U.S. can block mad cow testing (Post-Bulletin) GTON -- A federal appeals court says the government can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease. The Agriculture Department tests only a small percentage of cows for the deadly disease; Kansas meatpacker Creekstone Farms [News Source]

Deer managers ramp up alerts. Last Monday, Michigan's white-tailed deer became a marked animal with the confirmation of the state's first case of the subtle but deadly chronic wasting disease the equivalent of mad cow disease - in deer, elk, and moose. [News Source]

Vegetable as fuel. Ryan Gassner's garage is crowded with white buckets, tubes and pumps - at first glance, it appears he may have a major home wine-making operation under way. But it's not wine Gassner is producing - it's homemade fuel from used vegetable oil. [News Source]

Appeals court says U.S. can block mad cow testing (Helena Independent Record) WASHINGTON — The Bush administration can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court said Friday. [News Source]

Court: U.S. can block mad cow testing (The Bismarck Tribune) WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court says the government can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease. [News Source]

Appeals Court Rules US Can Block Mad Cow Testing (Slashdot) fahrbot-bot tips a story of mad cow disease, a private meat packer that wants to test all of its beef for the disease, and the USDA, which controls access to the test kits and just won an appeals court ruling that the government has the authority to block testing above and beyond the 1% the agency performs. Creekstone Farms Premium Beef sought to test 100% of its beef, in order to reassure its ... [News Source]

How safe are biosolids? This summer, due to water shortages and rising fertilizer costs around the globe, 49 million acres of cropland are being treated with human sewage. In Japan, when you visit a household, that's why you take off your shoes at the door. [News Source]

Live green and die broke. Forget about carbon offsetting and slashing your food miles – the eco-friendly lifestyle is a luxury most of us can no longer afford. [News Source]

A safer, kinder, hamburger this labor day. In the wake of the failing consumer confidence over the safety of America's beef the USDA proposed a new rule this week that would amend the cattle inspection process. [News Source]

U.S. appeals court bars meatpacker tests for mad cow. The Agriculture Department is within bounds to bar meatpackers from testing slaughter cattle for mad cow disease, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel said in a 2-1 ruling on Friday. [News Source]