California pesticide use declines: Pesticide use declined by 5 percent from 2021 to 2022, part of a longer-term trend, said a state report that tracks applications on farmland and nonagricultural land, such as parks, but not consumer use. (California Department of Pesticide Regulation)
Plenty of biofuel feedstocks: Thanks to $6 billion in investments, U.S. oilseed processors can produce enough feedstocks to justify a 1.4 billion-gallon increase in the Renewable Fuel Standard for biofuels, said a study commissioned by a trade group. (National Oilseed Processors Association)
Extinction by sea rise: For the first time, rising sea levels have wiped out an entire species in the United States — the Key Largo tree cactus, which grows up to 20 feet tall, said scientists. The cactus is also found in Cuba and the Bahama Islands. (Axios)
Deep-fried ranch dressing: The food lineup at the Minnesota State Fair, Aug. 22-Sept. 2, includes deep-fried ranch dressing, grilled purple sticky rice on a stick, bison meatballs, and strawberry lemonade donuts. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)