Canada has concluded on-farm testing for bovine tuberculosis after the fall 2016 outbreak in Alberta. The TB investigation has been underway since September of last year, when Canadian officials got …
Canada Executives Urging Trudeau to Join U.S.-Free TPP
Business leaders in Canada are trying to sway Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to join the now U.S.-free Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. In an open letter, more than a dozen …
Agriculture Secretary Perdue Comments on Tax Reform
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue calls the recently passed tax reform bill a “once-in-a-generation” reform of the federal tax code. Calling tax reform an eagerly awaited Christmas present for taxpayers, Perdue …
Congressional Ag Leaders Applaud Tax Bill Passage
Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees say the just-passed tax bill delivers lower taxes for farmers and ranchers. House Ag Chair Mike Conaway says: “From lower marginal rates …
Still Little to No Pesticides on 2016 CA Produce
Tests on produce collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) indicate that the vast majority of fruits and vegetables available for sale in California meet stringent pesticide safety …
USDA Expands Flexibility, Encourages Program Integration in SNAP Administration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued national program guidance that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state operators new flexibility to make their operations …
Improvements to Crop Insurance continue in 2018
USDA Strengthens Crop Insurance Program to keep Rural Economy Viable Changes to the Federal crop insurance program initiated in 2017 will continue into 2018. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) …
Almond Board: Happy Holidays from Your Almond Family
The Almond Board of California would like to wish you and your family the happiest of holidays. The almond board family put a “California almond” twist on this classic holiday …
Egg Supply Dropping Prices, Pressuring Cage-Free Market
An abundance of inexpensive, conventionally produced eggs is depressing demand for higher priced cage-free eggs. A new report by CoBank says egg production, conventual and cage-free, has surged since the …
Global Drought Severity Index Launched
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and others, are rolling out a new worldwide satellite-based drought severity index. Relying on data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment mission, …
Disaster Bill Includes Cotton, Dairy Provisions
The $81 billion House disaster aid package includes provisions for cotton growers and limited support for dairy producers. The National Farmers Union says both cotton and dairy farmers need appropriations …
Wendy’s to Reduce Antibiotics Use in Beef Supply Chain
The Ohio-based burger chain Wendy’s will reduce antibiotics use in its beef supply chain. The announcement follows similar measures the fast food restaurant chain took in its poultry supply chain. …
Cruz Proposes Renewable Fuel Credit Cap
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is proposing to cap the price of renewable fuel credits purchased by refiners at 10 cents, a mere fraction of the current market value. Prices …
Farm Co-ops Get Section 199 Fix in Tax Bill
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives praised lawmakers for their work in providing a fix for the repeal of the section 199 Deduction. NCFC applauded Senator John Hoeven of North …