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Pork Company Criticizes EATS Act Inclusion in House Farm Bill Framework

Niman Ranch Expresses Disappointment in Attempt to Roll Back Animal Welfare Progress, Independent Family Farmer Economic Opportunity

WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 02, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., released the outline of a new farm bill Wednesday that includes language based off the highly controversial Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, with the goal of rolling back California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12) and other farm animal protection laws like it across the country. Prop 12 bans the use of gestation crates for pork production on farms in California as well as the in-state sale of certain fresh pork products that do not meet these gestation crate-free standards.

Niman Ranch General Manager Chris Oliviero released the following statement:

“The inclusion of the provision mirroring the EATS Act in the House Agriculture Committee’s draft farm bill framework is a blow to animal welfare, smaller scale independent family hog farmers and pork companies like Niman Ranch that are committed to crate-free production practices and others that have made the necessary preparations to comply with California’s Proposition 12.

“The language is a gift to large-scale pork production companies with the goal of rolling back Proposition 12 and other similar state laws banning the sale of products from animals raised in cages and crates. The conventional pork industry has been unsuccessfully fighting Prop 12 since its passage in 2018. They lost in the court of public opinion when the law was approved with broad support among California voters, they lost in the courts—all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court declaring the law constitutional just last year—and now they are attempting a Hail Mary Pass with this overreaching legislative act that takes away states’ rights and farmer’s economic opportunity.

“Don’t believe the industry spin. Prop 12 does not force any pork company or out of state farm to convert their operation or sell into California. The argument that Prop 12 will hurt small farmers is counter to our experience as a company. In fact, over the last 40 years, the conventional industry’s focus on scale has forced out the very same small farmers they are purporting to protect. In Iowa alone, the number of pigs in the state has increased 83% since 1987, while the number of hog farms has declined 86%. In the pursuit of cheap meat, the industry has lost sight of basic consumer expectations for animal welfare, with smaller scale family farmers committed to higher animal welfare paying the price.

“Niman Ranch’s network of over 500 independent family hog farms prove every day that crate-free production is not only possible, but it can also be profitable and ultimately more pleasant for pig and farmer alike.

“I hope policymakers in the House and Senate see through the smoke and mirrors and stand up for farm families that have invested in Prop 12 compliance, higher animal welfare production and their rural farming communities.”

About Niman Ranch

Niman Ranch is a community of over 600 independent family farmers and ranchers who raise pork, beef and lamb traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the Finest-Tasting Meat in the World®. Niman Ranch is the largest farmer and rancher network in North America to be Certified Humane®. The protein of choice for America’s most celebrated chefs, Niman Ranch is also the premier option for discerning home cooks looking for meats Raised with Care®, with no antibiotics or added hormones—ever.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240502641545/en/

Contacts

Alicia LaPorte
Niman Ranch
Communications Director
860-869-9788, alicia.laporte@nimanranch.com

Source: finance.yahoo.com

Shop the best lawn and gardening deals that are up to 66% off right now

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With summer around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revitalize your garden or outdoor space, especially if you have upcoming events like graduation parties or Memorial Day cookouts.

Giving your flower beds and overall landscaping a fresh look can significantly enhance the ambiance of your gatherings.

To help you get started, several major retailers like Amazon and Home Depot are currently offering great deals on various lawn and garden essentials. This includes everything from tools like shovels and rakes to decorative items like outdoor lights and planters, and even essential supplies like soil, mulch and a variety of plants.

Here’s what you can consider to take full advantage of these deals based on what we have seen to be currently on sale.

Tools

This could be a good time to grab a new lawnmower, a hose, or specialized gardening tools like pruners and weeders.

Plants and seeds

Whether you want to add new colors to your garden with annuals or perennials, or start a vegetable garden, check for sales on seeds and plants.

To enhance your outdoor space, consider new furniture or decorative items like string lights, bird feeders or a new set of outdoor cushions for a fresh look.

Scroll on to check out some great deals on sale now.

By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave ABCNews.com. These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than ABCNews.com. ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Prices may change from the date of publication. SOME PRICES ARE DYNAMIC AND MAY CHANGE FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. Have questions about ordering or a purchase? Click here.

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Amelia 2 Person Plastic Porch Swing

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GADI Raised Garden Bed Kit for Vegetables Flower Galvanized Metal Planter Boxs Designed for Easy DIY and Cleaning Not Twist Or Rot

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Garden Weasel Claw Pro Cultivator w/ Adjustable Steel Tines

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Tioman Hardwood Outdoor Accent Planter Potting Bench

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Greenworks 40V 20-inch Brushless Walk-Behind Push Lawn Mower

Source: abcnews.go.com

Free farming and beekeeping opportunities for Veterans – VA News

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The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Many Veterans are finding farming and beekeeping to be therapeutic and meaningful, and this work often comes with a community Veterans can rely on. A variety of free opportunities exclusively for Veterans interested in beekeeping or agricultural programs are listed below. If you know of any other, please list it in the comments so we can include.

