After 2 days of silence, Miami Seaquarium responds to mayor’s lease termination plans
Two days after a letter from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava became public, informing the troubled Miami Seaquarium of the county’s intent to end the marine park’s lease at its Virginia Key site, Seaquarium leaders are publicly hitting back at the mayor.
U.S. Department of Agriculture to invest $300 million in monitoring agricultural emissions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will invest $300 million on monitoring and reporting planet-warming emissions from climate-smart agricultural processes, such as no-till agriculture and planting cover crops.
Dolphins at Miami Seaquarium became more aggressive after ‘abrupt’ diet cuts, federal inspectors find
A July 6 report that the U.S. Department of Agriculture made public on Friday details how inspectors said the Miami Seaquarium drastically cut the diets of nine dolphins to get them to perform better — but instead this resulted in angry dolphins fighting back.
Judge rejects rule that let pork plants speed up production
A federal judge has thrown out a rule allowing pork plants to speed up production lines because the U.S. Department of Agriculture didnt properly consider the risks to workers before the rule was issued in 2019. Union officials praised Wednesday, March 31, 2021 ruling because they say faster line speeds at pork plants increase the risk of injuries for workers. – A federal judge has thrown out a rule allowing pork plants to speed up production lines because the U.S. Department of Agriculture didn't properly consider the risks to workers. Public Citizen attorney Adam Pulver, who represented the unions, said the agency should have considered worker safety. AdThe judge said her ruling won't take effect for 90 days to allow regulators time to determine how the change will affect plants that already switched to faster line speeds.
USDA relocations curtail ag research, farmer confidence
Hiring at the Kansas City site remains well below the roughly 550 high-paying jobs local leaders had anticipated. However, he said those frustrations have dealt more with reports published by other USDA agencies, and that some farmers may be confusing them. For example, a two-year research project on pollinators such as honeybees was shelved because the entire team working on it left the agency rather than move to Kansas City. In October 2016 — before Trump's first year in office — ERS had 318 permanent employees, according to USDA data. “And here in the United States, what we do with groups like that — we can’t send them to Siberia, so we send them to Kansas City.”
USDA puts brakes on land transfer for Arizona copper mine
Congress mandated that the land be transferred to Resolution Copper no later than 60 days after the final environmental review was published. “Oak Flat is still on death row,” he said. “Essentially, they're just changing the execution date.”Dan Blondeau, a spokesman for Resolution Copper, said the company is evaluating the decision. Resolution Copper would get 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land in exchange for eight parcels it owns elsewhere in Arizona. Eventually, the mine will swallow Oak Flat.
Things to Know: Vaccine producers promise big jump in doses
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY:— Executives from the major COVID-19 vaccine producers have told Congress to expect a big jump in the delivery of doses over the coming month. And looking ahead to summer, Pfizer and Moderna executives said Tuesday that they expect to complete delivery of 300 million doses each. President Joe Biden has said that every American who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the end of July. AdON THE HORIZON: The coronavirus pandemic is forcing President Joe Biden to alter another first for his administration: the typically formal White House meeting with a foreign counterpart. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Road, logging restrictions to end in largest national forest
JUNEAU, Alaska – The federal government announced plans Wednesday to lift restrictions on logging and building roads in a pristine rainforest in Alaska that provides habitat for wolves, bears and salmon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it has decided to exempt the Tongass National Forest, the country's largest national forest, from the so-called roadless rule, protections that ban road construction and timber harvests with limited exceptions. About 9.4 million of Tongass' 16.7 million acres are considered roadless areas, according to the Forest Service, which falls under the USDA. The majority of Tongass is in a natural condition, and the forest is one of the largest, relatively intact temperate rainforests in the world, the agency said. Many of the roadless areas are wildlife habitats, ecosystems and natural areas like old-growth temperate rainforests, ice fields and glaciers, and islands facing the open Pacific Ocean “that exist nowhere else in the National Forest system,” according to the Forest Service.
