Florida farmers, ranchers, and small business owners united as the voice of agriculture last week during the annual Field to the Hill advocacy trip in Washington, D.C., May 23-25. More than 80 Farm Bureau members representing 24 counties in the Sunshine State traveled to the nation’s capital to visit with the Florida Congressional delegation to discuss federal policy issues such …
Rural America the New ‘Inner City’
The Wall Street Journal has dubbed rural America as the new “inner city,” riddled with low income, sparse access to healthcare, crime, and drugs. A special analysis by the publication says data reveals that sparsely populated counties have replaced large cities as America’s most troubled areas by key measures of socioeconomic well-being. The shift began in the 1990s and continues …
TPP Member Nations Moving On
The 11 remaining member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are moving on with finalizing the agreement without the United States. Four months after the United States announced it would withdraw from the trade agreement, the remaining 11 TPP countries agreed to “launch a process to assess options to bring the comprehensive, high-quality agreement into force expeditiously, including how …
FDA Considering Nutrition Facts Panel Delay
The Food and Drug Administration is considering a delaying implementation of a revamped nutrition facts panel on retail goods. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports the move would follow a request by industry groups that have asked the FDA to delay the new food labels by three years. The updated labels are scheduled to start being used by July of next …
Secretary Perdue Continues Farm State Travels
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue continues traveling this week as he will attend the Montana Ag Summit Thursday. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts is expected to join Perdue at the event that was organized by committee member Steve Daines, a Montana Republican. Also attending is a team of Mexican barley and malt importers, who are visiting the U.S. as part …
USDA Political Appointment Nominee’s Expected Soon
Nominee’s for The Department of Agriculture’s political post within the agency are expected within a month or so. Sources close to the Secretary have allegedly told Politico that Perdue has made his picks for key positions within USDA, and those picks could be announced in June. There are nearly a dozen political positions that require confirmation by the U.S. Senate, …
Canada: NAFTA Talks to Start in August
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister told the nation’s lawmakers this week negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement would start in August, the earliest possible by U.S. law. Chrystia Freeland briefed Canadian lawmakers Monday on the negotiation process. She says a time crunch is looming, with the U.S. and Mexico in the biggest hurry to start talks. The Canadian Press …
First Cases of H3N2 Dog Flu Confirmed in Florida
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in coordination with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, announced that the University of Florida has confirmed seven cases of H3N2 canine influenza virus, a.k.a. “dog flu.” Six additional results for the virus are pending. All dogs being treated are in stable condition. There is no evidence that H3N2 canine …
Farmers Support Proposed Revisions to Peanut Quality Standards
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) supports a recommendation from the Peanut Standards Board to revise the minimum quality and handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the U.S. The proposed rule, issued May 25 in the Federal Register, would relax the allowance for damaged kernels in farmers’ stock peanuts when sorting and determining segregation. The Peanut Standards …
UF Scientists Prepare for Devastating Pest in China Before it Makes its Way to U.S.
A previously unrecognized pest is making a name for itself devastating American sweetgum trees in China. Now, University of Florida researchers fear the insect will make its way to the United States and devastate its sweetgum trees. The bug was so obscure it recently had no scientific name until researchers realized it was responsible for the death of thousands of …