Agribusiness Update for Wednesday 10/16/13

The west Texas fertilizer plant that exploded in April has been cited for 24 health and safety violations. The violations include the unsafe handling and storage of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and carry fines of more than 118-thousand dollars. A broader investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing - but has been delayed by the government shutdown.

A new technology is planned for a water reclamation plant in Illinois that would remove nutrient pollution from wastewater and convert it to pellets to be sold as fertilizer for crops and lawns. The technology was developed by Canadian-based Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technology, Inc. Robert Kennedy Jr. - a member of Ostara's Board of Directors - says this advanced nutrient recovery technology not only reduces nutrient load but helps protect waterways.

Unionized grocery workers just voted to authorize a strike against four major grocery store chains in the Puget Sound area. Executives at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, with 30,000 members, are dissatisfied with company proposals for paying wages and providing health benefits for part-time workers.

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