Interior proposes coveted deal to ex-client of agency head

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Interior Department is proposing to award one of the first contracts for federal water in perpetuity to a powerful rural California water district that had long employed Secretary David Bernhardt as a lobbyist. Conservation groups are demanding fuller disclosure of financial terms and...

State concedes law on raw milk ads is unconstitutional

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas farm couple prevailed in a lawsuit challenging a state law that limited advertising of raw milk. Shawnee County District Court Judge Richard Anderson signed a consent judgment Wednesday ending a lawsuit filed by goat farmers Coraleen and Mark Bunner, who run Shepherd's...

Evers promotes deputy after Senate fires agriculture leader

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers has promoted the deputy agriculture secretary after the Wisconsin Senate fired the head of the agency earlier this week. Evers' spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff on Thursday said that Randy Romanski will take over as interim secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade...

Farmers blamed for Delhi's pollution say they are helpless

AMRITSAR, India (AP) — Indian farmers said they're being unfairly criticized for causing the worst air pollution in the capital because of the burning of stubbles in fields. The air quality index stood at 273 on Thursday after authorities declared a health emergency last weekend when the index crossed 500...

Michigan House backs ban on cages for egg-laying hens

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan would become the fifth state to require that egg-laying hens be housed in cage-free areas under legislation approved by the state House on Wednesday. The main bill , which is part of a broader update of the state's animal industry law, would change and delay confinement...

High-tech chestnuts: US to consider genetically altered tree

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Chestnuts harvested from high branches on a chilly fall morning look typical: they're marble sized, russet colored and nestled in prickly burs. But many are like no other nuts in nature. In a feat of genetic engineering, about half the chestnuts collected at this college experiment...

Wisconsin GOP-controlled Senate fires agriculture secretary

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Senate fired the state agriculture secretary on Tuesday, and the Democratic governor who appointed him watched quietly a row behind lawmakers before using profanity to blast the process. The vote to oust Gov. Tony Evers' Cabinet secretary was the...

The Latest: Wisconsin governor lashes out at GOP Senate

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on firing of Wisconsin agriculture secretary (all times local): 3:40 p.m. Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is lashing out at Republicans who control the state Senate after they voted to fire his agriculture department secretary. Evers watched the debate Tuesday from...

Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate votes to fire state agriculture secretary appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate votes to fire state agriculture secretary appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Gov. Noem again says no to growing hemp in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem reiterated her opposition Tuesday to legalizing industrial hemp production in South Dakota, even in the face of new federal rules allowing the cash crop. Hemp is seen as a possible boon by many farmers, but Noem said in a statement that legalizing it is akin to...