Chesapeake Bay Found. fighting in court

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Environmental groups led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced May 25 they are asking a federal judge to let them join a court fight over bay restoration efforts.

The bay advocacy and other groups said they are seeking to side with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the dispute with farm groups. The American Farm Bureau Federation sued the EPA in January over the stricter federally led effort and other groups have since joined the challenge. Critics say it is too far-reaching and will burden states with huge costs.

The foundation said it was filing a motion to intervene in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, Pa.

The foundation, which has sued the EPA over the slow pace of restoration efforts, said it was being joined by groups including the National Wildlife Federation, the Mid-Shore Riverkeeper Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future and the Jefferson County Public Service District, a West Virginia county sewer agency.

“Their motive is profit. Our motive is clean water and the protection of human health,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation William Baker.

An attorney for the American Farm Bureau Federation said environmental groups are mischaracterizing their court challenge. Attorney Ellen Steen also said the federation has not yet reviewed the motion to intervene and has not decided whether it opposes the motion or not.

Steen said Farm Bureau members are working hard on bay restoration and the organization is not fighting to stop or slow restoration efforts. The Farm Bureau believes the EPA has overstepped its authority and the states should be driving the effort not the federal agency, she said.

Farm worker dead after water tank falls

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A farm worker died three days after a wooden platform collapsed in a blueberry field at a West Michigan farm, dropping a 400-gallon water tank on top of him.

The Grand Rapids Press and WOOD-TV reported 67-year-old Gregorio Rojas of Robinson Township died May 23 at a hospital, after being injured the previous Friday. He was unresponsive when authorities arrived at the Ottawa County farm.

Iowa investigates fish kill in Iowa pond

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State environmental officials are investigating a fish kill and high levels of ammonia in a farm pond near Casey in west central Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the owner of the pond reported the fish kill May 23, saying hundreds of bluegill had died. The agency said ammonia levels in the pond were highly elevated.

Officials traced the source to a nearby holding pond used by the Casey office of Agriland FS in Winterset. The holding pond normally collects runoff at the site. The department said heavy rain from recent storms filled the holding pond. An employee opened a gate on the holding pond to prevent it from overtopping, which allowed the runoff to flow to the farm pond.

Spruce disorder found for 1st time in Illinois

URBANA, Ill. — Sudden Needle Drop (SNEED), caused by Setomelanomma holmii, has been discovered for the first time in Illinois. The University of Illinois Plant Clinic has diagnosed spruce samples from both central and northeastern Illinois.
“While SNEED has been found in several surrounding states, this is a first find in Illinois,” said Suzanne Bissonnette, director of the UoI Plant Clinic. “We are pursuing independent identification since this is a first find as well as proceeding with qPCR analysis for verification.”

SNEED has been found on Norway, white and Colorado blue spruce trees. Symptoms are yellowing and eventual browning of older needles, Bissonnette said. Typically, by the end of summer, all the needles on affected branches fall off except the newest needles on the tips of the branches.

Symptoms noticeable now are nearly defoliated branches that may still have a few brown or half-brown needles attached or no old needles and just new bud growth. Branches affected by needle drop may be scattered throughout the tree or the entire tree may be affected.

For more information, read the May 27 edition of the Home, Yard and Garden Pest newsletter online at http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu

Cows wander Chicago highway after wreck

CHICAGO (AP) — Authorities said lanes of a Chicago area interstate reopened after a truck carrying cattle tipped over and left cows along the roadway.
Illinois State Police said the accident happened around 11:30 a.m. May 22 on Interstate 80 near Hazel Crest, which is about 25 miles southwest of Chicago. Crews were clearing dead cows from the highway as well as corralling those that were wandering in the area after the truck overturned.
Police told WBBM-AM in Chicago that dozens were on the truck and about half a dozen cows died. Eastbound and westbound lanes were blocked for several hours near the I-294 interchange.

There were no immediate reports of injured people.