agriculture

Colorado Eastern Plains vacancy in Congress leaves district without voice

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For the first time in more than 40 years, a congressional district in Colorado is without a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1983, a seat sat vacant because Jack Swigert, a former astronaut on the Apollo 13 who was elected the previous November, died of cancer one week before taking office. This … Read more

Is milk safe to drink? Can you catch bird flu from beef? What to know about H5N1 cattle outbreaks

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Confirmation that a dangerous form of bird flu is circulating among U.S. dairy cattle has raised questions among dairy producers — and consumers — on both sides of the border. Dairy and beef farmers are implementing biosecurity measures to keep H5N1 out of their herds, while Canadians are understandably concerned about what these outbreaks could … Read more

Now that bird flu is spreading among cows, scientists worry where H5N1 will jump next

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On March 25, American officials published an urgent announcement: Dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico were falling sick. The cows had low appetites, and produced less milk than normal. Some farms also discovered wild bird carcasses on their grounds. Tests on a cow throat swab and raw milk samples all confirmed an unusual finding: … Read more

Macron’s top candidate for EU election says she’s ‘proud’ of Green Deal and ‘appalled’ by far-right campaign

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PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron’s pick to lead his party during June’s European election said she was “proud” of the bloc’s Green Deal despite the ire it has provoked among farmers across the continent. Speaking to POLITICO at an event in Paris, Valérie Hayer also said she was “appalled” by far-right rival Jordan Bardella’s … Read more

No water, no oil: How the parched western provinces could hamper the oilpatch

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Persistent and severe drought conditions across Western Canada could have a devastating effect on the oil and natural gas sector, which has drilling operations in some of the driest areas, according to a new report by Deloitte. Limited water supply could have significant effects on the production of oil and gas, the report warns, and … Read more

‘Bad’ EU nature law needs to ‘go back to the drawing board,’ Belgian PM says – POLITICO

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But in an interview with De Zondag, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the bill “may sound good, but it is a bad law.”  He added: “I am not against a law that protects our nature, on the contrary. I am against bad legislation. … This needs to go back to the drawing board. … Read more

All eyes are on the future of freshwater after a winter of record heat

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Quirks and Quarks19:36Water, water, everywhere. But will we have enough to drink? After a winter that smashed heat records, researchers around the world are taking a close look at how human disturbances and the rapidly changing climate are affecting the world’s freshwater supply. “We’re reducing both water quantity and water quality,” says Katrina Moser, an associate professor … Read more

New Brussels demo begins with bonfire outside EU Parliament – POLITICO

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BRUSSELS — Guess who’s back! Farmers arrived in Brussels’ European Quarter Tuesday morning, in a new demonstration against policies which they say are whacking their business. A ring of tractors circled Place du Luxembourg outside the European Parliament, where farmers milled around a blazing fire while “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees blared from loudspeakers. … Read more

New Jersey school uses $1M grant to produce maple syrup

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A university in New Jersey is spending a $1 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture on testing the feasibility of a maple syrup industry in the Garden State. Stockton University is in its fourth year of producing syrup from the 300 acres of red maple trees surrounding the school, whose campus spans from … Read more