U.S. drops price-fixing charges: The Justice Department asked a federal judge to drop charges against two former executives of Pilgrim’s Pride who were among a group of industry officials accused of conspiring to fix prices and rig bids for chicken products. (Meat and Poultry)
Carbon credit crackdown: The carbon credit market too often relies on dubious accounting that results in little action on climate mitigation, said a group of Democratic senators in a letter asking the CFTC to develop standards for credits, investigate fraud and study risks to investors. (Financial Times)
Support big game habitat: In a partnership with the state of Wyoming, the USDA will provide $16 million for voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game animals such as elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. (USDA)
Boundary Waters algae blooms: Researchers are investigating blue-green algae blooms, often blamed on agricultural runoff, in pristine lakes inside or near the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota; climate change and nutrient-coated dust are suspects. (Minnesota Public Radio)
BP buys biogas company: As part of reducing its carbon footprint, British energy giant BP said it would buy for $4.1 billion the U.S. biogas company Archaea Energy, which produces renewable gas — mostly methane — from livestock, food and landfill wastes. (Brussels Times)