Why OSHA is powerless to stem the spread of bird flu among U.S. dairy workers
The obvious federal body to tackle the bird-flu problem is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is responsible for preventing American workers from getting sick or hurt on the job. But OSHA can’t touch nearly all dairy farms because of their small size. OSHA’s lack of regulatory authority on smaller farms dates to 1976, when a rider was attached to an appropriations bill in Congress that barred the agency from using federal funds to enforce regulations on farms with ten or fewer employees. That leaves 96 percent of animal husbandry operations outside of OSHA oversight.
Farmland loss in Midwest: 1.6 million acres in 20 years
The Midwest lost 1.06 percent of its farmland between 2001 and 2021; development accounted for half of the loss, said three Ohio State University analysts on Monday. “The role of large urban areas is paramount, as 81 percent of land lost to development in the eight states occurred within metropolitan statistical areas,” which are regions with a core city of at least 50,000 people and strong ties to its surrounding communities
USDA offers additional $300 million for export development
A second round of $300 million in funding is available through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to encourage U.S. food and agricultural exports to new markets, said Agriculture deputy secretary Xochitl Torres Small on Monday. Allocations are expected to be made by the end of the year.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Trump Two vs. Newhouse: Ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections in Washington State, former president Donald Trump endorsed a second Republican candidate in the 4th U.S. House District in hopes of defeating Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse, who voted to impeach Trump in 2021. (Politico)
Tyson Foods reports a profit: Tyson Foods said it had a net income of $191 million in the third quarter of this year, a turnaround from its loss of $417 million in the same period a year ago, aided by larger meat sales and lower feed costs for its poultry segment. (Axios)
Herbicide damage ‘everywhere’: Trees, flowers, and other plants in parks, orchards, schoolyards, and town squares throughout Illinois are afflicted by herbicide drift from farm fields and suburban yards as chemical companies revive volatile herbicides, says the Prairie Rivers Network. (Chicago Tribune)
Famine in Sudan camp: The international Famine Review Committee said famine conditions were prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp of 500,000 refugees. (IPC)
