The Trump Administration’s new and scaled-back Waters of the U.S. rule became law this week after last-minute attempts to block the rule. A federal judge late last week denied an effort to prevent implementation of the new regulation, called the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The challengers claim the new rule removes protection from many…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Judge: California Can’t Require Cancer Label for Roundup
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A federal judge says California can’t require a cancer warning label on the weed killer Roundup. The San Francisco Chronicle says a judge in Sacramento issued a permanent injunction Monday barring the label requirement. California wanted the label because Roundup – the world’s most widely used weed killer – contains glyphosate,…… MORE
Dairy Safety Net Signup for 2021 Coverage
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency says safety-net signup for 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage begins on October 12th and runs through December 11th of this year. DMC has already triggered payments for two months for those producers who signed up for 2020 coverage. “If we’ve learned anything in the past six months, it’s to expect…… MORE
Organic Farmers say USDA “Let Down” Organic Dairies
The Organic Farmers Association is asking members of Congress to ensure that USDA’s National Organic Program complies with the law and finalizes the Origin of Livestock rule as quickly as possible. A recent deadline for the National Organic Program to finalize the long-awaited Origin of Livestock rule has passed by. The Association says the rule…… MORE
USDA Extends Food Box Program
The Department of Agriculture is extending contract to some venders in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. USDA is exercising the option to extend contracts for current distributors for the next performance period, July 1st through August 30th, for up to $1.16 billion of food. The decision to extend current contractors was determined…… MORE
Cal Walnuts Survey Results
Staying home means snacking more for Americans. Amid orders to shelter-in-place, many Americans have turned to snacking for comfort. A new survey, conducted in May in partnership with California Walnuts and Kelton Global, explores the snacking behaviors of Americans and how they’ve changed since shelter-in-place mandates were implemented. About one in two Americans, 48% confess…… MORE
Ag Equipment Sales Rise
Overall unit sales of agricultural tractors and combines in May 2020 rose in the United States. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers says smaller machine sales growth is overpowering declines in the bigger segments and combines. U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 15.1% in May compared to 2019, while U.S. May combine sales fell 2.9%.…… MORE
More Farmer Aid is Needed
The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking lawmakers to provide more critical resources to farmers hurt by COVID-19’s impact on the food system. They’re also looking for more help for rural communities struggling with the pandemic’s impacts. Many of the country’s struggling farmers were left out of the initial round of assistance, while some…… MORE
Organic Food Sales Up
Organic food sales rose 5% in 2019 over the previous year, coming in at $50 billion. The Organic Trade Association says the first quarter of 2020 saw organic food sales continue to rise dramatically. Food Business News says if that trend continues, the industry should see another year of record growth. “Our 2020 survey…… MORE
USDA Livestock Program Changes
The Department of Agriculture is making changes to the Livestock Risk Protection insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer. USDA’s Risk Management Agency says changes include moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period and increasing premium subsidies to assist producers. RMA Administrator Martin Barbre says…… MORE
