A push for whole milk in schools moves forward. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Committee on Education and the Workforce last week voted to advance a bill restoring whole milk in schools. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 highlights milk’s health benefits and nutrients to young Americans, including better bone health, lower blood …
McKalip Discusses Specialty Crops, GMO Corn, Dairy Trade at Summit
by Sabrina Halvorson The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is keeping specialty crops in focus for trade deals and working on disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA). Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip touched on those and several other topics while speaking at the Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Summit West, held in Sacramento, California. As for specialty crops, he said the importance …
Funding Questionable for New Specialty Crop Farm Bill Programs
by Sabrina Halvorson The specialty crop industry wants farm bill funding for research and new programs, but lawmakers ask, where’s that money coming from? Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance says it’s hard to say what is the most important of all the priorities for specialty crops in the …
Expert Says Innovation Crucial for the Future of Ag
The future of ag relies on innovation. That message came from Dr. Daniel Sumner, from the Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis. He was speaking at the Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Issues Summit West, held in Sacramento, California on Monday. The event pulled together agricultural leaders to discuss the industry from several different angles. …
Beagle Brigade Act Gaining Support
by Sabrina Halvorson Support is growing for the Beagle Brigade Act. Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI-08) introduced the bill in the House and says it’s a vital act for agriculture. “It’s an act with a cute name but a very important purpose. The Beagle Brigade Act helps protect America’s food supply from foreign pests from diseases that come in through …
West Coast Labor Dispute Affecting Red Meat Exports
Contract negotiations between West Coast longshoremen and container terminal operators faced a breakdown last Friday, as work stoppages effectively closed the Port of Oakland and slowed operations up and down the coast. And that is affecting the shipping of agricultural products, including red meat. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, explains why the West Coast port labor impasse is of …
Groups Pushing for Passage of Shipping Reform Implementation Act
Another push for the Shipping Reform Implementation Act. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act (HR 1836) is designed to help with slowdowns and other issues at U.S. ports. The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act follows the Ocean Shipping Reform Act passed a year ago. The first bill gave the Federal Maritime Commission …
Secretary Vilsack Regarding USMCA Dispute Settlement Consultations Request on Mexico’s Agricultural Biotechnology Measures
(USDA/WASHINGTON DC/June 2, 2023) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These consultations are in regard to Mexico’s agricultural biotechnology policies. “USDA supports success for all farmers, and that means …
FAO Issues Report on World’s Hunger Hotspots
A new report looks at hunger around the globe. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN/FAO) has issued an early report on places it expects to be hunger hotspots from June to November. The FAO says food insecurity is likely going to increase in magnitude and severity in 18 hunger hotspots …
Trade Mission Focuses on Opportunities in Japan
An upcoming trade mission looks to expand opportunities in Japan. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In just a few days, dozens of agriculture professionals and state ag leaders will head to Japan with USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. Japan is the fourth-largest market for U.S. food and agricultural exports. In 2022, …