NewzIntel.com

Category: Farming

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman, USDA Official Announce Disaster Relief for Michigan Farmers and Forest Landowners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    On Saturday, U.S. Representative Jack Bergman joined Michigan USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Joel Johnson to meet with maple syrup producers and announce critical federal relief for farmers and forest landowners impacted by the late March ice storm.

    Speaking with local producers, Rep. Bergman and Director Johnson confirmed that assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is on the way for Northern Michigan. Both programs are designed to help landowners recover from severe storm damage and restore their operations.

    “This is about getting real help into the hands of our people. Folks who grow our food, manage our forests, and contribute to the economy of Northern Michigan,” said Rep. Bergman. “I appreciate Director Johnson’s leadership in pushing for the flexibility and federal approvals needed to make these programs work on the ground, especially for unique operations like our maple syrup producers.”

    “We requested critical flexibilities to ensure producers can proceed with recovery efforts immediately and still retain critical ECP and EFRP access in the coming months” said Joel Johnson, State Executive Director for FSA in Michigan. “These flexibilities include a waiver of onsite inspection to expedite determination of need and approvals of restoration work and to forego the requirement of a producer request for work starting prior to submitting an application for certain emergency non-ground disturbance activities such as surface debris removal and fence repair. Before taking any other type of action, please call your local office.”

    Director Johnson emphasized that his office has been actively working with federal partners to secure the necessary waivers that allow the ECP and EFRP to be applied effectively in Michigan’s unique agricultural and forestry contexts.

    The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides funding to restore agricultural production on land damaged by natural disasters — including a new provision specific to Michigan’s maple sap operations that suffered significant damage to taps and tubing.

    Learn more about the ECP here: Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) | Farm Service Agency

    The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) assists owners of nonindustrial private forest land (NIPF) with recovery efforts. Eligible plots must be at least one acre in size, 120 feet wide, and at least 10% forested.

    Learn more about the EFRP here: Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) | Farm Service Agency

    Bergman encouraged all affected producers and forest owners to contact their local FSA offices immediately to learn more and determine their eligibility: “If you think these programs might apply to you, don’t wait – reach out today. Help is available.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Good-paying jobs, new technology coming to B.C.

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Building on the success of a three-year pilot, through Budget 2025, B.C. is investing $30 million over three years in the Integrated Marketplace program to help more technology companies scale up and bring more good-paying jobs to people in British Columbia.

    “B.C. is home to a vibrant, accelerating technology sector, and Web Summit Vancouver is the perfect place to demonstrate what we have to offer investors, companies and talent looking for new opportunities,” said Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “We want the world to know B.C. is open for business. The Integrated Marketplace program has shown great results and potential for much more. By working with our partners across levels of government, industry and academia, we are continuing to strengthen and diversify our economy, and creating valuable career opportunities for people in B.C.”

    Created to help local companies grow and showcase their technology in the province, the Integrated Marketplace program supports the adoption of B.C. solutions by companies located at strategic partner testbed locations, such as the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

    “British Columbia’s tech sector drives innovation and job creation across the province and across Canada,” said Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “PacifiCan is a proud founding partner of Integrated Marketplace, which serves as a powerful launchpad for local companies, accelerating their growth and expanding their reach, helping to build one strong Canadian economy.”

    Testbeds can be physical or conceptual locations where the Integrated Marketplace runs projects that use commercially ready products in real-world settings to confirm benefits and efficacy.

    “The Integrated Marketplace program helped accelerate our path to commercialization and global markets,” said Jessica Yip, COO and co-founder, A&K Robotics. “We are being approached by some of the world’s largest airport operators who want to implement our AI-enabled solution across their sites in Europe and Asia. I cannot wait to show the world the great innovations coming out of Vancouver.”

    To date, four testbeds have been announced: YVR, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the provincial health testbed hosted by Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services.

    “The Integrated Marketplace has been a catalyst for MarineLabs’ growth, proving what’s possible when you invest in homegrown innovation to improve marine safety and climate resilience in B.C. and beyond”, said Scott Beatty, CEO, MarineLabs. “With Innovate BC’s support, we’ve accelerated product development, grown our team and expanded into new markets. It’s a model that’s helping B.C. tech lead on a world stage.”

    Delivered by B.C.’s Crown agency, Innovate BC, the Integrated Marketplace allows B.C. companies to receive assistance and reduce the risks in adopting new technologies, boosting their productivity and competitiveness. At the same time, participating companies establish valuable Canadian references who support the companies’ ability to expand their business and grow into new markets.

    “This additional $30-million investment from the Province is a strong vote of confidence in B.C.’s innovation ecosystem and the real-world impact of the Integrated Marketplace,” said Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate BC. “It confirms what we’ve seen first-hand, that when we give local companies a platform to prove their solutions, we not only create home-grown success stories, we drive job creation, export B.C.-made solutions and help industries become more competitive, sustainable and resilient. This funding will allow us to continue expanding that impact across the province, addressing pressing challenges in productivity, emissions reduction and health and safety, while fuelling long-term economic prosperity.”

    This announcement builds on the Government of B.C.’s initial investment of $11.5 million, and the Government of Canada’s investment, through PacifiCan, of $9.9 million in the Integrated Marketplace.

    Quick Facts:

    • In May 2025, PacifiCan announced an additional $1.8 million investment in the Integrated Marketplace through its Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
    • To date, 17 solution providers have participated in the Integrated Marketplace program.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the Integrated Marketplace, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/integrated-marketplace

    For more about Innovate BC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/

    To learn more about A&K Robotics, visit: https://www.aandkrobotics.com/

    To learn more about MarineLabs Data Systems, visit: https://marinelabs.io/

    To learn more about PacifiCan, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development.html

    To learn more about Web Summit Vancouver, visit: https://vancouver.websummit.com/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ming Gao, Research Scholar of East Asia Studies, Lund University

    Japan’s agriculture minister, Taku Etō, resigned on May 21 just six months into his term, following a public backlash to his joke that he never buys rice because supporters give it to him for free.

    Gaffes are by no means uncommon in Japanese politics. Controversial remarks by one former prime minister, Tarō Asō, were routinely followed by retractions – and the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) even distributed a gaffe-prevention manual to its members in 2019.

    But amid a severe rice shortage, which has seen prices surge to 90% higher than they were a year ago, Etō’s quip was seen by the Japanese public as more than just an offhand comment.

    Rice has been a significant part of life in Japan for nearly 3,000 years. This deep connection is reflected in the Japanese word gohan, which means “cooked rice” but is often used simply to refer to a “meal”. Rice has also shaped the foundations of Japanese cuisine and farming culture.

    Such is the importance of rice to Japanese people that a spike in prices in 1918 led to a nationwide wave of protest. The so-called “rice riots” forced the then prime minister, Terauchi Masatake, to resign.

    However, despite its obvious importance, Japanese government policy in recent decades has been focused on tightly controlling and regulating the production of rice. It has endeavoured to keep prices high, partly to reward farmers who are an important support base for the LDP.

    This means consumers have paid a premium, contributing to a downward trend in rice consumption alongside other factors such as dietary diversification. By 2022, annual rice consumption in Japan had fallen to 51kg per person, less than half of what it was at its 1962 peak. In this context, the public reaction to Etō’s comment was understandable.

    Japan’s current prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, initially seemed prepared to weather the storm, advising Etō to retract his “problematic” remarks and remain in his post. But with elections approaching in July and Ishiba’s approval rating sinking to a record low of 21%, his administration was left with little choice and Etō ultimately resigned.

    The rice crisis has emerged as one of the defining issues of the upcoming election, which will determine whether Ishiba’s ruling coalition can secure a majority in the upper house of parliament. Having already lost its majority in the lower house in October 2024, the government may be set for another crushing defeat at the polls.

    Japan’s rice crisis

    A few factors have combined over the past year to cause rice prices to increase unexpectedly. Japan’s hottest September in 125 years resulted in poor harvests, while government warnings that a major earthquake off the country’s Pacific coast could be imminent triggered panic buying. The agriculture ministry also says that a surge in inbound tourism contributed to a sudden rise in rice consumption.

    However, the rice crisis is not fundamentally the result of climate volatility or increased demand. It is the product of decades of self-defeating agricultural policy that has prioritised institutional interests over national food security.

    Rice production caps, which were introduced in 1971 to control supply and prices, have never been fully dismantled even as domestic consumption has changed and the farming population decreased. This artificial control of output has left the country ill-prepared for demand surges.

    Compounding these issues are entrenched protectionist measures designed to shield small-scale rice farmers through high tariffs and rigid distribution systems. These distortions have prioritised institutional stability and political patronage over food security reform, leaving Japan increasingly vulnerable in an era of climate disruption and supply chain instability.

    Having struggled with low wages for years, many sectors of Japan’s population are now grappling with inflation. The government has dug into its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to alleviate the problem, but the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. And some farmers, increasingly frustrated by regulations limiting how much rice they can grow, have even organised demonstrations.

    Under current conditions, imported rice is becoming an unavoidable fallback. Japan is importing rice from South Korea for the first time in over 25 years, while Japanese tourists are reportedly filling their suitcases with Korean rice – despite deep-seated scepticism toward anything not domestically grown.

    Political change looming?

    With rice prices soaring and public discontent mounting, this beloved everyday grain is once again at the centre of Japanese politics – just as it was more than a century ago during the 1918 rice riots.

    Despite the complexities of modern economies, connected to global systems of market exchange, Japanese consumers understand that government policies have played an oversized role in creating the current crisis. It is largely policy that has kept their wages low and failed to rein in inflation.

    Consumers are also keenly aware that the LDP’s rice policy has worked to protect its critical agricultural support base, a situation strongly reflected in Etō’s joke.

    As the government scrambles to get its house in order and put more affordable rice back on the table, a deeper reflection of the past seems advisable. Historical precedents, such as the 1918 riots, suggest that strong public distrust of a government’s rice policy results in profound political change.

    Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.

    Timothy Amos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government – https://theconversation.com/soaring-rice-prices-are-stirring-political-trouble-in-japan-history-shows-this-often-leads-to-a-change-of-government-257490

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mobile Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution and Maintaining a Drug Premises

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Montgomery, AL – On May 29, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 41-year-old Corey Jeremaine Burroughs of Mobile, Alabama, to 195 months in prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as maintaining a drug premises. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and DEA New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement today. The judge also ordered Burroughs to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began investigating the trafficking of contraband into multiple Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facilities prior to 2023. Agents identified Burroughs—a former ADOC inmate—as a suspect.

