A new competitive grant funding initiative known as the Farm and Food Workers Relief program was recently announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The program aims to provide support for …
Development of A Statewide Pesticide Notification System Moves Forward
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is moving forward with the process of developing a statewide pesticide notification system. DPR has been provided with a budget of $10 million …
House Ag Democrats Express Concern Regarding Biotech Trade Barriers
House Agriculture Committee Democrats are expressing concerns over non-tariff trade barriers imposed on agricultural biotechnology products. Led by Chairman David Scott of Georgia, the lawmakers sent a letter to Agriculture …
Concerns As Deadlines Approach for Budget Reconciliation Process
Congressional committees are continuing to work on their portions of the budget reconciliation process. The tentative deadline to complete the process is September 15. While it is unclear if the …
Ag Rally at the Capitol
In August of 2018, farmers, agriculture advocates, politicians, and future industry leaders rallied on the steps of the state capitol for water. Now, California Farm Bureau is encouraging all of …
USDA Seeking Comments on Labeling Meat Derived from Animal Cells
The Department of Agriculture is seeking comments regarding the labeling of meat and poultry products made using cultured cells derived from animals. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published …
Farm Sector Profits Forecast to Increase in 2021
A Department of Agriculture report forecasts increased farm income for 2021. Net farm income is forecast to increase by $18.5 billion, or 19.5 percent. At $113 billion, net farm income …
Water Provisions of Infrastructure Bill Come After Years of Advocacy
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill making its way through Congress contains several provisions important to agricultural production. The legislation includes significant investment in water infrastructure in the Western United States. …
Hemp Webinar Covering Cultivation and Production Coming Up This Week
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is hosting a hemp webinar this week on Thursday, September 9. The live webinar will begin at 11 a.m. and is focused on taking a …
MSOB: Making Informed Choices About Biological Approaches
Having a clear understanding of how biologicals and biostimulants function helps maximize the efficacy of biological approaches. Negative experiences with biological products can sometimes be attributed to a lack of …
Updates to Whole-Farm Revenue Protection to Benefit Organic Producers
Recent updates to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) plan will provide new benefits to organic producers. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has modified the WFRP …
EATS Act Introduced to Block California Animal Confinement Rules
The animal confinement rules established in Proposition 12 are now being challenged through Congressional action. Legislation was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate aimed at preventing states and local governments …
NASS to Review Acreage Earlier for Certain Crops
The Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced it will review planted and harvested acreage for select crops earlier than normal. The crops under review include corn, cotton, peanuts, …
Navigable Waters Protection Rule Vacated by Federal Judge
The U.S. District Court in Arizona has recently vacated the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). A federal judge in South Carolina had previously dismissed a similar case back in …