The Georgia Department of Agriculture has announced that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Chattooga County, Georgia has tested positive for H7, presumptive low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). According to the department’s release, this is the first confirmation of avian influenza in domestic poultry in Georgia.
Study: 82% of U.S. Households Buy Organic Regularly
A recent study by the Organic Trade Association finds that 82 percent of U.S. households in the lower 48 states buy organic products regularly. The Association says those findings build a strong case for continued U.S. Department of Agriculture funding under incoming secretary Sonny Perdue. Laura Batcha (Bat-cha), CEO and Executive Director of the Association, says, “The organic community is …
JBS Suspends Brazil Product After Meat Scandal
The world’s biggest packer, JBS, suspended meat production at 33 of its 36 meatpacking plants in Brazil as countries continue to ban Brazilian beef due to the corruption scandal and ongoing investigation.
Black Market Hackers Selling Tractor Repair Software Illegally
A battle is brewing in at least eight states over “right-to-repair” legislation. Tractors have gone high tech and often require software downloads to aid in the repair process.
NPPC Asks USDA to Abandon GIPSA Rules
Citing grave concerns that they would “cause serious harm to the pork industry,” the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in comments submitted said the U.S. Department of Agriculture should not finalize – or at least exempt pork producers from – regulations related to the buying and selling of livestock. According to NPPC, the so-called Farmer Fair Practices Rules – an …
Funding to Support Research on Sustainable Water Use
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $34 million in available funding for projects that promote sustainable water use for food production, processing, and other competing uses. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
Capital Area Food Bank Receives Peanut Butter Donation
The U.S. peanut industry donated more than 30,000 jars of peanut butter to Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day, March 21, 2017. The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest organization in the Washington metro area working to solve hunger and its companion problems: chronic undernutrition, heart disease, and obesity. The donation was made possible …
House Passes Agro-terrorism Bill
The U.S. House this week passed the Securing our Agriculture and Food Act, agro-terrorism preparedness legislation that’s also up for a vote in the U.S. Senate. The bill passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 406-6.
Amid Brazil Scandal, Groups Urging Reconsideration of COOL
Amid a meat safety issue in Brazil and a trade priorities list from President Trump, some groups are calling for the reconsideration of country-of-origin meat labeling. COOL was repealed by Congress in late 2015 when the World Trade Organization authorized retaliatory measures against the U.S. because of the legislation.
Senate Ag Committee Talks with Perdue
Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue appears to have won over the Senate Agriculture Committee and is headed for confirmation by the full Senate, after the committee votes to move Perdue forward.