As the Urban School Food Alliance (the Alliance), we represent seven of the largest school districts in the nation (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade, Dallas, Orange County in Orlando and Broward County in Fort Lauderdale), feeding more three million elementary, middle school and high school students every school day. As many as 90 percent of the children in …
Record Volume for U.S. Pork Exports in March; Beef Exports Remain Strong
U.S. pork and beef exports capped a strong first quarter with excellent March results that included a new record volume for pork, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports reached 227,955 metric tons (mt) in March, up 16 percent year-over-year and topping the previous monthly high set in November 2016. …
Notice of Determination of Changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Program Standards. In a previous notice, the Agency proposed changes to the NPIP Program Standards document to establish new biosecurity principles and to update some testing procedures. The notice was available for public review and comment for 30 days. No comments …
Perdue Planning First Farm Policy Speech
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will speak in Iowa Friday, giving his first major farm policy speech. The Department of Agriculture says Secretary Perdue will travel to Nevada (nu-vay-duh), Iowa, to speak at the Couser (cow-zer) Cattle Company and host a town hall meeting with farmers. Perdue will tour the facility and speak to farmers in the morning at the facility …
FDA to Address Agricultural Biotechnology Misinformation
Included in a budget deal to avert a government shutdown is funding for the Food and Drug Administration for consumer outreach and education regarding agricultural biotechnology. The Washington Post reports the money is to be used to tout “the environmental, nutritional, food safety, economic, and humanitarian impacts” of biotech crops and their final food products. The bill includes $3 million …
NMPF Urges Dairy Imitators to Comply with Food Labeling Standards
America’s dairy farmers have a clear message for plant-based food companies that have been meeting in California this week to assess the consistency of the labeling of their products: Dairy imitators must start complying with federal regulations that require foods such as milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt to be made from real milk. “At a time when consumers want …
NFU Disappointed by House Vote for AHCA
Calls on Senate to Reject the Bill The U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that would cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, lessen protections for those with preexisting conditions, and adversely affect family farmers and rural Americans. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement …
Farm Banks Report Ag Lending Gains in 2016
Farm banks increased their agricultural lending by 5.3 percent in 2016 and held $103.4 billion in ag loans at year’s end, according to the American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report. Despite overall declines in farm income, farm banks continued to maintain healthy asset quality and capital levels. More than 97 percent of farm banks were profitable in 2016, …
Florida’s Northern Bobwhite Quail Decline
The Bobwhite Quail in Florida is in trouble. In fact, populations across Florida and throughout the southeastern U.S. have dropped from an estimated 31 million to only 5.5 million in the past 50 years. That’s 80 percent of the population just gone. But through a special 2017 sign up ending May 19, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in …
Secretary Perdue Announces Arrival of First Shipment of U.S. Beef to Brazil
Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the first shipment of fresh U.S. beef has arrived in Brazil following a 13-year hiatus. The entrance of American beef into the Brazilian market ushers in promising long-term economic opportunity for U.S. beef producers. “With Brazil’s large market reopened to the United States, U.S. beef exports are poised for new growth. I look forward to …