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Feds prepare for bird flu jump to people with vaccines, tests
Federal health officials have commissioned Moderna to develop a vaccine to protect people from an avian influenza that has been circulating in dairy cattle in recent months. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday the agency would devote about $176 million to the effort, with the hope that final clinical trials might […]
Bird flu’s spread from poultry to cattle to humans provokes worry among feds, states
Dairy farmers throughout the country are on guard and the federal government is mobilizing after an outbreak among cattle herds of highly pathogenic avian influenza — once thought to be confined to poultry flocks. What’s more, the virus, also known as H5N1 or bird flu, was diagnosed in a third dairy farmworker last week, marking […]
Feds incentivize better biosecurity at dairy farms for bird flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it will pay dairy farms with confirmed avian influenza infections to help contain the virus’ spread to people and more cows. Federal funding is now available to cover the costs of enhanced biosecurity measures, protective equipment for workers, heat treatments for tainted milk, and veterinary and testing fees. […]
Feds to require bird flu tests of dairy cattle before transport
Starting next week, certain dairy cattle must be tested for avian influenza before they can be transported to a different state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. The requirement is among several that will expand the testing, reporting and monitoring of the cattle to reduce the spread of bird flu among the animals. The […]
Pipe supplier sues Summit Carbon Solutions for $15 million
An Arkansas pipe manufacturer is seeking more than $15 million from a company that wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline system in states including South Dakota amid delays of their agreement, according to a lawsuit filed this week. The lawsuit filed by Welspun Tubular says Summit Carbon Solutions commissioned the company to produce about […]
Two veterinarians, hundreds of miles apart, solved a cow sickness whodunit
It appeared to be a problem with the food. In February, dairy cattle in multiple herds in northern Texas were suddenly producing less milk, and what they gave was abnormal and thick. And the typically voracious eaters had seemingly lost their appetites. For weeks in March, veterinarian Dr. Barb Petersen sought an answer. She talked […]
Green methanol: A carbon dioxide pipeline alternative?
A company that wants to help ethanol producers harness their carbon dioxide emissions to produce an additional renewable fuel says its technology is a viable alternative to proposed carbon dioxide pipelines. CapCO2 Solutions is nearing completion of its first “green methanol” project at an ethanol plant in Illinois. The company hopes that a successful launch […]
GOP presidential field generally opposes eminent domain for carbon pipelines
Republican presidential contenders are generally against using eminent domain to build carbon dioxide pipelines, according to their public statements in recent months and information their campaigns have provided to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. The issue is a regional dispute that has gained wider attention as the candidates seek Iowans’ votes in the upcoming first-in-the-nation caucuses. […]
State ag officials oppose beef imports from Paraguay
Federal officials did not sufficiently assess the risk posed by a devastating cattle disease when they recently decided to allow beef imports from Paraguay, according to agriculture officials of several top beef-producing states. A new U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that ended a 25-year prohibition on those imports went into effect Thursday. The prohibition was […]
Feds pledge $2.3 billion to boost ag exports amid farm bill uncertainty
Federal agricultural officials plan to spend up to $2.3 billion to promote farm exports and to send U.S. grain to countries that are suffering food shortages. “This will complement existing trade promotion programs as we await Congress’ action on both the budget and the farm bill,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday. The […]
Navigator pulls pipeline application in Illinois after rejection in South Dakota
Navigator CO2 on Tuesday moved to withdraw its carbon dioxide pipeline permit application in Illinois, effectively halting its project. The motion comes about a week before the Illinois Commerce Commission was set to hold an evidentiary hearing for the application. The company’s proposed 1,350-mile pipeline system suffered a setback in South Dakota in September when […]
Summit will make new pipeline permit application in South Dakota
It could take more than a year for Summit Carbon Solutions to get approval for its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline in South Dakota. That’s because the company, which was denied a pipeline permit by utility regulators in that state last month, will reapply after it identifies a new route that complies with county ordinances. “Moving […]