The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is moving forward with plans to create a voluntary checkoff program. The Association says the program would provide industry-invested organic research, promotion and education check-off program that will be collaboratively designed and implemented by organic stakeholders across the organic supply chain. The trade association has formed a Steering Committee to coordinate and lead the efforts. …
National Farmers Union DC Fly-in This Week
National Farmers Union members head to Capitol Hill this week at a critical time for agriculture issues. NFU is hosting 350 farmers as part of a fly-in event. The farmers will meet face-to-face with top Trump administration officials and members of Congress. The fly-in kicks off Wednesday with an event at the Department of Agriculture. On Thursday and Friday, participants …
Agri View: River Barge Traffic
Everett Griner talks about problems on the river with barge traffic in today’s Agri View. River Barge Traffic You have already heard more about those tariff trade wars than you want to. There isn’t anything I can’t tell you that you haven’t heard already. Well, maybe there is. Towns along the Mississippi River, mostly farm towns, are in great trouble …
USDA Partners with Communities to Support Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Opportunities in Rural America
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with rural communities in 22 states to support opportunities for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery (PDF, 162 KB). “With its impact on workforce, quality of life and the economic vitality of rural communities from Maine to California, the opioid epidemic is more …
USDA, FDA Announce Joint Public Meeting on Use of Animal Cell Culture Technology
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced a joint public meeting to be held on Oct. 23-24 to discuss the use of cell culture technology to develop products derived from livestock and poultry. The joint public meeting, hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service …
Discussing Peanut Varieties
During last week’s University of Georgia Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day, sponsored in part by the Georgia Peanut Commission, growers were able to learn more about various peanut research efforts. Tyron Spearman was there and talked with a well-known peanut breeder about both new and older varieties. Discussing Peanut Varieties Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement …
Optimism on Sept. 30 Farm Bill Completion
All of agriculture knows the farm bill conference committee has just a handful of legislative days left to complete and pass a new bill before the current one expires at the end of the month. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall is optimistic that will happen. Optimistic on September 30 Farm Bill Completion Sponsored ContentCIR …
Edible Hedges You Need to Grow
You need to grow something for privacy. Why not combine food and privacy together? Cathy Isom has some ideas about hedges or shrubs you could grow in your yard that offer more than just privacy. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Edible Hedges You Need to Grow When thinking about how to landscape your yard for privacy, chain …
Gap Remains in Farm Bill Talks Over SNAP
Senate Ag Committee Leaders said the farm bill compromise offered by House Ag Chair Michael Conaway doesn’t go far enough. Politico says Conaway described it as a “significant compromise.” The disagreement has slowed the efforts to reconcile the House and Senate Farm Bills. Senate Ag Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow says the offer isn’t even close to something that the Senate …
Industry Coalition Opposes New China Tariffs
A coalition of more than 150 business groups, including several in agriculture, wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week regarding trade. The Hagstrom Report says the groups fear additional 10 percent or 25 percent tariffs, put in place under Section 301 authority, will backfire. The letter says, “Continuing the tit-for-tat escalation with China only serves to …