domain in Texas). Episode 19 – Ashley Ellixson (“Ag Gag” Litigation Update). Episode 20 – Trace Blair (Hunting Leases).
Michigan apple growers could lose millions without migrant workers
Detroit Free Press | Posted on October 25, 2017Here in the Sparta area, north of Grand Rapids, finding migrant workers like Carlos and Hernandez to clear the orchards is getting increasingly difficult. Most of them have come from Mexico; some are undocumented. This year, Michigan had roughly 45,000 jobs available for migrant workers, starting with bedding plants in February, vegetable and fruit season starting with asparagus and wrapping up with apples in the fall, and ending with Christmas trees in November, according to a statement from the Michigan Farm Bureau.While better work opportunities have conspired to lured many young migrant workers away from Michigan agriculture, the Trump administration's immigrant policies have also threatened to shrink the migrant worker pool. The days of having to turn migrant workers away are over, farmers say. “The border is essentially closed,” said Steffens, a fourth-generation apple farmer. “It’s very difficult for them to get here.”For years, labor struggles have been the biggest issue for the apple industry nationwide according to the Virginia-based U.S. Apple Association. “It’s really all of labor intensive agricultural that has been struggling with this issue probably for a decade. Think produce, think dairy, think anything that can’t be harvested with a combine," said Diane Kurrle, the associations senior vice president. Harvest workers in the apple industry Kurrle said, support on average 2 to 3 other full time jobs year-round. "The economic stability of rural communities is really at stake (in the U.S.) also when you think about the domino impact of losing those harvest workers and what that would mean for the community," she said. For Michigan farmers and workers it's most likely, only the beginning of the tough road ahead.
ICE to target employers who hire illegal immigrants
Washington Examiner | Posted on October 25, 2017U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is prepared to criminally prosecute illegal immigrants in the workplace, as well as those employers who hire them."While we focus on the criminal prosecution of employers who knowingly hire illegal workers, under the current administration's enforcement priorities, workers encountered during these investigations who are unauthorized to remain in the United States are also subject to administrative arrest and removal from the country," ICE spokeswoman Danielle Bennett said. This week, acting ICE Director Thomas Homan said his agency will increase workplace immigration enforcement effort four to five times the level current.
World’s first CO2-neutral chicken eggs laid in the Netherlands
I Am Expat | Posted on October 25, 2017Another world’s first for farming and agriculture in the Netherlands; this time it's a CO2-neutral chicken farm with 24.000 chickens in Castenray in the province of Limburg.The most animal and environmentally friendly chicken farm in the world. In order to achieve CO2-neutrality, specific choices have been made regarding the farm itself and the chickens that will inhabit it. White chickens will take up residence on the farm; this type of chicken is lighter in terms of weight and eats less, thus saving on the amount of feed necessary to rear the chickens.Contributing to the eco-friendly character of the farm, the feed given to the chickens is made from agricultural farming waste products, which would otherwise not be used for human consumption.The farm features 1.097 solar panels, which will generate more energy than the farm uses. Around 60 percent of the generated solar energy will be sold. Fossil fuels are not used and emission of particulate matter will be limited to an absolute minimum through the use of advanced technology that filters the air leaving the barn.
Inside an Immense Farm Operation in Kansas
Wall Street Journal | Posted on October 23, 2017Lon Frahm's 30,600-acre farm in Colby, Kan., offers a look at the future of farming in the U.S.: in huge quantities, using the latest technology and fewer people
USDA Provides Support for Hurricane-Impacted Dairies in Puerto Rico
USDA | Posted on October 23, 2017In the wake of the 2017 hurricanes, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing emergency assistance to dairy operators in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. USDA is preparing for signup to begin Oct. 21, 2017. “We’re dispatching additional USDA staff to the island, but we also continue to ramp up material assistance as well,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “Dairy producers need help immediately, and the Trump Administration is providing it.”Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s agriculture sector, including dairy operations. Secretary Perdue said the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is providing up to $12 million dollars to enable operators of Puerto Rico’s 253 licensed dairy operations to purchase feed for cattle. The special initiative, applicable only to Puerto Rico, is called the Dairy Assistance Program for Puerto Rico (DAP-PR). The program will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which has offices and staff on the island.“Dairy operations face additional losses unless they have feed for their remaining cattle,” said Perdue. “This funding will enable them to get the help they need until the situation in Puerto Rico stabilizes.”Under the provisions of today’s announcement, dairy operators can apply to FSA to receive vouchers to purchase an estimated one-month supply of feed. The amount of the voucher is calculated based on 100 percent of estimated feed costs per cow for 30 days. There are an estimated 94,000 dairy cows on the island.
Bill banning use of performing elephants passes both houses of NY legislature
New York State Senate | Posted on October 23, 2017The bill was passed by the Senate on May 23rd by a unanimous vote of 62-0. The Assembly version of the bill, A464B, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paulin, was passed on June 6th by a vote of 56-6, and is now set to be delivered to Governor Cuomo.
New program in New York to help veterans become farmers
New York Daily News | Posted on October 23, 2017New York is working to help veterans interested in becoming farmers. The state announced a new grant program that provides financial assistance to former military service members turned farmers. The money can be used to purchase new farm equipment, machinery or supplies or pay for the cost of building or upgrading farm structures.The initiative is related to a broader $1 million grant program for new and early-stage farmers.