Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/capital-news-service/page/28/)
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has a lunched an online system that enables consumers to easily access inspection results from more than 19,000 groceries and other retail food establishments. MiSafe gives consumers access to inspection results for grocery and convenience stores, including violations since September 2011.
To many archaeologists and other experts, Michigan holds a wealth of evidence about the past and remains an important player in providing insights to the past.
For example, new developments in the archaeological world include research on ancient farming practices in Michigan and elsewhere in the region.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will spend $2.35 million on a dam management program in 2013, the first time the department has been granted money by the Legislature to address problems of aging dams.
Tom Nugent, director of field operations for Michigan Farm Bureau, said its Young Farmers program, started in 1935, is designed to give beginners a solid foundation for a future in farming. Nugent said the program offers benefits and resources young farmers need to create a business plan and take steps to owning their own farm.
Brook trout experts have asked the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to put on hold a proposal to double the brook trout creel limit in 10 streams in the Upper Peninsula.
They claim the proposal is more political than scientific.
Despite recent rains, the 2012 drought – the most destructive in 50 years – has driven many Michigan dairy farmers into “survival mode”.
The dry weather reduced crop yields, tightening the feed supply.
Michigan agriculture is struggling to find qualified workers to fill positions at all levels, and one challenge is informing potential employees that modern agriculture is a high-tech industry in need of people with the right skills, according to the Michigan Agri-Business Association.
At an egg factory, a robot counts how many eggs each chicken has laid. A computer detects the purity of each egg, and checks for cracks.At a dairy farm, a computer calculates how much milk cows can produce each day by recognizing unique IDs on their tags.
And association President Jim Byrum said, “Agriculture is being revolutionized by cutting-edge technology and scientific advancements.”
It would become illegal for most people in Michigan to own primates as pets under a revived legislative proposal.
The bill stems from a monkey attack in Trenton.
This October in Michigan the federal government awarded grants to a dozen food and agriculture organizations for projects that include improving fruit production, promoting cleaner soil and studying crop pollination. The $1.3 million is divided among 12 recipients, including the Michigan Vegetable Council in Erie, Michigan Farm Bureau in Lansing, Lakeshore Environmental Inc. in Grand Haven and Michigan State University in East Lansing.
These organizations and their projects were selected by the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to receive the federal grants.
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources upgraded its Mi-HUNT computer app for the 2012 fall deer hunting season. Users will be able to view 7 million acres of public hunting lands and print hunting maps.
The other improvements include detailed information and printable maps of Hunting Access Program lands and state game and wildlife areas, and capacity to load that information directly into the user’s personal GPS.