COOL repeal will barrel through House in June, says Conaway
House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway forecasts easy passage of a bill to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on cuts of beef, pork and chicken, beginning with his committee today and on the House floor in June. "If we can get a big vote in the House ... that will help" build momentum for Senate approval, Conaway told reporters on Capitol Hill. He said he was working with GOP House leaders to arrange a floor vote in early June. "The train is leaving the station, if not left the station."
Navajo Nation will have first U.S. tax on junk food
The Navajo Nation will begin collecting a 2 percent sales tax next month on pastries, chips, soda, fried food, sweetened beverages and other foods with minimal nutritional value -- the first junk-food tax in the United States, says Mother Jones.
FDA finalizes veterinary-feed directive at antibiotic forum
Obama administration officials announced a final version of the FDA's veterinary-feed directive at a Forum on Antibiotics Stewardship at the White House today. The rule, an update of a 2000 directive, was proposed in December 2013 as the agency began steps to require veterinary approval for use of medically important antibiotics to treat or prevent disease in food animals. The FDA is halfway through a voluntary phase-out of the use of medically important antimicrobials as growth promotants in livestock.
House bill expected this week to pre-empt state GMO labels
Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo is expected to file a new version this week of his bill to pre-empt state laws that require labels on food made with genetically modified organisms, according to reports by Agri-Pulse and Politico. The bill would include language allowing the USDA to certify foods to be sold with a non-GMO label. Food companies that use the non-GMO label "would be barred from suggesting 'either expressly or by implication' that their products are safer than biotech versions," says Agri-Pulse.
Conaway sets meat-label repeal in motion after WTO loss
The House Agriculture Committee will vote on Wednesday on repeal of the U.S. law that requires cuts of beef, pork, chicken and lamb to carry labels that say where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered. Chairman Michael Conaway, committed to repeal, called the meeting in the wake of a World Trade Organization ruling that the country-of-origin labels (COOL) are a trade barrier in disguise that suppresses imports from Canada and Mexico, which have fought COOL since 2008.
Mexico eases restrictions on U.S. poultry
A decision by Mexico to allow the import of poultry meat from states affected by avian influenza "signals the disease's threat to U.S. poultry exports is starting to subside," according to a report from Bloomberg.
On-farm grain storage declines as share of U.S. total
More than a decade ago, farmers began building more grain bins for on-farm storage, says economist David Widmar. On-farm storage gives growers more flexibility in terms of when to sell their grain.
Retreating glaciers, longer growing season in Himalayan valley
In the 30-mile long Zanskar Valley in the Himalayas of northwestern India, the warming climate has lengthened the growing season, giving farmers in the village of Stongde a welcome additional month before the killing frost that heralds alpine winter.
As WTO rules, a campaign to repeal meat-origin labels
U.S. manufacturers and foodmakers are pressing lawmakers for speedy repeal of the U.S. law that requires labels on packages of beef, pork, lamb and poultry meat to say where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered. So-called country of origin labeling (COOL) has been under challenge since December 2008 at the World Trade Organization, which has promised a final ruling on the matter by today. The United States lost three previous rulings and was expected to lose this one as well. WTO says COOL distorts trade by discouraging imports of livestock from Canada and Mexico.
More farmers are worrying about paying their bills
Some 44 percent of farmers worry about paying back their debts, up sharply from 28 percent in 2012 when grain prices were at record highs, says Farm Futures, based on its survey of 1,300 farms.
Oregon’s “right to farm” no barrier to county GMO-crop ban
A federal judge says the voter-enacted ban on GMO crops in Jackson County, in southwestern Oregon, "is legal under state law," said the Medford Mail Tribune. Two alfalfa farms challenged the ban, approved a year ago, as a violation of Oregon's "right to farm" law and also asked for $4.2 million as compensation if they had to destroy their genetically modified crops. The ordinance allowed a 12-month transition period, giving farmers time to harvest crops before they would have to be removed.
Widely used herbicide glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic”
The herbicide glyphosate, widely used in U.S. crop production, especially for genetically engineered corn and soybeans, is "probably carcinogenic to humans," says the specialized cancer agency of the UN World Health Organization. The herbicide is known under the brand name RoundUp in the United States. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reviewed glyphosate and four other organophosates on the recommendation of an advisory committee that dozens of pesticides should be examined because...
Ag-sector strains weigh on economic outlook in some states
With farm income suffering from low crop prices and livestock producers facing tighter margins, more operators are borrowing money to cover short-term needs and some are having trouble repaying the loans, according to Federal Reserve banks in the Farm Belt. Agricultural bankers expect farmland values in the Midwest and central Plains to soften or hold steady through June. Land is a farmer's greatest asset.
Ethanol foes target USDA aid for blender pumps
A group of 18 U.S. representatives, including the chairmen of the House Judiciary and Rules committees, is trying to block USDA grants for installation of blender pumps that sell gasoline with a higher ethanol content than the traditional 10 percent.
USDA restarts cost-share aid to biomass farmers and processors
"Incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy," said the USDA in announcing a "restart" of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).
Organic check-off stirs debate within the industry
"A battle is brewing in the organic food industry," says Harvest Public Media in a story about the expected request for a check-off program for organic products.
High annual honey loss rate – four of every 10 colonies
Nearly four of every 10 colonies of honey bees die annually, a markedly high rate, according to surveys of beekeepers designed to gauge the welfare of a prominent species for plant pollination. Losses have averaged 37 percent over the past five years.
Trade groups push for repeal of U.S. meat-origin labels
Two major trade groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, told lawmakers that repeal is the only option available in a losing battle over the so-called country of origin labeling (COOL) law. The World Trade Organization has ruled three times against COOL, which requires labels on packages of beef, chicken and pork saying where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered.
If it’s dollars, not yield, organic can top conventional farms
A comprehensive study by two Washington State U scientists "finds organic agriculture is more profitable for farmers than conventional agriculture," says a WSU release.
Seed bank survives perils of civil war in Syria
An international research center that specializes in arid agriculture has managed to duplicate and transfer most of its 148,000 accessions to seed banks far outside the war zone in Syria.