From the editors of Feedstuffs
California funding methane emission reduction projects on farms
The California Department of Food & Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Agricultural Resilience & Sustainability announced $24.82 million in grant funding to 30 methane emission reduction projects across the state.
These new projects, part of the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), are projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 121,546 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, which is comparable to removing more than 28,350 cars from the road for a year.
The programs are part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. This grant round is funding 25 projects in the AMMP at a total of $17.42 million, with $6.67 million proposed in matching funds.
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A broad-based coalition of respected Minnesota farmer organizations filed a request to intervene in Ramsey County District Court litigation filed in late January by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Minnesota Trout Unlimited and the Minnesota Well Owners Organization. The MCEA/MNTU/MNWOO litigation alleges that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture have not adopted sufficient rules to protect ground and surface water in the southeast Minnesota Karst and Central Sands region from nitrates and seeks to force the state agencies to rewrite existing regulations on farming practices. The coalition of Minnesota farmer organizations strongly disputes these allegations against the state agencies charged with protecting ground and surface water.
Key arguments that support the position of the various farmer groups are outlined. Read more
USDA awards $15.3M for projectsto protect animal health
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it is awarding more than $15.3 million to projects that will enhance prevention, preparedness, early detection and rapid response to the most damaging diseases that threaten U.S. livestock.
“These projects will provide producers, veterinarians and states with tools to better control, treat and recover from foreign animal disease outbreaks,” said Michael Watson, APHIS administrator. “These efforts directly support USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ efforts to ensure farmers, ranchers and producers have the support they need to keep feeding, fueling and clothing America.”
These 68 new projects – led by 24 state departments of agriculture, five tribal entities, 35 universities, three livestock industry organizations and one federal partner – will increase the nation’s ability to rapidly respond to and control animal disease outbreaks. USDA is awarding this funding through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).
A vast majority (84%) of consumers describe current grocery prices in their area as “high” to some degree, with 18% saying they are “very high,” according to the Consumer Food Insights Report conducted in March.
The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey, which included 1,200 consumers across the U.S.
This month’s survey results revisit consumer experiences with food prices and home food production. The report also includes urban/rural classification as part of its demographic analysis this month. The analysis follows the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s classification of rural and urban, which is commonly used by the USDA's Economic Research Service in social and economic research.
Kansas State University will soon offer groundbreaking integrated training for graduate students in the pathobiology and genomics of livestock diseases to address critical expertise shortages in animal production and advance research in livestock disease management.
Thanks to a prestigious U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) National Needs Fellowship grant, K-State will offer the Integrated Training in the Pathobiology and Genomics of Livestock Diseases fellowship program. This will be a collaborative effort involving key partners across K-State, including the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Division of Biology.
Laura Miller, associate professor of veterinary virology, spearheaded the proposal in partnership with Bradley Olson, director of the Data Science Core for the Kansas INBRE and associate professor of biology.
The program will address a targeted expertise shortage area in animal production, focusing on the disciplines of animal science and veterinary medicine. It will fund four graduate students — two master's students and two doctoral students — and provide them with opportunities to engage in advanced interdisciplinary research and training.The program is designed to recruit and train students who are committed to advancing the animal production targeted expertise shortage area. Read more
Hungary confirms first case of foot-and-mouth disease in 50 years
On Friday, Hungary's National Food Chain Safety Authority confirmed the first case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected on a cattle farm in Kisbajcs. Chief Veterinary Officer Szabolcs Pásztor has ordered immediate closure of the farm, a ban on the transport of susceptible livestock and the initiation of an epidemiological investigation. It has been over five decades since the country reported an FMD outbreak.
According to authorities, the 1,400 head of cattle showed classic FMD symptoms at the beginning of March. The presence of the pathogen was then confirmed by the Nébih laboratory.Read more
