EPA’s herbicide plan - more time, more feedback

Sep 08, 2023

Let's talk about herbicides and their link to endangered species. The EPA, our environmental watchdog, is diving deep into this connection with a fresh draft strategy.

The EPA's mission is to combine its pesticide rules with the Endangered Species Act. In simple terms, before green lighting any pesticide product, they want to ensure it won’t harm our endangered friends or their homes. It’s like a safety check for nature while we farm.

The unexpected turn is that the EPA initially gave folks 60 days to weigh in with their views on this draft. However, they've now extended that by another 30 days. Why the change of heart? It’s a mammoth proposal of over 900 pages. More time means more thoughtful feedback.

This isn’t just a debate for the scientists or officials. Every farmer sprinkling conventional herbicides on their field is in the spotlight. That’s why farmers nationwide are gearing up, sifting through the proposal, and collaborating with big industry groups. It's all about finding that sweet spot between farming efficiently and keeping our environment intact.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.