Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:
1. Semitruck-trailer overturns, spilling 2,000-plus piglets
The driver of a semitruck-trailer that crashed June 8 in southwest Ohio has been charged with failure to control. Terry Alley of Lafayette, Indiana, said that the speedometer in the truck was not working. Alley said he thought he was travelling at 65 mph, but a passenger in the truck and a witness of the accident thought the truck was travelling faster than that.
As many as 2,200 piglets were let loose when the truck crashed. The day after the crash, about half of the piglets had been recovered.
2. Kent State Tusc. branch debuts agribusiness degree
Starting this fall, students at Kent State University Tuscarawas will be able to enroll in classes to earn a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, making the university the only one on the east side of the state to offer such a degree.
The decision to add the program began two years ago, and since then, developers have travelled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which is nationally known for its agribusiness degree. Coursework for the degree will encompass classes in agriculture, sales, marketing and management techniques as well as business, accounting, economics, English, mathematics
3. How to attract pollinators to your yard
You’re likely to see all sorts of pollinators visiting your yard and garden during the summer. Bees, birds, butterflies, bats and bugs are live pollinators that need food, water and shelter to support plant production.
Online columnist Ivory Harlow explains how providing the right kinds of food, fresh water shelter in your landscape will welcome pollinators. They’ll return the favor by pollinating your fruits, vegetables and seeds.
4. Avian influenza is sending egg prices higher
The bird flu has affected more than 47 million birds as of June 15, and that impact can be seen in the grocery store. Egg prices per dozen stood at an average of $2.07 in April, but some individual markets are now charging $3 a dozen.
Egg production through June is down 329 million dozen from May. Overall, national egg production has decreased 4 percent due to the bird flu.
5. How to choose repellents to control garden pests
Before you take action against garden pests, identify what’s causing the damage to your plants. Then, choose a repellent that will deter the type of pest you’re dealing with, whether it’s deer, rabbits, chipmunks or insects.
Keep in mind that not all repellents are guaranteed to work, and some are poisonous, so precautions must be taken.
