Dinner at school is a growing option for U.S. students
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Compared to the long-established school lunch program, after-school programs that provide snacks or supper to pupils are tiny. In fact, just 1.2 million suppers, versus 30 million lunches, are served in school each day.
North Carolina ag losses from Florence soar to $2.4 billion
Gov. Roy Cooper earmarked $235 million for agriculture out of a proposed $1.5 billion in state spending for recovery from Hurricane Florence “and future storm resiliency” on Wednesday.
Diversity is destiny for agriculture’s leaders, says Merrigan
In a speech on the future of agriculture, a former USDA official forecast a fundamental shift in the demographic makeup of the food and ag sector.
Christiansen moves from interim to permanent Forest Service chief
After six months as the agency’s interim leader, Vicki Christiansen will take the oath of office today as chief of the U.S. Forest Service, one of the USDA’s largest agencies.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Roundup case continues (Business Insider): Monsanto’s lawyers argued in court Wednesday that a judge should throw out a jury’s $289-million award to a California groundskeeper who claimed his lymphoma was caused by long-term exposure to Roundup.
Industry launches animal-welfare initiative (GCAW): Several large food companies, including Aramark, Nestlé, Sodexo, and Unilever, launched the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare, aimed at promoting good animal practices in the industry.
Gates backs carbon fee in Washington State (Seattle Times): Microsoft founder Bill Gates announced support for Initiative 1631, which would set an escalating fee on greenhouse gas emissions, and said he would donate to the campaign for passage of the statewide referendum on Nov. 6.
New hurdle for Canadian growers (iPolitics): Fruit and vegetable growers fear potential labor shortages from new Canadian government rules that will require foreign nationals, including seasonal farmworkers, to submit biometric material such as fingerprints when they apply for a visa.
Algae outbreaks up (EWG): A record 239 outbreaks of potentially toxic algae have been reported so far this year in U.S. lakes, rivers, and other waterways, up 40 percent from 2017, according to news reports.
China may shave protein content in feed (AgriCensus): The Chinese feed regulator will decide next week whether to reduce the minimum protein content in hog and poultry feed by 3 percentage points, which could cut the nation’s soybean use by 10 million tonnes this marketing year.
Waterhemp resists a record six weedkillers (Soybean South): In tests, waterhemp, an invasive weed, showed resistance to six herbicides, say University of Missouri scientists, who tried eight chemicals against the plant.
A leg up for the American mulefoot hog (Harvest Public Media): Farmers who raise American mulefoot hogs, a once-popular breed that now numbers only a few hundred, are promoting the mild-mannered, black-hided, solid-hoofed hog as a source of delectable, rich-flavored meat.
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