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| News from Around the Farm World - June 30, 2010 |
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3 tornadoes confirmed from N. Indiana storms
GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) — The National Weather Service confirmed the thunderstorms that caused damage across northern Indiana produced three tornadoes.
The weather service says a tornado with winds of more than 85 mph touched down the night of June 23 in Warsaw. It destroyed a farm building, blew the roof off a foundry and damaged an auto parts store.
A similar tornado ran from the Elkhart County town of Wakarusa to near Goshen, destroying a barn, damaging a golf course and uprooting many trees. A weaker tornado hit a four-block stretch in Goshen, knocking down several trees.
No serious injuries were reported. At least 43,000 homes and businesses remained without power Thursday afternoon. (The AP has not updated this figure since then.)
Cleanup continues Memorial holiday BP gas spill
CONSTANTINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — BP cleanup crews are working at the scene of a weeks-old spill that is causing an unknown amount of environmental damage in rural southwestern Michigan.
About 93,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from a pipeline and into a farm field over the Memorial Day weekend. The site is in St. Joseph County’s Constantine Township, about five miles north of Indiana. Since then, crews have been working on the cleanup day and night.
Four families were evacuated for several nights while BP ran tests on the water and air. Michael Baranoski of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment told WWMT-TV that tests found no well water contamination. He said he’s still concerned about the long-term effect on groundwater.
NBB intervenes for EPA in RFS2 lawsuits
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 25, the Friends of the Earth and the National Chicken Council, among others, filed lawsuits in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2).
On June 24, Manning Feraci, the National Biodiesel Board’s (NBB) vice president of Federal Affairs, issued a statement regarding the biodiesel industry’s decision to intervene in the litigation on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Congress expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard in the 2007 energy bill to increase the use of renewable fuels and to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“The methodology utilized by the EPA to gauge GHG emission requirements established by statute is not perfect. That said, the challenges to the land use aggregation rules and the lifecycle analysis in these lawsuits run contrary to the will of Congress and would undermine the statute’s worthwhile objective of displacing petroleum with advanced biofuels like biodiesel.
“Accordingly, the NBB will vigorously defend the interests of the U.S. biodiesel industry as the legal process moves forward.”
Restaurant serving Illinois lion meat burgers
PHOENIX, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona restaurant owner dreamed up a novelty meal to give customers a South African experience during the World Cup. But serving burgers made with African lion meat has generated protests.
Cameron Selogie said his Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa has received a bomb threat and more than 150 e-mails from protesters. He says African lions are on the protected list, but not endangered.
The restaurant ordered 10 pounds of African lion meat from a USDA-regulated, free-range farm in Illinois, which Selogie said he researched to make sure they were humane. It’s mixed with ground beef, and the restaurant said it’s serving about 15 burgers a day.
USDA spokesman Jim Brownlee says lion meat is an uncommon dish, but he knew of no prohibitions against it.
10 sentenced for roles in theft ring in Va., Tenn.
ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — Ten people were sentenced for their roles in a stolen property ring that operated in Virginia and Tennessee.
U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said June 23 that the operation caused more than $750,000 in losses. The losses included $350,000 in damage to an office building in Abingdon that was torched to cover up a burglary.
Heaphy said heavy construction equipment, all-terrain vehicles, farm equipment and other items were stolen from more than 25 businesses and residents in Virginia and Tennessee. The items were then sold to individuals in northeastern Tennessee and North Carolina who dealt in stolen property.
Group files complaint against Indiana egg company
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Humane Society of the United States has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to stop an egg producer from making what the animal welfare group claims are misleading statements about conditions at its egg farms.
The Humane Society filed the complaint June 16 against Seymour, Ind.-based Rose Acres Farms. It said Rose Acre falsely claims it provides a “humane and friendly” environment for hens.
The group said an investigation at the company’s three Iowa farms showed hens trapped in wires of cages; unable to reach food or water; with broken bones; and dead hens in cages with live hens.
Rose Acre spokesman K.Y. Hendrix said he wasn’t aware of the complaint but disputed the claims. He says the company follows industry guidelines for animal welfare. |
| 6/30/2010 |
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