Proposed FMMOS amendments could hinder small dairy businesses

By Rachel Ackerman and Becca Cochran

On May 4, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack faced a controversial matter about one of the most basic sources of nutrition: milk. Through proposed amendments to the Federal Milk Marketing Order System, or FMMOS, dairy lobbies are encouraging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tighten regulations on producer-handlers. (Handlers are any entity, other than the original dairy farmer, that processes and sells milk while producer-handlers produce, process and market milk within their own operation.) Such proposed amendments could have a negative effect on Meigs County’s Snowville Creamery.

Commentary: Grass is Good – How milk from grass-fed cows can make you healthier

By Jessica Webb

Milk “does a body good.” It’s high in calcium and vitamins A and D. It’s safe, since it’s regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. It’s everywhere.  Milk is milk, right? The store brands are cheap and easy to get. So why should you care about local milk?

Student Senate proposes innovative ideas

By Anne Sinclair

After sweeping the OU Student Senate elections, the iOU party has set some ambitious goals to make eco-friendly changes at Ohio University for the 2009-2010 academic year. President-elect Robert Leary and Vice President-elect Emily Bacha plan to modify campus transportation systems. One of the senate’s main goals is to introduce an eco-friendly campus shuttle system.

Corporate Sustainability: A Look at American Electric Power

Gavin coal-fired power plant

By Laurie Winston

With an energy system based in fossil fuels, can the nation’s largest electricity company ever be sustainable?

A group of representatives from American Electric Power (AEP) recently visited Ohio University to address that question. Sandy Nessing, AEP’s Director of Sustainability, and four of her colleagues met with students, faculty and community members with vested interests in their answer during a presentation titled “Sustainability & AEP.” Sponsored by OU’s Office of Sustainability as part of Earth Month 2009, the visit took place April 29, the day after AEP released its annual Sustainability Report, and raised tough questions about the responsibility of coal-burning utilities to prepare for a more sustainable future.