Missed some agricultural news this week? Here are seven stories to catch you up.
TractorHouse victim of ransomware attack
TractorHouse is just one brand of Sandhills Global, a Lincoln, Neb.-based firm affected by a ransomware attack earlier this week. This is the second major attack on an ag site in the last two weeks. The company issued a statement noting that its systems and operations have been shut down to protect data and information. – Farm Futures
India farm protests worsen
Indian authorities suspended internet services and barred political leaders from entering a northern town Monday to calm tensions after nine people were killed in a deadly escalation of a yearlong demonstration against contentious agriculture laws. The government says the changes in the laws were needed to modernize agriculture and boost production through private investment. – NPR
New $870m dairy facility in Texas
Leprino Foods Company, a leading global manufacturer of premium-quality dairy foods and ingredients, announced Oct. 1 plans to begin construction of a new, state-of-the-art 850,000 square foot dairy manufacturing facility in Lubbock, Texas. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in June 2022 and will be completed in two phases by early 2026. – Feedstuffs
Tractor efficiency increased
Purdue University researchers have undertaken a $3.2 million Department of Energy project to optimize the hydraulic systems that connect tractors and implements. Combing through the data, they found that their new hydraulic control systems translated into an overall 25% efficiency increase. – Purdue University
Shakira named supreme champion cow
The black and white Holstein Shakira earned the title of Supreme Champion of the 2021 World Dairy Expo on Oct. 2. She was the winning Six-Year-Old and Older and Senior Champion Holstein. Shakira is owned by Ferme Jacobs, Ty-D Holsteins, Theraulaz, Ferme Antelimarck and Jacobs of Cap-Sante, Quebec. – World Dairy Expo
Expanding meat processing capacity
The pandemic exposed a number of weaknesses in the food supply chain. Vilsack unveiled plans for $100 million in funding for loan guarantees to leverage hundreds of millions more in lending through community and private sector lenders to expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food supply chain infrastructure. – Farm Futures
Jury rejects Roundup cancer link
Bayer AG won its first trial over claims Roundup causes cancer in a California case focusing on a child whose non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was blamed on the weed killer. The win gives Bayer leverage as it continues to negotiate settlements in thousands of other Roundup cases filed across the U.S. – Bloomberg
And your bonus.
Watch out for racing stripes! Two zebras escaped from a suburban Chicago pumpkin farm on Sunday. Illinois State Police were called due to the chase being near Interstate 90. Other police agencies also joined the pursuit of the striped escapees. After about two hours, the zebras were safely tracked down by farm employees. – NBC Chicago