Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
News from Around the Farm World - Sept. 17, 2008

CME issues statement on Lehman Brothers
CHICAGO, Ill. — In response to media inquiries, CME Group issued a statement regarding Lehman Brothers, Inc., on Sept. 15, which reads, in part:

“Lehman Brothers Inc., the CME Group clearing member, continues to meet all of its obligations to CME Clearing and continues to operate as normal. CME Group’s clearing member, Lehman Brothers, Inc., is a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., but is a separate company with its own accounts, assets and customers.

“These are protected through a comprehensive federal statutory and regulatory regime and other financial safeguards and risk management protections provided by CME Clearing. All customer funds are required to be segregated from firm assets, held in specially identified accounts and are not subject to any creditors’ claims against the firm.”

Central Illinois man dies in farming accident

STRASBURG, Ill. (AP) — A 23-year-old man is dead after an accident on a central Illinois farm.

Shelby County Coroner Brian Green said Phillip Rincker died the afternoon of Sept. 11 on his family’s farm near Strasburg, which is about 70 miles southwest of Champaign. He said Rincker was filling a silo when a metal chute at the top of the structure broke away. The chute fell about 70 feet onto Rincker. A coroner’s inquest is planned.

Man, boy killed when farm tractor flips in Tennessee

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A farm tractor overturned in northeastern Tennessee, killing a man and a toddler.
The Greeneville Sun reported that obituaries identified the victims as 32-year-old Jeffrey Alan Thomas and 2-year-old Kristian Elijah Grubbs of Chuckey.

The call came into the 911 center the night of Sept. 6. Greene County Deputy Mark Crum’s report said Thomas was driving the tractor along a creek bed when it slid and overturned, pinning the victims.

The relationship between Thomas and the child was not immediately available.

Feds set fish shipment rules for Great Lakes

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Federal regulators trying to contain a fish-killing virus in the Great Lakes region have issued rules for shipping live fish across state lines that some wholesalers say will be financially devastating.

The requirements were announced Sept. 9 by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. They require testing and inspections of 28 farm-raised and live bait species susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS.

The virus, fatal for fish but not believed to affect humans, has caused die-offs in all the Great Lakes except Lake Superior the past couple of years. It also has shown up in some inland waterways. Authorities say it endangers the region’s billion-dollar sport and commercial fisheries.

Most of the eight states on the Great Lakes have taken steps to prevent the disease from spreading. APHIS, the federal agency, issued an emergency order on interstate fish transport in 2006 and has modified it several times while developing the interim rules released last week.

They take effect Nov. 10. APHIS said it would accept public comments until then and develop a final set of regulations. No deadline for its completion has been set.

“There will still be a risk of spreading VHS but we tried to reduce it as much as possible while still allowing commerce,” said Gary Egrie, an APHIS veterinary medical officer for aquaculture programs.
But some suppliers of live fish said the complex package was regulatory overkill that would eat away their profits on test and inspection fees without solving the VHS problem.

“They are potentially destroying the Great Lakes aquaculture industry,” said Dan Vogler, a board member of the Michigan Aquaculture Assoc. and operator of a Wexford County fish farm that ships live rainbow trout to several states.

Among fish covered by the rules are brown and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, walleye, yellow perch, lake whitefish and muskellunge, as well as bait species such as emerald and spottail shiners.

DNR reports fish kills in Keokuk County

SIGOURNEY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa environmental officials say they are investigating fish kills at three farm ponds in Keokuk County.
Officials say a pond owner reported the first fish kill early last week, followed by reports from other owners in the area southeast of Sigourney on Sept. 10.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said it will investigate to find the source of the pollution. Officials say they have ruled out manure as a cause of the fish kills.

Iowa school shucks ban on corn-eating contest

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has shucked its ban on an annual corn eating contest after removing the gluttony.
Phillip Jones, the school’s vice president for student services, said many people asked what he had against corn – the state’s hallmark crop – after he canceled the all-you-can-eat contest last year.

“I got a lot of complaints from around the state,” he said. “’Why do you have something against corn?’ It’s not the corn; it’s the concept.”

The contest, part of a week’s celebration leading up the annual football game against Iowa State, will be allowed this year – but students will compete to see who can eat a single ear of corn the fastest, not who can eat the most.

9/17/2008