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 …
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 …
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 …
What’s Next for E-Verify Immigration System
All employers would be required to use the E-Verify system to check the immigration status of employees. Milk Business Dot Com says the requirement is part of some revisions to the Ag and Legal Workforce Act that’s currently making its way through Congress. If the Act gets Congressional approval, it would phase in the E-Verify system over time and phase …
OTA Wants Voluntary Checkoff Program
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced a plan to move the industry toward a voluntary industry-invested organic research, promotion, and education checkoff program. It will be put together and in place by stakeholders across the organic supply chain. Laura Batcha is CEO of the Organic Trade Association. She says the group recognizes the industry’s demand for coordinated organic research and …
Swine Fever Spreads; FAO Calls Emergency Meeting
China reported another four cases of African Swine Fever. The trade website Meating Place Dot Com says that brings the total number of cases to 13 since the virus was first found in the country last month. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization called a three-day emergency meeting of experts to propose responses to halt the spread of the …
Kansas Cattle Traceability Project Moving Forward
The Kansas-based Cattle Trace pilot project is on track to begin testing a purpose-built infrastructure for cattle disease traceability by this fall. Traceability is a top priority for the cattle industry. The Cattle Trace pilot project will help kickstart discussions and development on an enhanced traceability program in Kansas and around the country. Last month, CattleTrace, Inc., was established as …