    On April 18, 2023, law enforcement stopped Burroughs shortly after he left a Montgomery residence. Officers found marijuana and “flakka,” an illegal controlled substance commonly smuggled into prisons. On April 19, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant at the Montgomery residence associated with Burroughs. Inside the residence, agents discovered multiple illegal controlled substances, including marijuana and methamphetamine located in a box on the kitchen counter, and vacuum-sealed bags containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. In total, investigators seized over a pound of methamphetamine.

    The search also uncovered drug distribution tools, including a digital scale, a hydraulic compress, and vacuum sealing equipment. Other common prison contraband items such as wireless headphones and cell phones were also recovered. The residence appeared uninhabited and was being used solely for the storage and packaging of illegal narcotics and contraband for distribution.

    “This case reflects our office’s continued commitment to disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities and correctional facilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Mr. Burroughs exploited his knowledge of the prison system to further his criminal activity, and now he is being held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who jeopardize public safety through drug trafficking.”

    “Thanks to the diligent work of our dedicated agents and partners, we’ve removed a significant number of illicit narcotics and dangerous contraband that was destined for Alabama prisons,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “We will continue to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who profit from illicit drug activity.”

    The Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Mark E. Andreu prosecuting.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Awards Over $1 Million to the Divine Nine Organizations in Miami-Dade

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

    Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., awarded over $1 million to the Divine Nine Organizations in Miami-Dade County.

    The purpose of the Divine Nine Congressional Earmark is to upgrade, renovate, and build spaces where Divine Nine Organizations and the community can gather to teach and mentor our youth. It is our hope that these spaces will be used to especially expose our children to our history and our culture. In order to draw down funding, the charitable foundations must prove that they are purchasing, building, upgrading or refurbishing properties.

    “I am especially concerned about preserving our history, which is being whitewashed across our nation,” said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. “African-American history IS American History, and we have a responsibility to protect it from erasure, extinction, and exploitation. We must leave a legacy for our children that must endure for generations.”

    Additional notables in attendance included former International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and former President of Tennessee State University Dr. Glenda Glover; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, City of Miami Gardens Councilman Reggie Leon, and City of Miami Gardens Councilwoman Katrina Wilson.

    Derek Lightfoot from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. said, “The funds will be used to improve our existing fraternity house and community center. The improvements will include a new roof, hurricane windows and doors. This funding will further our initiatives to provide critical mentoring to youth in our community.”

    Dr. Luvernice Croskey from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. said, “This award will allow us to expand and update our 8,000 sq ft facilities. These facilities strengthen our community.  Thank you again for this opportunity.”

    Annette Brantley from Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc said, “These funds will help with our Allene Taylor Memorial Center. It’s a legacy whose refurbishment will offer critical services that directly benefit our community, our new mentorship program, parenting counseling and support, tutoring, house assistance, community support and activities, and finally restore a cornerstone of our community.”

    Carolyn Donaldson from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. said, “Our Zeta Center has served as a cornerstone of service. Over the past 30 years, we have provided a wide range of activities to the community. Youth mentorship, literacy support, maternal help, food distributions. It was in 2022 that we launched a comprehensive initiative to renovate and repurpose our facility.”

    Brandon Fennell from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., said, “This grant will allow us to make vital upgrades to the Omega Activity Center, which has been serving the county since 1990. We will be able to transform the center into a safer innovation space where we can continue to educate our youth and create space to connect and thrive together.”

    Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated said, “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is 117 years old. It is the first Black sorority in the country and the largest. This sorority was given funds to purchase land to build a sorority house. As we move forward, we will continue to grow and push the limits on how many lives we can impact. We are the heart of our community, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha house will serve as a place for all children to enjoy.”

    Approximately 200 people were in attendance. Line dancing, strolling, and stepping were part of the celebration which included a presentation by the ‘Miami Gardens Super Soul Steppers.’

    In attendance were the leaders of the following organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter, the W.I.S.H. Foundation Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Dade County Alumnae Chapter, the Dade Deltas Foundation Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Beta Tau Zeta Chapter, the Zeta Blue Network, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Sigma Alpha Chapter, the Omega Activity Center Foundation Inc., Sig Al Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Beta Beta Lambda Chapter, the Beta Beta Lambda AlphaLand Community Development Corporation Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Gamma Delta Sigma Chapter, the Allene V. Taylor Memorial Center Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Miami Alumni Chapter, the Miami Alumni Kappa Foundation Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Rho Sigma Chapter, and the White Dove Community Foundation Inc.

    This project was funded through a Congressional Earmark obtained by Congresswoman Wilson for the Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional Appropriations.

    The event was held at the Omega Activity Center at Florida Memorial University, 15600 NW 42nd Ave, Opa-locka, FL 33054.

    For photos and B-Roll, click here.

    For the full video of the event, click here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Solar panels’ shade helps boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Sturchio, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University; Faculty Afffiliate in Ecology, Colorado State University

    Solar panels on grasslands can generate electricity and useful forage or wildlife habitat. Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    Grasses growing in the shade of a solar array were only a little less productive than those growing nearby in open grassland during years of average and above-average rainfall – but in a dry year, the shaded plants grew much better than those growing in full sun. That’s the result of a four-year study we conducted in a semi-arid grassland of northern Colorado.

    When choosing a location for generating solar power, consistent sunlight and interconnection to the electric grid are key criteria. In Colorado the combination of new electrical transmission infrastructure, abundant sunlight and short vegetation that is easy to maintain have made grasslands a prime target for solar development.

    Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock. Although these grasslands have long been productive despite their normally arid environment, a warmer climate has increased the potential for more frequent and severe drought. For instance, a recent global study found that previous research likely underestimated the threat of extreme drought in grasslands.

    Semi-arid grassland near Cheyenne, Wyo., with close-ups of flowers of some of the plants that grow there.
    Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    At Colorado State University, biology professor Alan Knapp and I started the ecovoltaics research group to study the effects of solar development in grasslands. Our primary goal is to ensure an ecologically informed solar energy future.

    Solar panels create microclimates

    Strings of solar panels redirect rain to the edge of panels. Because of this, small rain events can provide biologically relevant amounts of water instead of evaporating quickly.

    Simultaneously, solar panels shade plants growing beneath them. Some arrays, including the ones used in our study, move the panels to follow the path of the Sun across the sky.

    This results in a combination of sun and shade that is very different from the uninterrupted sunlight beating down on plants in a grassland without solar panels. In turn, patterns of plant stress and water loss also differ in grasses under solar arrays.

    A time-lapse video shows how a single-axis tracking solar array at Jack’s Solar Garden modifies patterns of sunlight availability.

    How grasses respond to a solar panel canopy

    To get a handle on how these different conditions affect grasses, we measured plant physiological response during the early stages of our study. More specifically, we tracked leaf carbon and water exchange throughout daylight hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., over 16 weeks in summer 2022 at Jack’s Solar Garden, a solar array over grassland in Longmont, Colorado.

    In general, plants that are adapted to full sun conditions, including most grasses, might not be expected to grow as well in partial shade. But we suspected that growth benefits from reduced water stress could outweigh potential reductions in growth from shading. We call this the “aridity mitigation potential” hypothesis.

    Sure enough, we found evidence of aridity mitigation across multiple years, with the most pronounced effect during the driest year.

    When water is scarce, increases in grassland productivity are more valuable because there isn’t as much around. Therefore, increasing grassland production in dry years could provide more available food for grazing animals and help offset some of the economic harm of drought in rangelands.

    Informing sustainable solar development in grasslands

    So far, our research has been limited to a grassland dominated by a cool season grass: smooth brome. Although it is a perennial commonly planted for hay, fields dominated by smooth brome lack the diversity of life found in native grasslands.

    Future work in native shortgrass prairies would provide new information about how solar panels affect plant water use, soils and grazing management in an ecosystem with 30% less precipitation than Jack’s Solar Garden. We’re beginning that work now at the shortgrass ecovoltaic research facility near Nunn, Colorado. This facility, which will be fully operational later in 2025, was constructed with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the wider SCAPES project.

    Testing the effects of solar panels over grasslands in a native ecosystem with even greater aridity will help us develop a clearer picture of ways solar energy can be developed in concert with grassland health.

    Matthew Sturchio works for Cornell University and serves as a Faculty Affiliate at Colorado State University. Funding for this work came from US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems project entitled “Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems,” led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grant Number: 2021-68012-35898, 2021–2025.

    – ref. Solar panels’ shade helps boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years – https://theconversation.com/solar-panels-shade-helps-boost-colorado-grassland-productivity-in-dry-years-257082

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USDA Researchers Find Viruses from Miticide Resistant Parasitic Mites are Cause of Recent Honey Bee Colony Collapses

    Source: US Agriculture Research Service

    USDA Researchers Find Viruses from Miticide Resistant Parasitic Mites are Cause of Recent Honey Bee Colony Collapses

    By: Autumn Canaday
    Email: arspress@usda.gov

    WASHINGTON, May 30, 2025 – Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) are helping American beekeepers solve the mystery behind a widespread honey bee colony collapse and its debilitating effects on U.S. agriculture. Researchers have submitted a manuscript to a scientific journal for peer review based on our research findings that identified high levels of deformed wing virus A and B and acute bee paralysis in all recently USDA-sampled bees. 

    These viruses are responsible for recent honey bee colony collapses and losses across the U.S. Since the viruses are known to be spread by parasitic Varroa destructor (Varroa) mites, ARS scientists screened the mites from collapsed colonies and found signs of resistance to amitraz, a critical miticide used widely by beekeepers. This miticide resistance was found in virtually all collected Varroa, underscoring the need for new parasitic treatment strategies. 

    “Our nation’s food supply thrives, and is sustained, by the work of our pollinators,” said Acting ARS Administrator Joon Park. “USDA scientists continue to research major stressors and new parasite treatment strategies, which will help reduce the agricultural challenge presented by the Varroa mites in honey bee colonies.” 

    In January 2025, commercial beekeepers began reporting severe losses in commercially managed operations. As losses unfolded, it was evident that over 60% of commercial beekeeping colonies had been lost since the prior summer, representing 1.7 million colonies and an estimated financial impact of $600 million. 

    ARS scientists collected colony and bee samples from across California and other western states in February 2025, prior to almond pollination. 

    The USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, analyzed the parasites and pathogens from all samples and focused on individual bees exhibiting behavior known to precede death by minutes or hours. Viruses were indicated in both pooled samples from surviving colonies, and in individual bees showing behavioral morbidities. 

    “While viruses are a likely end-stage cause of colony death, these results do not rule out the importance of other long known challenges to honey bees,” said ARS Research Leader Dr. Judy Chen. 

