The Department of Agriculture says at least 18 outbreaks of Virulent Newcastle Disease have been confirmed in backyard chickens in Southern California. The outbreaks prompted the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to issue a warning to commercial poultry operations. The infected backyard chickens were found in Los Angeles and San Bernardino in May and June. In the USDA statement, …
Perdue Announces New Budget Director at USDA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the selection of Erica Navarro to serve as Director of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OBPA administers the Department’s budgetary functions and also develops and presents budget-related matters. The Director is responsible for providing leadership in carrying out Department-wide responsibilities in policy analysis, …
NPPC Testifies at USTR Hearing on Thailand’s GSP Eligibility
At a U.S. Trade Representative hearing, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) called for Thailand’s preferential access to the U.S. market to be revoked or reduced if it does not end its unwarranted ban on U.S. pork. Thailand is a top beneficiary of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which gives duty-free treatment to certain goods entering the …
Department Accepting Century & Heritage Farm and Bicentennial Farm Applications
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting applications for the annual Century and Heritage (C & H) Farm and Bicentennial Farm programs. The purpose of both programs is to recognize family farms that have played a significant role in Alabama’s history. A Century Farm is one that has been in the same family continuously for at least …
Two Mosquito Species Can Transmit New Chikungunya Virus in the Americas
Yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes from Florida and Brazil can transmit an Asian strain of chikungunya virus that’s emerging in North, South and Central America, a University of Florida scientist says. The Asian strain of the virus is not currently circulating in Florida, and Barry Alto, associate professor of entomology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, …
Farm Credit Outlook Shows Prices for Grains to Strengthen
An outlook presented to the Farm Credit Administration shows corn and soybean prices are projected to strengthen, boosting profit margins for crop farmers. The report shows profit margins are expected to decline for livestock producers though, as rising grain prices drive up feed costs, and Southwest pasture conditions deteriorate because of severe drought. The quarterly report also notes that uncertainties …
House Faces Friday Deadline to Pass Current Farm Bill
The U.S. House faces a Friday deadline to revote on the current farm bill proposal. As of Monday, the farm bill, passed out of committee with Republican support only, was not on the schedule to be considered on the house floor. However, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who publishes the weekly schedule, did include: “Possible consideration of legislation related to …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Canada Dairy Issue
While traveling to Canada last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his Canadian counterpart spoke in unison supporting trade. Perdue visited the farm of Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Friday. Speaking with reporters after the event, Perdue discussed Canada’s Dairy Supply Management System, targeted by the U.S. dairy industry as a priority to address through the North American Free Trade …
Senate Bill Creates Group to Study Trucking Regulations
Legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate would revise existing trucking regulations to make the rules more flexible for drivers hauling livestock, according to the National Pork Producers Council. The “Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act” would establish a working group at the Department of Transportation to examine the federal Hours of Service rules and the Electronic Logging Device regulations. The …
FDA to Hold Fake Meat Public Meeting
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comment on fake meat, or foods produced using animal cell culture technology. The FDA will hold a public meeting next month to gather comments. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the organization will participate in the public meeting, and will advocate for Department of Agriculture oversight of lab-grown fake meat products. NCBA …