Farm Mom Tells Son's Story and Poultry Industry Gives Bird Flu Insights

This week, we learned about the tragic loss of a farm Mom's son and how she shares his story to save others. We also learned about an innovative way to produce affordable fertilizer while tackling harmful waste, a bird flu update, how famous cows throughout history have left their mark on the world, and so much more.

Read on to learn what else the week had to offer.

Farm Mom Tells Son's Story to Save Others

Jane Allsup, of Winterset, Iowa, lost her 10-year-old son, Christopher, when an outdated portable gasoline container exploded as he attempted to rekindle the previous night’s fun sitting by the fire on their family farm. He unknowingly stood in a cloud of highly flammable vapors escaping from an old, unsafe container, and the vapors ignited when contacted by an ember. Since that tragic day in 2013, Jane Allsup and The Legacy of Christopher Allsup Foundation have told?Christopher’s story. Read more about it in our Farm Mom Tells Son’s Story to Save Others article.

An Innovative Way To Tackle Harmful Waste

In Abidjan, researchers have been using Black Soldier Flies to eat organic waste that was building up around the city. The idea was to get the flies to mate, give their offspring tons of garbage to eat, and then dry the larvae to use as either feed for livestock or powdered food for fish farms. IT worked so well that they couldn't keep up with public demand for cheap fertilizer. Read more about it in our Meet the Soldier Fighting Mounds of Harmful Waste article.

Poultry Industry Could Serve As an Example As Dairy Farmers Confront Bird Flu

There have been earlier bird flu outbreaks in the U.S., but the current one started in February 2022 and has?forced the slaughter of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Hot spots still occur, but their frequency has dropped in part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials, experts say. Dairy farmers could try to implement similar safeguards, but the vast differences between the animals and the industries limit what lessons can be learned and applied. Read more about it in our With 100M Birds Dead, Poultry Industry Could Serve as Example as Dairy Farmers Confront Bird Flu article.

Famous Cows Throughout History

Recently, Viatina-19 has caught the world’s attention for being the most expensive cow ever sold at auction. Worth $4 million, she is constantly watched over by an armed guard, security cameras, and a veterinarian, plus the flocks of people who come to see such a magnificent cow. Witnessing such an incredibly famous animal take over social media today, made us want to take a look back at some of the famous cows throughout history. Join us as we dive into how remarkable cows such as Ferdinand the Bull, Elm Farm Ollie, and more have become legends in their own right and the stories behind these legends. Such remarkable animals throughout time have enriched the lives of thousands and will not be forgotten. Read more about it in our Famous Cows Throughout History article.

Sustainable Agriculture

Discover one of the newest trends in solar leasing with an approach that could empower landowners and farmers. Say goodbye to leases of hundreds of acres and hello to flexibility with merchant generator and community solar leasing options that cover dozens of acres instead. Read more about it in our Community Solar Leasing Webinar article.

In other news, imagine if wine and beer had a baby. Got it? Now imagine if milk were that baby’s auntie. That odd baby would be not unlike a new Cornell Piquette project, a spin on a low-alcohol beverage that was once the lunchtime quaff of 19th-century French farmhands and which Cornell researchers are hoping to revive as a use for grape and dairy byproducts. Read more about it in our Spritzy and Sustainable: Researchers Riff on an Ancient Refreshment, Piquette article.

Crop and Food World

Currently, Ricky and Mark Judice are using fall and summer multi-species cover crops in practically all of their production. They didn’t get there overnight, though. Mark admits that making such a drastic change is scary and advises farmers, “Start small before you go big.” That’s how he and his dad managed the risk associated with their new practices. He adds that trying cover crops on fallow ground with a mix that doesn’t include any grass is a good way to get started while limiting competition between the cover crop and the sugarcane. Read more about it in our Risk with Reduced Tillage and Cover Crops Produces Sweet Rewards article.

In other news, in a triumph for precision agriculture, researchers have pinpointed a tomato exocarp-specific promoter, unlocking the potential for tailored genetic enhancements. This innovation promises to bolster the fruit’s visual appeal, fortify it against environmental stressors, and significantly prolong its shelf life. Read more about it in our Getting Under Tomato's Skin: A Genetic Leap for Enhanced Crop Performance article.

