Bird flu remnants found in pasteurized milk: FDA

The Latest

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  Defend the flock: Bird flu outbreak prompts calls for biosecurity assessments on chicken farms

  As avian influenza spreads to an increasing number of species, experts worry it could create even more transmission pathways for the virus to infiltrate commercial poultry operations.

  Meat

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  Cattle rancher sues utilities firms for alleged role in devastating Texas wildfires

  A class action suit seeks to "recover the billions of dollars in losses" for farmers impacted by the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest in state history.

  Meat

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  SBTi walks back carbon offset policy changes after staff backlash

  The Science Based Targets initiative backtracked on expanding the use of environmental offsets in corporate scope 3 plans after staff called for the CEO’s resignation.

  Sustainability

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  Agtech Seedlings: BioLumic laser-focused on lowering cattle emissions; Edible Garden upbeat about Q1

  Also in this week’s farm technology news: a new fertilizer tool developed by university scientists could save farmers millions of dollars annually.

  Crops

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  General Mills plans to cut dairy emissions 40% by end of decade

  The cereal giant is more than halfway to its goal of enrolling 1 million acres in its regenerative agriculture plan, according to its latest corporate sustainability report.

  Crops

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  Industry groups urge USDA to reverse cancellation of critical livestock reporting

  The department also ended a cotton survey as well as county-level crop reports and estimates, citing budgetary constraints.

  Crops

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  Opinion

  A secret about eggs

  The industry kills millions of male chicks each year because they don’t lay eggs. Here’s why and how we should end this grisly practice as some European countries already have, writes Alex Crisp.

  Updated April 22, 2024

  Dairy

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  Cargill partners with Purina to expand regenerative agriculture in pet food

  The collaboration aims to improve the Nestlé division’s grain supply chain and Cargill’s work with farmers to implement eco-friendly practices.

  Crops

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  Del Monte Foods reports emissions reduction, sets net-zero goal for 2050

  The food producer and distributor has expanded regenerative agriculture practices and lowered its fertilizer use through advancements in seed breeding.

  Crops

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  John Deere appeals to Gen Z with ‘chief tractor officer’ job

  With help from star quarterback Brock Purdy, the agricultural equipment giant began a campaign to find a “witty and charismatic” content creator to be the face of its social media.

  Technology

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  Farm bill proposal won’t cut SNAP benefits: House ag chair

  Republicans are pushing to return to a cost-neutral process when determining funds for food assistance.

  Regulations

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  Food companies aren’t ready to comply with traceability rule, says former FDA official

  Frank Yiannas, who helped the agency craft its new food safety tracking policy, said the system is not even a third of the way to meeting the 2026 deadline.

  Regulations

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  USDA predicts lower crop prices for key commodities in 2024

  Reduced returns for corn and soybeans come as the department predicts higher prices for cattle and poultry.

  Crops

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  Chevron, Brightmark grow dairy digester network with Southwest renewable plant

  The facility will transform manure into biogas from Caballero Dairy in Eloy, Arizona.

  Dairy

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  Grocery co-op pushes for industrywide regenerative agriculture standards

  Seattle-based PCC Community Markets brought together industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for consistently defining the food production technique.

  Sustainability

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  Bayer leads new group to defend herbicide glyphosate

  The agrochemical giant and 60 other organizations are pledging to work with policymakers and advocate for the continued use of the controversial weedkiller.

  Crops

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  Suspended ADM CFO’s pay ticked up in 2023 to $4.5M

  The majority of Vikram Luthar’s pay package for last year came from $3.4 million in stock awards, according to Archer Daniels Midland’s proxy filing.

  Crops

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  Bird flu found in South Dakota dairy herd

  The detection adds to the growing number of states reporting positive cases in cattle.

  Dairy

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  States enact dairy cattle travel restrictions over bird flu concerns

  Key trading partners are monitoring the situation closely, with Mexico taking steps to reinforce surveillance and inspection of livestock from the U.S.

  Dairy

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  Column

  Agtech Seedlings: Amazon backs methane capture startup | Agco unveils precision ag brand PTx

  Also in this week's farm technology news: ADM and Solugen break ground on a biomanufacturing facility, plus Ginkgo Bioworks bolsters its microbial development pipeline.

  Crops

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  House ag chair targets May for farm bill action

  Rep. Glenn Thompson hopes to move the package out of committee before Memorial Day as Republicans raise the alarm about a lack of progress.

  Regulations

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  Congress needs to up funding for food safety oversight, FDA official says

  More money is key to supporting new initiatives such as food safety, supply chain resiliency and infrastructure modernization, Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones said.

  Regulations

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  North Carolina becomes 7th state to report bird flu in dairy herds

  As more cows test positive, a prominent industry group has decided on a new name for avian influenza in cattle.

  Dairy

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  Divert plans 3rd anaerobic digestion facility

  The plant in North Carolina comes as the company expands with the aim of processing 5% of all wasted food in the U.S. by 2031.

  Dairy

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  Russia seizes assets of agricultural firm AgroTerra

  The move follows similar operational seizures of Western companies such as Danone and Carlsberg.

  Crops

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