http://www.mail.com/subjects/21604-agriculture-environment.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.29/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/21604-agriculture-environment.html http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2142040-senate-passes-half-trillion-dollar-farm-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Monday passed a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that expands government subsidies for crop insurance, rice and peanuts while making small cuts to food stamps. The bill passed on a bipartisan 66-27 vote. The legislation, which costs almost $100 billion annually, also would eliminate subsidies that are paid to farme... Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:29:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2142040-senate-passes-half-trillion-dollar-farm-bill.html 2013-06-11T03:29:10Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2133326-china-bear-bile-company-quits-ipo-bid-outcry.html BEIJING (AP) — Animal-rights activists in China are claiming a rare victory after a company that raises bears to extract bile from their gall bladders withdrew its application for a public listing, although the company hasn't said why it pulled back. The plan for an initial public offering by Fujian Guizhentang Pharmaceutical, which uses the bile for trad... Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:03:11 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2133326-china-bear-bile-company-quits-ipo-bid-outcry.html 2013-06-06T10:03:11Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2122408-hepatitis-outbreak-linked-to-ore-berry-farm.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to a frozen organic berry mix sold by an Oregon company. The FDA and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that 30 illnesses are linked to Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend, which contains pomegranate seed mix. Illness... Sat, 01 Jun 2013 01:38:57 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2122408-hepatitis-outbreak-linked-to-ore-berry-farm.html 2013-06-01T01:38:57Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2099814-thailand-urged-to-explore-edible-insect-market.html BANGKOK (AP) — Researchers say Thailand is showing the world how to respond to the global food crisis: by raising bugs for eating. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization released a study and handbook Tuesday on what they call 'six-legged livestock' — edible bugs and worms that can help meet global food demand that is expected to grow 60 pe... Tue, 21 May 2013 12:22:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2099814-thailand-urged-to-explore-edible-insect-market.html 2013-05-21T12:22:39Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2092632-rising-consumer-demands-aids-organic-industry-sway.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer demand. That's not going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on f... Fri, 17 May 2013 15:41:20 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2092632-rising-consumer-demands-aids-organic-industry-sway.html 2013-05-17T15:41:20Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2083754-senate-panel-approves-massive-farm-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday approved a massive five-year farm bill that would cut spending while also creating new subsidies for farmers. The legislation approved 15-5 includes concessions to Southern rice and peanut farmers, thanks to a new top Republican on the committee, Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran. The bill eliminat... Tue, 14 May 2013 20:33:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2083754-senate-panel-approves-massive-farm-bill.html 2013-05-14T20:33:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2083742-idaho-spud-giant-bets-biotech-potatoes.html BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, an Idaho company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds. This month, tuber processing giant J.R. Simplot Co. asked the U.S. government to approve five varieties of biotech potatoes. They're engineered not to develop ugly black bruises. McDonald... Tue, 14 May 2013 18:27:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2083742-idaho-spud-giant-bets-biotech-potatoes.html 2013-05-14T18:27:21Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2081864-un-eat-insects-good-you-good-world.html ROME (AP) — The latest weapon in the U.N.'s fight against hunger, global warming and pollution might be flying by you right now. Edible insects are being promoted as a low-fat, high-protein food for people, pets and livestock. According to the U.N., they come with appetizing side benefits: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and livestock pollution, creatin... Mon, 13 May 2013 15:14:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2081864-un-eat-insects-good-you-good-world.html 2013-05-13T15:14:46Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2033362-gardeners-plans-with-certainty-forecast.html MILWAUKEE (AP) — There's no question that Eric Ciula picked a bad year to get into a competition for growing the biggest tomato. The worst U.S. drought in decades was gripping two-thirds of the nation, and many gardeners were spending hours watering just to keep their plants alive. But Ciula won his family's 2012 contest with an heirloom tomato that was j... Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:21:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2033362-gardeners-plans-with-certainty-forecast.html 2013-04-20T15:21:22Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2022328-french-farmers-anarchists-unite-airport-fight.html NOTRE-DAME-DES-LANDES, France (AP) — They hurl sticks, stones and gasoline bombs. They have spent brutal winter months fortifying muddy encampments. And now they're ready to ramp up their fight against the prime minister and his pet project — a massive new airport in western France. An unlikely alliance of anarchists and beret-wearing farmers is creating ... Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:01:54 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2022328-french-farmers-anarchists-unite-airport-fight.html 2013-04-16T07:01:54Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2016200-organic-apples-pears-to-antibiotic-free.