Water

God Save Farmers from the Cow: With the US Granting a Patent to a Bio-Enhancer Distilled from Cow Urine, Cattle May Get Pride of Place on Farms Once More

Business Line | By Sharad Joshi | July 17, 2002 THE US has granted a patent to a product which contains distilled portions from cow urine that apparently increases the activity of antibiotics and anti-cancer agents.

USDA allows emergency haying, grazing in 18 US states

WASHINGTON - Drought-stricken U.S. farmers and ranchers in 18 states will be allowed to harvest hay and graze on environmentally sensitive land, the Agriculture Department said.

Green groups share blame for US fires - Republicans

WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers last week blamed environmental groups for contributing to U.S. forest fires that destroyed more than 3.1 million acres this year by blocking federal attempts to thin undergrowth.

Gov. Johanns Gets Up-Close Look at Drought

Associated Press | By KEVIN O'HANLON | July 3, 2002 IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Jack Lawless drove up to the Imperial Beef feedlot and glanced over the bone-dry rain gauge on a nearby poll. "That's our flame of eternal hope," he said.

Missouri river barge traffic nearly dead in water

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Transportation of commodities along the Missouri River is nearing a standstill as efforts to raise water levels run afoul of laws protecting endangered birds nesting along the dried-out river banks, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official said.

Heat, wind threaten Iowa crops

Iowa, besieged by hot, dry, windy weather, is fast losing its luster as the U.S. corn belt's garden spot. With forecasts for more punishing weather in the next 10 days, agronomists are seeing signs of distress in Iowa fields - hard-baked, cracking soil and curling corn leaves. "We need some good rains here, in pretty short order," said Rich Hanson, agronomist with West Bend Elevator Co.

Water controversy may douse Alberta oil sands boom

CALGARY, Alberta - As oil companies pump billions of dollars into Canada's northern oil sands to develop the huge but expensive reserves of tar-like crude, it is water - not technology or oil prices - that could cool a boom sparked by the energy-hungry U.S. market.

Ethiopia is producing a surplus of food for the seventh year in succession without GMOs

Dr Tewolde Gebre Egziabher, heading the Environmental Protection Agency of Ethiopia, will shortly be announcing the results of a study showing that Ethiopia is producing a surplus of food for the seventh year in succession. Journalists and other visitors are welcome to witness for themselves: * All this food is produced by small farmers using traditional farming practices.

Mexico - US reach accord to end border water spat

MEXICO CITY - Mexico will send to U.S. farmers 6 percent of the water it owes them and get funding for water-conservation projects as part of an agreement unveiled on Saturday to end a simmering dispute between the border neighbors.

USDA allows CRP haying in Montana, South Dakota

WASHINGTON - Farmers and ranchers in parts of drought-hit Montana and South Dakota are allowed to harvest hay from land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve, the Agriculture Department said last week.