Perdue addresses farmer fly-in, talks trade and SNAP work requirements
In a 15-minute address to hundreds of members of the National Farmers Union, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue emphasized the need for a strong farm safety net and diverse trade partners for U.S. agricultural producers.
Food companies and farmers active at Climate Action Summit
If the Trump administration’s effort to stymie action on climate change is having an impact on food and farming, it isn’t apparent at the Global Climate Action Summit underway in San Francisco this week. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Less risk of pesticide exposure on organic farms, says study
Farmworkers face the greatest risk of adverse health effects from exposure to pesticides, says a report released today by the nonprofit Organic Center, which studies the environmental and health effects of organic food and farming.
U.S. awash in corn and soybeans, says USDA harvest forecast
The mammoth corn and soybean crops awaiting harvest across America are larger than expected, the USDA said on Wednesday in its monthly Crop Production report.
A new bulge in America’s obesity epidemic
Two more states, Iowa and Oklahoma, joined the list of states where adult obesity rates are 35 percent or higher, said the annual State of Obesity report on Wednesday.
World hunger climbs for third year, as many hungry now as in 2010
Some 821 million people—1 in 9 of the world's population—suffer from hunger, said a UN report on Tuesday, the third year in a row that hunger increased globally. The upturn jeopardizes the UN goal of eradicating hunger by 2030. Hunger was on the decline for years, dropping below 784 million in 2014 before starting to creep upward. Now there are as many hungry people as in 2010, said the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.
Second in two years, hurricane threatens large livestock farms in North Carolina
Hurricane Florence will pour 15 to 25 inches of rain onto the Carolinas when it reaches land on Thursday, with up to 35 inches in some places, according to the National Hurricane Center. The North Carolina hog industry says it survived Hurricane Matthew with minimal losses in October 2016 and asserts it is prepared for Florence.
Canada needs ‘flexibility’ on dairy in NAFTA bargaining, says Mulroney
Amid rumors that Canada will offer concessions on dairy trade, former prime minister Brian Mulroney said he would be surprised if the new NAFTA did not include "flexibility" on the country's supply management system. Agriculture is a small part of NAFTA trade but it is a stubborn impediment in U.S.-Canada negotiations.
Bipartisan coalition of House members urge inclusion of local agriculture program in farm bill
A bipartisan coalition of 43 members of the House urged farm bill conferees to include the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the final version of the farm bill. In a letter sent Tuesday, the members expressed support for permanent mandatory funding for LAMP, a provision included in the Senate version of the bill.
Grocery-tax referendum in Washington state would block soda taxes
The three largest soft drink companies in America have donated more than 98 cents of every $1 given to a campaign in Washington state to ban local governments from imposing new taxes on groceries, including soda and other sugary beverages. Voters will decide whether to enact Initiative 1634 in a statewide vote as part of the Nov. 6 election, 10 months after a soda tax took effect in Seattle, the largest city in the state.
Senate Ag leaders question USDA’s authority to relocate agencies
In one of the few challenges by Congress to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's management of USDA, the Senate farm bill would restore the office of undersecretary for rural development, abolished last year by Perdue. Now, Perdue faces 12 pointed questions from Senate Agriculture Committee leaders, including what legal authority allows him to move a research agency with 330 workers into his executive office.
FDA and USDA call public meeting on regulation and labeling of cell-based meat
The two major food-safety regulators in the federal government will hear from the public on Oct. 23 and 24 on how to handle cell-based meat, a technological innovation that is nearing the marketplace. The meeting, announced on Monday, follows suggestions by the meat processors and Memphis Meats, a leader in the nascent industry, that the administration clarify lines of authority over cell-based meat.
Speaker Ryan says SNAP work requirement vital for U.S. growth
With time short for agreement on the farm bill, House Republicans are insisting on a stronger work requirement as a condition of eligibility for SNAP. Over the weekend, House Speaker Paul Ryan said, "[H]aving a work requirement in food stamps, having an education requirement in food stamps, is the best possible way" to put Americans to work.
To get NAFTA, Canada must drop Class 7 dairy scheme, says Perdue
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue described a potential tri-national agreement on a new NAFTA as the start of a domino effect in rewriting U.S. relations with trading partners around world. "I would love to have a deal today with Canada to put NAFTA back together," said Perdue during a C-SPAN interview in which he called for reform of Canada's supply-management system."
Disease hitting Chinese hogs sure to spread in Asia
The world's leading hog producer, China has culled nearly 40,000 hogs in its attempts to stop African swine fever since the disease, deadly for hogs but no threat to humans, was spotted on its farms last month. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said the disease will almost certainly emerge in other countries in Asia.
Two SNAP proposals could cut enrollment by 8 percent, say researchers
A nonpartisan research group says that two of the lesser-known provisions at issue during Senate-House negotiations over the 2018 farm bill could reduce food stamp enrollment by 8 percent. Those affected would include large numbers of the elderly, children, and the disabled.
OTA lays groundwork for voluntary organic checkoff
Four months after the Trump administration killed a proposal for a mandatory checkoff program for organics, the industry’s largest trade group said it would move forward with a voluntary checkoff to promote organic food and products.
Show us the proof, Democrats ask Perdue
Four Democratic representatives, all members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, have called on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to justify his plan to move two USDA agencies out of Washington.
Under criticism, FDA changes plan on honey and syrup labeling
It won’t be official for months, but FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb outlined on Thursday a solution to a food-labeling issue that had honey producers buzzing and had tapped the ire of the maple syrup industry.
Whole Foods workers begin unionization drive
Some Whole Foods employees are instigating a union drive, according to a letter leaked to the press Thursday. Citing layoffs and falling morale since the company’s 2017 acquisition by Amazon, the workers plan to push for higher wages and better benefits.