The Pork Checkoff has partnered with the website and mobile app called Yummly. National Pork Board vice president of domestic marketing Jarrod Sutton says digital opportunities like this put pork recipes in front of today’s consumer. There are also opportunities to educate consumers about cooking temps and other quality characteristics. Thirdly, consumers want a consistent, high-quality product. Those messages will …
Perdue Talks About Successful European Trip
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue toured Europe, speaking with officials from several different countries about a variety of issues, including trade. After stops in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, Perdue said the trip has been very productive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would be withdrawing the interim final rule under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards …
USDA Helps Small Businesses Develop New Agricultural Products, Technology
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced grants to help bring agricultural business ideas from the drawing board to the marketplace. Funding is made through NIFA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program. “For small agricultural businesses, the federal government is a key, initial investor to help them get great ideas into the marketplace,” said …
AFBF Backs Timely Reg Review of Food Production Tools
Coordinated federal review of advances in agricultural biotechnology will help America’s farmers and ranchers achieve gains in efficiency and productivity needed to meet the continued challenges of the 21st century, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “American agriculture must stay on the cutting edge of technology,” Duvall said. “Agency collaboration and efficient government review of new food …
Farm Bureau Supports GIPSA Rule Do-Over
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Agriculture Department has withdrawn the livestock portion of the GIPSA rule and will continue to work on poultry fair practice issues in a future rulemaking. This is good news for farmers and ranchers. “We thank Secretary Perdue for his diligent efforts on these rules. The livestock …
No “Skull and Crossbones” for GMO Apple Labels
The company behind GMO apples hitting the market later this fall says the apples won’t be labeled as containing GMO’s. The arctic variety apples developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, an initiative started by an apple farmer, will instead include a QR code, as outlined in the GMO labeling bill that was passed by Congress and signed by then President Barack …
EPA Ending “Sue and Settle”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is touting a directive he signed this week to end the EPA’s so-called “sue and settle” strategy, a practice agriculture groups opposed. Pruitt issued an Agency-wide directive Monday to end the practice, a move he says means “the days of regulation through litigation are over.” Pruitt said the agency would “no longer go …
Initial Progress Made on U.S.-Japan Trade Issues
The U.S. and Japan in a joint statement said the two nations have made “initial progress” on trade issues. The statement comes as Vice President Mike Pence talked with Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister earlier this week. The Joint statement says some “initial progress” on bilateral trade issues such as lifting import restrictions on Japanese persimmons and Idaho potatoes, according to …
NAFTA Commodity Groups Unite to Urge Negotiation Success
U.S. commodity export groups, along with counterparts from Canada and Mexico, are reiterating their support for free trade. The U.S. Grains Council, along with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Corn Growers, and others, met with counterparts from Canada and Mexico last week. As round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations conclude, the groups …
Canada “Flatly Rejects” U.S. Dairy Proposal
Wrapping up the fourth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. proposed a dismantling of Canada’s dairy supply management system. Bloomberg reports Canada “flatly rejects” the proposal by the United States. The proposal would effectively kill Canada’s supply management system by fully eliminating tariffs on supply-managed products over ten years. President Donald Trump earlier …