Long-running experiments pull students into some universities
Since scientists at the University of Illinois began work on a corn genetics experiment in 1896, several generations of researchers have contributed to the project. Finding faculty and students to continue the effort hasn’t been difficult thanks to the very nature of it, according to a professor of crop sciences at the university.
New vaccine for shingles is recommended over age 50
While farmers get ready for spring planting, farm safety comes to mind – but one of the overlooked items not on their health list may be getting the shingles virus.
Michigan lawmakers propose to ban winter manure spreads
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), citing hardship especially for small-scale livestock operators, is strongly opposed to legislation banning manure spreading on frozen or snow-covered ground.
Trump’s ultimatum poised on gap between NAFTA, USMCA
In less than a week, President Donald Trump reassessed his position about the Mexican border, telling reporters he will now give Mexico a year to fix the immigrant and drugs issue or shut the border and add tariffs to the auto industry.
Ag groups awaiting monarch ‘endangered’ listing decision
A federal ruling on whether to protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is on course for issuance sometime in June, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) spokesperson said last week.
Number of dairy farms has decreased 72 percent since 1992
U.S. dairy exports are contending with a strong U.S. dollar and continuing retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and China. As I pointed out last week, the U.S. has offset some of the losses via other countries but the bottom line is that exports only accounted for 12.5 percent of U.S. milk solids production in January, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council, lowest figure in about three years.
Feral pigs continue to root up trouble in two Illinois counties
The USDA’s Wildlife Services currently acknowledges the existence of only a single herd of feral swine in Illinois – a small cluster in Pike County. Previously, feral swine populations were confirmed in Fulton County and the contiguous counties of Fayette, Marion, and Clay; however, it believes those to be eradicated.
