COLUMN: Making the voices of Iowa’s agriculture industry heard in Washington
11 September 2020
Agriculture is vital to Iowa’s economy and essential to our history and culture.
https://www.newspressnow.com/news/regional_news/iowa/column-making-the-voices-of-iowa-s-agriculture-industry-heard-in-washington/article_680c2b3f-8c79-509a-853a-4c0c67e9647b.html
Opinion: TONY MELTON; Feeding the world
14 September 2020
Local small farms only feed a small part of the 336 million Americans. Larger farms are the major source of all our food.
https://scnow.com/agriculture/tony-melton-feeding-the-world/article_51dfe470-f3bc-11ea-be05-6367454005e4.html
Center for Digital Agriculture at U of I receives $20M to develop new AIFARMS institute
14 September 2020
The National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes announced a $20 million award to the Center for Digital Agriculture at the University of Illinois.
https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/2020/09/13/center-for-digital-agriculture-at-u-of-i-receives-20m-to-develop-new-aifarms-institute/awh4rsl/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
UN report: Climate change continues 'unabated' despite COVID-19 lockdowns
10 September 2020
Climate change has not stopped because of COVID-19, a United Nations report says.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/10/un-report-climate-change-continues-unabated-despite-covid-lockdowns/5768993002/
What’s causing climate change, in 10 charts
11 September 2020
Different ways of looking at the climate change problem.
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/21428525/climate-change-west-coast-fires-cause-charts
US wildfires fuelled by climate change, California governor says
12 September 2020
Fanned by winds amid record heat, the blazes have burnt millions of acres, destroyed thousands of homes, and killed at least 25 people.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54128872
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DROUGHTS
National Drought Mitigation Center, Nebraska Extension, provide resources for those experiencing drought
11 September 2020
The National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, along with Nebraska Extension, work with an array of partners to develop resources that can help you be better prepared before and during drought events.
https://ianrnews.unl.edu/national-drought-mitigation-center-nebraska-extension-provide-resources-those-experiencing-drought
Drought, water releases shrink Indiana lake, pinch economy
12 September 2020
The seasonal economy along a northern Indiana lake that’s a popular boating destination is feeling a pinch as the lake continues to shrink following weeks of scant rainfall.
https://wpta21.com/2020/09/12/drought-water-releases-shrink-indiana-lake-pinch-economy/
Apples from Massachusetts orchards could shrink because of drought
12 September 2020
The significant drought conditions triggered by four months of below-normal rainfall are hurting some farms and also leading to an increased risk for fires in the state.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/12/apples-from-massachusetts-orchards-could-be-a-bit-smaller-because-of-drought-dry-weather-sparks-fire-risk/
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FLOODS
Sudan Floods Kill Over 100, Threaten Archaeological Site
11 September 2020
Flash floods in Sudan have killed more than 100 people this summer and inundated over 100,000 houses.
https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/africa/1249676/sudan-floods-kill-over-100-threaten-archaeological-site.html
Beach Drive & Sligo Creek Parkway remain closed after flash floods
11 September 2020
Thursday’s storm and flash floods left roads covered with water, mud, and debris.
https://www.localdvm.com/news/maryland/beach-drive-sligo-creek-parkway-remain-closed-after-flash-floods/
Tropical Storm Sally strengthens, targets Gulf Coast; Hurricane Paulette to hit Bermuda; TD 20 to become tropical storm tonight
13 September 2020
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Port Fourchon, Louisiana to the Missisippi-Alabama border, and southeastern areas of Louisian.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-hurricane-paulette-tropical-storm-sally-rene-td-20-sunday-20200913-y3hguk3lbndulbujir4ctenlxi-story.html
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FOOD SECURITY
Ensuring Food Security in Pakistan
12 September 2020
Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces complex challenges that hinder productivity and yields which are much lower than many regional countries.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/ensuring-food-security-in-pakistan/
Global food security: When America leads, lives are saved
12 September 2020
NGO experts, development professionals, and epidemiologists alike theorized about the secondary impacts of the virus.
