Waste
Add deposit to water bottles or raise landfill rates: debate is on
|
There’s another legislative push to add water, juice, sports drink and similar beverage bottles and cans to Michigan’s 10-cent deposit law.
Capital News Service
More money sought to clean up brownfields
|
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder wants higher dumping fees to raise money to clean up abandoned contaminated industrial sites known as brownfields.
Land
Farmers confront too much milk, low prices
|
Dairy farmers who produce Michigan’s top agricultural commodity — milk — are still being slammed by low prices and overproduction.
Capital News Service
Chinese ban forces improvements in recycling
|
Michigan recycling programs are adjusting to China’s new ban on imported waste materials.
Land
After GMO resistance, gene-editing technology is the next new thing
|
The director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development bemoans a lack of science in public decision making, including what she calls unwarranted opposition to genetically modified foods, a consumer push for cage-free eggs and skepticism about new ag technologies.
Agriculture
Wineries rise in Michigan but more grapes needed
|
Michigan’s wine industry continues to grow with number of approved wineries rising from 55 to 138 in the past 10 years, including new ones in Charlevoix, Onsted, Hastings, Baroda and Metro Detroit. An inadequate supply of Michigan-grown grapes, rather than possible oversaturation of the market, might be the major concern for the industry.
Capital News Service
Michigan cranks up testing deer for chronic wasting disease
|
The Michigan DNR has been ramping up its testing of deer for chronic wasting disease, including new testing efforts in Montcalm, Mecosta and Kent counties.
Capital News Service
Push on to improve conservation education
|
Public schools don’t focus enough attention on teaching about conservation as part of the science curricula, a DNR expert and Michigan United Conservation Clubs say.
Capital News Service
Fewer fishing, hunting licenses mean less conservation money
|
As the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the state drops, DNR and Michigan United Conservation Clubs warn that money for wildlife habitat protection is shrinking as well. For news and outdoors pages.
Capital News Service
Could hunting or U.P. wolves solve Isle Royale moose problem?
|
With only one surviving wolf known on Isle Royale, the national park’s moose population is climbing without predators to keep the numbers under control.