    As the primary managed pollinator, the Apis mellifera, is an integral component of agriculture, providing key pollination services for a wide variety of crops and over one-third of U.S. produce. The value of crops that require bee pollination is estimated to be more than $20 billion annually in the U.S. and $387 billion globally.  

    ARS researchers will continue to screen honey bees and their colonies for other known stressors and determine the best way to mitigate these stressors, mite infection, and subsequent colony loss.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada diversifies trade in the Indo-Pacific region through the Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 30, 2025 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, the Government of Canada concluded a successful Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) to Thailand and Cambodia. The delegation, led by Sara Wilshaw, Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade, brought together more than 150 representatives from over 90 Canadian organizations, of which 80% are small and medium-sized enterprises, to explore the unique business opportunities that Thailand and Cambodia have to offer.

    As Canada works to build a stronger, more resilient economy, the Team Canada approach to trade missions is a proven tool that generates economic benefits for Canadians. As a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, this TCTM opened doors for Canadian businesses in a wide range of sectors to:

    • form new connections in 2 of Southeast Asia’s emerging markets
    • diversify their trade strategies
    • increase their resilience
    • develop products and services that benefit Canada

    During the TCTM’s business-to-business sessions, Ms. Wilshaw saw Canadian, Thai and Cambodian companies in action. She was impressed by the number of meaningful connections made between Canada and its trade partners through this trade mission.

    In Bangkok, Thailand, Ms. Wilshaw met with Dr. Nalinee Taveesin, President of Thailand Trade Representatives and Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand. She also spoke with members of the board of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and senior executives of the Charoen Pokphand Group, the largest Thai investor in Canada. In doing so, she highlighted Canada’s work in expanding trade, investment and supply-chain resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. For example, she noted the opening of a 12th Export Development Canada representation in Bangkok, which helps Canadian companies diversify into the Indo-Pacific region, resulting in more and better business opportunities for Canadians. She also noted Canada’s 15 free trade agreements, spanning 51 countries, as the foundation of Canada’s trade-diversification efforts.

    In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ms. Wilshaw met with Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Sok Siphana, Senior Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister; Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce; and Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. She spoke about mutual trade and investment priorities, sector-specific opportunities and the progress being made on a free trade agreement between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She also highlighted Canada’s commitment to deepening its engagement in Cambodia under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. She noted that Canada’s presence in Phnom Penh was upgraded to an embassy in March 2025 and that this TCTM was the largest-ever Canadian delegation to visit Cambodia.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Solar arrays help boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Sturchio, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University; Faculty Afffiliate in Ecology, Colorado State University

    Solar panels on grasslands can generate electricity and useful forage or wildlife habitat. Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    Grasses growing in the shade of a solar array were only a little less productive than those growing nearby in open grassland during years of average and above-average rainfall – but in a dry year, the shaded plants grew much better than those growing in full sun. That’s the result of a four-year study we conducted in a semi-arid grassland of northern Colorado.

    When choosing a location for generating solar power, consistent sunlight and interconnection to the electric grid are key criteria. In Colorado the combination of new electrical transmission infrastructure, abundant sunlight and short vegetation that is easy to maintain have made grasslands a prime target for solar development.

    Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock. Although these grasslands have long been productive despite their normally arid environment, a warmer climate has increased the potential for more frequent and severe drought. For instance, a recent global study found that previous research likely underestimated the threat of extreme drought in grasslands.

    Semi-arid grassland near the Colorado-Wyoming border.
    Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND
    Semi-arid grassland near Cheyenne, Wyo., with close-ups of flowers of some of the plants that grow there.
    Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND

    At Colorado State University, biology professor Alan Knapp and I started the ecovoltaics research group to study the effects of solar development in grasslands. Our primary goal is to ensure an ecologically informed solar energy future.

    Solar panels create microclimates

    Strings of solar panels redirect rain to the edge of panels. Because of this, small rain events can provide biologically relevant amounts of water instead of evaporating quickly.

    Simultaneously, solar panels shade plants growing beneath them. Some arrays, including the ones used in our study, move the panels to follow the path of the Sun across the sky.

    This results in a combination of sun and shade that is very different from the uninterrupted sunlight beating down on plants in a grassland without solar panels. In turn, patterns of plant stress and water loss also differ in grasses under solar arrays.

    A time-lapse video shows how a single-axis tracking solar array at Jack’s Solar Garden modifies patterns of sunlight availability.

    How grasses respond to a solar panel canopy

    To get a handle on how these different conditions affect grasses, we measured plant physiological response during the early stages of our study. More specifically, we tracked leaf carbon and water exchange throughout daylight hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., over 16 weeks in summer 2022 at Jack’s Solar Garden, a solar array over grassland in Longmont, Colorado.

    In general, plants that are adapted to full sun conditions, including most grasses, might not be expected to grow as well in partial shade. But we suspected that growth benefits from reduced water stress could outweigh potential reductions in growth from shading. We call this the “aridity mitigation potential” hypothesis.

    Sure enough, we found evidence of aridity mitigation across multiple years, with the most pronounced effect during the driest year.

    When water is scarce, increases in grassland productivity are more valuable because there isn’t as much around. Therefore, increasing grassland production in dry years could provide more available food for grazing animals and help offset some of the economic harm of drought in rangelands.

    Informing sustainable solar development in grasslands

    So far, our research has been limited to a grassland dominated by a cool season grass: smooth brome. Although it is a perennial commonly planted for hay, fields dominated by smooth brome lack the diversity of life found in native grasslands.

    Future work in native shortgrass prairies would provide new information about how solar panels affect plant water use, soils and grazing management in an ecosystem with 30% less precipitation than Jack’s Solar Garden. We’re beginning that work now at the shortgrass ecovoltaic research facility near Nunn, Colorado. This facility, which will be fully operational later in 2025, was constructed with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the wider SCAPES project.

    Testing the effects of solar panels over grasslands in a native ecosystem with even greater aridity will help us develop a clearer picture of ways solar energy can be developed in concert with grassland health.

    Matthew Sturchio works for Cornell University and serves as a Faculty Affiliate at Colorado State University. Funding for this work came from US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems project entitled “Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems,” led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grant Number: 2021-68012-35898, 2021–2025.

    – ref. Solar arrays help boost Colorado grassland productivity in dry years – https://theconversation.com/solar-arrays-help-boost-colorado-grassland-productivity-in-dry-years-257082

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Don Davis Jointly Leads Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Don Davis (D-NC-01) and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN-02) introduced the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act of 2025 as original cosponsors, alongside House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-AR-02), House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee Chair Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), Bryan Steil (R-WI-01), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), and Warren Davidson (R-OH-08).

    “Families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across our country, including rural areas in eastern North Carolina, seek ways to engage in the modern economy. Digital assets present a chance for a more inclusive financial future, but we need clear rules and fair oversight for innovation to thrive. Congress must ensure that America shapes digital finance, creates opportunities, protects consumers, and supports overlooked communities,” said Congressman Davis, the ranking member of the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee.

    The CLARITY Act establishes a new regulatory framework for the issuance and trading of digital assets by outlining specific criteria for when a digital asset is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the legislation’s regulatory framework, the CFTC would be given regulatory authority over the “digital commodities” market. This market would include digital assets related to blockchain systems deemed “mature,” or largely decentralized. While the bill provides clarity regarding what types of digital assets would fall under the “digital commodity” definition, it directs the CFTC and SEC to define several key terms through agency rulemakings. Notably, the bill would give the CFTC authority over most secondary market crypto transactions where investors buy and sell previously issued crypto assets. 

    As with Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act from the previous Congress, the bill would grant CFTC new authorities, generally providing it exclusive jurisdiction over “cash” or “spot” market digital commodity transactions (with some exceptions) and requiring CFTC registration for entities (including exchanges, brokers and dealers) offering trade in digital commodities. The bill would impose certain requirements on intermediaries, including ensuring trading is not susceptible to manipulation, requiring disclosures, customer fund segregation and addressing market integrity and recordkeeping requirements.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Nimanode’s $NMA Presale Demand Surges, Positions For Explosive Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nimanode is the first platform of its kind to deliver a zero-code solution for launching on-chain AI agents that can perform complex blockchain tasks such as smart contract development, DeFi optimization, compliance monitoring, and Web3 user support. The platform’s no-code interface makes it accessible to both developers and non-technical users, providing drag-and-drop workflows to configure, test, and launch autonomous agents on-chain in minutes.

    Building on XRPL was the priority for them, “We’re bringing AI automation to the heart of Web3 through XRPL, and doing it with usability in mind,” said the Nimanode founding team. “Our mission is to simplify intelligent infrastructure and put real on-chain power in the hands of every user.” They chose a blockchain with speed , security and scalibilty in mind.

    Presale Page

    Designed for the XRP Ecosystem

    Built natively on XRPL, Nimanode leverages the blockchain’s speed, low fees, and scalability to enable high-frequency, low-latency AI agent execution. The platform’s agents are capable of:

    • Executing smart contracts via XRPL Hooks
    • Scanning wallets and tokens for real-time risk
    • Monitoring compliance in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs)
    • Managing liquidity and maximizing APY across XRPL protocols
    • Operating 24/7 as decentralized customer support interfaces

    $NMA Presale

    Unlocking the Agent Economy

    At the core of Nimanode is the Agent Marketplace, where users can license, share, and monetize AI agents with other users and businesses. Combined with its SDK for developers and drag-and-drop builder for creators, Nimanode is positioning itself as a hub for Web3 automation and on-chain labor.

    $NMA, the platform’s utility token, is used for:

    • Deploying and upgrading agents
    • Licensing agents via the marketplace
    • Staking to earn protocol rewards
    • Participating in decentralized governance

    $NMA Token Sale Now Live

    As part of its official launch, Nimanode has begun the presale of its native token, $NMA. A total of 90 million tokens (45% of the 200 million supply) are available during the presale.

    Participants can purchase $NMA tokens using XRP by sending funds directly from XRPL-compatible wallets (such as XAMAN) to the official Nimanode presale address listed on their Presale Page. All transactions are recorded on-chain for full transparency.

    Presale contributors will receive $NMA at an early-access rate, prior to the token’s public listing on decentralized exchanges at a projected 25% markup post-sale.

    Don’t Miss Out on Nimanode

    Nimanode is a decentralized AI agent platform built on the XRP Ledger, offering no-code and developer tools to deploy on-chain AI agents that automate blockchain activity, optimize protocol interaction, and monetize intelligent services. By bridging AI with decentralized infrastructure, Nimanode is building the next evolution of digital work and Web3 automation.

