Arkansas bill: Burden our farmers, we’ll ban your wine
The Arkansas House passed a bill "that outlaws wine imports from any state that imposes a 'substantial burden' on the Arkansas agriculture industry," says the Associated Press.
Prices lower for pork, higher for eggs, at supermarket
After hitting a record high in 2014, the supermarket price of pork will drop by 3.5 percent this year, the government said in updating its forecast for food price inflation. Hog farmers have expanded production at the same time the strong dollar discourages exports, so the pork supply for Americans is getting larger. It was the second month in a row that the USDA lowered its forecast for pork prices.
After three-week surge, fewer bird-flu outbreaks reported
The worst avian influenza epidemic ever to hit the U.S. poultry industry is losing its punch, says Agri-Pulse, with fewer outbreaks being reported on a weekly basis and "leading industry and government officials to discuss steps to prevent a similar outbreak in the fall."
House Republicans try again on California water bill
California Republicans in the U.S. House proposed "an ambitious new, but familiar," drought relief bill "that once again includes hot-button items like scaling back a San Joaquin River restoration program," reports the Fresno Bee.
A year of flat pork prices after 2014’s skyrocket
Pork prices in the grocery store are forecast to increase hardly at all this year, up 0.5 percent, says the USDA's Food Price Outlook, a relief for consumers after record-high prices last year. "However, pork prices [this month] are still 5.9 percent higher than last year," according to the monthly report. Hog farmers are expanding production and hog prices this year are expected to be lower than in 2014. Poultry meat is forecast to increase in price by 3 percent this year and beef by 3.5 percent.
“Repeal of mandatory COOL is the surest way,” says Roberts
Warning of retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion, Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts said, "Repeal of mandatory COOL is the surest way to protect the U.S. economy." Farm and industry groups generally joined the call for repeal during an Agriculture Committee hearing on the impact of a WTO ruling that U.S. country-of-origin labels (COOL) on packages of beef and pork violate world trade rules by discouraging imports from Canada and Mexico.
Lower energy costs to save farmers $5 billion this year
"Lower energy prices are expected to lead to lower total production expenses by the agricultural sector," say USDA economists, with savings of $5 billion, or 8 percent, this year and $5 billion in 2016, also an 8-percent savings.
El Nino adds uncertainty to forecast of record rice crop
The International Grains Council said its forecast of a record-large global rice crop "is tentative, especially given uncertainty about the impact of El Nino on crops in Asia."
Obamacare gives farmers options for health insurance
The Affordable Care Act gives farmers more options for health insurance than they had in the past, says Harvest Public Media. Farmers and ranchers traditionally are among the least likely to have insurance...
Lawmakers: Voluntary labeling of non-GMO food is feasible
The Agriculture Department has the experience to oversee a voluntary system for labeling non-GMO foods, leaders of the House Agriculture Committee said after a review of the department's Process Verified Program. Creation of a voluntary labeling system for food made without genetically modified organisms is a key element of a House bill to pre-empt states from requiring special labels on GMO foods.
World food prices lowest in nearly six years
Prices for the major food commodities fell by 1.4 percent during May, to their lowest levels since September 2009, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Its Food Price Index, at a reading of 166.8, was down by 20.7 percent in one year.
Ethanol boosters dominate EPA hearing on biofuel mandates
An EPA hearing in Kansas City on an agency proposal to relax the biofuel mandate for 2015 and 2016 "turned into somewhat of a pro-ethanol hearing and rally with the vast majority of those who testified telling EPA not to mess with the RFS," reports DTN.
Bird flu confirmed in Wyoming and two Minnesota flocks
Three more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza were confirmed by the USDA in a three-day period. All were the H5N2 virus. The Wyoming case involved an ailing wild Canada goose from Laramie County.
More food-stamp shoppers at farmers markets
Food stamp recipients spent $18.8 million of their benefits at farmers markets, roadside stands and in direct purchases from growers, six times larger than redemptions in 2008, said the USDA.
In California, it’s farmer vs farmer for irrigation water
Rudy Mussi, who farms in the Sacramento Delta, "is not the California farmer you've been hearing about," says the NPR blog The Salt. "He is not fallowing all his fields or ripping up his orchards due to a lack of irrigation water."
Recreational amenities not as strong a draw for rural counties
So-called recreation counties - areas with parks, beautiful scenery and room for outdoor activities - are still the fastest-growing type of rural county, but their growth rate has slowed dramatically since the 2008-09 recession, says the Daily Yonder.
Farmers get one more week to choose ARC or PLC subsidy
Growers have one additional week, until April 7, to select their crop-subsidy program for the life of the 2014 farm law. They must choose between the insurance-like Agricultural Risk Coverage, which shields growers from declines in crop revenue, and the traditional Price Loss Coverage, which guarantees a minimum price. The USDA announced the one-week extension, saying 10 percent of likely farm-program participants had not made a decision as of last week.
EPA to expand review of glyphosate and atrazine
Two of the most widely used herbicides, glyphosate and atrazine, will be part of a nationwide evaluation of the effects of 16 chemicals on 1,500 endangered plants and animals...
North Carolina legislature enacts “ag gag” law over veto
The North Carolina Legislature decisively overrode a gubernatorial veto to enact "a bill aimed at discouraging undercover investigations of farm and workplace conditions," reports the Charlotte Observer.
U.S. directs $150 million in forest, drought aid to California
The Agriculture Department announced $150 million to revitalize forests in Northern California and for drought relief for farmers and rural communities.