General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands, simply known as Ag Order 4.0, will officially begin to be implemented. Just prior to the deadline, the Central Coast Regional …
Down to the Wire: Ag Order 4.0 Adoption Deadline This Friday
A final decision on the pending Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program known as Ag Order 4.0 is expected by Friday, April 16. Producers have anxiously been monitoring the development of the …
FDA: Recent E. coli Outbreaks a ‘Foreseeable Hazard’
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a report last week that was a follow-up of their initial findings from E. coli outbreaks stemming from the Central Coast of California last fall. …
Supreme Court to Decide Union Access Rules for California Farms
The Supreme Court of the United States recently heard opening arguments about a case involving union access on California farms. At issue is California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act that was …
Pressure is Rising to Reinstate the Organic Animal Welfare Rule
Industry groups and lawmakers are calling for the reinstatement of the organic animal welfare rule. The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Final Rule establishes new animal welfare standards for the …
Industry Groups Support Reintroduction of HAULS Act
The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2021, known as the HAULS Act has been reintroduced in Congress. A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the legislation aimed at …
USDA Will Be Engaging Producers About New Hemp Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to engage with stakeholders about the final hemp production rule that recently went into effect. The Final Rule establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp …
Final Rule for Domestic Hemp Production Goes into Effect Today
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has completed its review of the Final Rule establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. The rule has moved forward in the Federal Register …
Comment Period for Regulating Animal Biotech Reopened by USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reopened the comment period for shifting regulatory authority pertaining to animal biotech. Initially, the comment period expired on February 26. USDA will now …
‘First Receiver’ Sticking Point for New Food Safety Rule
The new proposed rule regarding food safety is a step in the right direction, however, a definition for a ‘First Receiver’ seems like an issue. The Produce Marketing Association submitted …
Food Traceability Proposed Rule Raises Concerns from Industry Members
Some concerns have been raised regarding the Food Traceability Proposed Rule announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The official rule, Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain …
Agricultural Burning in the San Joaquin Valley Officially Set to End in 2025
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve the plan to end agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley. CARB established January 1, 2025, as the absolute end date …
Supreme Court Asked to Review Case Against California’s Prop 12
The legal challenges to the animal housing requirements established in California’s Proposition 12 are continuing. The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) recently filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court for …
On-Farm Readiness Reviews Still Available for Ag Operations
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) for small and very small farms. OFRRs are meant to help producers better understand the requirements …