Fish fraud (Associated Press): Once “a darling in the sustainable seafood movement,” Sea To Table promised chefs, universities, and home cooks access to guilt-free seafood. But an investigation has found rampant fraud in the group’s supply chain.
Ag PAC money stacks up (Agri-Pulse): The top recipient of donations from agriculture PACs in the 2018 election cycle is House Agriculture Committee chair Mike Conaway. So far the Texas Republican has pulled in more than $476,000.
Time to go for Pruitt? (The Hill): Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, an ally of EPA chief Scott Pruitt, said in a radio interview that he is upset about the scandals surrounding Pruitt, and that “I think something needs to happen to change that. One of those alternatives would be for him to leave that job.”
More time to sign up for new dairy subsidy (USDA): Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue extended to June 22 the deadline for enrollment in the revamped Margin Protection Program for dairy farmers; some 22,000 have signed up so far.
‘Buy and dry’ in Colorado (KUNC): Along the state’s urbanizing Front Range, local governments are engaging in “buy and dry” — purchasing water rights from farmers in order to bring water to towns.
Bank seizes rep’s farm (Los Angeles Times): Court documents show that ag lender Rabobank seized a dairy farm in Tulare County owned by California Rep. David Valadao and his family in a lawsuit over $8 million in loan repayments. Valadao is a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing USDA and FDA funding.