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Spring planting well behind average pace in South Dakota
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Spring planting remains well behind the average pace in South Dakota after bad weather and flooding last month.
The Agriculture Department said in its weekly crop report that 8% of the spring wheat crop and 7% of the oats crop are seeded. Normally at this time of year, 60% of spring wheat and 62% of oats are in the ground.
Topsoil moisture supplies statewide remain rated 100% adequate to surplus, and subsoil moisture is still 99% in those categories.
The state's winter wheat crop is rated 2% poor, 41% fair, 55% good and 2% excellent.
Officials urge motorists' caution around farm vehicles
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois officials are urging motorists to be cautious around agricultural equipment after a release of anhydrous ammonia last week in suburban Chicago.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture on Monday issued an anhydrous ammonia safety video produced with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association. It outlines proper safety procedures that farmers should take when handling these products.
Agriculture Director John Sullivan said drivers of other vehicles must be extra cautious in maneuvering around slow-moving farm vehicles.
Anhydrous ammonia can cause burns or other health problems when it's inhaled or comes in contact with skin.
Authorities say 37 people were sickened Thursday in Beach Park, Illinois. A tractor driver was towing tanks of anhydrous ammonia from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, to an Illinois farm when the chemical leaked, creating a toxic gas cloud.
Missouri Senate advances bill on industrial farm rules
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri senators gave initial approval early Tuesday to legislation that would block local officials from regulating industrial farms more strictly than the state does.
Lawmakers debated for several hours overnight on the environmental impact of large farms, local control over them and actions taken by some county officials that critics said have threatened to regulate industrial farms out of existence.
"It's kind of boiling down to people who have nothing to do with it wanting to impose additional restrictions on people who live in rural areas like mine who have very few options for raising their family," said Republican Sen. Cindy O'Laughlin, who lives in the rural northeastern Missouri city of Shelbina.
The bill deals with industrial farms known as concentrated animal feeding operations. Those farms allow for more efficient production of beef, pork, poultry, dairy and eggs. But they've also raised concerns about animal welfare, as well as air and water pollution.
At least 20 counties have imposed additional regulations and fees on animal feeding operations through health ordinances, according to data from University of Missouri Extension. Another nine counties and townships enacted zoning regulations.
Bipartisan opponents of the Senate bill raised concerns ranging from local control to the impact industrial farms have on air and water quality in the community. Republican Sen. Mike Cierpiot, from the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit, said he's "not anti-CAFO."
"I'm just bothered by what we're trying to do here by pre-empting these counties," Cierpiot said, adding that the legislation gets in the way of "local folks being able to know what's best for them."
Debate ended after senators agreed to add a provision to the bill that sets limits on the use of manure from industrial farms near streams and other bodies of water.
The measure needs another Senate vote to move to the House for consideration. Lawmakers face a May 17 deadline to pass legislation.
Pittsburg State students develop sustainable food system
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) -- Pittsburg State University students are experimenting to develop a sustainable food production system that can grow plants without soil while also raising fish.
The group is working on the Students for Sustainability project with the university's biology department and Enactus, a Missouri-based nonprofit that encourages entrepreneurship and connects students across the world.
The university's rooftop greenhouse is growing plants without soil in a garden that's built out of PVC pipes. The plants are covered with mosquito netting to diffuse sunlight.
"We're growing arugula, red kale, romaine, collard greens and butter lettuce," said student Cecily Stephens. "I'm pushing for starting herbs, and we could use them for fresh pesto."
Students that are part of Enactus donated their hydroponic prototype to the project, the Joplin Globe reported. The prototype was also used to set up a hydroponics operation at a Haitian orphanage.
Hydroponics refers to the method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water. It's becoming a growing area of commercial food production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More companies are blending hydroponics with aquaculture, or raising fish.
The Pittsburg food production system will soon have fish arrive for use in the operation.
"The waste from the fish will break down and provide nutrients for the plants that will use the nutrients to grow, cleaning the water before it's returned to the fish," said Jim Triplett, who volunteers as the university's special assistant to the president for sustainability. "When properly balanced, the system provides extremely efficient food production in terms of resources, energy and space."