The Organic Trade Association (OTA) applauded a bill introduced in the U.S. House that would create new investments into the Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. The Organic Trade Association says the investments included in the bill would meet the research needs of the growing organic sector. The Organic Research Act of 2017 would increase annual funding …
EPA Launches WOTUS Review Web Page
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a web page to keep stakeholders up to date on the review process and potential changes to the agencies Waters of the U.S. rule. The web page, according to the EPA, will keep the public informed as the EPA reviews the definition of a “Waters of the U.S.” In February, President Donald Trump issued …
U.S. Still Likely to Benefit from TPP
The United States stands to benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, even though President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the trade agreement. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay told Radio New Zealand the U.S., and other non-TPP countries, will benefit from the changes to the sharing of pharmaceutical information. However, no added benefits extend to agriculture, which TPP was thought …
Agri View: Hard Winter for Farmers
Everett Griner talks about how the hard winter affected farmers and their crops in today’s Agri View. This past winter was the mildest winter this country has had in 100 years. The section where I live had a total of four nights with temperatures in the freezing zone. The last night was March 16th. You know it …
$7.4 Million for Research on Food Crops and Animals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced nine grants totaling $7.4 million for advanced research to develop more resilient and nutritious crops and food animals. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Research helps us accelerate the development of improved …
GIPSA Seeks Comments on U.S. Standards for Beans and Lentils
U.S. Standards for Beans The USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is seeking comments on a notice proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Beans published in the Federal Register of May 15, 2017. GIPSA is proposing to establish a class and grade requirement chart for “chickpea,” also known as “garbanzo bean” and establish a new grade determining factor, …
State Milk Regulators Ask FDA for Assistance
State milk regulators requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work with them to enforce the proper use of milk and milk product labeling terms, especially those meant to distinguish between real dairy products and plant-based imitators – a development the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) hailed as “the strongest statement yet that the abuse of dairy terms …
Cabinet Weighs Highlands Conservation Plan
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet next week will consider a proposal to spend $1.58 million to help conserve about 1,000 acres of land in Highlands County. The proposal involves buying what is known as a “perpetual conservation easement” on 1,034 acres of ranch land owned by S.Y. Hartt & Son, Inc. The Hartt family bought the northern Highlands …
ASTA Annual Convention Coming in June
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) will hold their 134th Annual Convention next month, as the event will take place June 21-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ASTA President and CEO, Andy LaVigne, said they will focus on science and policy issues. The Annual Convention 2017 Registration Brochure is available for download as a PDF.  Special programming descriptions are included in this PDF. …
Conaway Welcomes Sec. Perdue to the Agriculture Committee
“These are challenging times in agriculture, but we can rest assured Sec. Perdue will be a fierce advocate for our nation’s farmers and ranchers.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) welcomed newly-confirmed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sec. Sonny Perdue to Capitol Hill to testify on the “State of the Rural Economy.” Following the hearing, Chairman Conaway made …