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 …
APHIS Releases Epidemiology Report on New World Screwworm in Florida Keys
APHIS is releasing an epidemiology report outlining its initial findings of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Key deer from the National Key Deer Refuge in Big Pine Key, Florida. APHIS initiated the investigation to determine the origin of the screwworm fly and try to understand how it may have been introduced. Although the investigation did not identify one specific pathway, …
USDA Seeks National Mango Board Nominees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking membership nominations for six seats on the National Mango Board. Applications for the seats are due Feb. 22, 2017. Selected members will serve three-year terms of office. The board is seeking candidates for the following six seats to replace members whose terms expire Dec. 31, 2017: Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
$2.9 Million Available for Biorefinery Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $2.9 million in funding for research to improve biorefinery technologies. The Integrated Biorefinery Optimization program is coordinated and co-funded jointly between NIFA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps …
NASS Surveying Cattle Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is busy surveying some 40,000 cattle operations across the nation to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. The Cattle Survey is conducted twice a year to collect information on inventory of beef and dairy cattle, calf crop, and cattle on feed operations. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, …