The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has asked the Agriculture Department to withdraw USDA’s proposed organic livestock rule. In submitted comments, NCBA President Tracy Brunner told USDA that voluntary agency marketing programs are not the place to codify animal production practices. The comments are directed at USDA’s National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices proposed rule. Brunner told USDA “America’s cattle producers are the best stewards of their herds,” adding that USDA should suggest that organic producers become certified in the Beef Quality Assurance Program, rather than attempting to address continuously changing animal practices. The comments come as the National Chicken Council asked USDA to revise and clarify the rule. An NCC spokesperson says the proposal “imposes unreasonable costs and requirements of doubtful benefit on organic farmers,” and “and undermines ongoing international efforts to develop poultry welfare standards.”
Category: Agriculture
Vilsack on shortlist for Clinton Vice President pick
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is on the short list of Vice President candidates to join Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail. Vilsack has declined to answer questions on whether or not he’s being vetted by Clinton, a move the Washington Post calls “a surefire indicator that he’s being considered.” Vilsack has been a long-time supporter of Clinton, dropping his brief campaign for President in 2007 to support Clinton’s campaign. The report calls Vilsack a well-known figure across rural America, where Democrats and Clinton have struggled. Vilsack is the only Cabinet member for President Barack Obama who has served through his entire tenure in office. Vilsack is also perceived as well-liked by both parties in Congress. Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says Vilsack would be a good pick for Clinton, and gave him high marks as head of USDA. Two other candidates for Vice President said to be on Clinton’s short list are Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who campaigned with Clinton Thursday.
USDA investigating low path avian influenza
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is following up on recent tests showing a presence of low-pathogenic avian influenza in the Northeast United States. Testing confirmed the presence of so-called “low path” avian influenza at three live-poultry markets in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, according to Meatingplace. APHIS this week confirmed the presence of H5 bird flu virus during routine testing, noting that the influenza is not uncommon in live-bird markets and backyard flocks. Still, investigators are working to trace the possible sources of the virus and have closed the affected markets, which usually supply fresh poultry from backyard breeders and commercial farms to specific ethnic markets or groups. USDA also says the affected markets are following established protocols for responding to avian influenza outbreaks of any kind, including market closures, poultry depopulation or sales and cleaning and disinfection of the affected areas.
House passes GMO labeling bill
The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed the Senate version of GMO labeling, sending the bill on to the White House and the expected signature of President Barack Obama. The legislation, which was the result of a compromise between Republican Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas and Senate Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, passed the house on a 306-117 vote. The House action follows last week’s action in the Senate, which voted 63 to 30 for passing the bill. The legislation mandates GMO labeling either on package or through smart labels. It also preempts state laws, such as the Vermont labeling law that went into effect July first. The House last year passed a voluntary labeling bill 242-185, but a similar measure failed to gain traction in the Senate earlier this year. A spokeswoman for President Obama said this week the President will sign the compromise GMO labeling bill.
Thursday’s cash grain bids
July 14th, 2016
St Joseph |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.31 – 3.43 |
White Corn |
no bid |
Soybeans |
10.52 – 10.60 |
LifeLine Foods |
3.42 |
|
|
|
Atchison |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.39 – 3.40 |
Soybeans |
10.33 |
Hard Wheat |
3.42 |
Soft Wheat |
3.59 |
|
|
|
Kansas City Truck Bids |
|
Yellow Corn |
3.51 |
White Corn |
3.81 – 3.98 |
Soybeans |
10.69 |
Hard Wheat |
3.70 |
Soft Wheat |
3.91 – 3.94 |
Sorghum |
5.23 – 5.32 |
For more information, contact the 680KFEQ Farm Department.
816-233-8881.
Ag groups host events at party conventions
Farm and agribusiness groups are planning their traditional events at the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions this month. DTN/The Progressive Farmer reports they’ll have some competition from a group called Plate of the Union, which is a coalition of groups with close ties to the Environmental Working Group. Plate of the Union plans to highlight a radically different version of American agriculture. The Great American Farm Luncheon will take place at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 20 in Cleveland. The Leaders of American Agriculture cocktail reception will take place at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, July 26, in Philadelphia. Plate of the Union will have an event at each convention location a day before the farm groups hold theirs.
Women-In-Ag trade mission to the far east in September
The U.S. Department of Agriculture began its Women in Ag Initiative as a way to highlight the role that women play in the agriculture industry. The goal is to encourage more women to step up into leadership roles within the industry and inspire the next generation of women to do the same thing. A Women in Ag-led trade mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, takes place on September 7-15. The mission lets these women forge relationships with potential customers and trading partners, interact with government officials, and develop strategies for starting or increasing sales in these markets. The trip also allows participants to understand the roles that women play in China’s agricultural industry. Hong Kong and Shanghai were picked as destinations for the mission because the U.S. enjoys strong trading relations with both countries. Hong Kong relies on imports for 95 percent of its food supply, and China was the second largest market for American ag exports in 2015 to the tune of $23.5 billion.
NPPC opposes proposed animal welfare changes
The National Pork Producers Council wants its members to voice their opinions on the new organic animal welfare standards proposed by the U.S. Department of Ag. The standards are unprecedented because if they’re passed, it’s the first time they’ll be written into federal law. NPPC says it could present problems for producers. NPPC says the standards won’t change the concept of organic food and agriculture, but they could be broadened to include regular livestock production methods. Another policy change NPPC opposes is in Massachusetts, where a livestock housing initiative backed by the Humane Society of the U.S.A. will appear on the November ballot. It would ban the use of certain types of animal housing, including gestation pens for sows, pens for veal calves, and cages for laying hens. It would also prohibit the sale in-state of meat and eggs from confined animals. NPPC believes this prevents producers from caring for their animals. For example, gestation crates are approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association as appropriate for pregnant sows. NPPC said banning sales of meat and eggs because of production styles would needlessly drive up the prices for these products and limit consumption.
U.S. breweries ride labeling wave
Six of America’s brewers, including three of the largest, will start posting nutritional information on all containers for sale by 2020. Pro Agriculture says three of the bigger brewers involved include Anheuser-Busch, Heineken USA, and Miller-Coors. The Beer Institute is the trade group that represents the nation’s largest brewers, and they’ll voluntarily begin applying labeling standards in an industry that has largely avoided increasing consumer demand for more nutrition information. The other three breweries include Constellation Brands Beer Division, the Craft Brew Alliance, and North American Breweries. Together with the other three, they produce around 80 percent of the beer consumed by Americans each year. The beer makers will identify ingredients on bottling, another part of the package, or on websites. Beer containers will also carry freshness dates. The labeling move is “an effort to get in line with where consumers are,” said Craft Brew CEO Andy Thomas.
GMO labeling bill set for debate and vote in U.S. House
The U.S. House is expected to consider and likely pass the Senate’s GMO labeling bill Thursday (today). The House Rules Committee passed a closed rule on Senate Bill 764, the Genetically Modified Foods Labeling Bill, setting the bill up for debate without amendments and a vote, earlier this week. The White House confirmed Wednesday that President Obama would sign the compromise labeling bill. The legislation requires either an on-package label, or smart-label that directs consumers to more information through a smartphone. The Hagstrom Report says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has been a big supporter of the smart-label technology included in the bill as a potential compromise to getting the labeling issue resolved. The bill passed the Senate last week. The House Rules Committee rejected a couple of amendments, and its Republican Chairman, Pete Sessions of Texas, said the House has a lot of work to do before Friday. He expects the House to be in session until well after midnight on Thursday night, but not on Friday. Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern expects the bill to pass the House and be signed by President Obama shortly afterward.