OldDog/NewTricks
Well-known member
AgClips: “AgClips is a free weekly email service for all state officials and staff. It serves as a roundup of the latest information on agriculture and rural development issues across the country and contains links to news articles and reports.”
To subscribe to AgClips, the weekly e-newsletter providing a roundup of agriculture and rural development news from the regional offices of The Council of State Governments, and State Agriculture and Rural Leaders, send an e-mail to [email protected] with "subscribe-agclips" in the subject line, or contact any of the regional staff listed at the bottom.
MD: O'Malley picks up on Ehrlich effort to keep farms productive, profitable: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-ha.farm12oct12,0,2520492.story
On the Farm -- Ted Shelsby By Ted Shelsby On the farm October 12, 2008
“For 15 months, starting in the spring of 2005, members of the Maryland Agricultural Commission met with more than 600 farmers around the state to learn how the state could help them be more profitable and stay in business. They heard from dairy farmers who said low milk prices were forcing state dairymen out of business at twice the rate of the national average. They heard from grain farmers who said the Maryland Cooperative Extension needed to get back to its roots and help them with production problems.” The Baltimore Sun
Group petitions USDA for ban on processed meats in schools: http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/health/ny-lifood105876853oct10,0,284933.story BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER | [email protected] October 10, 2008
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and its subsidiary group, The Cancer Project, filed a petition asking USDA to ban processed meats from the menus of school cafeterias. The organization, made up of some 7,000 doctors who promote vegetarian diets and oppose animal research, claims that processed meats causes cancer and wants them eliminated from the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The meat industry and many doctors disagree with that stance. Newsday.com
If you didn’t watch the Oprah show: http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow_20081008_animals 10/14/08 show
“What little they were allowed to speak, Ryan Armstrong, an egg farmer from California, and Matt Kellogg, a pig farmer from Illinois, did a great job, passionately telling their stories. But they were up against suntanned and eloquent Wayne Pacelle saying that if everyone demanded free range prices would drop, family farms would be saved and food would be safer. That and a video of a beef farm, cows and calves on pasture, raising their calves for veal saying this is how we should all do it. Let’s face it, Americans really do not want to know where there food comes from or how its produced. There is a discussion thread on the Oprah website you can get involved in http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/90800. AFBF has prepared the talking points on animal welfare and recommends for additional reading the e-newsletter entitled “Conversations on Care” http://www.conversationsoncare.com./ .”
Livestock less damaging than UN report claimed: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4720645a6425.html
By JON MORGAN - The Dominion Post | Thursday, 09 October 2008
“No question about it: The 2006 United Nations report Livestock’s Long Shadow put a new jolt into animal-rights anti-meat campaigns. The report’s claim that 18 percent of global greenhouse gases are caused by animal agriculture has become a rallying cry for activists who want to remake the way we eat. Now a New Zealand meat company provides research that greenhouse-gas sources directly related to livestock production in the United States only account for 2.58 percent of the total. And the latest USDA figures show that 95 percent of the animal products we consume are produced right here in the United States.” Stuff.co.nz
Here comes "People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122359549477921201.html
By GAUTAM NAIK OCTOBER 10, 2008
Switzerland's Green Power Revolution: Ethicists Ponder Plants' Rights: Who Is to Say Flora Don't Have Feelings? Figuring Out What Wheat Would Want
“For years, Swiss scientists have blithely created genetically modified rice, corn and apples. But did they ever stop to consider just how humiliating such experiments may be to plants? That's a question they must now ask. Last spring, this small Alpine nation began mandating that geneticists conduct their research without trampling on a plant's dignity. "Unfortunately, we have to take it seriously," Beat Keller, a molecular biologist at the University of Zurich. "It's one more constraint on doing genetic research."Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with university ethicists. Then, in a written application to the government, he tried to explain why the planned trial wouldn't "disturb the vital functions or lifestyle" of the plants. He eventually got the green light.” Wall Street Journal
Horse Rescue Offers Low Cost Euthanasia Clinic: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12903
by: Pat Raia October 15 2008, Article # 12903
“NorCal Equine Rescue in Oroville, Calif., will offer a low-cost euthanasia clinic for owners who, due to economic or other reasons, are unable to care for their horses. Owners will be charged $25 for the euthanasia service, which will be performed by veterinarians. Clinic participation requires owners to sign a release allowing the rescue to retain and place potentially adoptable horses. Horses that prove to be unsuitable for adoption will be euthanized.” TheHorse.com
Time to stand up for water rights and the right to farm: http://westernfarmpress.com/alfalfa/water-rights-1010/
Oct 10, 2008 10:13 AM, By Aaron Kiess, Executive Director, California Alfalfa and Forage Association
“If you’ve never written or called your state legislators, it’s time to let them know you oppose the Pacific Institute’s “More With Less” report. “More With Less” stands for more regulations, an erosion of water rights, less water, and less freedom to make crop selections. The report claims growers can grow more with less water and should shift to “high value” tree and vegetable crops.” Western Farm Press
Anti-hunting fund raising: http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=240
“US Sportsmen has a running total of how much anti-hunting groups have raised this year to ban hunting rights on their website.” US Sportsmen
To subscribe to AgClips, the weekly e-newsletter providing a roundup of agriculture and rural development news from the regional offices of The Council of State Governments, and State Agriculture and Rural Leaders, send an e-mail to [email protected] with "subscribe-agclips" in the subject line, or contact any of the regional staff listed at the bottom.