Farming

U.S. Department of Agriculture Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides financial, educational, or business and training resources through a variety of programs aimed at Veterans. USDA wants to ensure that Veterans looking to return home or start a new career on a farm or in a rural community have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison (MVAL), managed by USDA, helps Veterans connect to agricultural employment, education, and entrepreneurship on the farm and beyond by:

Coordinating with the USDA Human Resources Office to help Veterans and their spouses find employment at USDA agencies.
Connecting Veterans with paid apprenticeships through USDA and the Department of Labor.
Connecting Veterans to nonprofit and other partners who can provide them with training and hands-on experience in agriculture.
Working with VA to help Veterans gain valuable civilian work experience through non-paid internships with USDA agencies.
Sharing information about more than 40 loan, grant and technical assistance programs.

Center For Rural Affairs – Veterans in Agriculture Workshop Series

Military Veterans interested in agriculture are invited to attend a series of on-farm and virtual workshops. A new 3-year series from 2024-2026 highlights agritourism. In 2024, “Agritourism through Farm Stores” starts Feb. 19 and runs through August, rotating between online classroom sessions and on-farm sessions with an online option. Programming is funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Farmers Assisting Returning Military (F.A.R.M)

F.A.R.M. offers the Future Farmer Internship available to Veterans, serving to help them find peace, purpose and opportunity through therapeutic agriculture training. At the end of the internship, Veterans will be prepared to start or expand their own farm through regenerative farming practices, agribusiness, crop planning, marketing and other learned skills.

The internships supports three main areas: agriculture, living and alternative.

“Agriculture” provides structure and purpose while challenging the Veteran mentally and physically with daily farming activities.
“Living” offers horseback riding, hiking, camping, paddling, biking, hunting, fishing, climbing, repelling, diving and off-roading. Dinners, barbecues and fire pits on the farm create a therapeutic environment during real life situations.
“Alternative” provides holistic health and alternative medicine coaches to help create a healthy body, peaceful spirit and sound mind through hard work, whole food-based diet and physical fitness.

Farmer Veteran Coalition

Cultivating a new generation of farmers and food leaders and developing viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. Programs available to Veterans include:

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, a small grant program to assist Veterans in the beginning years of farming and ranching.
The Homegrown by Heroes Label (HBH), which informs consumers that agriculture products were produced by U.S. military Veterans.
Membership discounts is free to all Veterans and provides exclusive access to discounts from agricultural suppliers and service providers.

Fields 4 Valor Farms

An apprentice program that provides hands-on farming experience and education to post-9/11 Veterans interested in starting their own small-scale farm that focuses on fruit and vegetable crops, along with beekeeping and raising small animals.

Veterans willing to commit to working two full days a week for 12 months will receive a monthly stipend.

Fields 4 Valor Farms grows and delivers vegetables, eggs and honey to local Veteran families in their goal to end Veteran hunger.

Armed to Farm

Armed to Farm has supported more than 1,000 Veterans from 47 states with hands-on and classroom learning opportunities. Farmer Veterans learn how to make a business plan and market their products, how to access USDA programs, set business goals and develop mentorships with seasoned farmers. There are three training series currently available:

Flagship: Weeklong, hands-on and classroom training for new farmers.
Armed to Urban Farm, which focuses on Veterans who are new farmers in urban areas.
Armed to Farm 2.0, where Veteran must complete a weeklong session prior to attending this training series. This is an in-depth course on business planning, financial management, marketing and scaling-up production (includes hand-on activities).

Veterans Healing Farm

Founded in 2013 to enhance the mental, emotional and physical well-being of Veterans and their families. Some of the events and workshops offered throughout the year include equine therapy, canine therapy, medicinal herbs, art therapy, music therapy, canning and jam making, mushroom growing, organic gardening, suicide prevention, mental health first aid and much more.

Everything grown at the farm is donated back to the Veteran community.

Veterans to Farmers

Located in Colorado, this organization offers training programs in market farming, hydroponics, urban farming (backyard farming) and business planning. Veterans may also bring guests with them for urban farming courses (free of charge). These programs are a combination of on-the-job training and classroom time. At the completion of all these programs, each Veteran will receive a Certificate of Completion recognized by Colorado State University’s Extension Office.

Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) – Veterans Urban Farm

Truman VA Hospital Veterans can participate in vocational rehabilitation or recreational therapy through Veterans Urban Farm (located in Missouri). Produce grown on site is donated to local Veterans and is used in health focused programming at the VA hospital.

