South Africa corn crop withers in drought
Drought and excessive heat prevented farmers from planting a crop in much of South Africa's corn-growing region and the season is advancing; pollination and kernel-filling takes place in February and March in much of the country. USDA slashed its estimate of the nation's corn harvest to 8 million tonnes, down by one-third from a month ago and far below normal for South Africa, which normally supplies corn to other countries in its region.
USDA slow off the mark during hog epidemic
After examining USDA's handling of an epidemic that killed millions of pigs across the country, the Government Accountability Office said the department needs a stronger plan for dealing with disease threats. In a report, GAO faulted USDA for a lackluster response when the swine enteric coronavirus diseases were detected in May 2013.
Mum’s the label for GMO meeting
Both sides agreed to keep quiet about a meeting called by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to discuss labeling of GMO foods. "I gave my word," said one participant in referring questions to USDA, which did not respond to queries. Up to a dozen people were expected at the meeting.
Senate Ag leaders agree on child nutrition update
Ending weeks of back-stage negotiations, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts and the panel's senior Democrat, Debbie Stabenow, said they agreed on a bipartisan plan to re-authorize child nutrition programs that cost $22 billion a year. School lunch is the largest part of the programs and was one of the largest obstacles to renewal.
‘Further tightening in the agricultural economy’ – Fed
U.S. inventories of corn, soybeans and wheat more than doubled on average since 2013 while consumption has stagnated, says the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. "The outlook for the agricultural economy has continued to become more pessimistic."
Talk about farm and food, AGree asks presidential hopefuls
Food and agriculture are getting short shrift in the presidential campaign, despite Iowa's role as the starting point in the race for the White House, say the three co-chairs of the AGree food policy project. They called on the candidates to elevate food and agricultural policy.
GE potatoes clear reviews at USDA and FDA
The genetically engineered V11 Snowden potato developed by JR Simplot gained USDA approval for commercial cultivation and the agribusiness company based in Boise, Idaho, said the FDA concluded its GE Russet Burbank Generation 2 potatoes are safe.
India cuts crop insurance premiums to help rural citizens
To offset two straight years of drought in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government will more than double its spending on crop insurance in three years, said Reuters. Two-thirds of the nation's citizens live in rural areas.
No-till rare in California, No. 1 ag state
Just 3 percent of California's crop land is in no-till, compared to a national average of 35 percent, says Comstock's business magazine, based in Sacramento, citing UC Davis research.
New Farm Bureau president says no to mandatory GMO labels
The largest U.S. farm group supports voluntary rather than mandatory nationwide labeling of GMO foods, said Zippy Duvall, shortly after his election as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
USDA drops marketing standard for grass-fed livestock
Six years after it set up a labeling program for grass-fed meat, the USDA terminated the program, as of Tuesday, concluding that it "does not facilitate the marketing of agricultural products in a manner that is useful to stakeholders or consumers."
Obama to Congress: Pass TPP, end Cuba embargo
The United States can show its leadership in the world and reap benefits for itself through cooperative action, President Obama said in his final State of the Union speech. During the hour-long address, he asked Congress to approve the Trans-Pacific free-trade agreement and to end the half-century trade embargo on Cuba.
Breeding honeybees that bite back
Parasites such as the varroa mite are high on the list of suspects for the high mortality rate of honeybees, vital in pollinating a third of the food eaten by people.
Warning signs proposed for sugary drinks in Charm City
Baltimore city officials are considering whether businesses selling soda and other sugary drinks should be required to post warning signs about the drinks, reports the Associated Press.
Winter wheat sowing down 7 percent amid world glut
U.S. farmers planted the smallest amount of land to winter wheat since 2010, the government said, based on an annual survey of growers. Sowings of 36.6 million acres were down 7 percent from the previous crop and this is the third year in a row of smaller plantings.
GE salmon and FDA’s next commissioner
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she is willing to stall a Senate vote on the nomination of Robert Califf as FDA commissioner "until he and FDA agree to mandatory labeling requirements for the AquAdvantage salmon," reports the Washington Post.
Glickman, Veneman: Consider food-stamp ban on sugary drinks
With the recommendation in the new Dietary Guidelines to limit added sugar to 10 percent of daily calories, "consumers now know how much is too much," say former agriculture secretaries Dan Glickman and Ann Veneman. "Congress and USDA should consider whether the limit on added sugar could also inform their thinking about other nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program."
Farm income falls but not land values … yet
Low interest rates and the comparatively small amount of available farmland are combining with the healthy balance sheets of many farmers to limit the decline in land values, says an economist from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.
Congress nears final disapproval vote on WOTUS
The long battle over the EPA's "waters of the United States" rule defining the upstream reach of clean-water laws will reach a milestone this week.
GOP eyes Senate Ag member Bennet as vulnerable
National Republicans see Colorado as one of their few chances to pick up a Senate seat this year, and "think they've found a candidate and could make a strong run in a divided state," reports Politico in listing 15 states where competitive races may develop.