By Sarah Fielder
Baltimore Food Truck Lawsuit Headed to Trial A lawsuit challenging Baltimore City’s ban on food trucks operating within 300 feet of a brick and mortar food businesses is headed to trial next month according to a ruling by the Circuit Court. Currently, under the law, a food truck found violating the law can be fined $300 and potentially lose their license. To read more about the lawsuit, click here http://bit.ly/2vyT4kv.
DuPont Agrees to Buy Granular Dupont and Dow might be finalizing a merger but that has not stopped DuPont from agreeing to purchase Granular, an ag software and analytics tool company, for an undisclosed amount. To read more about the buyout, click here http://delonline.us/2vDo0hI.
Nine Cannabis Growers Receive Final Approve and Other Seeking Extensions Time is fast approaching for twenty medical cannabis growers to receive final approval from the state or they could see their licenses revoked. Last year when the licenses were awarded, the growers one-year to seek final approval. To date, only nine growers have been awarded final approval. Many of the twenty growers are seeking extensions on final approval. This comes as the Circuit Court in Baltimore is considering challenges to the licensing process. To learn more about this, click here http://bit.ly/2uFiUEx.
Maryland Crop Insurance Workshop is Sept. 12 Register today for the upcoming Maryland Crop Insurance Workshop on Sept. 12 at the Bowie Comfort Inn and Conference Center. This year’s workshop will highlight the upcoming farm bill debate, proposed dairy insurance programs and much more. To get details and register for the workshop, click here https://go.umd.edu/MDCropIns2017.
New Publication Highlighting Mediation Now Available Mediation is an option to helping you resolve ongoing disputes and other conflicts that could arise. In Maryland, agricultural producers have the option of utilizing the Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service (ACReS) through MDA which is a USDA-approved mediation program. Mason Grahame and Paul Goeringer have recently finalized a publication highlighting mediation and situations it could be used in. This publication was made possible through funds from Maryland Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Farm Service Agency. To read the publication, click here https://go.umd.edu/AgMediation.
Grain, Soybean Farmers Brace to Protect Federal Agriculture Spending. As negotiations on the 2018 farm bill draw near, key agricultural programs may be on the chopping block, grain and soybean lobbyists warned during an annual gathering of Maryland farmers. “Washington, D.C., right now — if you thought it was confusing now — it’s going to get worse,” Vince Phillips, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, told farmers on July 27.To read the full story go here: http://bit.ly/2uF7XD8
GAP Class and Mock Audit to Be Held Sept. 12. Vegetable farmers are invited to a good agricultural practices class and on-farm mock audit in Baltimore on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Topics include highlights of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, GAP practices such as addressing preharvest and post-harvest water quality issues, and University of Maryland programs to assist producers in implementing GAP. Participation is capped at 25 people. Register online at https://go.umd.edu/p4h.
Duarte Nursery Settles with DOJ for $1.1 million
Facing $45 million dollars in fines from the federal government, Duarte Nursery has agreed to a $1.1 million in penalties for plowing up a wetland without a Clean Water Act Permit. This comes as a civil penalty trial was to start this week in the case. To read more about the settlement click here, http://bit.ly/2fIwPDi.
Wisconsin Dairy Awarded $4.5 million in Stray Voltage Case A Wisconsin dairy this week was awarded $4.5 million dollars in a case involving stray voltage on the farm. The dairy alleged that the local power company had failed to correct stray voltage on the farm that resulted in lower milk production over a 7-year period. The dairy hired a local contractor to find the issue and put in equipment to fix the issue. The dairy had been asking for $13.5 million in damages. View the complete story here http://bit.ly/2vGxyIP.
Survey Highlights Dicamba Damage to Soybeans Nationally This week, Dr. Kevin Bradley, Associate Professor with the University of Missouri, has updated his recent survey on dicamba soybean damage nationwide. The survey highlights the problem is not just a southern problem. Currently, states have seen over 2,000 reports of damaging impacting close to 3.1 million acres of cropland. To see the survey results, click here http://bit.ly/2i81WsG.