    Connect with Nimanode

    Website: https://nimanode.com

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/nimanodeai

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80fe44e4-8452-4862-a8e1-0fcc3adb5477

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT), a manufacturer and seller of sustainable edible oils to customers globally, today announced financial results for its third quarter fiscal 2025 ended March 31, 2025.

    Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Compared to Prior Year

    • Sales revenue increased 49.8% to A$9.4 million driven by broad-based growth across retail, wholesale and high protein meal categories.
    • Retail oil revenue increased 69.4% to A$4.7 million reflecting expanded distribution at several leading retailers in Australia along with the addition of new SKUs.
    • Net loss of A$0.6 million compared to net income of A$41 thousand, reflecting changes to sales mix, planned investments in brand and marketing, as well as higher professional fees, insurance and employee costs.

    “We were pleased to deliver strong year-over-year growth in the third quarter, led by our retail category where our expanded distribution network and broader product lineup drove results,” said Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer. “We also saw robust demand across customers and channels, validating our commitment to premium quality. We remain steadfast in our commitment to eliminating chemicals from the edible oil production and manufacturing systems and continue to believe we are well positioned for significant growth and improving returns over the long term.”

    About Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited. Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) through its subsidiaries, including Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd., an Australian proprietary company, is focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for June 30, 2024 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Amarjeet Singh, CFO
    Email: amarjeet.s@energreennutrition.com.au

    Investor Relations Contact
    Reed Anderson
    (646) 277-1260
    reed.anderson@icrinc.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited Announces Conversion of Existing A$5 Million of Debt to Equity, Strengthening Balance Sheet Moving Forward

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT), a manufacturer and seller of sustainable edible oils to customers globally, today announced a A$5 million debt-to-equity conversion (the “Conversion”).

    In connection with the conversion, JSKS Enterprises Pty Ltd., (“JSKS”), an entity controlled by Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, converted approximately A$5 million of its outstanding loan into 4,452,479 shares of Company’s ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share (“Ordinary Shares”).

    Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We continue to be very pleased with the momentum and trajectory of our business. The decision to convert a meaningful portion of debt to equity strengthens our balance sheet and enhances financial flexibility while also demonstrating the long-term commitment to the Company’s future by management and its shareholders, which will reduce our debt by A$5 million and increases our shareholders’ equity by the same amount, and is in line with our strategy to optimize our capital structure.”

    Pursuant to the Conversion, the principal amount of all loans made to the Company by JSKS, along with accrued interest through April 30, 2025, will be deemed repaid by the Company and all of its obligations with respect to the principal amount and accrued interest will be satisfied in full and cancelled. In exchange, the Company has issued to JSKS 4,452,479 Ordinary Shares. 

    About Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited. Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) through its subsidiaries, including Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd., an Australian proprietary company, is focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for June 30, 2024 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Amarjeet Singh, CFO
    Email: amarjeet.s@energreennutrition.com.au

    Investor Relations Contact
    Reed Anderson
    (646) 277-1260
    reed.anderson@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HDOA Specialty Crop Grant Program Accepting Applications

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    HDOA Specialty Crop Grant Program Accepting Applications

    Posted on May 29, 2025 in Main

    Grant Funding Totals More than $500,000

    NR25-12
     May 29, 2025

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Market Development Branch (MDB), is accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for Fiscal Year 2025. The funding for this year’s program totals $512,663 and seeks project proposals that increase the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops. Award amounts range from $20,000 to $50,000.

    Under the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated funding to each state based on the value of the specialty crops produced. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Much of Hawai‘i’s diversified agriculture falls under this specialty crop designation.

    Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local, state and federal government entities, for-profit organizations, universities and individuals for projects that enhance the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops. Applicants must reside in, or their business or educational affiliation must be registered in Hawai‘i.

    The primary goal of this grant program is to support projects that could provide the highest measurable benefits or return-on-investment to the specialty crop segment in Hawai‘i. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of Hawai‘i-grown specialty crops, in either domestic or foreign markets. Preference will be given to projects that measurably increase the production and/or consumption of specialty crops, and/or foster the development of fledging crops and organic operations.

    Application information for the Request for Proposals (RFP25-03-MDB) is available on the State Procurement Office website at: https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities

    The application deadline is noon on June 20, 2025.

    To assist applicants, an instructional video will be posted on the SCBGP website at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/scbgp/

    Inquiries may be addressed to 808-973-9594 or email: [email protected]

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Appointments to Advisory Committee on Agriculture and FisheriesMr Anthony Lam Sai-hoMs Cheuk Fung-ting
    Ms Katie Chick Hiu-lai
    Mr Chu Kam-ming
    Mr Chung Ka-yau
    Mr Fung Kin-chung
    Ms Tendy Lam Pui-tung
    Mr John Lau Hon-kit
    Ms Lau Kam-fung
    Dr Lau Kin-wai
    Mr Noah Law Yiu-wing
    Ms Lee Man-sa
    Mr Leung Ming-kin
    Mr Ling Man-sum
    Mr James Ling Wai-hon
    Ms Merlinda Ng Man-ling
    Mr Poon Cheuk-man
    Dr Yan Wa-tat
    Professor Yen Hui-ling
    Legislative Council Member representing the Agriculture and Fisheries Constituency (Ex-officio Member)
    Representative of the Environment and Ecology Bureau
    Representative of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
    Issued at HKT 15:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farmers Have Found Their Voice – The Minister Must Listen or Go

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

    “On Wednesday afternoon, I attended the NAP consultation event at Greenmount to stand with farmers and the wider agri-food industry and deliver a clear message: enough is enough. These proposals must be withdrawn.

    “Farmers are the true custodians of our countryside. Any future environmental policy must be developed in partnership with them—not imposed on them.

    “If Minister Muir had any serious concern for the agri sector, he would have been present to hear the fear and anger in that room. But he wasn’t. In fact, there wasn’t a single representative from his party in the room. The industry was left to face civil servants, none of whom could even raise a hand in support of the proposals they were sent to defend.

    “Not one.

    “And while the Department could cite figures on agriculture, they had no answers—none—on the impact of NI Water or septic tanks on water quality. When I asked about food security, they had nothing. The silence spoke volumes.

    “Worse still, there was no sign of any meaningful consultation. No one from the Department appeared to be recording feedback from the Q&A session—despite speaker after speaker rising with heartfelt conviction, warning of the devastating impact these plans will have on their livelihoods and the future of farming in Northern Ireland.

    “Who is consulting with who? Because from today’s meeting, it looks like the Department is consulting with itself.

    “Farmers have found their voice. If the Minister won’t listen, he should go. In truth, I’d welcome both.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Scheduled Banks’ Statement of Position in India as on Friday, May 16, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    (Amount in ₹ crore)
      SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL BANKS
    (Including RRBs, SFBs and PBs)    		 ALL SCHEDULED BANKS
    17-May-2024 02-May-2025* 16-May-2025* 17-May-2024 02-May-2025* 16-May-2025*
    I LIABILITIES TO THE BKG.SYSTEM (A)            
      a) Demand & Time deposits from banks 289665.55 349543.61 356140.08 293548.27 355582.28 362127.16**
      b) Borrowings from banks 162652.31 110268.37 112764.97 162655.67 110369.38 112767.97
      c) Other demand & time liabilities 74638.62 23238.10 23875.31 74865.42 23598.95 24262.77
    II LIABILITIES TO OTHERS (A)            
      a) Deposits (other than from banks) 20814780.08 23034245.19 22887588.61 21273332.24 23526182.04 23379289.97
      i) Demand 2407754.17 2918312.92 2841891.13 2457236.72 2969172.27 2892038.03
      ii) Time 18407025.91 20115932.27 20045697.48 18816095.52 20557009.77 20487251.94
      b) Borrowings @ 775774.36 868678.78 893728.27 779950.70 873014.81 898148.91
      c) Other demand & time liabilities 911191.51 1032332.99 998206.66 922791.96 1045482.05 1011114.42
    III BORROWINGS FROM R.B.I. (B) 161708.00 23458.00 23081.00 161708.00 23458.00 23081.00
      Against usance bills and / or prom. Notes     0.00     0.00
    IV CASH 84024.93 85894.00 85227.91 86536.63 88644.27 88034.90
    V BALANCES WITH R.B.I. (B) 950567.00 933070.35 928136.28 970618.00 952554.47 947302.36
    VI ASSETS WITH BANKING SYSTEM            
      a) Balances with other banks            
      i) In current accounts 9326.29 11987.03 11091.36 12032.22 14241.88 13330.22
      ii) In other accounts 179256.31 218568.59 233058.58 225178.94 280652.29 295070.10
      b) Money at call & short notice 14392.25 22530.69 17715.86 31978.36 41158.85 35986.40
      c) Advances to banks (i.e. due from bks.) 55883.81 38603.84 39786.83 58023.80 41591.12 42530.76£
      d) Other assets 119988.70 76547.84 78018.32 122833.28 80505.40 81982.16
    VII INVESTMENTS (At book value) 6199638.21 6713623.38 6680561.08 6352519.19 6867766.57 6834811.70
      a) Central & State Govt. securities+ 6198671.95 6713009.68 6680032.89 6344840.42 6859431.14 6826362.09
      b) Other approved securities 966.27 613.70 528.19 7678.77 8335.43 8449.61
    VIII BANK CREDIT (Excluding Inter-Bank Advances) 16601013.84 18284956.79 18228295.86 17036200.63 18752419.76 18695312.44
      a) Loans, cash credits & Overdrafts $ 16288503.21 17944355.56 17891538.64 16720375.59 18408325.48 18355139.20
      b) Inland Bills purchased 63646.64 80615.14 79832.65 63651.17 82034.32 81180.34
      c) Inland Bills discounted 207787.09 223812.18 221259.31 210442.27 224781.12 222739.64
      d) Foreign Bills purchased 16651.15 14036.24 14020.23 16875.71 14258.33 14240.69
      e) Foreign Bills discounted 24425.75 22137.66 21645.03 24855.88 23020.51 22012.57
    NOTE
    * Provisional figures incorporated in respect of such banks as have not been able to submit final figures.
    (A) Demand and Time Liabilities do not include borrowings of any Scheduled State Co-operative Bank from State Government and any reserve fund deposits maintained with such banks by any co-operative society within the areas of operation of such banks.
    ** This excludes deposits of Co-operative Banks with Scheduled State Co-operative Banks. These are included under item II (a).
    @ Other than from Reserve Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Export Import Bank of India.
    (B) The figures relating to Scheduled Commercial Banks’ Borrowings in India from Reserve Bank and balances with Reserve Bank are those shown in the statement of affairs of the Reserve Bank. Borrowings against usance bills and/ or promissory notes are under Section 17(4)(c) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Following a change in the accounting practise for LAF transactions with effect from July 11, 2014, as per the recommendations of Malegam Committee formed to Review the Format of Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account of the Bank, the transactions in case of Repo / Term Repo / MSF are reflected under ‘Borrowings from RBI’.
    £ This excludes advances granted by Scheduled State Co-operative Banks to Co-operative banks. These are included under item VIII (a).
    + Includes Treasury Bills, Treasury Deposits, Treasury Savings Certificates and postal obligations.
    $ Includes advances granted by Scheduled Commercial Banks and Scheduled Cooperative Banks to Public Food Procurement Agencies (viz. Food Corporation of India, State Government and their agencies under the Food consortium).
    Food Credit Outstanding as on
    (Amount in ₹ crore)
    Date 17-May-2024 02-May-2025 16-May-2025
    Scheduled Commercial Banks 41273.49 62446.15 68078.36
    Scheduled Co-operative Banks 50623.09 51972.66 51972.99

