TAMPICO, Ill. (AP) — Citations won’t be filed after two young farm workers were electrocuted while removing tassels from corn in rural northwestern Illinois last summer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Jan. 25.

Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall, both 14, of Sterling died July 25 while detasseling corn in a field near the village of Tampico in Whiteside County. Eight people were injured. OSHA’s investigation into R&J Enterprises of Illinois, Inc. and Monsanto Corp. found an “unfortunate accident,” agency spokesman Scott Allen said.

“The evidence collected does not show any indication that these two entities could have reasonably recognized the actual hazardous conditions,” Allen said.

The investigation found lightening may have struck the field’s irrigation system, he said. About 72 people working for St. Louis-based Monsanto were detasseling corn when the accident occurred.

Kendall’s father, Brian Kendall, filed a lawsuit against St. Louis, Mo.-based Monsanto in August, claiming his daughter’s death could have been prevented. Monsanto has denied the Kendall family’s claims, saying crews wouldn’t have been allowed to work in the cornfield if the company knew there was an electrical hazard.

OSHA has issued hazard alert letters to the landowners, the two companies and Commonwealth Edison, Allen said. The agency also has notified the agricultural and electrical power industries of the investigation’s findings and of corrective actions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The Supreme Court has blocked a California law that would require euthanizing downed livestock at federally inspected slaughterhouses to keep the meat out of the nation’s food system.

The high court on Jan. 23 agreed the state’s 2009 state law should be blocked from going into effect. California barred the purchase, sale and butchering of animals that can’t walk and required slaughterhouses to immediately kill non-ambulatory animals. But justices said unanimously that the law encroached on federal laws that don’t require immediate euthanizing.

California strengthened regulations against slaughtering so-called “downer” animals after the 2008 release of an undercover Humane Society video showing workers abusing cows at a southern California slaughterhouse. Under California law, the ban on buying, selling and slaughter of downer cattle also extends to pigs, sheep and goats.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Nashville man has pled guilty to the 2009 slaying of a Tennessee State University professor and poultry plant manager.

Jarod Marges Phillips was sentenced Jan. 25 to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing and beating death of Dr. Nathaniel Adefope. The body of the 60-year-old victim was found inside a storage building at the school’s poultry plant.

Phillips was a temporary farm employee at the university at the time.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Haslam extended an executive order to allow haulers of hay to carry larger loads in their trucks as long as they observe safety requirements. The order is in response to drought and extreme weathers conditions in Texas and across the Southeast, which has left some farmers without access to hay for livestock.

“Last year was a tough year for farmers across the Southeast, and we want to be responsive to their needs,” Haslam said. “This order will continue to ensure that much needed hay can be shipped safely and without delay through Tennessee and along our major interstate corridors.”

The order allows for an increase in gross vehicle weight to 95,000 pounds, not exceeding 20,000 pounds per axle load, for semi truck/trailers. The order also increases the height of trailer loads to 13 feet, 6 inches and the width to a maximum of 14 feet during daylight hours.

The increase in width allows haulers to transport standard six- to seven-foot round hay bales side by side, increasing the capacity being hauled per truck without a permit. The executive order extension will expire on May 13.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Acting Director H.W. Devlin invites Illinois corn producers to submit their views and opinions on a proposed corn checkoff referendum at a public hearing Feb. 21.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) is proposing to enhance marketing and promotion of corn by increasing the checkoff amount by 0.25 cent per bushel. This would increase the current 3/8-cent voluntary checkoff rate to 5/8-of a cent per bushel. Growers would still have a right to refund.

The public hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 66 of the IDOA’s administration building on the fairgrounds in Springfield. Following the public hearing, the ICMB will meet and review all comments presented. If, after reviewing the comments, it approves the proposed amendment, the IDOA shall hold a referendum within 90 days.

Copies of the proposed amendment are available through the IDOA Marketing and Promotion office. Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments by Feb. 17. Comments should be addressed to: Director of Agriculture, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281.