By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Sugar farmers who own land in an area targeted by Senate President Joe Negron for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee said Monday they won’t be “willing sellers” to the state.
Food Check-Out Week Event Highlights Farm Service to the Community
Florida Farm Bureau volunteers statewide will be celebrating Food Check-Out Week Feb. 13-17. The week will celebrate the abundant, nutritious food supply for all Floridians. A fundamental part of our well-being as a society depends upon the domestic production of food. Florida farmers produce more than 300 different commodities and generate more than $148 billion in annual economic impact.
Farmer Fair Practices Rules Effective Date, Comment Periods Extended
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is delaying the effective date of a rule by 60 days, and extending the comment period by 30 days, for three recent regulations, the Farmer Fair Practices Rules, published in the Federal Register Dec. 20, 2016. These actions are being taken in accordance with guidance issued Jan. 20, …
Scientists Give Old Elm Tree a High-Tech Helping Hand
By Jan Suszkiw, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) In front of the city hall building in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, there’s a weathered old elm tree that’s seen more than 200 years of American history. Throughout those centuries, it has withstood bouts of Dutch elm disease and poundings from brutal storms like 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. This winter, U.S. Department of Agriculture …
South Dakota Considering Country-of-Origin Labeling
A group of South Dakota state Congress members has introduced a bill that would require retail beef products sold in the state to bear a country-of-origin label.
First Syngenta Viptera Corn Case Scheduled for June
A Kansas City, Kansas federal court will hold the first of several class-action lawsuit hearings against Syngenta over Viptera corn in June. DTN reports the first trial is scheduled for June 5th, according to a court order issued last week in the U.S. District Court of Kansas.
State Agriculture Leaders Call Food Safety a Farm Bill Priority
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has listed food safety as a 2018 farm bill priority. Specifically, NASDA prioritized the need farmers and ranchers may have for low-cost loans to upgrade infrastructure to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Farm Groups Endorse Ag Secretary Nominee Perdue
More than 650 agriculture groups have endorsed President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a letter to House and Senate agriculture leaders last week, 669 agricultural organizations endorsed Sonny Perdue, the nominee for Agriculture Secretary.
GMO Labeling Bill Facing Uphill Battle
The GMO labeling bill passed by Congress last year faces an uncertain future. The National Bio-engineered Food Disclosure Standard passed by Congress last year preempts a patchwork of state laws mandating labeling of food products containing genetically modified organisms.
Trump: Change NAFTA to NAFFTA
President Donald Trump has suggested changing the acronym of the North American Free Trade Agreement when renegotiating the trade deal.