    The expression ‘Banking System’ or ‘Banks’ means the banks and any other financial institution referred to in sub-clauses (i) to (vi) of clause (d) of the explanation below Section 42(1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

    No. of Scheduled Commercial Banks as on Current Fortnight:135

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/440

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. Announces Pricing of Common Stock Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”) today announced the pricing of an offering of 18,750,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $4.00 per share (the “Offering”). The Offering is being made pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has granted the underwriters of the Offering, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,812,500 shares of common stock, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts. The Offering is expected to close on June 2, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The net proceeds from the Offering will be $70,500,000 (or $81,075,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, together with the net proceeds from the offering of the notes referred to below, if it is consummated, (i) to repurchase the full $126 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 5%/6% Convertible Senior PIK Toggle Note due 2026 in a privately negotiated transaction for approximately $131 million; (ii) to prepay $50 million of outstanding borrowings due under its credit agreement, dated June 21, 2024, by and between Eos and CCM Denali Debt Holdings, LP (the “Credit Agreement”); and (iii) for general corporate purposes. Upon the prepayment of $50 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, the PIK interest rate under the Credit Agreement will decrease from 15% to 7% and the financial covenants thereunder will be waived until 2027. CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP has agreed that upon the consummation of the offering it will not transfer any securities issued to it under the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 21, 2024, between the Company and CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP prior to June 21, 2026.

    In a separate press release, the Company also announced today the pricing of its previously announced private offering of $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.75% convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”), plus up to an additional $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of notes that the initial purchasers of the note offering have the option to purchase from the Company. The issuance and sale of the notes are scheduled to settle on June 3, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The completion of the offering of common stock is not contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes, and the completion of the offering of notes is not contingent on the completion of the offering of common stock. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any notes or shares of common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the notes.

    Jefferies and J.P. Morgan acted as joint lead book-running managers for the Offering. TD Cowen and Stifel acted as passive book-runners for the Offering. Johnson Rice & Company acted as a co-manager for the Offering.

    The Company is conducting the Offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, including a base prospectus, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Offering is being made only by means of a separate prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained by contacting Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388 or by email at prospectus_department@jefferies.com; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com and postsalemanualrequests@broadridge.com. Before you invest in the Offering, you should read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the Offering and accompanying prospectus, the registration statement and the other documents that the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as incorporated by reference therein, for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. Investors may obtain these documents for free by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated terms of the notes being offered, the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering and the intended use of the proceeds. Forward-looking statements represent Eos’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of Eos’s common stock and risks relating to Eos’s business, including those described in periodic reports that Eos files from time to time with the SEC. Eos may not consummate the proposed offering described in this press release and, if the proposed offering are consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the offering or the notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Eos does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

    Contacts
    Investors: ir@eose.com
    Media: media@eose.com

    The MIL Network –

  • PM Modi stresses green energy, infrastructure growth and farmer welfare in Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, underlined the central government’s commitment to building a modern and self-reliant Bihar, with a strong focus on green energy, infrastructure development, and farmer welfare.

    Addressing a gathering in Bihar’s Karakat, PM Modi highlighted the ongoing construction of a solar park in Kajra as a step towards increasing the state’s renewable energy capacity. He said the initiative aligns with the larger national agenda of clean energy transition and reflects the government’s resolve to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

    Speaking on the benefits of the PM-KUSUM scheme, the Prime Minister said farmers are being empowered to generate additional income through solar energy. He also noted that the use of renewable-powered agricultural feeders is ensuring a reliable power supply to farmlands, contributing to enhanced agricultural productivity. “These efforts have not only improved the quality of life in rural areas but have also ensured greater safety for women,” he added.

    The Prime Minister emphasised that modern infrastructure brings maximum benefits to villages, the poor, farmers, and small industries by linking them to national and international markets. He said that new investments in the state are generating new employment opportunities and propelling economic growth.

    Recalling the Bihar Business Summit held last year, PM Modi noted that several companies had expressed interest in investing in the state. He said the resulting industrial development is helping reduce migration by enabling people to find jobs closer to home. Improved transportation facilities, he added, are allowing farmers to market their produce across wider regions, further boosting the agricultural economy.

    Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers, the Prime Minister said over 75 lakh farmers in Bihar are benefitting from the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. He announced the setting up of a Makhana Board in the state and highlighted that Bihar’s Makhana has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which is helping farmers gain better recognition and returns for their produce.

    He also said the Union Budget this year has made provisions for setting up a National Institute for Food Processing in Bihar, which will further support the food processing industry and benefit local farmers.

    In a major announcement, the Prime Minister informed the public that the Union Cabinet has recently approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops, including paddy. He said the decision would ensure better returns for farmers and boost their income during the upcoming crop season.

    The Prime Minister’s address was part of a larger event during which he launched and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹48,500 crore, encompassing infrastructure, energy, transport, and agriculture.

     

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strabane’s pubs set to come alive with local talent as Summer Jamm Festival unveils vibrant Music Tr

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Strabane’s pubs set to come alive with local talent as Summer Jamm Festival unveils vibrant Music Tr

    30 May 2025

    Strabane is eagerly anticipating the return of the Summer Jamm Festival on Saturday, June 7th. The day promises a wealth of family fun running from 12pm to late, with a significant highlight being the celebration of Strabane’s rich musical heritage through the inaugural Music Trail.

    As dusk approaches, the town will transform into a melodic wonderland. The Music Trail, in conjunction with Strabane BID, commences at 4pm and continues into the night across Strabane’s pubs.

    Attendees are invited to follow their ‘Music Map’ from bar to bar, discovering and celebrating the incredible talent of local musicians and bands. This trail is more than just a series of performances. It’s a testament to Strabane’s thriving artistic community and a unique opportunity to experience a diverse array of genres in welcoming local venues.

    Among the artists taking part are DJ Ryan Doc, Adam Dolan, Sticks Doherty, DJ Johnny G, The Brambles, David Doc, DJ Paul Carlin, Louis McTeggert, Darren Doherty, Nicky McCallan, Glen Rouse, Darragh Doherty and Ryan Quigg, Ragamuffins, Roddy Lynch and 2Vague.

    Throughout the afternoon and evening they will be appearing at the Harp and Fiddle, XOX, Christy’s Bar, The Railway Bar, Dicey’s Bar, the Fir Trees Hotel, Charlie’s Bar and the Farmers’ Home.

    “The Music Trail is truly the beating heart of our evening festivities at Summer Jamm this year,” says Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

    “We are incredibly proud to showcase the exceptional musical talent we have right here in Strabane. This trail offers an intimate and authentic way for both residents and visitors to connect with our local culture, support our artists, and enjoy a fantastic atmosphere in our town’s pubs. It’s the perfect end to what promises to be a brilliant day.”

    From acoustic sets to lively DJs, the Music Trail features a packed schedule across numerous venues, ensuring there’s something to suit every musical taste. Attendees can craft their own personalised musical journey, hopping between pubs to catch their favourite acts or discover new ones.

    Adding to the day’s excitement, the popular Bear Run ’74 Supercar event is coming to Strabane for the first time. Bear Run ’74 will take over Railway Street in full throttle fashion – a fierce spectacle of luxurious supercars lined from the Alley Theatre right up to Abercorn Square.

    Think chrome, growls, and glam: Strabane won’t know what hit it.

    The event showcases an impressive display of supercars while raising vital funds for the Mayor’s chosen charity. The stunning Lamborghini Revuelto, sure to be the number one attraction at this year’s Bear Run ’74, boasts impressive performance credentials. The supercar achieves 0-60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 217 mph. It’s guaranteed to turn heads at this year’s Summer Jamm.

    Beyond the music and roaring engines, the Summer Jamm Festival offers a host of other family-friendly attractions including a new Street Art Festival with interactive selfie murals, the Kidz Farm petting zoo, dinosaur encounters, and urban sports activities.

    The festival also features a diverse Arts and Crafts and Food Quarter, and dedicated family entertainment at The Alley Theatre.

    The Summer Jamm Festival takes place on Saturday, June 7th from 12pm to late, with the Music Trail beginning at 4pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the sounds and sights of Strabane at this exciting community celebration.

    For Music Trail times and venues, visit www.derrystrabane.com/subsites/summer-jamm/pub-music-trail.

    For other festival details, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/summerjamm and follow Whats On Derry Strabane and The Alley Theatre Facebook pages for further updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Walk on the wild side of Inch Island this June

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Walk on the wild side of Inch Island this June

    30 May 2025

    Nature lovers are invited to find out more about the rich and fascinating ecosystem of Inch Wildfowl Reserve Island in County Donegal at a special event taking place on Saturday June 7th.

    Enjoy a range of outdoor activities led by nature experts and Biodiversity Officers from Donegal and Derry City and Strabane District Councils at Inch Wildfowl Reserve through the ‘Biodiversity without Borders’ Project. The event is supported by Creative Ireland and led by Donegal County Council as part of a Shared Island programme for Cruinniú na nÓg in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council.

    The reserve is situated to the East of Lough Swilly and supports a wide diversity of breeding terns, gulls, waders and duck, and in the winter, swans and geese, making it a popular spot for bird watchers.

    Join Aengus Kennedy from Nature North West for a spot of birdwatching or hop along to Frog CIC for a peek at what’s going on under the water, and get spotting wildflowers, trees and bugs with Annie Mullan from Butterlope Farm.

    Looking ahead to the event, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr said: “We are blessed with so many areas of natural beauty around us and Inch Island is just teeming with fascinating wildlife. This event is an opportunity to find out more about the plants and animals that share our landscape and how we can work to protect them and help them to thrive.

