NAFTA Modernization Must Not Disrupt Pork Exports

Following notification by the Trump administration to Congress that it intends to modernize the trade agreement among the United States, Canada and Mexico, the National Pork Producers Council urged the president to make sure that tariffs remain at zero for pork traded in North America. The White House officially notified the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, which …

UF Helps Slow the Cycle of Food-Insecurity, Obesity

LaToya O’Neal and others at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are trying to ensure that all people can buy nutritious food and, in turn, curb obesity among those with limited daily access to healthy food. Those who go day to day with little to no access to nutritious food are food-insecure, O’Neal said. About 13 …

Grilling Season Poised to Increase Meat Demand

The seasonal grilling period is poised to increase demand for meat, according to statistics compiled by Oklahoma State University. The Food Demand Survey found consumers’ willingness-to-pay for steak increased nine percent this month. Meanwhile, consumers say their willingness-to-pay for chicken breast increased 1.2 percent, and 2.45 percent for pork chops, compared to levels indicated in April. Consumers noted a decrease …

OTA Applauds Organic Research Investment Legislation

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) applauded a bill introduced in the U.S. House that would create new investments into the Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. The Organic Trade Association says the investments included in the bill would meet the research needs of the growing organic sector. The Organic Research Act of 2017 would increase annual funding …

U.S. Still Likely to Benefit from TPP

The United States stands to benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, even though President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the trade agreement. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay told Radio New Zealand the U.S., and other non-TPP countries, will benefit from the changes to the sharing of pharmaceutical information. However, no added benefits extend to agriculture, which TPP was thought …

$7.4 Million for Research on Food Crops and Animals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced nine grants totaling $7.4 million for advanced research to develop more resilient and nutritious crops and food animals. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Research helps us accelerate the development of improved …

GIPSA Seeks Comments on U.S. Standards for Beans and Lentils

U.S. Standards for Beans The USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is seeking comments on a notice proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Beans published in the Federal Register of May 15, 2017. GIPSA is proposing to establish a class and grade requirement chart for “chickpea,” also known as “garbanzo bean” and establish a new grade determining factor, …

State Milk Regulators Ask FDA for Assistance

State milk regulators requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work with them to enforce the proper use of milk and milk product labeling terms, especially those meant to distinguish between real dairy products and plant-based imitators – a development the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) hailed as “the strongest statement yet that the abuse of dairy terms …