U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a statement providing clarification on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of plants produced through innovative new breeding techniques which include techniques called genome editing. Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques as long …
How Much Seafood Did You Eat? Photos Jog Memory, Aid Scientific Recommendations
Seafood can be a tasty source of protein that supports a healthy, balanced diet. But too much of anything is not always beneficial, said Anne Mathews, a food and human nutrition scientist with the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences. To assess health risks versus benefits of consuming certain seafood products, scientists analyze seafood for nutritional value …
Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind participants with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts that expire on December 31, 2018, you can renew those contracts for an additional five years. But the deadline to renew is April 13. Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, …
Trade Coalition Launches Effort Against U.S. Tariffs
A new effort seeks to protect U.S. agriculture from trade retaliation. Americans for Farmers and Families Tuesday announced the “Retaliation Hurts Rural Families” project. Former Missouri state lawmaker and spokesperson for the project, Casey Guernsey, says the effort will help farmers and ranchers “communicate with one voice” to the Trump administration that “rural and farming communities must be heard.” The …
McConnell Introduces Hemp legislation
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week announced legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate to support hemp farmers. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 will legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances. McConnell announced the legislation in his home state earlier this week, which implemented a hemp pilot program that …
Veterinarians Take to Capitol Hill
Nearly 100 veterinarians took to the nation’s capital earlier this week to discuss farm bill priorities. While lawmakers are on break this week, the American Veterinary Medical Association held its annual fly-in to meet with congressional offices. In the next farm bill, fly-in attendees are asking Congress to help prevent animal disease outbreaks by establishing and funding a three-pronged measure, …
Deputy Secretary Censky to Keynote Farm Foundation Workshop
A Farm Foundation workshop on rural Infrastructure Investment will feature Deputy Agriculture Secretary Steve Censky. A collaboration of Farm Foundation and the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the workshop will examine current research on the impact of rural infrastructure investments on economic activity. Farm Foundation President Constance Cullman says the workshop is a “vital step in sharpening those tools” …
China: U.S. “Severely Damaged” Multilateral Trade
Steel and aluminum tariffs crafted by the Trump administration based on national security have “severely damaged” the multilateral trade system, according to officials from China. In a translated news release, a Chinese trade official says the nation will take legal actions through the World Trade Organization to “maintain the stability and authority” of multilateral trade. The comment came late last …
Trade Tiff with China Serves as Negotiating Primer
A leading U.S. agricultural economist suggests that the trade issues with China serve as a vehicle for negotiations. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says China may be simply signaling the U.S. that the nation wants to negotiate, just as the U.S. has seemed to signal to China in crafting the tariffs. That seems to be the case, too, according …
AEM’s Slater: Lift Steel Tariffs to Support Manufacturers
AEM President Dennis Slater issued the following statement last week Friday in response to President Trump’s import tariffs on steel taking effect: Equipment manufacturers remain disappointed at President Trump for allowing harmful steel tariffs to go into effect today. While exemptions for our strategic partners are encouraging, AEM opposes any steel tariffs as they will disrupt the entire global trading …