    “There is no border when it comes to our shared environment and DCSDC is committed to working with our partners in Donegal to promote biodiversity for the benefit of everyone in our border areas. There will be plenty of fun activities for all the family to enjoy so why not get involved!”

    Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Niamh Kennedy commended the event: “This will be a fantastic outdoor family event, one of 35 events in the County to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg and we can’t wait to get out and explore our fantastic biodiversity!”   

    From 12noon – 3pm visitors can take part in a fun biodiversity trail along part of the 8km loop of the island, with a chance to explore and pick up some wild prizes. And there will be a free goody bag for the first 30 families to register and attend the event. The adventure begins at Farland Car Park and visitors can drop in at any time from 12noon.

    Go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-day-out-at-inch-for-cruinniu-na-nog-tickets-1376106484539?aff=oddtdtcreator to find out more and to register.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • India working towards becoming food bank of the world: Shivraj Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India is working towards becoming the “food bank of the world” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

    He was speaking at the launch of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar.

    The nationwide campaign, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will run from May 29 to June 12. As part of the initiative, agricultural scientists will visit villages across over 700 districts to engage with farmers and offer scientific advice aimed at transforming agriculture and securing India’s food future.

    “The farmers of India are not just Annadata (food providers), they are Jeevandata (life providers). Our goal is to empower them to feed not only 145 crore Indians but also export food grains and vegetables across the globe,” said Chouhan. He emphasized that the government is committed to making India self-reliant in agriculture through innovation, technology, and grassroots participation.

    Chouhan highlighted that government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have been launched to provide compensation for crops affected by climate change. The central government is also providing an interest subsidy up to 4 per cent on agricultural loans through Kisan Credit Cards.

    The Union Minister will travel across 20 states during the 15-day campaign to mobilize support and engagement. He also urged farmers in Odisha to actively participate in the initiative, noting that over 16,000 agricultural scientists are being connected with farmers as part of the campaign.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed pride that the campaign is being launched from the state.

    Also present at the event were Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, senior agriculture department officials, and leading agricultural scientists.

  • MIL-Evening Report: Shock NSW Senate result as One Nation beats Labor to win final seat

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The button was pressed to electronically distribute preferences for the New South Wales Senate today. All analysts expected Labor to win the final seat, for a three Labor, two Coalition, one Green result. Instead, One Nation won the final seat, for a two Labor, two Coalition, one Green and one One Nation result. This is a One Nation gain from the Coalition.

    Six of the 12 senators for each state and all four territory senators were up for election on May 3. Changes in state senate representation are measured against 2019, the last time these senators were up for election. State senators elected at this election will start their six-year terms on July 1.

    Senators are elected by proportional representation in their jurisdictions with preferences. At a half-Senate election, with six senators in each state up for election, a quota is one-seventh of the vote, or 14.3%. For the territories, a quota is one-third or 33.3%.

    Final primary votes in NSW gave Labor 2.63 quotas, the Coalition 2.06, the Greens 0.78, One Nation 0.42, Legalise Cannabis 0.24, Trumpet of Patriots 0.17, the Libertarians 0.13 and Family First 0.11. One Nation defeated Labor’s third at the final count by 0.89 quotas to 0.87.

    Labor was hurt by the Greens being well short of quota, and getting preferences from left sources that would otherwise have gone to Labor, while right-wing parties united behind One Nation. The Greens only crossed quota at the second last count, and their small surplus wasn’t enough for Labor to catch One Nation.

    I covered Senate results from other states and territories earlier and this week.

    In the later piece, I talked about the two-party count. This isn’t finished yet in NSW or Victoria, but one side of politics usually needs about 57% of the two-party vote in a state to win four of the six senators (four quotas). This is very difficult to achieve.

    In Tasmania, Labor won the two-party count by over 63–37, but missed out on three senators owing to Jacqui Lambie. In South Australia, Labor won by over 59–41 and the left won a 4–2 Senate split. In Victoria, Labor leads by nearly 57–43, and the left won a 4–2 Senate split. In Western Australia and NSW, Labor won by less than 56–44 and the Senate was tied 3–3 between left and right.

    Out of the 40 Senate seats that were up at this election, Labor won 16 (up three), the Coalition 13 (down five), the Greens six (steady), One Nation three (up two) and Lambie and David Pocock one each (both steady). The Coalition lost senators in all mainland states, with Labor gaining in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, and One Nation in NSW and WA.

    The 36 state senators elected in 2022 won’t be up for election until 2028. For the whole Senate, Labor has 28 out of 76, the Coalition 27, the Greens 11, One Nation four and there are six others. Labor will need either the Greens or the Coalition to reach the 39 votes needed for a Senate majority.

    In 2022, the United Australia Party (UAP) won a seat in Victoria. During the last term, Lidia Thorpe defected from the Greens, Fatima Payman from Labor and Tammy Tyrrell from the Jacqui Lambie Network. The six others are these four, Pocock and Lambie.

    Counting Thorpe, Payman and Pocock as left and the UAP as right, the left overall has a 42–32 Senate majority, with two others (Lambie and Tyrrell).

    National Senate primaries and results by state

    Nationally, Labor won 35.1% of the Senate vote (up 5.0% since 2022), the Coalition 29.9% (down 4.4%), the Greens 11.7% (down 0.9%), One Nation 5.7% (up 1.4%), Legalise Cannabis 3.5% (up 0.2%), Trumpet of Patriots 2.6% and Family First 1.5%.

    Labor won 34.6% nationally in the House of Representatives, so their Senate vote was 0.5% higher than in the House. It’s likely the lack of a Teal option helped Labor in the Senate.

    This table shows the senators elected in each state and territory in 2025, with the seat share and vote share at the bottom. Despite the losses in NSW and WA, Labor and the Greens are overrepresented in the Senate relative to vote share.

    Others are greatly underrepresented, but this is because most other parties are either left or right-wing, and their preferences go to Labor, the Greens, the Coalition or One Nation rather than to more others.

    For the combined left to lose control of the Senate in 2028, they would need to lose four seats. The only seat that looks vulnerable is the WA seat won by Payman for Labor in 2022. Even if the Coalition wins in 2028, the Senate is likely to be hostile to the Coalition.

    At a double dissolution election, all senators are up for election at the same time. If the Coalition wins in 2028, a double dissolution would be an option to seek to change a hostile Senate.

    Preference distributions for WA and Queensland

    Final WA primary votes gave Labor 2.53 quotas, the Liberals 1.86, the Greens 0.90, One Nation 0.41, Legalise Cannabis 0.28, the Nationals 0.25 and Australian Christians 0.19.

    One Nation defeated Labor’s third at the final count by 0.90 quotas to 0.86. When the Nationals were excluded, the Liberals got a large surplus. As in Victoria, Liberal preferences heavily favoured One Nation over Labor and Legalise Cannabis.

    But Legalise Cannabis preferences were not as good for Labor as in Victoria, with Labor winning these preferences by 13 points over One Nation, rather than 24 points in Victoria.

    Final Queensland primary votes gave the Liberal National Party 2.17 quotas, Labor 2.13, the Greens 0.73, One Nation 0.50, Gerard Rennick 0.33, Trumpet of Patriots 0.26 and Legalise Cannabis 0.25.

    Both the Greens and One Nation easily reached a quota on the distribution of preferences, with Rennick finishing far behind on 0.55 quotas.

    Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Shock NSW Senate result as One Nation beats Labor to win final seat – https://theconversation.com/shock-nsw-senate-result-as-one-nation-beats-labor-to-win-final-seat-257888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: McClay to champion NZ’s trade interests at OECD and in Brussels

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Europe this weekend to advance New Zealand’s trade and investment interests 

    Minister McClay will visit Switzerland, Paris and Brussels for high level ministerial and business meetings.  

    In Switzerland he will attend the first in person meeting of a new pro-trade group with ministers from UAE, Singapore and Switzerland where he will focus on removing trade barriers and the promotion of paperless trade. 

    In Paris he will attend the annual OECD Trade Ministers, a CPTPP ministers discussion, ACCTs Ministers meeting, and a WTO Mini Ministerial meeting. He will also hold discussions with ministers from Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, USA.

    He will also undertake a bilateral French programme and meet the French Minister responsible for Trade.

    In Brussels Mr McClay will hold talks with EU Commissioner for Trade, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, and EU Vice President responsible for sustainability.  He will also speak at an event to mark the first year of the NZ EU FTA. 

    “One in four Kiwi jobs depend on Trade, and strong trade relationships mean more opportunities for New Zealander.

    The Government’s is committed to the ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in the next ten years to deliver higher paying jobs for all New Zealanders,” Mr McClay says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: California’s ports face economic devastation as tariffs cripple trade with Asia-Pacific

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Ships loaded with containers are pictured at the Port of Los Angeles, California, the United States, on April 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    California’s ports are experiencing worse conditions than during the COVID-19 pandemic as U.S. President Donald Trump’s reckless trade war with China and other Asia-Pacific economies harmed the state’s economy, triggering widespread job losses and forcing billions of dollars in budget cuts.

    “The vessel calls, or cancellations, that we’re seeing today are starting to exceed the number that we saw in COVID-19,” Mario Cordero, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, told CalMatters, an independent news agency focusing on California, in an interview published Wednesday.

    The Port of Long Beach alone supported 2,714,707 jobs across the United States, representing one out of every 77 American jobs, according to a comprehensive economic impact analysis completed on May 12 by the Port of Long Beach. In California, the port said it supported 1.1 million jobs, accounting for approximately five percent of the state’s total employment.

    Trade expert Paul Bingham of S&P Global Market Intelligence confirmed the unprecedented nature of the crisis during another recent interview with Cordero.

    “There’s nothing like this that any of us that are still active in our careers have seen before,” Bingham said. “From an economics perspective, we’d have to go back over 90 years to the 1930s to find tariff levels for the United States on a trade-weighted basis close to what they are right now.”

    The Golden State, the strongest state in the field of economy in the country, faced a 12-billion-U.S.-dollar budget deficit, with Governor Gavin Newsom directly blaming Trump’s “chaotic tariffs strategy” during his May 14 state budget announcement.

    The of Port Long Beach operations had seen dramatic deterioration. According to Cordero, the port received typically 20 container vessels weekly, but the number dropped to 14 vessels two weeks into May 2025 and current schedules showed only 18 this week.

    At the Port of Los Angeles, Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing that the facility had expected 80 ships to arrive in May, but 17 were subsequently canceled.

