Lull in spring rains helps Mississippi corn planting

Fall preparation paid off for many Mississippi corn producers who were able to take advantage of a gap in spring rains to plant much of their crop early. Erick Larson, corn specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said warm weather and a break in typical spring rains has allowed farmers to make considerable corn planting progress this spring.

Trump in No Hurry to Staff ‘Enemy of the People’ Offices

The New York Times on March 12 reported that the Trump administration, for a variety of reasons, was filling the offices of administrative agencies at a glacial pace. From the Department of Agriculture to the Weather Service, over 2,000 mid-level political-appointee positions were still unfilled; the Times called it "the slowest transition in decades."

Trump to approve Keystone XL today at meeting with TransCanada CEO: official

A depot used to store pipes for TransCanada Corp's planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, North Dakota in this November 14, 2014 file photo. A depot used to store pipes for TransCanada Corp's planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, North Dakota in this November 14, 2014 file photo.

Big Things on the Horizon for FWH Associates, P.A.

The Toms River-based engineering firm announces two new projects and celebrates the recent achievements of its Director of Engineering Consulting, Georgette Kyriacou. Georgette Kyriacou, Director of Engineering Consulting at FWH Associates, P.A., is the recipient of the 2017 NJBA Rising Star Award and the 2016 Jack Meyer Memorial Rookie of the Year Award.

Mississippi company recalls thousands of pounds of catfish

A Mississippi company has recalled 1,695 pounds of catfish product that may be adulterated with residues of public health concern. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a routine inspection by the Food Safety and Inspection Service revealed "violative levels of the chemicals Malachite Green and Leucomalachite Green."

AM markets: wheat falls anew, despite US crop deterioration

The proportion of the crop in Kansas, the top growing state, rated "good" or "excellent" fell by 2 points week on week to 36%, amid "dry, windy conditions", US Department of Agriculture data overnight showed. In Oklahoma, the rating dropped by 2 points to 40%, and in Texas, where "precipitation across the state was scarce", by 1 point to 34%.

Bird flu cases revive fear of repeat of major 2015 outbreak

In this April 20, 2015 file photo, a sign warning visitors to stay away from an infected turkey farm in Melrose, Minn. The detection of a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu at a Tennessee chicken farm is reviving memories of a widespread domestic outbreak in 2015 that required the slaughter of millions of turkeys and chickens.

WikiLeaks CIA files: Are they real and are they a risk?

WikiLeaks has published thousands of documents that the anti-secrecy organization said were classified files revealing scores of secrets about CIA hacking tools used to break into targeted computers, cellphones and even smart TVs. The CIA and the Trump administration declined to comment on the authenticity of the files Tuesday, but prior WikiLeaks releases divulged government secrets maintained by the State Department, Pentagon and other agencies that have since been acknowledged as genuine.

Trump set to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements

In this Feb. 21, 2017 file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks to employees of the EPA in Washington. The Trump administration is moving to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements that would have forced automakers to significantly increase the efficiency of new cars and trucks.

PM markets: grain prices trim gains as funds take a breather

Ideas of the Brazilian soybean and corn harvest got another boost, while crop reports from the US southern Plains showed little reason to start fretting over drought damage to winter wheat yet, and absent fund buying, grain markets trimmed their recent gains. The latest forecast for Brazilian soybeans from FC Stone came in at a hefty 109.07m tonnes, nearly 5m tonnes up from its February forecast, with favourable weather across most of the country's growing regions.

Trump to roll back fuel-economy requirements

The Trump administration is moving to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements that would have forced automakers to increase significantly the efficiency of new cars and trucks, a key part of former President Barack Obama's strategy to combat global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency is close to an announcement reversing a decision made in the waning days of the Obama administration to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks through 2025.

Backyard gardening makes comeback –

The Union Times Brussel Sprouts and Collard Greens like these growing in the Piedmont Physic Garden are among the many types of fruit and vegetables that can be grown in a backyard garden. Backyard gardening is making a comeback in South Carolina in response to the expansion of food deserts in communities across the state.

New home for Forestry under consideration; but laid-off foresters still in limbo

While the governor and the Legislature are trading shots over the coming fiscal budget gap, 37 workers from the state Division of Forestry who were laid off during the last budget crisis are still hoping to come back to work. The forestry workers were laid off over a $1.7 shortfall in their own agency's budget that came about largely because of a decrease in timber severance tax money.

DA Food Skyway program offers new market for Zambo Peninsula fisher folks

Fishermen in Zamboanga Peninsula will soon have a larger market for their fish catch, especially during this month's peak season, as the Department of Agriculture will launch the so-called Philippine Food Skyway program later this month, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources . BFAR Regional Director Isidro Velayo Jr. on Thursday said that they are currently preparing the mechanisms to collect the surplus catch that cannot be absorbed by the local market and the fish processing industries in the region.

How Scott Pruitt’s EPA can do its job

Editor's note: John Cruden was a senior manager at the Department of Justice for 23 years, most recently serving from January 2015 to January 2016 as assistant attorney general for DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division. He is president-elect of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Trump may cut Great Lakes protection budget by 97 per cent

The Trump administration would slash programs aimed at slowing climate change and improving water safety and air quality, while eliminating thousands of jobs, according to a draft of the Environmental Protection Agency budget proposal obtained by The Associated Press. Under the tentative plan from the Office of Management and Budget, the agency's funding would be reduced by roughly 25 per cent and about 3,000 jobs would be cut, about 19 per cent of the agency's staff.