Ranchers want clearer labeling (Department of Agriculture): The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is taking comments on a petition filed by the American Grassfed Association and the Organization for Competitive Markets to change the standards for meat to be labeled “Product of U.S.A.”
HSUS push for checkoff reform (AgWeb): The Humane Society of the United States is lobbying and airing ads in support of a likely amendment to the Senate farm bill that would require more transparency in the national checkoff program.
Starfish shine again (San Francisco Chronicle): Starfish along the California coast have used a remarkable genetic adaptation to rebound from a mysterious wasting disease. The “microevolution” is an encouraging example of resilience to environmental peril, says a UC-Merced study.
New reputation for beavers (NPR): In a new wave of beaver enthusiasm, the mammals are being lauded for their skills in creating wetlands. In earlier times, Idaho tried parachuting pairs of beavers into the backcountry as part of a repopulation effort.
Organics group hires farm policy director (OTA): Johanna Mirenda will join the Organic Trade Association as its director of farm policy on Aug. 6, the group said. She will succeed Nate Lewis.
Farm to fork, in 200 feet (New York Times): The roof of an addition under construction at the Javits Center will be, at just less than an acre, the largest farm in Manhattan. It will also have the city’s only rooftop orchard, along with a roughly 200-foot trip to the convention center’s restaurants.