Also, While macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium often take the spotlight, LG Seeds Agronomist Shane Irlbeck reminds farmers not to overlook the essential role of micronutrients for optimal corn yields. “With the longer emergence period due to cooler and wet conditions,??it’s likely we’ll see more deficiencies showing up in the coming weeks,” Irlbeck says. “While we can’t control nature, we can take steps to help ensure crops have the best possible start.” Read more about it in our Manage Micronutrients for Higher Corn Yields article.

Livestock World

The total global volume of fish, shrimp, clams, and other aquatic animals that are harvested by farming has topped the amount fished in the wild from the world’s waters for the first time ever, the United Nations reported Friday. The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, in its latest report on fisheries and aquaculture — or farming in water — says the global catch and harvest brought in more than 185 million tons of aquatic animals in 2022, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Read more about it in our For the First Time, More Aquatic Animals Were Farmed Than Fished in 2022, Says UN article.

In other news, USPOULTRY is offering a new training course entitled, “The Safe Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.” The course provides educational instruction to industry workers on what avian influenza is; safe response methods; safe usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);??depopulation, decontamination and disposal methods; and general safety precautions. This training is intended to be a resource for workers and supervisors on safely responding to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) events. Read more about it in our USPOULTRY Provides Course on Safely Responding to HPAI Events article.

Farming Economy/Policy

Food deserts – areas where affordable, plentiful, and culturally appropriate food is not readily available – are a problem in America, leaving millions of people without convenient access to healthy food. Understanding this crisis, including its causes and current state, can help push for changes that address food deserts. Read more about it in our Hungry in America: Exploring the Food Desert Crisis article.

In other news, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement after unveiling the Senate Republican-drafted framework answering the call for a farmer-focused farm bill. “From the onset of this process, we have sought to draft a farm bill that reflects the needs of stakeholders. The world has changed dramatically since the 2018 bill became law, and the unprecedented challenges and economic uncertainty that farmers face now are only projected to get worse in the coming years." Read more about it in our Boozman Unveils Senate Ag Republicans Farm Bill Framework article.

Also, the National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute in filing a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. Read more about it in our NCGA, AFBF, and Partners File Lawsuit Concerning EPA’s Electric Vehicle Mandate article.

New With USDA

This week, the USDA NVSL Confirms HPAI in Wyoming Dairy Herd, Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports, released a National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste Released, and announced USDA and FFAR Innovation Challenge.

Other Top Stories

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) condemned a Department of Defense (DOD) sponsored research grant that will fund the development of lab-grown meat products by manufacturing company BioMADE. “It is outrageous that the Department of Defense is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to feed our heroes like lab rats." Read more about it in our NCBA: Cattle Producers Condemn Feeding Our Military Lab-Grown Meat article.

In other news, The aroma of grilled meat wafting across the backyard can make your mouth water as you seem to almost taste the steak from the grill. But did you know there is an actual science behind why that happens? Read more about it in our Can You Smell How Meat Tastes? article.

Also, Spring has arrived and it’s time to play ball! The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit organization funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, is excited to announce a partnership as the Official Milk Partner with an udderly fresh and undeniably legenDAIRY baseball organization, the Dairy Daddies. The Virginia-based group recently expanded with a new team by making “moos” in Danville, VA. Read more about it in our Danville Dairy Daddies Baseball Team Finds Support From The Dairy Alliance article.

Finally, Pollinator Week is coming up from June 17 to June 24, 2024, and it’s the perfect time for families to engage in fun and educational activities.??Here are seven hands-on ideas to help you celebrate Pollinator Week and learn about the vital role pollinators play in the ecosystem. read more about it in our 7 Buzzworthy Activities to Celebrate Pollinator Week article.

Come Back Next Week!

Be sure to check in next week for our?weekly?national news roundup, and?don't?forget to follow us on all our socials! We?can't?wait to see what next week holds for agricultural news.