According to a news release from Congressman David Valadao, he along with the entire California Republican Delegation sent a formal request to the House Natural Resources Committee and the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee. That request is asking for an oversight hearing on the Biden administration’s decision to override career Bureau of Reclamation employees and…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost More
While last year’s cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner was the lowest it had been since 2010, this year could be quite a bit different. A New York Times report says it could be the most expensive dinner on record in the holiday’s history. Nearly every part of the traditional American Thanksgiving dinner will…… MORE
IRS Anti-Surveillance Bill
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa joined several colleagues in introducing the “Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act” in the Senate. The legislation will prevent the Internal Revenue Service from implementing Democrats’ plan to give the agency access to the transaction information of virtually every American. Grassley says the information that the Democrats are seeking is…… MORE
Possible Herbicide Supply Issues
Supply chain disruptions and material shortages are fueling speculation about a herbicide shortage for the 2022 agriculture growing season. Allan Gray, executive director of the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business, suggests, “Flooding, COVID-19 outbreaks and congested ports disrupted production and exports in China for months, resulting in chemical manufactures rationing supply.” Bill…… MORE
Cattle Library Contracts Bill Advances
House Ag Committee lawmakers including the Central Valley’s Jim Costa of the 16th District, agreed to advance a bill to create a library for cattle contracts within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service Department. Cattlemen are currently unaware of contract terms offered by packers, leading to a decline in leverage for smaller producers…… MORE
Reducing Salmonella Poultry Illnesses
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service now has a stronger and more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. The agency is initiating several activities to gather data and information necessary to support future action and move closer to the national target of a 25% reduction in Salmonella illnesses.…… MORE
New World Ag Expo Chairman
World Ag Expo recently announced Steve Wilbur as chairman of the 2022 event. A cotton farmer, Wilbur also runs a dairy with his family, grows feed and multiple row crops. He has previously served as the International Agri-Center Board Chair, as well as being the 2014 Chairman of the California Cotton Growers Association and serving…… MORE
Ag Groups Want More Trade Opportunities
Agriculture groups recently came together during a Farmers for Free Trade roundtable to talk about trade. They all expressed frustration that the Biden administration hasn’t initiated any new trade talks. The groups are especially interested in more Southeast Asian opportunities as more and more countries show interest in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the…… MORE
Online Tool For Drought-Stricken Ranchers
An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to help cover the costs of feed transportation caused by drought. Those costs are now covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program, or ELAP. The USDA updated the program this year to include feed transportation costs and…… MORE
New CDFA Undersecretary Appointed
Governor Newsom’s office announces that Christine Birdsong has been appointed Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Birdsong has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director of People and Culture for the Sun Valley Rice Company since 2016. She was General Counsel for the National Cotton Council of America from 2011 to 2016,…… MORE