Veterans Urban Farm apprenticeship is open to all Veterans. Paid apprentices work on the farm for one growing season learning a variety of skills.

Beekeeping

Heroes to Hives (H2H)

Offered through Michigan State University Extension, this free hybrid learning program offers online courses as well hands-on education experiences. All hands-on courses are offered in Michigan. The unique program seeks to address financial and personal wellness of Veterans through professional training and community development.

Bee Veterans

This beekeeping for Veterans program is offered through the University of Minnesota for free for all Minnesota Veterans. This program offers workshops, field trips to visit commercial beekeepers and an open house at the Bee Lab. Participants will be provided with protective equipment, but can choose to bring their own. Workshops include instruction on basic beekeeping techniques, tips on seasonal bee management, knowledge of honeybee biology and the connection between people and pollinators.

Hives for Heroes

This non-profit organization focuses on providing a healthy transition from service through sustainability and conservation. Active duty service members, Veterans and first responders with little to no beekeeping experience are welcome and will be paired with a local mentor. Local mentors will teach hands-on training at their respective apiary (location where beehives are kept).

Honeybee Initiative for Veterans Empowerment and Support (HIVES)

Within VA health care, a new program called Honeybee Initiative for Veterans Empowerment and Support (HIVES) is being piloted. HIVES mission is to empower Veterans to use beekeeping to manage their overall well-being, while supporting VA employees in facilitating a wellness-based beekeeping program. This new program is currently being offered at the Manchester VAMC, the Kansas City VAMC, and the Palo Alto VAMC through their respective Recreation Therapy Clinics.

Source: news.va.gov

Gardening expert shares 95p household item which kills weeds

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Gardening expert shares 95p household item ‘better’ for killing weeds than pulling | Express.co.uk

Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

12:00, Tue, Apr 30, 2024 | UPDATED: 12:00, Tue, Apr 30, 2024

It is time to get out into the garden again (Image: Getty)

It is that time of year again when spring is here and start to get ready for gardening outdoors.

While for many of us, it is a joy to do there are a few pesky jobs that we would rather avoid doing. One of those tasks is getting rid of weeds.

However, one woman has shared their gardening advice for getting rid of the weeds without having to dig them out by hand.

Even better it only costs 95p and may already be a household item that you already own.

Suzie Briggs posted on the Facebook page Gardening Hints and Tips and said: “I’ve seen lots of posts lately about the use of white vinegar and salt for weed killing.

Even better it is a household item that we all own (Image: Getty)

“I have a gravel covered drive and can’t seem to keep the weeds in check, even using the recommended weed killer for paths.

“Would they work on the drive or is there something better?

“There are no other plants in the vicinity and it’s not like I would be planting anything on the drive in future.”

Gardening tips: Four homemade hacks to kill garden weeds

Gardening enthusiasts took to the page to share their own advice with one ingredient being another great way of getting rid of weeds. While many have been raving about the use of white vinegar it seems like washing powder is the solution.

One person wrote: “I had success with some cheap soap powder and boiling water.”

Another commented: “I used to use salt on my alleyway and it works, but washing powder was better for me.”

A third said: “Laundry powders are amazing on gravel weeds. You can see the results almost instantly.”

How does washing powder kill weeds?

It turns out that one of the main ingredients in washing powder is boron. This is a toxic chemical to plants which can cause them to wither and die, according to Ideal Home.

The chemicals in the washing powder strip the weeds of the natural oils which helps protect the leaves of the plant.

As soon as the protective coating is damaged, the weeds are more likely to come under threat against boron and kill them off instantly.

Will you be the washing powder method a go?

Best Summer Loving Vegetable Plants for Your Kitchen Garden

As the scorching heat of summer sets in, many gardeners find themselves struggling to maintain a healthy vegetable garden. However, there’s no need to despair. By selecting the right plants, you can ensure a bountiful harvest even during the hottest months of the year. Here are seven heat-tolerant vegetable plants that thrive in high temperatures and even flourish in hot conditions:

1. Okra:

Okra, also known as Lady Finger or Bhindi, is a favorite in many summer gardens because of its ability to flourish in warm and humid weather. This heat-loving plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Okra’s big leaves and sturdy stems let it to withstand the summer’s heat without withering. Plus, any garden is made more beautiful by its vivid yellow blooms.

It grows best in enriched soil with a pH of 6.5-7, spaced 7-8 inches apart, and requires 5-6 hours of sunlight daily. Regular morning watering is key, with the first harvest typically ready 45-50 days after planting. For detailed guidance, a comprehensive growing manual awaits aspiring Okra gardeners.