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The organic apples you buy in the grocery store will soon be free of a widely used antibiotic. The National Organic Standards Board late Thursday rejected a petition to allow growers to use the antibiotic oxytetracyline beyond the existing expiration date of Oct. 21, 2014. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's labeling standards gener... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:23:08 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2016200-organic-apples-pears-to-antibiotic-free.html 2013-04-12T17:23:08Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2010906-agency-by-agency-guide-to-obamas-2014-budget.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has proposed a $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal 2014 that aims to slash the deficit by a net $600 billion over 10 years, raise taxes and trim popular benefit programs, including Social Security and Medicare. The White House claims deficit reductions of $1.8 trillion, but Obama's proposal would negate more than $1 trillion in automatic ... Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:41:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2010906-agency-by-agency-guide-to-obamas-2014-budget.html 2013-04-10T23:41:12Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2000390-groups-tanzania-govt-kicking-maasai-land.html NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania's government is preparing to kick Maasai tribesmen off cattle-grazing land near the country's most famous wildlife park and will instead allow a hunting company from the United Arab Emirates to take control of it, groups and community members trying to raise awareness on the issue said Friday. The reclassification of the lan... Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:05:28 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2000390-groups-tanzania-govt-kicking-maasai-land.html 2013-04-05T21:05:28Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1961924-1m-pilot-project-aims-to-take-feral-pigs.html ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Using the cover of darkness, feral pigs have learned to outsmart even the most seasoned hunters as they set about on their nightly terrors, rooting up crops and suburban gardens, harassing native wildlife and turning watering holes into pigsties. The invasive porkers have made themselves at home across more than three quarters of ... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:58:50 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1961924-1m-pilot-project-aims-to-take-feral-pigs.html 2013-03-18T18:58:50Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1961132-bills-seek-to-farm-animal-abuse-videos.html SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — An undercover video that showed California cows struggling to stand as they were prodded to slaughter by forklifts led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. In Vermont, a video of veal calves skinned alive and tossed like sacks of potatoes ended with the plant's closure and criminal convictions. Now in a pushback led by the... Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:13:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1961132-bills-seek-to-farm-animal-abuse-videos.html 2013-03-17T19:13:52Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1927226-no-kill-wolf-ban-spurs-nonlethal-options.html GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — As long as wolves have been making their comeback, biologists and ranchers have had a decidedly Old West option for dealing with those that develop a taste for beef: Shoot to kill. But for the past year, Oregon has been a "wolf-safe" zone, with ranchers turning to more modern, nonlethal ways to protect livestock. While the number ... Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:15:26 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1927226-no-kill-wolf-ban-spurs-nonlethal-options.html 2013-03-02T18:15:26Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1897976-study-hummingbirds-migrating-earlier-spring.html CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migrating to North America weeks earlier than in decades past, and research indicates that higher temperatures in their winter habitat may be the reason. Researchers say the early arrival could mean less food at nesting time for the tiny birds that feed on insect pests, help pollinate flowers and are ... Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:16:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1897976-study-hummingbirds-migrating-earlier-spring.html 2013-02-17T20:16:37Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1864402-solar-development-absorbing-calif-farmland.html FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — There's a land rush of sorts going on across the nation's most productive farming region, but these buyers don't want to grow crops. They want to plant solar farms. With California mandating that 33 percent of electricity be generated from renewables by the end of the decade, there are 227 proposed solar projects in the pipeline stat... Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:15:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1864402-solar-development-absorbing-calif-farmland.html 2013-02-02T22:15:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1822386-usda-offers-loans-to-farmers-who-grow-locals.html MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — With interest in locally grown food soaring, the federal government said Tuesday it has created a small loan program to help community farmers who might not be able to borrow money from banks. Call it seed money. The low-interest "microloans" of up to $35,000 are designed to aid startup costs, bolster existing family-run farms and he... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1822386-usda-offers-loans-to-farmers-who-grow-locals.html 2013-01-15T21:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1816320-with-almonds-rising-revenues-land-values-soar.html FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Bill Enns, a central California real estate agent specializing in farmland, fields dozens of calls every week from potential buyers. Many want almond, pistachio or walnut orchards — or any land suitable for growing nut trees. This summer in Merced County, Enns brokered the sale of 1,200 acres of open ground lacking a good source of w... Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1816320-with-almonds-rising-revenues-land-values-soar.html 2013-01-12T19:41:00Z