All posts tagged "Agricultureandfishing"

ORLANDO, Fla. — Cattle rancher Billy Kempfer would love for Florida to pay him for the development rights on his land, keeping it as ranchland forever. But it all comes down to the list. His St. Cloud-based Kempfer Cattle Co.’s properties rank at 42 and 73, respectively, on a list of 258 properties that are priorities for the state to preserve. To buy out Kempfer and the other people who want to sell their land, the state needs way more money than it has — it would cost more than $1 billion for all 258. “There might be a chance for our first project but there’s little to no chance for the seco......

A bear known for his love of pumpkins — and small livestock — in a Massachusetts town will be put down after he fed on one too many goats, police say. Pumpkin the bear is regularly seen in Hanson, about 20 miles southeast of Boston, according to posts on Facebook. In fact, his presence is so common, Hanson police officers were stationed around town on Halloween to keep tabs on him as little ones trick-or-treated, officials said in an Oct. 31 post on Facebook. “Please do not leave food unattended outside. Remember he likes Pumpkins!” police said in the post. “Please be careful and make noise. H......

MIAMI — The biggest journey in a sea turtle’s life is in the first steps it takes. They face obstacles like bright street lights, hungry seabirds or raccoons and, once in the water, commercial fishing nets or stray plastic they mistake as a jellyfish snack. But now, leatherback sea turtles face another risk, according to a new Florida Atlantic University study — rising temperatures from climate change. “This is a real concern with climate change because there’s already fewer leatherbacks than other turtles, they already have a lower hatchling success, but now we know they actually are going to......

PHILADELPHIA — Cory Booker is staying positive. The 2024 mudslinging is well underway. Americans feel more divided than usual and somber about the state of the country. But the junior senator from New Jersey is preaching the virtues of unity and kindness in ballrooms, potato fields, and firehouses across the state. “Right now our country’s greatest threat is ourselves,” Booker said at a Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey breakfast in Mount Laurel this week. “A Democracy cannot thrive when its people have contempt for each other.” It’s a philosophy that a lot of politicians try to espouse ......

DETROIT — Remains of an invasive beetle from South Asia were found in an unaccompanied international baggage in June at Detroit Metro Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said. Parts of a Khapra beetle were found during a routine X-ray screening of baggage upon re-entry into the U.S., official said in a statement Tuesday. Screenings showed a bag of rice that originated in India contained the remains, which were later identified by officials from Customs and Borer Protection and U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the release. "Khapra beetles are not native to the U.S.......

When fourth-generation farmer John Pulcipher took on the family's cherry farm business full-time 16 years ago, he says the profits were fairly good for the crop, particularly for growers like him in the Traverse City area. But increasing challenges over the past several years forced Pulcipher, 67, to recently clear out all 110 acres of his cherry trees in Acme Township, northeast of Traverse City. It's a decision he says he contemplated for the past two years as he faced weather concerns and competition from imports that have driven down — and in some cases eliminated — profits for tart cherry......