China poultry plant fire turns deadly

Jun 03, 2013

China poultry plant fire turns deadly

A fire broke out at a poultry plant in northeastern China on Monday, which trapped workers inside killing at least 119 people, official’s report the death toll is expected to rise. Several others were also injured in the blaze and are being treated in hospital. Some reports say that a fire broke out after a shift began around 6a.m.

The plant was established in 2009, produces roughly 67,000 tons of processed chicken a year and employs about 1,200 people. The plant is located about 800 kilometers away from China’s capital, Beijing.

Though it's unlikely to have an impact on China's chicken supply, the accident came as chicken producers were seeing sales recover after an outbreak of a deadly new strain of bird flu, H7N9, briefly scared the public in April and early May.

The fire is unlikely to have an impact on China’s chicken supply, as the country begins to recover from the outbreak of a new strain of bird flu (H7N9) that occurred in April and early May.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.