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Digging into a farm group lawsuit targeting a new California law, managing grain, researching 'lost' crops, when veggie crops aren't vegan and more.

Willie Vogt

December 27, 2019

3 Min Read
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With the busy holiday season, you may have missed a few things. We're here to help. Check out these seven stories.

1. California's Proposition 12 carries strict rules regarding the way animals can be raised for the fresh meat market in that state. Rules so tough that they impact other states, which is driving a new lawsuit from the National Pork Producers and American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Futures Legal Columnist Gary Baise digs into the lawsuit and offers insight – Farm Futures

2. While we talk '7 things' here are a few links on managing your grain this winter put together by Indiana Prairie Farmer's Tom Bechman. The grain you have in storage matters and these insights can help protect that asset, from how to fix grain storage issues; checking on grain in storage; and keeping grain in condition – Indiana Prairie Farmer

3. Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis took the time to cultivate "lost" crops from ancient seed. According to SciTech Daily the researchers say the calculated the yields and found that what they raised could have been abundant food producers. Of course, the challenge is that for many seeds the instructions for how to raise them has been lost – SciTech Daily

4. University of Missouri Weed Scientist Kevin Bradley has been digging into a range of factors surrounding dicamba use. Here are 10 things university research teaches us about dicamba. There are some interesting facts here about this herbicide and its use – Missouri Ruralist

5. A Maine farmer and vegan is questioning how vegetables are raised. He's concerned that reliance on "moo poo" is unethical if you truly want to be vegan. The idea is raising some controversy in the organic veggie community – The Guardian

6. On the hemp front there were a couple news items in the last couple of weeks. One we noted, USDA is extending the comment period for the Domestic Hemp Production Program interim final rule. The second is the announcement that there will be a pilot insurance program for hemp in 2020 – Farm Futures

7. Defending the farm is important, and in China it can apparently get you in trouble. Caixan Global reported this week that a pig farm in northeastern China got in trouble for using radio device designed to stop drone flyovers, which gangs use to ferry in African Swine Fever tainted materials to infect pigs – we're not kidding. The radio device could also mess up airplane navigation, so authorities ordered the farmer to hand the device over. There was no punishment for the act – Caixan Global

And your bonus…

Perhaps Kermit the Frog said it best when he sang "It's not easy being green" and according to the New York Times, Europe is having a little trouble with its green initiatives including challenges from the farm community. The problem is that the region's farm subsidies may be supporting environmentally challenged practices.

About the Author(s)

Willie Vogt

Willie Vogt has been covering agricultural technology for more than 40 years, with most of that time as editorial director for Farm Progress. He is passionate about helping farmers better understand how technology can help them succeed, when appropriately applied.

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