Kailey Foster

Wyoming took a big first step toward blazing a new trail on managing big game migration corridors when Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order last week.

Findings that child sexual abuse reports in Idaho went up in 2019 have made headlines, but advocates for child welfare say more reports could be a good sign. The Idaho Attorney General's annual report said there were 696 reported cases of child sexual abuse in 2019, up 103 from 2018. 

Wolves are a pillar of the image of the “wild west."  Throughout the years, wolves have been going on and off the endangered species list . In November, a citizen initiative in Colorado will be voted on to decide whether or not to introduce a wolf pack into the state’s wild. If passed, we could see the effects of it here in Utah.

Both the House and Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committees are working to create what they believe is smart ag policy this legislative session. One of these measures is a bill to allow water banking in the state.

Shortly after Chinese officials pledged to buy $200 billion worth of United States goods as part of a trade agreement signed between the two countries in January, quarantines began in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The title of Farm Dog of the Year was awarded to a Utah dog named Flint at the 2020 American Farm Bureau Convention.

  During his opening remarks to the Utah State Senate on Monday, Senate President Stuart Adams committed to working to maintain Utah’s high economic ranking. Adams said according to Harvard University, the state is number one in the country for upper mobility.

In an effort to increase transparency on food labeling, the USDA implemented a new national bioengineered food disclosure standard at the beginning of the year. Over the next few years, customers will start to seem more labeling that identifies bioengineered food.

After years of experience in local and state government, former Utah Department of Agriculture and Food  Commissioner Kerry Gibson is ready to take his knowledge and experience to Washington. Gibson announced his campaign for Utah's First Congressional District earlier this week while stepping down from his position as comissioner. 

The Me-Too movement has been widely seen on social media platforms as a way to empower women who have experienced sexual harassment and assault by showing survivors they are not alone. 

Art and literature have always played a big role in how people share stories and ideas with one another. The social movement “Me Too” is no exception.

This year, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is expanding its focus to include economic development, as part of its vision to be a service organization with regulatory responsibilities.

Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, please don’t infect Utah with these species. 

The United States Department of Agriculture has proposed new regulations for hemp farmers around the country. Currently there is a comment period going on until December 30 on the proposed regulations. And farmers throughout the country are speaking out on how these regulations could affect their operations.

As the number of farms dwindles, those still in operation are looking for ways to maintain viability. One solution some farms are trying is agritourism.

Over the past few years, hemp has become an up-and-coming commodity in agriculture. Here in Utah, farmers are just starting to grow industrialized hemp. Industrial hemp is a cannabis plant with below .3% THC. Anything above this .3% threshold is considered to be a marijuana plant and would be destroyed.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service announced that they will be investing $5.13 million in rural broadband in Utah and Western Colorado by connecting some 675 households in the area. This funding will come from the first round of the USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program, which is working toward connecting rural America.  

Dairy producer Dean Foods has filed for bankruptcy protection. In Utah, St. George Ice Cream is a division of Dean Foods and is the manufacturer of branded and private label ice cream products.

Early members of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints found refuge in the territory of Utah in 1846 after being forced out of the state of Missouri by the governor. Nearly 175 years later, Utah’s governor has asked President Donald Trump to allow more refugees to locate in Utah.

Utah’s egg industry is being recognized by the state’s department of agriculture and food because of the quality of the product and the number of eggs produced.  

In March we spring forward,  and now its time to fall back. Some people love it, while others hate it. Yes, its that time of year again where we need to change our clocks - at least this time we will gain an extra hour of sleep.

After going to a couple barrel racing events at the beginning of the month, a Weber County horse came down with horse herpes. It has been confirmed by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food as Utah’s first Herpesvirus- 1 case. 

The School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, or ASTE, ran into an interesting problem - the department keeps growing. Their solution? Divide the students and faculty of USU's College of Agriculture and Applied Science's largest department into two departments that can be better managed. This department divide will take place at both the Logan and Price Utah State University campuses.

As a way of helping to identify the difference between unwanted dirt and valuable soil, soil science students hold soil judging contests.  The most recent soil judging contest happened in Northern Utah.

4-H is the largest youth organization in the country, and this week Utah has been celebrating with events throughout the state. This year, organizers are emphasizing that 4-H isn’t just for those interested in agriculture.

Congress is getting closer to approving an updated plan for managing the increasing number of wild horses in the United States. The proposed bill increases the budget for the Bureau of Land Management by $50 million.