Standstill on sugar and alcohol: The new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released during the year-end holidays, rejected recommendations by experts for lower targets for sugar and alcohol consumption. (New York Times)
Injunction halts new H-2A formula: U.S. district judge Dale Drozd issued a preliminary injunction against a Labor Department regulation that would effectively lower pay rates for several hundred thousand farmworkers by freezing the wage rate for agricultural guestworkers. (LexisNexis)
Prop 12 case may go to Supreme Court: The U.S. appeals court in San Francisco rejected a meat industry request for a review of its decision upholding California’s Proposition 12 animal-welfare standards, so the industry may ask the Supreme Court to hear its argument that the voter-approved rule is unfair to pork and calf producers in other states. (Food Safety News)
Few options on research agencies: The Biden administration has limited tools to rebuild two USDA research agencies that lost hundreds of workers, including scores of experienced analysts, in the virtually overnight relocation to Kansas City that was ordered by outgoing Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. (Politico)
Organic pioneer Amigo Bob dies: An influential and founding figure of organic agriculture in California, Amigo Bob Cantisano, died at age 69 on his farm in North San Juan in late December. (Los Angeles Times) For a KQED and FERN story about Amigo Bob, click here.
Maine makes it 47: The USDA said Maine is the 47th state, along with the District of Columbia, that is approved to allow SNAP recipients to buy groceries online. (USDA)