Prolific wheat breeder is named AAAS Fellow
Ravi Singh, a world expert in wheat, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his work on wheat genetics, pathology and breeding, says the international research center where he works. The awards will be announced formally in the journal Science at the end of this week.
New effort in Maine to ban soda and candy from food stamps
Maine is seeking permission from the USDA to bar the purchase and soda and candy with food stamps, even though nine other states have had such requests turned down, says the Portland Press Herald.
Food insecurity leads to higher health care costs
Fifty million Americans, including 15 million children, live in food-insecure households, meaning that from time to time they lack the resources to buy enough food. The "absence of food security in the U.S. carries enormous healthcare costs, more than $160 billion in 2014," says In These Times, pointing to the 2016 Hunger Report from Bread for the World Institute.
‘Pastured eggs’ are a hit in grocery stores
Produced by hens that spend their days outdoors, "pastured eggs" are a tiny part of the billions of eggs laid each year yet "are one of the fastest-growing category of eggs in America today," says the New York Times.
Corn and soy subsidies could average $50 an acre
Midwestern farmers could collect an average $50 an acre on corn and soybean land that is eligible for subsidies on this year's crops, says economist Gary Schnitkey of U-Illinois. The payments through the new Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) program, intended to shield crop revenue from low prices and poor yields, will be made after Oct. 1, 2016.
Genetically modified citrus trees resist greening disease
University of Florida researchers say they have developed genetically modified citrus trees that resist the greening disease that threatens to destroy the industry. Citrus greening, spread by the tiny psyllid lice, causes misshapen fruit and eventually kills most infected trees.
The long watch for bird flu
After the devastating bird flu epidemic in the Midwest earlier this year, the disease has not been seen in the country since Utah wildlife officials found an infected mallard at Farmington Bay on Great Salt Lake on July 31. State and federal officials are testing thousands of wild birds each month to identify hot spots for the virus as an "early warning" to producers.
Utah, Tennessee colleges get obesity prevention funds
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agricultural Research awarded grants of $1 million each to the University of Tennessee and Utah State University for research on nutrition education and obesity prevention for poor children and families.
Big peanut crop may bring big U.S. subsidy costs
With a 19-percent spurt in production, peanut growers are harvesting the second-largest crop ever and "threatening to hand American taxpayers a near $2 billion bailout bill over the next three years and leaving the government with a big chunk of the crop on its books," reports Reuters.
Vilsack: China to move quickly on GMO crops, beef imports
At annual U.S.-China trade talks, China "indicated today it would move quickly to review the 11 agricultural biotechnology events [GMO crop varieties] pending approval, and continue our dialogue on access for U.S. beef," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a U.S. statement. "My hope is that over the next 30 to 60 days, these words are met with consistent action."
Costco won’t sell GMO salmon
The warehouse retailer Costco said it "does not intend to sell GM salmon at this time," reports the Seattle Times. The FDA approved commercial sale and consumption last week of the AquAdvantage salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies.
Hog prices plunge after WHO cancer risk rating
U.S. hog prices are the lowest in six years, with the swift drop in market prices following the rating by the WHO's cancer research agency of processed meats such as bacon and ham as "carcinogenic to humans," says Purdue economist Chris Hurt.
Bacteria developing resistance to a last-ditch antibiotic
Researchers say they identified a new form of resistance "to the very last-ditch drug colistin," reports National Geographic. "[I]t is present in both meat animals and people, probably comes from agricultural use of that drug, can move easily among bacteria, and may already be spreading across borders."
Hands off crop insurance, agribusiness tells senators
Four dozen groups representing banks, farm-equipment makers, insurers and farmers urged senators not to meddle with the 2014 farm law or the federally subsidized crop-insurance program while writing a catch-all government funding bill.
Malaysia, Indonesia form palm-oil council
The world's largest palm-oil producers and exporters, Malaysia and Indonesia, "have joined hands to establish a council to strengthen cooperation and improve the welfare of smallholders," says The Star Online, based in Malaysia.
All but tiny drones may need U.S. registration
A mandatory registration system for drones "looks set to be in force in the United States before the end of the year," reports PC World, based on the recommendations of an industry task force that included Google and Amazon.
Sugar usage to top output for first time in six years
Sugar consumption worldwide is forecast at a record 173 million tonnes this marketing year, the first time that usage has exceeded production since 2009/10, says the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Mexico wins WTO challenge of U.S. ‘dolphin-safe’ labels
A WTO appellate panel ruled in favor of Mexico in a dispute over U.S. rules on when cans of tuna can carry the "dolphin-safe" label, says Associated Press.
Sugar and corn-sweetener groups settle false advertising lawsuit
The splashy false-advertising lawsuit filed against corn refiners by the sugar industry was settled out of court under confidential terms. The settlement was announced with the trial under way in federal court in Los Angeles.
GE salmon a long way from US dinner plate despite FDA approval
For the first time, the FDA has approved the sale and consumption of a genetically engineered animal, the AquAdvantage salmon developed by a Massachusetts company. Although FDA approval is a signal achievement for the biotechnology industry - the first GE crops went on the market in 1996 - it could be years before fillets or steaks from the fast-growing salmon are sold in supermarkets.