Latest news with #HF
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
HF Foods' Lin on Organic Growth Strategies, M&A: Choppin' It Up
M&A is a great opportunity for HF Foods Group because Asian specialty foodservice distribution is primarily made up of smaller competitors and HF is the only national player in the US, CEO and President Felix Lin tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin' It Up podcast, Lin sits down with BI's senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company's plans to grow organically and via acquisitions. He also comments on the new e-commerce platform, competition from Sysco and the impact of tariffs.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation sets regulations for anaerobic digesters on livestock operations in Iowa
Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill to regulate anaerobic digesters on animal feeding operations. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA) A bill advanced from the Iowa House Thursday that would regulate anaerobic digesters, or systems that break down organic material in an oxygen-deprived system to produce usable biogas and fertilizer, at animal feeding operations. House File 989 would task the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with regulating the construction, expansion, placement and operation of anaerobic digesters and associated structures that hold manure feedstocks at animal feeding operations. The bill describes anaerobic digestion in three steps. First the feedstock, both liquid and dry animal waste, is stored. Next, the feedstock is 'digested' in a structure specifically designed for anaerobic digestion. As the material is broken in the digester, the bio gas is extracted. The final step takes the leftover material, called the digestate, and either stores it or applies it as organic material to farmland. Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, said the bill draws a 'distinct line' between animal feeding operations and anaerobic digesters so the two can be enforced properly. Sexton said under current regulations, any compliance issues that happen with an anaerobic digester are put on the livestock operation because the digesters don't have their own licenses with the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Under the bill, operators would have to apply for a construction permit from DNR before building an anaerobic digester, or any of the related storage structures. This permit would require information on things like construction, size, operators and how the digestate would be applied. The bill states anaerobic digesters must comply with separation distances for clean air regulations and follow the same water quality separation distances put on animal feeding operations. The bill lists civil penalties for operations that do not comply with these regulations. According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Iowa has fewer than 10 anaerobic digesters on livestock operations — most are at dairies. Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, spoke in support of the bill, but said she hopes for more conversation moving forward on the impacts to the environment and health. 'There (are) remaining environmental concerns, there's health concerns around this technology, and I believe that there should be a lot more robust conversation going forward,' James said. An article from the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club called the Iowa bill a 'bandaid on a bigger problem' with the agricultural industry. The environmental group, which registered against HF 989, said the bill does not provide adequate separation distances from houses and other structures and will encourage animal feeding operations to expand. Sexton said he does not believe the regulations will inspire more concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, to be built in Iowa because 'there's just not that much money in farming right now.' 'These anaerobic digesters are going to get built on existing animal feeding operations,' Sexton said. Anaerobic digestion can generate renewable energy from other feedstocks, including things like food waste. Sexton has also worked on an additional bill, House File 987, that would create regulations for 'community anaerobic digester systems' that use organic material other than animal manure. Sexton said his amendment to HF 989, which passed, brought the language in line with the other digester bill. Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, filed an amendment to the bill that would require testing the materials in the digester structure for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, commonly known as PFAS, substances. 'They are everywhere, and they are aptly named forever chemicals because they don't break down, they don't go away,' Kurth said. Kurth said the amendment would prevent digestate with high levels of PFAS from being applied to the land. The amendment is similar to House File 723, which required water treatment plants to test sewage sludge for PFAS, and notify landowners of the results before the sludge was applied as fertilizer. HF 723 did not advance ahead of the legislative funnel deadlines. Sexton urged the body to reject the amendment and said DNR would have opportunities to write additional rules on such matters. 'I appreciate the amendment, but Iowa's farmers are very concerned about what they put on their farm ground,' Sexton said. 'They're the ones that have to live there. They're the ones that have their livestock on that ground.' Kurth's amendment failed, 59-32. Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, said he had several concerns with what he perceived as loopholes in the bill, but said he appreciated the efforts on HF 989, especially in comparison to the anaerobic digestion policy in the governor's energy bill, that he said was 'very concerning.' The bill will advance to the Senate, and Sexton said he hopes to see the community digester bill advancing soon. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crystal Palace supporters group Holmesdale Fanatics raise £12k for Wembley display
The Holmesdale Fanatics (HF) have raised £12,000 for a supporter-funded display ahead of Crystal Palace's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Fundraising for the display began on the evening of the Eagles' last eight win against London neighbours Fulham, with the HF accomplishing their £12k target within five days of launching their GoFundMe. The Fanatics, formed in 2005, aim to 'take over Wembley' when Crystal Palace face Aston Villa at the end of the month for a spot in this season's FA Cup final. On previous trips to the home of football, the HF have crafted tifos while putting flags on every seat. MORE PALACE NEWS Oliver Glasner makes Marc Guehi contract admission Before March's quarter-final at Craven Cottage, the Ultras handed out balloons to their fellow Palace fans, which they launched onto the pitch when the players walked out. Among the 581 donations are former Eagles co-chairman Stephen Browett, current players Dean Henderson and Chris Richards, Athletic UK founder Ed Malyon and NBC's Premier League anchor Rebeca Lowe. After reaching their £12k target, a Holmesdale Fanatics spokesperson told the News Shopper that they are beginning to make plans for the display, as the trip to Wembley has a tight turnaround. Any additional donations will either go towards the final, if Palace reach it, or directly into the pot for next season's displays. The link to the fundraiser can be found here.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa lawmakers begin funnel week
DES MOINES, Iowa — The deadline for Iowa lawmakers to pass bills out of committee is this Friday. Any bills that are not advanced by this weekend will likely be dead for the session. Monday, lawmakers are working to get several bills through those committees before the the Senate, a subcommittee will discuss SF 282, which would ban colleges from requiring classes, courses, or programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion except for degrees explicitly related to race and another subcommittee will discuss SF 410, which requires school districts to provide a time for public comments at board meetings and prevents districts from requiring that those speakers register ahead of time. The Senate's Local Government standing committee will consider several bills Monday, including one that bans counties and cities from passing policies or ordinances that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion unless those policies follow from state or federal law. The committee will also consider a bill that restricts the ability of cities and the state to regulate certain gardens on residential property. In the House, a subcommittee will consider a bill that provides access and funding for feminine hygiene products in public school restrooms. The Health and Human Services subcommittee will discuss HF 589, which would create the Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act. It would mean a health care provider who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may inform the pregnant woman of perinatal hospice services that are available and offer referrals for services. It would also require Iowa HHS to compile a list of perinatal hospice services available in state and nationally and make it available online along with a statement that 'perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for a pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
