The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a proposal for a new industry-funded research and promotion program. The proposed Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order would cover certified organic products and would include a range of agricultural commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, breads, grains, snack foods, condiments, beverages, and packaged and prepared foods. It …
Changes Aimed at Ending the Inhumane Practice of Horse Soring
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced a final rule that includes changes that will help to protect horses from the cruel and inhumane practice known as soring and eliminate the unfair competitive advantage that sore horses have over horses that are not sore. The practice of soring is intended to produce …
Washington Legislative Conference March 7-10
Alabama Farmers Federation members anticipate finding a more favorable regulatory climate under President Donald Trump’s administration when they attend the biennial Washington Legislative Conference March 7-10. The Federation’s Mitt Walker said farmers are hopeful Trump and the 115th Congress will promote policies favorable to agricultural and rural communities, and he anticipates regulatory reform and the farm bill will be main …
USDA Expands Grasslands Conservation Program
Helping Dairy, Beef and Other Producers Protect Working Grasslands in 43 States U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini announced that USDA will accept over 300,000 acres in 43 states that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands enrollment with emphasis placed on small-scale livestock operations. …
House Passes Commodity End-User Relief Act
The House passed H.R. 238, the Commodity End-User Relief Act, by a vote of 239-182. H.R. 238 is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), make important regulatory reforms, and most importantly to make important statutory changes to protect end-users and give them access to the tools they need to manage their risks. This bill largely …
USDA Proposes Adjusted Membership on Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to adjust membership on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board to reflect shifts in cattle inventory levels since the last board reapportionment in 2014, as required by the rules governing the board. Under the proposal, total board membership would decrease by one member, from 100 to 99 …
Analysis Reaffirms Ethanol’s GHG Emissions Reduction Benefits
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued new analysis today on the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn-based ethanol. The analysis, conducted by ICF, found that typical corn-based ethanol achieves a 43 percent greenhouse gas reduction when compared to 2005-era gasoline, and by 2022, corn-based ethanol is projected to increase to a 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction over the life of …
Officials to Release Sterile Flies in Homestead in Precautionary Move
From: Florida Department of Agriculture Following the announcement that a stray dog found in Homestead, Fla. was positive for New World screwworm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that it will begin releasing sterile flies on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 in the Homestead area as a precautionary measure. Since the 1950s, …
Food Safety Rules Challenge Farmers on Several Fronts
Equal treatment of domestic and foreign growers, the need for extensive education, training and technical assistance and agricultural water provisions are among farmers’ top concerns as they implement the Food Safety Modernization Act’s produce rules, according to Bob Ehart, senior policy and science advisor with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ehart spoke to farmers and ranchers from …
APHIS Confirms New World Screwworm in Miami-Dade County, Florida
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in a stray dog near Homestead, Florida. The dog was isolated and his infested wounds were treated. He is now in good health. Federal and state officials have started active surveillance in the area. This is the …