Moldy Corn & Chickpea Fungus

Moldy Corn & Chickpea Fungus

Moldy Corn & Chickpea Fungus plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Moldy corn has been common with the 2009 harvest. Pork producers are encouraged to monitor this grain and determine if these molds have mycotoxins. University of Minnesota Regional Extension Educator Mark Whitney says contaminated grain can have an impact on swine health and performance.

WHITNEY: In  particular you want to avoid feeding that to breeding animals and also in general with these mycotoxins they tend to affect younger pigs more than older pigs so just some things to keep in mind.

The EPA has declared carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a – threat to public health. The so-called endangerment finding triggers a requirement that the federal government regulate fossil fuel emissions under the Clean Air Act and puts new pressure on Congress to enact climate change legislation.

Chickpeas all over the world are being threatened by a fungus and treating the chickpea seeds with fungicides, planting resistant cultivars, plowing crop fields before planting time, and rotating chickpeas with non-host crops are effective methods of controlling the blight which forms dark lesions on the legume crop's stems, leaves and pods. ARS plant pathologist Frank Dugan from Pullman, Washington believes biocontrol is worth exploring for its potential to provide chickpea growers with greater flexibility in how they manage the disease.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

Most of us have never had to deal with the unpleasantness of eminent domain, and hopefully won’t ever have to in our lifetime. Eminent domain refers to the power of government to seize private property for government use or delegation to a third party for public or economic development. One of the most infamous eminent domain cases revolved around property seizure in New London, Conn.; property which was then handed over to a mega pharmaceutical company planning development in the area. After forcing numerous persons off their land and out of their homes this giant corporation recently decided not to develop the “acquired” property. This type of injustice has happened far too many times and generally without anyone other than the victims knowing about it. The renewed attention on the New London property seizure and the consequent disuse of the land has resulted in a revived and vehement interest in revising the archaic law of eminent domain, a change that is blaringly way past due.  

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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