MD: O'Malley picks up on Ehrlich effort to keep farms productive, profitable: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-ha.farm12oct12,0,2520492.story
On the Farm -- Ted Shelsby By Ted Shelsby On the farm October 12, 2008
“For 15 months, starting in the spring of 2005, members of the Maryland Agricultural Commission met with more than 600 farmers around the state to learn how the state could help them be more profitable and stay in business. They heard from dairy farmers who said low milk prices were forcing state dairymen out of business at twice the rate of the national average. They heard from grain farmers who said the Maryland Cooperative Extension needed to get back to its roots and help them with production problems.” The Baltimore Sun
Group petitions USDA for ban on processed meats in schools: http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/health/ny-lifood105876853oct10,0,284933.story BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER | [email protected] October 10, 2008
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and its subsidiary group, The Cancer Project, filed a petition asking USDA to ban processed meats from the menus of school cafeterias. The organization, made up of some 7,000 doctors who promote vegetarian diets and oppose animal research, claims that processed meats causes cancer and wants them eliminated from the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The meat industry and many doctors disagree with that stance. Newsday.com
If you didn’t watch the Oprah show: http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow_20081008_animals 10/14/08 show
“What little they were allowed to speak, Ryan Armstrong, an egg farmer from California, and Matt Kellogg, a pig farmer from Illinois, did a great job, passionately telling their stories. But they were up against suntanned and eloquent Wayne Pacelle saying that if everyone demanded free range prices would drop, family farms would be saved and food would be safer. That and a video of a beef farm, cows and calves on pasture, raising their calves for veal saying this is how we should all do it. Let’s face it, Americans really do not want to know where there food comes from or how its produced. There is a discussion thread on the Oprah website you can get involved in http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/90800. AFBF has prepared the talking points on animal welfare and recommends for additional reading the e-newsletter entitled “Conversations on Care” http://www.conversationsoncare.com./ .”
Livestock less damaging than UN report claimed: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4720645a6425.html
By JON MORGAN - The Dominion Post | Thursday, 09 October 2008
“No question about it: The 2006 United Nations report Livestock’s Long Shadow put a new jolt into animal-rights anti-meat campaigns. The report’s claim that 18 percent of global greenhouse gases are caused by animal agriculture has become a rallying cry for activists who want to remake the way we eat. Now a New Zealand meat company provides research that greenhouse-gas sources directly related to livestock production in the United States only account for 2.58 percent of the total. And the latest USDA figures show that 95 percent of the animal products we consume are produced right here in the United States.” Stuff.co.nz
Here comes "People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122359549477921201.html
By GAUTAM NAIK OCTOBER 10, 2008
Switzerland's Green Power Revolution: Ethicists Ponder Plants' Rights: Who Is to Say Flora Don't Have Feelings? Figuring Out What Wheat Would Want
“For years, Swiss scientists have blithely created genetically modified rice, corn and apples. But did they ever stop to consider just how humiliating such experiments may be to plants? That's a question they must now ask. Last spring, this small Alpine nation began mandating that geneticists conduct their research without trampling on a plant's dignity. "Unfortunately, we have to take it seriously," Beat Keller, a molecular biologist at the University of Zurich. "It's one more constraint on doing genetic research."Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with university ethicists. Then, in a written application to the government, he tried to explain why the planned trial wouldn't "disturb the vital functions or lifestyle" of the plants. He eventually got the green light.” Wall Street Journal
Horse Rescue Offers Low Cost Euthanasia Clinic: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12903
by: Pat Raia October 15 2008, Article # 12903
“NorCal Equine Rescue in Oroville, Calif., will offer a low-cost euthanasia clinic for owners who, due to economic or other reasons, are unable to care for their horses. Owners will be charged $25 for the euthanasia service, which will be performed by veterinarians. Clinic participation requires owners to sign a release allowing the rescue to retain and place potentially adoptable horses. Horses that prove to be unsuitable for adoption will be euthanized.” TheHorse.com
Time to stand up for water rights and the right to farm: http://westernfarmpress.com/alfalfa/water-rights-1010/
Oct 10, 2008 10:13 AM, By Aaron Kiess, Executive Director, California Alfalfa and Forage Association
“If you’ve never written or called your state legislators, it’s time to let them know you oppose the Pacific Institute’s “More With Less” report. “More With Less” stands for more regulations, an erosion of water rights, less water, and less freedom to make crop selections. The report claims growers can grow more with less water and should shift to “high value” tree and vegetable crops.” Western Farm Press
Anti-hunting fund raising: http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=240
“US Sportsmen has a running total of how much anti-hunting groups have raised this year to ban hunting rights on their website.” US Sportsmen