House Republicans are trying again to enact ag worker reform legislation to deal with the longstanding problem of illegal seasonal farm labor in the U.S. But, the effort may be going nowhere in the Senate. House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s [GOOD-lat] Agricultural Workers Act would create a new non-immigrant worker visa program, aimed at providing a stable, legal and adequate …
Plant-Based Foods Increasing in Popularity
The use and popularity of plant-based foods are increasing, but that doesn’t mean a change in course for the world population. A recent survey by the restaurant food delivery service GrubHub reported that vegan orders have increased in popularity by 19 percent in 2017. However, the number of vegan or vegetarian consumers has remained around five percent of the world’s …
Nestle Leaving Grocery Manufacturers Association
Nestle Foods announced it would leave the Grocery Manufacturers Association trade group by the end of the year, following the heels of Campbell Soup Company. Politico reports that Nestle has been at odds with GMA on some of the most high-profile food issues in Washington, D.C. in recent years. Nestle was one of a handful of companies that backed labeling …
NCGA Offers Reminder on Dicamba Label Changes
The National Corn Growers Association is urging farmers to be aware of the label changes for dicamba herbicides next year. NCGA says farmers interested in using dicamba as part of their crop strategy in the 2018 growing season need to be aware only certified applicators, or those under direct supervision will be allowed to apply the product. The Environmental Protection …
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Lists Farm Bill Priorities
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives is urging Congress to finish the next farm bill on time. In releasing the organization’s farm bill priorities Tuesday, President and CEO Chuck Conner noted the “challenging price environment” farmers are dealing with in explaining the need for a timely farm bill. The council’s framework outlines eight general principles to be included in the …
Korea Sends KORUS Analysis, Says No to Opening Ag Trade
A review of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade (KORUS) Agreement by South Korea claims to show little basis to support the U.S. desire for renegotiation. A South Korea-based newspaper reports that Korea submitted an analysis to Washington, D.C. showing that preferential U.S. duties as part of KORUS had almost no direct effect on the increase in South Korean exports to the U.S. over …
Senate Committee Advances Chief Ag Negotiator Nominee
The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday advanced the nomination of Greg Doud as chief agriculture negotiator to the full Senate. The move puts Doud closer to the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations, with one vote remaining until he can take his post at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah says of the Trump Administration that it …
Survey Shows Impacts Immigration Policy has on Agriculture
A survey recently released by the California Farm Bureau shows immigration policy still harms agriculture in the same capacity as seen in a similar survey in 2012. The informal survey showed that more than half of responding farmers had experienced employee shortages during the past year. California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger says the worker shortage impacts farm operations. Wenger …
UF Offers Free Invasive Plants Toolkit for Teachers Nationwide
Science and agriculture teachers across the nation now have a new tool to teach students about invasive plants, thanks to researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative at the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) has partnered with The Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS) to produce a …
Nominations open for Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship …