Arizona Farm Bureau President Stephanie Smallhouse asked Congress to streamline regulations to preserve ranching, as well as the land itself. The fifth-generation rancher appeared before the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. Smallhouse told the members that America’s vast government-owned grazing lands would be much worse off if there weren’t private caretakers who work to maintain those federal and state lands. Those …
Sommet De L’Elevage Livestock Show Coming Up in October
A 27th Edition that is Looking Extremely Promising With 1,500 exhibitors from 32 countries occupying 180,000 m² of show space, 2,000 animals and 95,000 visitors from the farming industry, the SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE is now recognised as a reference among the world’s largest livestock shows. Judging and animal presentations, technical innovations, business meetings, farmer events and conferences covering the hot …
U.S. House Holds Next Move on Farm Bill
Senator Pat Roberts points out that the U.S. House has the next move on the farm bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee chairman told a group of veteran farmers this week that the farm bill conference should begin “soon,” according to the Hagstrom Report. However, Roberts says the House must make the next move by rejecting the Senate version of the …
EPA Reportedly Ditches Hardship Waiver Fix
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ditched a proposal to make up for lost biofuel volumes stemming from hardship waivers as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The plan was seen as a fix for the waivers granted generously by the EPA under former administer Scott Pruitt, which lowered biofuel volumes by granting refiners a break from the rules. The …
USDA Increases Corn, Soybean Production Forecast
The Department of Agriculture Thursday upped its predictions for larger corn and soybean crops this year. The USDA World Agriculture Supply and Demand Report predicts corn production at 14.2 billion bushels and soybeans increasing to 4.3 billion bushels. The 2018/19 U.S. corn outlook includes larger supplies, greater feed and residual use, increased exports, and lower ending stocks. Increased 2017/18 exports …
Trump to Nominate Kip Tom as UN Food Ambassador
President Trump plans to nominate Indiana farmer Kip Tom as the United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture at the Department of State. Tom will be given the rank of Ambassador if nominated and approved by the Senate. Tom, of Tom Farms, is a seventh-generation farmer representing one of the largest farms in Indiana. Tom …
Former GMA Members Create New Food Lobby
A Group of former Grocery Manufacturers Association members announced a new coalition called the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance. Founding member companies include Danone North America, Mars, Incorporated, Nestlé USA and Unilever United States. In the announcement, the coalition says it is focused on “driving progress in public policies that shape what people eat and how it impacts their health, communities, …
Organic Group Sues Ben & Jerry’s Over Advertising Claims
The Organic Consumers Association has filed suit against Vermont-based Ben & Jerry’s for deceptive labeling, marketing and sales of Unilever’s Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream products. The suit was filed in D.C. Superior Court this week under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The group claims Unilever reportedly spent more than $9 billion on advertising in 2017, and that a …
USDA Announces Japan to Accept Exports of U.S. Sheep and Goat Meat
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is announcing that the government of Japan has finalized technical requirements that will allow U.S. sheep and goat exports into the country for the first time in more than 14 years. “This success is a direct result of USDA’s dedication to helping America’s farmers and ranchers keep and find new markets for their products,” …
Farm Bureau Supports Endangered Species Act Reforms
The following statement may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation: “The Western Caucus introduced eight separate bills to reform the Endangered Species Act. The ESA, despite the good intentions it was built on, has failed in recovering endangered wildlife. Instead, it has threatened our ability to make productive use of the land. Perhaps the …