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Recently, news broke regarding an explosion at a dairy farm in the Texas Panhandle, in which approximately 18,000 cows were killed (and one person critically injured). The Castro County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the explosion to Fox News Digital and stated that the cows were in a holding area before being brought in for milking when the blast occurred at the Southfork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt. The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera spoke to local media outlet KSAT-TV about the explosion and subsequent fire, saying that speculation centered around...

A large explosion and fire broke out at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas on Monday night. The cause is still unknown. Reports say the explosion engulfed multiple structures. The smoke from the explosion could be seen from as much as 80 miles away. According to Texas authorities, more than 18,000 cattle died during the explosion. “There’s some that survived, there’s some that are probably injured to the point where they’ll have to be destroyed,” according to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera.

We have been following a slew of defamation lawsuits by political figures over the last few years. (See, e.g., here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). For torts scholars, it has been a bonanza of interesting issues touching on every element of defamation law. There is now an important ruling out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that could have enormous implications not just for the media but anyone who retweets stories or claims. The appellate panel ruled unanimously for Rep. Devin Nunes against journalist Ryan Lizza...

BERLIN (Reuters) - Methane gas from 90 flatulent cows exploded in a German farm shed on Monday, damaging the roof and injuring one of the animals, police said. High levels of the gas .. the central German town of Rasdorf, .. "a static electric charge caused the gas to explode with flashes of flames,".. ...

Yesterday (Monday) Andrea received a call from an inspector with the New York Department of Food and Markets in Albany that he planned to come by the farm for a special inspection, based on “a complaint” made to the department’s Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services. Andrea couldn’t imagine who might have complained, and what the complaint might have been about.

A leading animal-rights group has lost its court fight to pull the California milk industry's popular "Happy Cows" television spots over accusations of false advertising. The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to review an appeal brought by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which sued to stop the national advertising campaign featuring the talking, laid-back cows and their tag line, "Great Cheese Comes From Happy Cows. Happy Cows Come From California."

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The California Supreme Court is putting to pasture a lawsuit brought by an animal rights group alleging the California Milk Producers Advisory Board is falsely advertising that California's cows are happy. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sued here in December 2002 alleging the board's advertising was false and misleading. The ads show cows grazing in green pastures with the slogan, "Great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California." The animal rights group said it may never be known whether cows are happy, but said cows live in deplorable conditions, are repeatedly...

FARM SCENE: Dairymen From Other Countries Mull Relocating to the Dakotas By Curt Woodward Associated Press Writer Published: Apr 6, 2005 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Evert Hekman was looking for wide-open spaces, less government regulation and more affordable land and equipment when he decided to launch his own dairy. He couldn't find it at home in the Netherlands, so Hekman started looking in the next best place - North Dakota and South Dakota. "In my country, it's full," Hekman said Tuesday. "Really full." Supporters of a new law that allows non-U.S. citizens to own North Dakota dairies hope to see...

A Wantage dairy farmer has become the first Sussex County farmer -- and only the fourth ever from New Jersey -- to be named a winner in the 49th annual National Outstanding Young Farmer competition. He also is the first dairy farmer in New Jersey to win the award, said Lynne Richmond, a spokeswoman with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. "The recognition means a lot to me. I was just happy to be there," said Jeff VanderGroef, who operates the 337-acre Havendale Farm, one of the largest dairy farms in New Jersey. VanderGroef, 37, received the New Jersey 2005...