Everett Griner talks about supplying healthy food to the population in today’s Agri View. Everett discusses animal diseases and some of the expenses incurred by producers to keep our meat healthy.
New Reporting Rule Takes Effect, Will Impact Animal Agriculture
Starting Nov. 15, Alabama farmers may be required to report the release of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from their farms under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This new requirement stems from an April 2017 court decision that struck down a rule exempting farms from reporting the releases. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of …
CERCLA Reporting Deadline for Livestock Producers is Wednesday
Back in 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule that exempted most farms from certain release reporting requirements in The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA. Specifically, the rule exempted farms releasing hazardous substances from animal waste to the air above threshold levels from reporting under the Act. In short, all farms were relieved from …
USDA Chief Scientist Responds to WHO Antibiotic Recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued recommendations on the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Acting Chief Scientist with the USDA, says the WHO guidelines are not in alignment with U.S. policy and aren’t supported by sound science. “The recommendations incorrectly combine disease prevention with growth promotion in animals,” she says. “The WHO previously requested the standards for …
WHO Takes a Strong Stand Against Antibiotics in Animals
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a strong statement this week against the use of all antibiotics in healthy food-producing animals. The WHO says overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both animals and humans is contributing to the buildup of antibiotic resistance. The organization notes that some bacteria that cause serious diseases in humans have built resistance to most types …
Lawmakers Seek to Change Livestock Disaster Aid
Two bills introduced in Congress seek to make changes to livestock programs, specifically changing the way help to ranchers is administered during a disaster. The legislation includes four bills to make changes to the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency’s Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Conservation Program. Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas introduced the legislation in the Senate, while …
EPA Releases Guidance on Air Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help farmers report the release of hazardous air emissions from animal waste at their farms. Pork Business Dot Com says the EPA made the information available to aid farmers in preparing for the reporting deadline, which is November 15. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt says his agency is working on addressing the undue …
Livestock and Poultry Producers Receive Lower Prices
An overall month over month decline in USDA’s Ag Prices Received Index can be attributed to lower prices received in the livestock sector. Rod Bain has the story.
Organic Field Crop Production Numbers Rising
Organic farming is a rapidly growing segment of U.S. agriculture. Organic vegetables, fruits, and livestock make up the bulk of the entire segment. However, a new USDA report shows organic field crops are making gains in the number of acres planted and overall value. The National Ag Statistics Service released the numbers showing that U.S. farms and ranches produced $7.6 …
Livestock Guard Dog
Cathy Isom tells us about the livestock guard dog — a primary tool you should not do without when raising livestock. That’s coming up on “This Land of Ours.” The loss of livestock to predators is, unfortunately, a major problem. The USDA recently reported about 170,000 sheep are lost to predators each year in the United States — …