Agribusiness Update for Tuesday 4/30/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte has introduced the Agricultural Guestworker Act. The legislation would replace the H-2A program with H-2C - a new program that modernizes and streamlines the agricultural guestworker program. The introduction of the House legislation and the bill introduced in the Senate are important first steps in the immigration reform process.

USDA researchers are working on the development of soil, water and plant stress sensors and automated irrigation systems designed to irrigate fields only when necessary. The aim is to help farmers make the most of their water supplies. Technology that is designed for urban sites is being adapted to work in agriculture.

The Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to establish an emergency rule to allow farmers to legally shoot a wolf caught in the act of attacking their livestock or pets.  The department said they will use a broad definition of the word "attacking" to include wolves that are chasing or pursuing livestock or pets. The rule will only apply to the eastern third of the state where wolves have been federally delisted.

That’s today’s Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.