A recent House Agriculture Subcommittee meeting appears to have shed light on the possibility of allowing gene editing in organic production. USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Greg Ibach …
Preparing for the Next Phase of the Produce Safety Rule
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is mailing out materials to 8,000 ‘small’ and ‘very small’ farming operations to inform producers what is expected of them under the …
DPR Update on Chlorpyrifos, Glyphosate, Sulfoxaflor
Deputy Secretary for Agriculture at CalEPA and Acting Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Val Dolcini provided an update on some important materials for California farmers and ranchers. …
New Smoke Exposure Regulation Arriving at Height of Fire Season
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board has unanimously approved new regulations pertaining to wildfires and smoke exposure. The decision comes after an emergency rulemaking proposal was …
Transform Registration for California Cotton on Hold Despite EPA Approval
Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of sulfoxaflor on a national level, Transform registration in California is going to require an additional regulatory process. The …
EPA Registers Long-Term Uses of Sulfoxaflor While Ensuring Strong Pollinator Protection
Registration provides benefits to growers and is supported by strong science that shows minimal risks for pollinators WASHINGTON (EPA) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a long-term …
Pesticide Drift Incidents Create Potential for More Regulation
Two pesticide drift incidents during the month of June resulted in dozens of farm workers being exposed in Fresno and Tulare Counties. The agricultural commissioners for both counties are continuing …
Labor Bathroom Compliance Can be Tricky
When it comes to compliant farm labor bathrooms, there are several rules operations have to mind. The new Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule inspections are highlighting the need …
Optimism for Adopting Voluntary Approach to California’s Water Goals
There is hope that a more localized voluntary approach will be adopted to better address California’s water goals, in lieu of regimented guidelines to be implemented statewide. There has been …
Bumblebees Classified as Fish in Endangered Species Petition
A petition from the Xerces Society and the Defenders of Wildlife is calling for the consideration of four bumblebee species to be classified for protection under the California Endangered Species …
FDA Settles FSMA Lawsuit Related to High Risk Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now be designating certain items as high-risk foods after being sued by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the Center for …
Industry Concerned with FDA Oversight of Animal Genomics
Industry members are pushing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assume regulatory oversight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when it comes to animal genomics. In …
Stringent, Discretionary Enforcement of CalOSHA Safety Standards
Farmers and ranchers are being encouraged to enhance their protocols related to safety standards as California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) steps up its enforcement. AgSafe President and …
Accident Spurs Lone Worker Protocol Thoughts
An unfortunate accident on a well-known winemaker’s property should have operations talking about one aspect of worker safety. Jackson Family Wines experienced a tragic event last week as one of their long-time employees died …