    The Port of Oakland in Northern California saw a 15 percent month-over-month drop in container activity in April, according to port spokesperson Matt Davis.

    The human cost also proved devastating across California’s supply chain network. Part-time port workers received no hours while full-time longshoremen struggled to reach 40 hours per week, according to Gary Herrera, president of the International Longshore Workers Union Local 13, speaking at a media briefing with Long Beach officials.

    Eric Tate, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 848 representing about 8,000 truck drivers in Southern California, said in May that some drivers worked only one to two days weekly.

    “When there’s no work for longshoremen, there’s very little work for us except gate monitoring,” Luisa Gratz, president of International Longshore Workers Union Local 26, told CalMatters. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s putting people out of work.”

    California has deep economic ties with the Asia-Pacific markets. Chinese goods account for 40 percent of imports at the Port of Los Angeles, 63 percent at the Port of Long Beach, and 45 percent at the Port of Oakland, according to CalMatters’ data.

    The Port of Long Beach’s economic impact analysis showed the facility generates 309 billion dollars in national gross domestic product (GDP) and 84.4 billion dollars in tax revenues annually.

    The agricultural sector, California’s economic backbone worth 59 billion dollars annually, faced significant losses. “We got hammered. We lost the whole Chinese market to Australia. At this point, I’m on the verge of losing everything,” Christine Gemperle, an almond farmer of Stanislaus County, told The Los Angeles Times last month.

    Almond prices crashed from 2.5 dollars per pound to 1.4 dollars per pound due to tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term in 2018, according to research from the University of California’s Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.

    Furthermore, the uncertainty caused by tariff policies has resulted in substantial economic damage for businesses, said experts.

    “The uncertainty here is not something because we have a virus we don’t understand, it’s the uncertainty around policy and what that has done to business, where there’s a lack of certainty, a lack of ability to plan has imposed costs on all of us,” Bingham said during his interview with Cordero.

    Economic analysts have warned of broader recession risks. The International Monetary Fund slashed its U.S. and global economic growth forecasts, citing Trump’s tariffs. Apollo Global Management’s chief economist, Torsten Slok, forecasts a “self-inflicted recession” by summer 2025, with layoffs spreading from trucking to retail.

    “You can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube — once you squeeze it, it’s out,” Constance Hunter, chief economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told The Washington Post on April 28.

    On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade invalidated Trump tariffs. In the ruling published on the court’s website, “The court holds for the foregoing reasons that IEEPA does not authorize any of the Worldwide, Retaliatory, or Trafficking Tariff Orders.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China battles drought to ensure stable summer harvest

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    With a persistent drought gripping vast regions of the country, Chinese authorities are making multi-faceted efforts to mitigate its impact on agriculture as grain crops have entered a critical growth stage.

    Since the start of 2025, China has generally experienced a warm and dry climate, characterized by higher temperatures and significantly reduced rainfall.

    According to the national observatory, the average temperature nationwide reached 5.7 degrees Celsius by May 25 this year, 0.8 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm, with provinces like Henan, Anhui and Hubei recording their highest temperatures for this period since 1961.

    Meanwhile, the average precipitation fell to just 143.7 millimeters, 10.6 percent below the long-term average and marking the lowest level since 2012. In some areas, rainfall plunged by as much as 80 percent.

    “Precipitation in the Yellow River basin, a key agricultural region, was down by nearly 30 percent. In the middle reaches, the deficit was 30 to 40 percent,” said Wang Weilu, an official with the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources.

    High temperatures and low rainfall have triggered rapid drought development from the northwest regions to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and southwestern provinces including Sichuan, said Zhai Jianqing, a meteorological disaster specialist at the National Climate Center.

    As of April 18, drought classified as moderate or worse had affected nearly 2.02 million square km, including 477,000 square km of extreme drought, official data showed.

    The timing of the drought is concerning. China’s summer grains, including wheat, are in a crucial growth period. Last year, the summer grain harvest totaled nearly 150 million tonnes, accounting for over 21 percent of the country’s annual grain production.

    Zhang Gaomin, head of a farmers’ cooperative in Jingyang County, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, said inadequate rainfall has visibly stunted wheat growth.

    “Due to persistent water shortages, wheat plants are about 10 cm shorter than usual, impacting growth during this critical stage,” Zhang said. His cooperative manages 7,600 mu (507 hectares) of winter wheat.

    In many grain-producing regions, the drought has strained irrigation systems, dried up fishponds, limited water for livestock, and heightened risks of pests, crop diseases and wildfires.

    In response, China has taken multi-pronged efforts to address the challenges. The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has allocated disaster relief funds to support measures from irrigating to crop replanting.

    Water conservancy authorities have improved national water allocation for agricultural purposes. Meteorological departments have intensified weather modification efforts, conducting over 500 cloud-seeding flights and nearly 17,000 ground-based operations since the start of the year.

    At the local level, grassroots efforts are also making a difference. In Mashan County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, water pumps and generators were a common sight on farmland, delivering vital irrigation to parched crops. Local authorities have deployed 130 water pumps and over 30 gasoline generators, and have dispatched 11 anti-drought teams comprising more than 400 personnel to support villages.

    “Firefighters have been delivering water to our village for three days, solving the water shortage for over 400 people,” said Huang Honghua, an official in a village of Wuxuan County, Guangxi.

    Meteorologists predict rainfall across much of central and northern China in early to mid-June will ease drought conditions, while parts of southern China may still face drought risks.

    Despite the lingering challenges, with timely intervention and increased rainfall expected, the drought is unlikely to have significant impact on the country’s overall grain output, according to experts.

    China’s 2024 grain output hit a record high of 706.5 million tonnes, an increase of 1.6 percent from 2023, official data showed. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NAB backs farmers and Victorian Drought taskforce

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    NAB today announced its support for a new Victorian Drought Response Taskforce.

    NAB Group CEO Andrew Irvine said: “NAB is ready to play our role in helping farmers, their families and regional Victorian businesses and communities as they deal with the devastating impacts of the drought.

    “Multi-generational farmers who have been on the same land for over a century are telling us it is one of the worst droughts on record. Some of them are making the heart-breaking decision to reduce their stock because they can’t afford to feed them or provide enough water.  Businesses that service farms are hurting too.

    “It’s also vital we consider the mental health impacts for the farmers, their families, and those businesses and communities that support them.”

    NAB does a third of all lending to farmers and many NAB bankers live and farm in areas impacted by the drought. NAB’s Regional and Agribusiness Executive Khan Horne will represent NAB on the taskforce to provide the perspectives of customers.

    Mr Irvine said NAB was here to help any customer who needed financial support.

    “For any farmer or business, please call your bank.  The sooner you call the sooner we can help,” he said.

    Help may range from payment pauses, changes to your repayments and temporary relief from existing financial commitments. NAB can also provide access to mental health support for any customer who needs it.

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    Media Enquiries

    For all media enquiries, please contact the NAB Media Line on 03 7035 5015

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UNESCO intangible cultural heritage: Qiang New Year Festival

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Editor’s note: The Qiang New Year Festival is a traditional celebration of the Qiang people, one of China’s oldest ethnic groups, often described as a “living fossil” in the evolutionary history of the Chinese nation. 

    Southwest China’s Sichuan province is home to the country’s only Qiang ethnic enclave, where approximately 300,000 Qiang people primarily reside in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, and Beichuan Qiang autonomous county in Mianyang city. 

    Every year, on the first day of the 10th lunar month, the Qiang people celebrate their most significant traditional festival — the Qiang New Year. Centered around themes of worshiping heaven and expressing gratitude, they hold ceremonies during the festival to honor the gods, drive away evil, express gratitude for the harvest, and pray for blessings.

    The Qiang people are renowned for their talent in singing and dancing, exemplified by the Salang dance, a distinctive circle dance whose name means “sing and dance” in the Qiang language.

    In 2009, the Qiang New Year Festival was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition highlights the significance of the festival in preserving the cultural traditions, social bonds and spiritual beliefs of the Qiang people.

    The Qiang New Year Festival, with a history that stretches back centuries, is deeply rooted in the agricultural and pastoral traditions of the Qiang people. Signaling renewal and hope for the coming year, it is both a cultural and social event, involving elaborate ceremonies that seek to ensure prosperity, health and harmony within the Qiang community.

    The festival’s origins are closely tied to the agricultural calendar, particularly the importance of seasonal cycles in the Qiang way of life. Traditionally, the Qiang people practiced farming and animal husbandry in the rugged, high-altitude regions of Sichuan, and their spiritual beliefs were deeply intertwined with nature. Their New Year Festival is a time to honor the spirits of the ancestors, the earth and the natural elements, while also celebrating the community’s resilience and unity.

    Participants engage in prayers at the rituals of the Qiang New Year Festival, hoping for bountiful harvests, good fortune and protection of their herds. The festival includes a variety of traditional activities, such as sacrificial rites, communal feasts, and performances of traditional Qiang music and dance, most notably the Qiang dance, which is often accompanied by the unique sound of bamboo instruments.

    In addition to these cultural elements, the festival is an important occasion for socializing. It fosters unity within the Qiang community, strengthening family and clan ties, and allows younger generations to learn and participate in the traditions of their elders.

    In recent decades, the festival has faced pressures from migration, changing lifestyles and the loss of traditional customs among younger generations. However, concerted efforts by local communities, cultural institutions and government agencies have helped revitalize and protect this important cultural practice.

    Local authorities in Sichuan province have actively worked to preserve the festival by promoting it as a cultural tourism event, which has brought attention and resources to the celebration. In addition, the establishment of cultural heritage programs, including the training of cultural bearers and the documentation of traditional practices, has helped ensure the survival of the festival’s rituals.

    The festival is increasingly recognized as an important part of China’s diverse cultural heritage, and its significance extends beyond the Qiang people themselves. The Qiang New Year Festival has been showcased in cultural exchange programs, and efforts to engage younger generations in the preservation of traditional practices are ongoing. 

    UNESCO’s recognition of the Qiang New Year Festival emphasized its role as a vital cultural expression of the Qiang people and its importance in maintaining the community’s traditional values, social cohesion and spiritual beliefs. UNESCO praised the festival for its diversity of rituals, ceremonies and performances, highlighting the way it fosters a deep connection to nature and the ancestors.

    The organization also noted the importance of preserving the festival for future generations. UNESCO emphasized the need for education, intergenerational transmission, and community participation to sustain the festival amid modern influences. Furthermore, UNESCO’s designation highlighted the role of the Qiang New Year Festival in promoting intercultural understanding, as it offers a glimpse into the unique cultural traditions of one of China’s many ethnic minority groups.

