USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released new guidelines aimed at strengthening documentation in support of environmental or animal-raising labeling claims on meat and poultry products. This comes after a recent study found antibiotics in livestock raised for the no-antibiotics market. USDA called for meat and poultry companies to do more to verify claims that…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Fed Cuts Interest Rates Benefiting Agriculture
Kicking off an expected loosening of U.S. monetary policy, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday. The move brings a larger-than-normal reduction in the cost of borrowing, which followed growing concern about the health of America’s job market. Farm Policy News says higher interest rates have hit the agricultural…… MORE
AM Radio Bill Moves to House Floor
Efforts to keep AM radio in the dashboards of U.S. vehicles have taken a step forward in the House. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 45-2 to send the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to the full House for a vote. “It’s been a stalwart of American prosperity and information sharing,” says…… MORE
Fertilizer Institute Wants More from Rail Industry
The Fertilizer Institute testified before the Surface Transportation Board and emphasized the ongoing need for the freight rail industry to shift its focus toward customer service and growth. The fertilizer industry has long relied on rail service for the efficient and safe transport of its products but has struggled with declining service quality, increasing rates,…… MORE
Cracks Showing in the Farm Bill Logjam
While the 2024 Farm Bill has been stalled for multiple months, the legislative logjam is showing a few signs of breaking after key ag groups took to Capitol Hill to share the economic reality facing farmers and ranchers. In a letter last week to House Ag Committee Democrats, Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) said, “We…… MORE
Bipartisan Group Want Dairy Industry Protection
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on the administration to protect America’s dairy industry. They want to ensure that plant-based imitation products are not equated in upcoming dietary guideline changes. The officials are asking the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA to carefully consider any changes to…… MORE
House Passes Bill to Protect U.S. Farmland
The House of Representatives passed the “Protecting U.S. Farmland from Foreign Adversaries Act.” Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. The legislation would increase scrutiny of foreign bids to purchase U.S. farmland, particularly from adversaries like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. It would add the Secretary…… MORE
USDA Launches Interactive Census of Ag Maps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service just released a collection of interactive maps to allow data users to access key Census of Agriculture information. The newly redesigned Ag Census Web Maps application offers the public access to maps and accompanying data to help visualize, download and analyze Census of Agriculture data down to…… MORE
California Ag Industry Part of Trade Mission to Vietnam
The USDA trade mission to Vietnam includes agribusinesses and farm organizations from many states including California. The goal is to develop and expand business opportunities with importers in Vietnam and other nearby countries. Among those taking part, the California Fresh Fruit Association and the California Table Grape Commission, both based in Fresno. USDA points out…… MORE
Medfly Quarantine Zone
The California Department of Food and Agriculture says a portion of Alameda County is now under quarantine for the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, also known as the Medfly. This follows the detection of a medfly found in Fremont. The USDA, the Alameda County Agricultural Commissioner, and CDFA are working together on this project. CDFA has successfully…… MORE