Report: Iowa’s derecho crop losses increase by more than 50%
DES MOINES, Iowa – Crop loss estimates from a rare wind storm that slammed Iowa in August have increased by more than 50%, a new report shows. The storm, known as a derecho, generated winds of up to 140 mph (225 kph) that flattened crops. The damage then was compounded in late summer with a drought that, at its peak, encompassed much of the state. “Crops can deteriorate,” said Naig, who was helping his father harvest corn in northwest Iowa. And some almost normal,” said Swenka, whose crop near Iowa City goes to feed his purebred black Angus cattle.
USDA plans additional $14B for farmers reeling from virus
The additional payments illustrate the importance of farmers as a voting block to Trump's reelection. “Now we have to get four more years to cement it, and to do additional things,” he said. Agriculture groups applauded the additional money, much of which will come in direct payments for crops that meet a specified threshold of price decline. In April the administration rolled out a $19 billion program, most of which was in the form of direct farm payments. That followed $28 billion the federal government gave farmers to compensate for two years of disruptions caused by Trump's tariff battles with trading partners.
Food banks: USDA program helped but better ways to meet need
The Farmers to Families Food Box Program was intended to help farmers, distributors and people who had lost their jobs. Despite those concerns, officials at food banks said the federal food box program has undoubtedly helped. Since March, the food bank has distributed a total of 11.8 million pounds of food, and the food box program provided 2.7 million pounds of that, said Debbie Espinosa, president and CEO of the food bank. The federal food box program initially faced questions because some of the companies that won contracts werent food distributors and the contracts didnt always cover the final delivery costs that food banks incurred. For example, the West Texas Food Bank in Odessa didnt receive any food boxes during the first two rounds of contracts because no distributors nearby won contracts.
US Sen. Stabenow urges USDA to extend food program waivers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not continue to provide food program waivers that have ensured students are fed while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic unless Congress acts, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan warned Tuesday. Some children get their only meals at school. Should Congress choose to go in this direction, USDA stands ready to provide technical assistance.The USDA did not return a request for further comment Tuesday. She said she hoped it was not coming from the Trump administrations push to put students back in schools for in-person instruction. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Iowa farmers assess losses after storm flattened cornfields
DES MOINES, Iowa Farmers across a wide swath of Iowa are dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a rare wind storm that turned what was looking like a record corn crop into deep losses for many. The Iowa Corn Growers Association said it is too soon to accurately describe how much of this year's crop was lost. Western Iowa has been declared an extreme drought zone and corn plants there were already weakened due to a lack of moisture. The corn stalks had grown to full height and were in the final stages of producing ears and filling them out with kernels. Iowa Corn Growers Association CEO Craig Floss surveyed the storm damage on his fathers farm east of Des Moines on Wednesday.
Worker advocates file meat plants discrimination complaint
A group of worker advocacy organizations has filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging that meat processing companies Tyson and JBS have engaged in workplace racial discrimination during the coronavirus pandemic. The complaint alleges the companies adopted polices that reject U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on distancing and protective gear on meat processing lines. The complaint says the operating procedures have a discriminatory impact on mostly Black, Latino, and Asian workers. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)Several worker advocacy organizations have filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging that meat processing companies Tyson and JBS have engaged in racial discrimination during the coronavirus pandemic. Tyson has received more than $109 million from USDA programs this year and JBS more than $45 million, the complaint said.
Can I get the coronavirus from my pet?
Can I get the coronavirus from my pet? Several other lions and tigers have also tested positive at the zoo. More research is needed to determine how the coronavirus affects animals. If you're sick, avoid your furry companions — just like you would with people. ___The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this new series.
Food stamp recipients in Florida can now purchase groceries online
MIAMI – The Florida Department of Children and Families announced Tuesday food stamp recipients will be able to buy groceries online from Walmart or Amazon. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will be able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer card to pay for groceries online starting April 21st. DCF is working with the USDA and the Florida Retail Federation to expand the network. Lorena Holley, the Florida Retail Federation vice president and general counsel, said retailers were grateful DCF was removing bureaucracy. Beverly Cole, Walmart’s senior director of payment acceptance, said more than 250 stores in Florida have curbside pick-up options.