Okra plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil (Photo Source: Pexels)

2. Tomato:

Tomatoes thrive under the warmth of the sun, making them an excellent addition to any garden. In fact, tomatoes require plenty of sunlight to produce sweet and juicy fruits. For best results, choose heat-tolerant tomato varieties like “Vaishali” and “Sun Gold”. Cherry tomatoes stand out due to their exceptional heat tolerance for a successful harvest during the summer months, make sure to provide adequate water and support for your plants.

For successful tomato growth at home, ensure the soil pH is 6-6.8, space seeds 3-4 inches apart, provide 5-6 hours of sunlight daily, water minimally during germination, and increase water as plants grow. Expect the first harvest 65-70 days after transplanting, which typically occurs 6-8 weeks after indoor sowing.

Cherry tomatoes, due to their exceptional heat tolerance, are harvested during the summer months. (Photo Source: Pixabay)

3. Ginger:

Adding ginger to your vegetable garden brings both culinary delight and health benefits. Thriving in warm weather, ginger prefers well-drained, loamy soil with indirect sunlight. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Harvest ginger rhizomes selectively approximately 8-10 months after planting. With proper care, ginger enhances garden diversity and provides fresh spice for culinary and medicinal use.

Ginger enhances garden diversity and provides fresh spice for culinary and medicinal use. (Photo Source: Pixabay)

4. Yard Long Beans:

Yard long beans, also known as asparagus beans or snake beans, are a heat-loving alternative to traditional bush beans. Rich in protein, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A, these slim pods not only facilitate weight loss but also possess properties that restrain the increase of cancer cells in the body.

These quick-growing vines grow up to 18-inch-long. For successful growth, yard long beans require optimal conditions: well-drained loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, direct sunlight for 5 to 6 hours daily, adequate watering, and harvest the beans regularly to encourage continuous production.

Yard long beans, also known as asparagus beans or snake beans, are a heat-loving plants.

5. Basil:

Basil is not just a cooking herb; it’s also heat-tolerant plant and perfect for cultivation at home during hot months. With its fragrant leaves and soft flowers, basil adds flavor and aroma to summer dishes.

To ensure a successful basil harvest at home, remember to provide optimal growing conditions. This includes planting basil in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH, spacing seeds appropriately, maintaining soil moisture, and harvesting the leaves approximately 30-35 days after sowing. Pinch off the flower buds to encourage healthiergrowth and prolong the harvest. Regular harvesting will also prevent the plants from becoming woody.

Basil, heat-tolerant plant and perfect for cultivation at home during hot months.(Photo Source: Pexels)

6. Brinjals (Eggplant):

Brinjals, or eggplants, thrive in hot climates and can withstand temperatures above 75°F (24°C), making them an excellent addition to your home garden during the summer months. Besides their culinary uses, incorporating eggplants into your garden can offer health benefits. These benefits include reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

To grow brinjals at home successfully, remember these key points: These heat-loving vegetables require full sun and well-drained soil to flourish. Varieties like “Black Beauty” are particularly well-suited for summer cultivation. Regular watering and mulching can help conserve moisture and keep the plants healthy during hot spells.

Incorporating eggplants into your garden can offer health benefits. (Photo Source: Unsplash)

7.Chillies (Peppers):

Whether you prefer sweet bell peppers or spicy chili peppers, you’re in luck – both types thrive in hot weather. Not only do they add depth to our dishes, but they also elevate them to new levels of deliciousness. You can improve your culinary experience by growing heat-tolerant chili plants at home, providing freshness to every dish.

Growing chillies at home requires attention to soil conditions, sunlight exposure, germination, transplantation, and watering. Peppers require plenty of sunlight and warmth to produce fruits. Choose varieties suited to your taste and heat preference. Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Sweet bell peppers or spicy chili peppers, both types thrive in hot weather. (Photo Source: Pexels)

8. Amaranthus:

Amaranthus, also known as amaranth or callaloo, is a nutritious leafy green that thrives in hot, sunny conditions. It is an excellent choice for individuals adhering to a gluten-free diet due to its high protein content and easy digestibility. This heat-tolerant plant is not only edible but also decorative, with its vibrant leaves and striking flowers.

To grow Amaranthus at home successfully, remember these key points: Plant amaranthus in a sunny spot with fertile soil, and water regularly to keep the plants hydrated. Harvest the tender young leaves for use in salads, stir-fries, or soups.

With the right selection of heat-tolerant vegetable plants, you can enjoy a productive garden even during the hottest months of the year. Whether you’re growing okra, tomatoes, brinjals, basil, chillies, yard long beans, or amaranthus, be sure to provide ample sunlight, water, and care to ensure a successful harvest. With a little effort and attention, your summer garden can thrive despite the heat. Happy gardening!

First published on: 30 Apr 2024, 14:38 IST

Source: krishijagran.com