The first genetically engineered apple variety will reach store shelves next month after years of development and protest.
2016 Biodiesel Market Skunks Previous Records
U.S. consumers saw a record of almost 2.9 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel in 2016, outpacing the previous record by nearly 40 percent. Also for the first time, the monthly market topped 300 million gallons, with December’s numbers coming in at 362 million gallons. The National Biodiesel Board welcomed the numbers but says that success is undermined by …
GIPSA, Organic Livestock Rules, Suspended for Review
The Donald Trump administration has suspended all new or pending regulations from taking effect for 60 days to allow for review by new leadership.
Agricultural Research Service Receives Communication Guidance
An internal email sent to the Agricultural Research Service allegedly directs the department not to release any public facing documents, but the Department of Agriculture says the email “was flawed” and that new guidance would be issued to replace it. According to Reuters, the email was sent Monday, the first business day of the new Donald Trump administration. The email …
Trump Freezes EPA Grants and Communications
The Donald Trump administration has ordered a freeze on grants and contracts from the Environmental Protection Agency and ordered EPA staff to halt external communications.
TPP Member Nations Seek to Save Trade Agreement
Trans-Pacific Partnership member nations are hoping to salvage the trade deal after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement by executive order.
Lawmakers Balk at Legal Fees in ‘Water Wars’
News Service of Florida Florida’s costly, complicated lawsuit against Georgia over regional water use reached another milestone Tuesday without any sign of resolution, as state lawmakers balked at escalating legal fees in the case that could reach $41 million this year.
Important Tax Deadline Looms for Farmers
Farmers and ranchers have just a few more days to file important paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or face penalties for failing to do so. The deadline to file a 1099 for contract laborers is now a month earlier than in years past. Previously, the copy to be filed with the IRS was not due until the end …
AFBF Endorses Bills to Repeal Death Tax
The American Farm Bureau Federation has endorsed bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to repeal the federal estate tax. AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the bills are needed because farm and ranch families continue to face challenges to passing their family businesses to the next generation.
Geneticist Edward Buckler Awarded First NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences
By Kim Kaplan, USDA Agriculture Research Service Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist Edward Buckler will receive the National Academy of Science‘s first ever Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for pioneering the use of large scale genomic approaches to associate genes with crop traits. This work gives plant breeders’ faster access to key genes and reduces the time needed to …