Daily News Update, June 22, 2009

EPA livestock tax on methane emissions blocked
Late last week, the House Appropriations Committee adopted the Tiahrt Amendment preventing the EPA from regulating livestock as a greenhouse gas source. U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt offered the amendment during consideration of the FY2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The provision blocks the EPA from mandating Clean Air Act permits for greenhouse gases emitted by livestock, including carbon dioxide and methane. The amendment was adopted with broad bipartisan support. more

Drought tool expands to 48 states
A seven-year research effort achieved a milestone last month when the Vegetation Drought Response Index expanded across the 48 states of the continental U.S. VegDRI maps, produced every two weeks, combine satellite-based observations of vegetation conditions with climate and biosphysical information to map drought's effect on vegetation at a one-kilometer resolution. "For anyone monitoring agricultural conditions, particularly ranching, or with interests in natural resource management, this is an invaluable addition to their tool set…" more

Options for landowners
The U.S. Agricultural Commissioner is cutting some three million acres from the Conservation and Reserve Program (CRP). And many of them are in the Panhandle. Very few of the landowners in the Panhandle who have contracts with the CRP will be given the opportunity to renew those contracts, which means much less money for already struggling ranchers. more

Processing plants among survey solutions for unwanted horses
Reopening of U.S. processing plants is among the four most popular solutions suggested for dealing with increasing numbers of unwanted horses nationwide, based on an online survey of horse owners, industry stakeholders and other interested parties. more

Market information
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Events and Sale Calendar
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