Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is previewing the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards final rule. According to a USDA announcement, this new rule establishes clear, strong and consistent standards for organic livestock and poultry production, levels the playing field for organic livestock farmers, ranchers and businesses and promotes fairer, more competitive markets for their products, while…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
New USDA Help For Specialty Crop Exports
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA is providing $2.3 billion to help producers maintain and develop markets for their commodities and use U.S. commodities to bolster international food aid. According to a USDA news release the department is utilizing funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to address challenges related to trade and food insecurity impacting…… MORE
Big Four Packers Hit with Another Suit
The four largest meatpackers were hit by a new price-fixing lawsuit from a group of small food distributors. The suit was filed on October 9 in the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois, accusing the Packers of fixing prices for years. The plaintiffs say the price-fixing dates back to at least January 1, 2015, and…… MORE
Ag Groups Urge Caution About Fertilizer Duties
More than 60 ag groups say fertilizer shortages are creating a hardship for U.S. farmers. The groups sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo asking her to consider the current difficulties faced by farmers as she recalculates duties on phosphate fertilizer imported from Morocco. “High costs and limited availability of fertilizer continue to strain…… MORE
Cal Farmworker Advancement Program Taking Applications
The Employment Development Department is announcing that the department along with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency are announcing up to $9 million is available under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Those grants will be awarded to research, design, and implement projects that focus only on farmworker needs at a regional level. Essential…… MORE
State Wants To Ground Valley Crop Duster
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is asking a Kern County judge to stop a Bakersfield-area crop duster from carrying out any future applications. According to the DPR announcement, John A. Slykerman and his company, Agra Fly Inc. stand accused of several illegal drift incidents that harmed at least one person and damaged property. DPR…… MORE
National Farmers Day This Week
A special day to honor those who grow the food we eat. National Farmers Day is Thursday, October 12th. It’s a day that various farm organizations are reminding all of us that we should honor and pay tribute to farmers. After all farmers have dedicated their lives to feed our nation. Their contributions range from…… MORE
More Oriental Fruit Fly Detections in California
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing that parts of Sacramento, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties are under quarantine. This follows the detection of multiple Oriental fruit flies in those areas. In Sacramento County, according to the CDFA announcement, detections in and around the city of Rancho Cordova have resulted in a quarantine…… MORE
More Crop Insurance Options for Organic & Specialty Crops
The USDA is improving crop insurance options for specialty crop and organic producers, including rolling out new and expanded options based on feedback from America’s producers. “We’re committed to working with specialty crop and organic producers to develop options that fit their needs,” says Risk Management Agency Administrator Marcia Bunger. “We listened to what they…… MORE
HLB Disease Infected Trees Detected in So Cal
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is reporting that the department has declared a quarantine in Ventura County. This follows the detection of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees on one residential property in the city of Santa Paula. These detections are the first HLB-positive trees in Ventura County. …… MORE