    Discover more treasures from China on UNESCO’s ICH list:

    • 2024: Spring Festival

    • 2022: Traditional tea processing

    • 2020: Wangchuan ceremony, taijiquan

    • 2018: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

    • 2016: Twenty-four solar terms

    • 2013: Abacus-based Zhusuan

    • 2012: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers

    • 2011: Shadow puppetry, Yimakan storytelling

    • 2010: Peking opera, acupuncture and moxibustion, wooden movable-type printing, watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, Meshrep

    • 2009: Yueju opera, Xi’an wind and percussion ensemble, traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper, traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon, Tibetan opera, sericulture and silk craftsmanship, Regong arts, Nanyin, Khoomei, Mazu belief and customs, Dragon Boat Festival, Manas, Craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocade, Xinjiang Uygur Muqam art, Hua’er, China engraved block printing technique, Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures, Chinese paper-cut, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese seal engraving, Grand song of Dong ethnic group, Traditional Li textile techniques, Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges, Farmers’ dance of China’s Korean ethnic group, Gesar epic tradition

    • 2008: Kunqu opera, Guqin, Urtiin Duu

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Wildfire Season Begins, Cantwell Demands Trump Administration Stop Putting Lives & Property at Risk & Immediately Lift National Weather Service Hiring Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.29.25
    As Wildfire Season Begins, Cantwell Demands Trump Administration Stop Putting Lives & Property at Risk & Immediately Lift National Weather Service Hiring Freeze
    Senator warned Lutnick in Feb. that gutting NOAA & NWS would cripple weather forecasting, threaten public safety; Jackson, KY, NWS office lost overnight staffing & meteorologist-in-charge as severe storms moved across the region May 16, leaving 18 dead; Pendleton, OR, NWS office covering Central WA does not have enough meteorologists to cover overnight shifts
    EDMONDS, WA – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, demanded that the Trump Administration immediately exempt the National Weather Service (NWS) from its current federal hiring freeze so that citizens and communities will not be left to fend for themselves without adequate warnings as both hurricane season and wildfire season rapidly approach.  
    “On February 19, 2025, I wrote to Secretary Lutnick to urge protection of NOAA’s workforce and exempt the NWS and other safety related jobs from the hiring freeze due to the crucial role they play in protecting lives, property, and our national economy,” wrote Sen. Cantwell in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell.  “Now that we have seen the fallout from these ill-advised cuts, I once again demand the Administration immediately provide NOAA with a public safety exemption to the federal hiring freeze so the agency can take immediate steps to fill critical positions and prevent a further breakdown in life-saving forecasts and warnings.”
    Multiple recent reports have documented the impacts of the hiring freeze. The Washington Post reports that “Some…forecasting teams are so critically understaffed that the agency is offering to pay moving expenses for any staff willing to transfer to those offices, according to notices recently sent to employees…” And the New York Times found that “The National Weather Service is preparing for the probability that fewer forecast updates will be fine-tuned by specialists, among other cutbacks, because of ‘severe shortages’ of meteorologists and other employees, according to an internal agency document.” These reports make clear that action must be taken immediately to avoid a catastrophic gap in capacity in the face of a future storm or wildfire.
    “For at least half a century, NWS has provided weather forecasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but with the Administration’s cuts, at least eight weather forecasting offices no longer have enough meteorologists to cover overnight shifts,” the Senator wrote. “The Pendleton, Oregon office that covers central Washington will stop staffing overnight shifts, and we’ll lose the consistent local knowledge about weather hazards that impacts the accuracy of forecasts and warnings needed to inform transportation agencies, farmers, schools, firefighters, emergency responders, and other public officials that rely on accurate and timely forecasts and warnings.”
    Months before the current crisis, Sen. Cantwell called for an exemption and accurately predicted exactly the situation we are in now.
    The full text of Sen. Cantwell’s letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Secretary Lutnick and Mr. Ezell,
    The Administration’s dismantling of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) workforce has crippled the National Weather Service (“NWS”). The firing of probationary employees, early retirements, and other Administration efforts have led to more than 560 departures from NWS, a 33% reduction from historic levels, leaving many locations critically understaffed and the agency scrambling to fill the gaps.
    NOAA initiated an agency-wide effort on May 13, 2025, to relocate existing personnel to temporarily fill 155 positions in “critically understaffed” locations across NWS. This proposed solution may serve as a stopgap, but it is not a viable long-term strategy.
    On February 19, 2025, I wrote to Secretary Lutnick to urge protection of NOAA’s workforce and exempt the NWS and other safety related jobs from the hiring freeze due to the crucial role they play in protecting lives, property, and our national economy. Now that we have seen the fallout from these ill-advised cuts, I once again demand the Administration immediately provide NOAA with a public safety exemption to the federal hiring freeze so the agency can take immediate steps to fill critical positions and prevent a further breakdown in life-saving forecasts and warnings.
    For at least half a century, NWS has provided weather forecasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but with the Administration’s cuts, at least eight weather forecasting offices no longer have enough meteorologists to cover overnight shifts. The Pendleton, Oregon office that covers central Washington will stop staffing overnight shifts, and we’ll lose the consistent local knowledge about weather hazards that impacts the accuracy of forecasts and warnings needed to inform transportation agencies, farmers, schools, firefighters, emergency responders, and other public officials that rely on accurate and timely forecasts and warnings. Additionally, 30 of the 122 weather forecast offices are currently lacking their highest-ranking official, known as the meteorologist-in-charge, including at offices that cover major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Cleveland, Houston, and Tampa. The office in Jackson, Kentucky lost both overnight staffing and their meteorologist-in-charge and was left scrambling to find adequate staffing on May 16, 2025, as severe storms moved across the region, ultimately killing 18 people in Kentucky.
    The staffing shortages are also impacting NWS’s ability to collect and disseminate the weather data that underpins NOAA’s own forecasts and warnings as well as serves as the foundation for the entire U.S. weather enterprise. There are over 90 vacancies among the specialized staff who maintain and repair the NWS’s Doppler radar and Automated Surface Observing Systems greatly increasing the chances of equipment outages. These systems are the cornerstone of NWS’s severe weather warning operations and provide pilots and air traffic controllers with the data they need to safely manage air traffic and minimize delays. Additionally, at least 10 weather forecast offices have suspended or limited their weather balloon launches, which for decades have occurred twice daily to gather data on a steady cadence. Carrying instruments called radiosondes, the balloons rise to 115,000 feet and gather vital atmospheric data that cannot easily be replicated by satellites or other instruments. Without this information forecasts become less accurate and less reliable.
    June 1 marks the start of hurricane season, and many parts of the country are already contending with wildfires and violent storms. Every living former Director of the NWS, from both Republican and Democratic administrations, wrote and released an open letter to the American people warning about the impact of staffing and program cuts. The Directors “stand united against the loss of staff and resources at NWS and are deeply concerned about NOAA as a whole…[Their] worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life.”?
    Granting a public safety exemption to the hiring freeze is essential to prevent further degradation of our nation’s weather readiness. Please provide the Committee with a response by June 1, 2025, explaining how you will resume hiring at the NWS to ensure consistent weather forecasting coverage. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Summer EBT for school-aged children returns for second year

    Source: US State of Oregon

    regon Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) is a food benefits program that helps shrink the hunger gap when children are on summer break and don’t have easy access to healthy meals at school. Summer EBT provides $120 per eligible child to buy food.

    This is the second year of Oregon’s Summer EBT program. On May 22, 2025, about 336,000 children got the benefit on an Oregon EBT card. Families should check their EBT card balance at www.ebtedge.com to confirm receipt.

    Families who didn’t automatically get Summer EBT on May 22, 2025 should check program requirements before applying. Families can check requirements at sebt.oregon.gov or by contacting the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328. The Call Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., PDT. Apply online in English and Spanish or with a paper application in multiple languages at sebt.oregon.gov.

    “When school doors close for the summer, the need for regular, healthy meals doesn’t disappear. Last year, the summer EBT program bridged a critical gap for thousands of Oregon families, helping to replace those essential 10 meals per child, per week, that they receive when school is in session,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). “We are proud to continue this partnership with ODHS to not only feed children, but to nurture their potential during crucial developmental months. Our continued commitment ensures that summer can be a season of growth and opportunity for all children, regardless of their economic circumstances.”

    In 2024, about 362,000 children participated and received $43 million in Summer EBT food benefits their families spent in their local grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places.

    “Summer EBT is one more way we can prevent kids from going hungry when school is out. Summer EBT is an evidence-based program proven to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director. “Child hunger can have lasting impacts on health and academic achievement. Getting every eligible child connected to Summer EBT will help Oregon’s children thrive year-round and as they grow up.”

    Who is eligible for Summer EBT food benefits?

    Families can find details about Summer EBT at sebt.oregon.gov.

    Your school-age child may be automatically eligible if:

    • Your family received Summer EBT benefits through an approved application in 2024.
    • Your family gets SNAP, TANF or Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) and meets income rules.
    • Your child gets free or reduced-price school meals and meets income rules.
    • Your child is in foster care, in migrant education, in a qualified Head Start, experiencing homelessness, or part of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

    Children who are automatically eligible received Summer EBT on May 22, 2025.

    Your school-age child may be eligible by application if:

    • Your family meets the federal income requirements for free or reduced-price meals at school, and
    • Your child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).

    Families must apply by Sept. 3, 2025.

    Receiving Summer EBT does not impact participation in other summer meal programs.

    Summer EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test and are available to children regardless of immigration status.

    How will families receive Summer EBT food benefits?

    The benefits will be placed on an Oregon EBT card and can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets, and more.

    Families that need a new card should call 855-328-6715, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT).

    Families that think their children may be eligible and didn’t get benefits on May 22 must apply by September 3. If approved, they will receive an Oregon EBT card by mail.

    Stolen Summer EBT benefits can’t be replaced.

    You can protect your Oregon EBT card and benefits from electronic theft by following a few simple tips.

    Where can families get more information?

    To learn more, or to apply, visit sebt.oregon.gov.

    Call the Oregon Summer EBT Call Center at 1-833-673-7328 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT) on weekdays. All relay calls accepted.

    More about Summer EBT

    Summer EBT became a permanent program for states and certain Indian Tribal Organizations through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Most states began providing Summer EBT in June 2024. Oregon’s participation was made possible through an investment from the Oregon State Legislature of $12 million. That investment will draw $83 million in federal funding to Oregon, mostly in the form of food benefits families will spend in their communities.

    Additional resources to help meet basic needs

    MIL OSI USA News –