They run and rut, but Michigan agriculture officials hope feral swine can't hide from the aggressive tactics being asked of hunters. Licensed hunters are encouraged to follow Steve Davenport's lead, above, and kill any and every wild hog they see until the herd is eradicated. The action comes after pseudorabies was found on four Michigan wild hog game ranches. - Photo courtesy Steve Davenport.
"Attack them fiercely, hunt them down"
Wild hogs are not pretty, they eat too much and breed too much, they cause environmental damage and crop damage and are suspected of spreading disease that threatens portions of the state's ag economy. There's nothing desirable at all about feral swine, here or anywhere else, ag officials say. Click here for full story.Farm bill finally in place, but what does it mean?
After nearly two years of partisan wrangling and an embarrassing clerical gaffe that delayed it even longer, Congress finally passed the Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2008, also known as the farm bill, after a Congressional override of a presidential veto. Click here for full story.Flex-fuel best way to break U.S. oil habit, expert says
The best way to break U.S. and global dependence on imported oil is to require that all vehicles in the United States be flex-fuel and capable of running on gasoline or agri-based biofuels, said a leading national expert on energy policy and bio-based fuels. Click here for full story.Farm bill tax provisions outlined
The recently passed farm bill contained several tax provisions of interest to farmers and ranchers. Click here for full story.Neighborly concerns tie first MAEAP-verified greenhouses
They're a couple hundred miles apart, but there's one thing close to the hearts of the first two greenhouse operators verified in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Click here for full story.Deadline set for livestock disaster programs
Deadline dates for two livestock disaster programs have been announced by the USDA. Livestock producers have until July 18 to enroll in 2005-2007 Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LCP compensates livestock producers for feed losses occurring between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, due to a natural disaster. This can include producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007. Click here for full story.Farm ponds benefit air quality
Research led by Iowa State University limnologist, or lake scientist, John Downing finds that ponds around the globe could absorb as much carbon as the world's oceans. Click here for full story.Johne's disease transmission: A little dab will do 'em
Among dairy and beef herds, the trend is obvious: Johne's disease is on the increase. Research shows that one out of 10 animals moving through livestock auction facilities has Johne's disease, with infection rates at one out of about four dairy herds and eight out of 100 beef herds. Click here for full story.