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/516000-global-food-security-when-america-leads-lives-are-saved
Central Maine business briefs: Sodexo gives $5,000 to Northern Light Inland Hospital
12 September 2020
Northern Light Inland Hospital donates $5,000 to help fight hunger.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2020/09/12/central-maine-business-briefs-sodexo-gives-5000-to-northern-light-inland-hospital/
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IRRIGATION
Rain-barrel irrigation cheap, easy and environmentally-friendly
10 September 2020
There is a way to supplement natural rainfall without drawing from groundwater or running up the water bill: rain-barrel irrigation.
https://www.ack.net/lifestyle/20200910/rain-barrel-irrigation-cheap-easy-and-environmentally-friendly
Researchers study the benefits of precision irrigation for potato growers
11 September 2020
Researchers in Canada’s Alberta province are studying how potato farmers and their crops could benefit from new irrigation technology.
https://www.potatonewstoday.com/2020/09/11/canada-researchers-study-the-benefits-of-precision-irrigation-for-potato-growers/
Singapore's Temasek signs deal to acquire Israeli micro-irrigation company Rivulis
13 September 2020
Temasek intends to retain Rivulis' current management, as well as its headquarters in Kibbutz Gvat.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849453,00.html
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WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
What are the alternatives to water conservation?
11 September 2020
Investing in infrastructure projects rather than temporary fallowing might be a better approach.
https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/what-are-the-alternatives-to-water-conservation/article_583d9872-f2c1-11ea-ba8d-4b5e227837a2.html
First Integrated Water Treatment Facility construction begins, Singapore.
12 September 2020
Singapore has begun construction of the first phase of its first Integrated Water And Solid Waste Treatment Facility, the Tuas Nexus.
https://constructionreviewonline.com/2020/09/first-integrated-water-treatment-facility-construction-begins-singapore/
New groundwater study takes hold in the Walla Walla River Basin
14 September 2020
A new bi-state groundwater study will collect data to help future water management decisions in the Walla Walla River Basin.
https://www.eastoregonian.com/townnews/hydrography/new-groundwater-study-takes-hold-in-the-walla-walla-river-basin/article_9583d8fb-60a3-5b5b-8f34-0fcdc1310cfd.html
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MinWat 2020 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection, and Valorisation. Postponed, owing to the international health situation concerning the epidemy of COVID-19, from May 2020, to 11-15 October 2020. For more details, please visit: https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020; Email: segratario@iahitaly.it
Irrigation Association cancels Irrigation Show and Education Week for 2020
The 2020 Irrigation Show and Education Week, scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in San Antonio, has been canceled.
https://www.irrigazette.com/en/news/ia-cancels-irrigation-show-and-education-week-2020
2022 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28)
The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC is expected to take place from 7-18 November 2022, at a location to be determined.
http://unfccc.int/meetings/unfccc_calendar/items/2655.php?year=2022
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Status of environmental surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 virus
World Health Organisation
Environmental surveillance by testing wastewater for evidence of pathogens has a long history of use in public health, particularly for poliovirus1 and more recently antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/status-of-environmental-surveillance-for-sars-cov-2-virus
Engineers use electricity to clean up toxic water
The powerful electrochemical process destroys water contaminants, such as pesticides. Researchers say the technology could be readily applied to the wine industry, paper processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Sydney, July 2020
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200707113206.htm
New series of FAO Policy and Field Guides to improve water productivity and water use efficiency in small-scale agriculture
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2020
http://www.fao.org/3/ca8443en/ca8443en.pdf
Water and Climate Change
The 2020 edition of the World Water Development Report (WWDR 2020) entitled ‘Water and Climate Change’ aims at helping the water community to tackle the challenges of climate change and informing the climate change community about the opportunities that improved water management offers in terms of adaptation and mitigation.
https://www.unwater.org/publications/world-water-development-report-2020/
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