The Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal and rewrite the definition of water of the United States, or WOTUS. It means the EPA will repeal the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which replaced the Obama-era Waters of the U.S. rule. EPA Administrator Michael Regan states, “the EPA and Department of the Army…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Examining Supply Chain Disruptions
The White House will form a task force focused on short-term supply chain disruptions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was named co-chair of the task force, along with the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation. The Department of Agriculture says the task force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and find solutions that could help alleviate…… MORE
Teachers Share FFA and Ag Opportunities
Agriculture educators this summer are sharing the story of FFA and agriculture education in their states and communities. More than 82 agricultural education teachers will continue to share the story as part of the National Teachers Ambassadors for FFA program. The program, which began in 2016, provides teachers with the tools to share information…… MORE
USDA Predicts Record Farm Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the fiscal year 2021 will be a good year for American farm exports. In the latest quarterly agricultural trade forecast, the agency says farm exports will total $164 billion, which would be the highest total in history. “U.S. agricultural trade has proven extraordinarily resilient in the face of a…… MORE
Farm Bureau Raises Concerns About Southern Border Crisis
The American Farm Bureau Federation joined all 50 state Farm Bureaus in a sent a letter sent to the Biden Administration regarding the country’s southern border. They’re asking the White House to address the surge of undocumented immigrants entering the United States. The increase in illegal immigration is severely impacting farm and ranch families,…… MORE
Ag Economy Barometer Tumbles
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer tumbled significantly in May, dropping 20 points to an index reading of 158. It marks the lowest point for the survey since September of 2020. Producers were less optimistic about both the current conditions and the future of the agricultural economy. The potential for changing tax rules…… MORE
Prop 12 Needs Public Input
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing that a 45-day public comment period for proposed regulations to implement Proposition 12 is now underway through July 12th. The department is proposing to adopt regulations to implement Health and Safety Code sections of the Farm Animal Cruelty law which mandates confinement standards which include egg-laying…… MORE
Cal Cattle Processing Supervisor To Be Honored
Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inductees and award winners will be honored in August. The event, August 9, will precede the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to honor the exceptional visionary men and women who…… MORE
Organic Sales up During Pandemic
U.S. organic sales soared to new highs in 2020. The increase marked the first time that total sales of organic food and non-food products have surpassed the $60 billion mark, according to the Organic Trade Association. The organization released the data as part of its 2021 Organic Industry Survey. In almost every organic food…… MORE
USDA Might Oversee Rural Broadband
House lawmakers recently introduced the Broadband for Rural America Act. The legislation would put the Department of Agriculture in the driver’s seat for rural broadband rather than the Federal Communications Commission. Georgia Republican Representative Austin Scott mentioned last week, “The FCC’s had their chance, and they haven’t gotten it done.” The bill is one…… MORE
