Moderna gets U.S. contract to develop bird flu vaccine
The government awarded a $176 million contract to Moderna to develop an mRNA-based vaccine to protect people from bird flu, said Health Secretary Xavier Becerra on Tuesday. Public health officials say the risk to the general population was low from the H5N1 avian flu virus, and there were no immediate plans to use the vaccine.
Labor Department proposes heat safety rule
Under a Labor Department proposal announced on Tuesday, employers would be required to provide rest breaks and access to shade and clean water for their workers as a shield against extreme heat. If finalized, the proposed regulation would be the first federal safety standard for excessive heat in the workplace and would cover 36 million workers.
Higher lease rates, escalator clauses offered for solar projects
Developers of solar farms are offering higher and higher annual lease rates — often above $1,500 an acre — with escalator clauses to sweeten the deal, said farmers in a Purdue University survey released on Tuesday. Some 27 percent of farmers who spoke to developers said they were offered at least $1,500 an acre, according to the monthly Ag Economy Barometer.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Emerging economies take the lead: India, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa will account for half of the growth in global consumption of agriculture and fisheries in the coming decade, and China will play a less important role, said the OECD-FAO agricultural outlook. (FAO)
Antibiotic-free-beef retreat: Tyson Foods is cutting back on its offerings of antibiotic-free beef, a change in course after two decades of marketing the products for consumers who wanted meat that was produced more naturally. (Bloomberg)
Ban brominated vegetable oil: The FDA revoked its regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food following studies that found the potential for adverse health effects. (FDA)
Farmers’ share of cookout: Grocers would charge $41.83 for the hamburger, buns, sweet corn, and potato salad for a Fourth of July cookout, but farmers would get only $5.32 of it because the food system fails to fairly compensate farmers, said the National Farmers Union. (NFU)
