Ohio targets farm runoff (Cleveland Plain Dealer): Gov. John Kasich signed an executive order designating eight “watersheds in distress” and giving the Ohio Agriculture Department the power to set standards for storing, handling, and applying manure, as well as for requiring nutrient management plans.
Ryan criticizes tariffs (MarketWatch): President Trump’s tariffs “are not the solution” to trade issues and risk American leadership in the world, said House Speaker Paul Ryan. At a separate event, though, Ryan said he would not support passing a law to prevent the tariffs.
Thumbs down on organic rules (Bloomberg): The head of an organic egg farm says the Trump administration is “waging war” on organic agriculture, one of an array of industry complaints that the USDA is tarnishing the reputation of the sector by ignoring needed regulations.
Postcard: ‘You’ve got rice’ (NPR): Indonesia reduced corruption in its rice distribution system in a simple way: It sent postcards to its poorest citizens to tell them they are entitled to a monthly rice allotment and what price they should expect to pay.
Big Food goes sustainable (Washington Post): After leaving the Grocery Manufacturers Association for ideological differences, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, and others have established the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, a new food industry lobby.
New school nutrition chief (SNA): Gay Henderson, child nutrition director for the Brandon Valley School District in South Dakota, took office as president of the School Nutrition Association at the group’s annual conference.