The melamine in the pet food was in wheat gluten, a vegetable protein source and thickening agent used in pet food production. Pet food brands implicated in the animal deaths had used wheat gluten imported from China, which tends to be cheaper than wheat gluten produced in the United States. The outbreak also might be the canary in the coal mine relative to agricultural imports from China for human consumption. And, it should require all food labels to include country of origin labeling,...

Most of the hay is an alfalfa and grass mix because that is what their customers demand. Managing alfalfa after the freeze. A widespread freeze on alfalfa across the Midwest has forced producers to make management decisions to deal with the loss of the first crop. Wayne County, Iowa producer Ted Ewing said that the first crop will be drastically reduced from normal, but he has a positive outlook for his hay crop for the rest of the year and in the future. In fact, the additional acres that...

Pet food advertisements make claims like "Good food, inspired by pet loving people", "Healthy food for happy dogs", and "Tasty, nutritious, almost like gourmet food for your pet. The 150-page lawsuit targets more than a dozen major pet food companies and retailers, and claims that the companies have used false and misleading advertising. The animals are allegedly ground up at a rendering plant, and then used as additives for pet food. It also raises the claim that if pet food was better...

The bacteria can also be spread through direct contact with an infected animal or by objects such as boots or coveralls contaminated by fecal material from infected animals. This occurs by consuming materials such as feed, water and pasture grass contaminated with feces of an infected animal. Salmonella bacteria are shed in feces of infected animals or people and cause diarrheal illness, which can be quite severe in the young, elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems. Animals,...

The governor's office says the freeze resulted in 258 million dollars in damage to Georgia crops, a 33 percent decrease from the normal production value. Grains, hay, forage and pasture losses were also significant. Farmers whose crops were damaged or destroyed during a record freeze Easter weekend can now apply for federal loans. Interested participants should contact their local FSA office for more information. Blueberries, pecans and peaches suffered the greatest losses. Agriculture...

Though some wheatfields are experiencing damage enough for a few West River producers to spray Drown said black grass bugs prefer to feed on wheatgrass. Black grass bugs are damaging crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass in western South Dakota, and some have moved into wheatfields in some locations. With grass hay ranging in price from $90 to $110 a ton, Drown said, some producers are penciling out treatment costs and deciding to spray. Infestations result in a stippling on...