Poultry plant settlement: Poultry processor Mountaire agreed to pay a total of $205 million to resolve state and federal lawsuits over contaminated groundwater near its plant in Millsboro, Delaware, where residents had high rates of disease and sickness. (Washington Post)
In Iowa, Rep. Axne mulls options: Rep Cindy Axne, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the only Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation, said she is considering a run for the Senate, for governor or for another term in the House but, “I’m not making any decisions right now.” (Storm Lake Times)
New pollinator commitments: To preserve bees and other pollinating insects, Walmart, the largest U.S. food retailer, said it will require, by 2025, all of its fresh produce and floral products to come from growers who follow integrated pest management practices to reduce the use of pesticides and encourage fresh produce suppliers to protect, restore or establish pollinator habitats on 3 percent of their land, also by 2025. (Walmart)
Nuts for cows: In trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some dairy farmers in California are feeding their cows leftover almond shells from nearby orchards, a step that reduces their feed costs and the need to grow forage crops like alfalfa that require lots of water and pesticides. (InsideClimate News)
Organic soybean uncertainties: Purchasers say they are struggling to buy organic soybeans on the cash market, although data indicate supplies are not tight following a strong harvest last fall. (Mercaris)
Four-foot rabbit missing: Darius, which at four-feet was declared the world’s longest rabbit in 2010, is missing from his owner’s garden in a small English village and police are treating the disappearance as an abduction. (New York Times)