…to $100 billion to improve broadband infrastructure. Prior to that, multiple federal agencies entered into an agreement to help facilitate the provision of high-speed internet to underserved areas. The Federal…
Week in Review: HLB Quarantine Expands & New Preharvest Testing for Leafy Greens
…Agreement Board recently adopted preharvest testing requirements for members. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently visited California, meeting with growers, industry groups, and state officials to learn about the challenges…
Industry Collaboration Aims to More Efficiently Address Water Issues
…for water sustainability for the entire industry. “It is a position that is open and available to all members of the dairy and cattle communities regardless of membership of trade…
LGMA to Implement Risk-Based Preharvest Testing Requirement
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) Board recently adopted preharvest testing requirements for members. Testing protocols will be determined based on the risk of potential exposure to contamination. The…
New USDA Reports Aimed at Increasing Cattle Market Transparency
…and consumers, and highlighted vulnerabilities in America’s food system supply chain resiliency. Current negotiated cash cattle trade is approximately 30% less than it was in 2005, while formula transactions have…
Industry Groups Urge Congressional Support for Climate-Smart Agriculture
…of both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The coalition includes the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), American Seed Trade Association, National Farmers Union, Agricultural Retailers Association, and…
Agricultural Overtime: ‘Nail in the Coffin’ for Sheep Industry
…26 or more employees. For smaller employers, the phase-in of the new overtime rules begins on January 1, 2022. An exemption to overtime requirements for sheepherders has been eliminated through…
Secretary Vilsack Talks Drought, Trade, and Labor at Fresno County Farm
…ON TRADE: In his remarks to the press, Secretary Vilsack opened with an update on trade. He explained that the U.S. is on pace for a record year of agricultural…
Week in Review: Regulatory Costs Triple, CA FAIR Plan Expanded, WHIP+ Extension Moves Forward
…some form of wildfire insurance. The House Agriculture Committee has approved an $8.5 billion disaster assistance bill that will expand aid offered to producers. The Federal Trade Commission is going…
Cost of Regulatory Compliance More Than Triples in Six-Year Period
…a couple of years later. Because some of these additional requirements with respect to groundwater allocation and also water quality have now been further phased in.” Hamilton noted that the…
Battle For the Right to Repair Bolstered with Recent Vote
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is going to become more actively engaged when comes to the right to repair. After a recent vote of 5-0, the FTC will be enhancing…
Fruit and Vegetable Trade Increases in First Part of 2021
Trade statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) paint an interesting picture for American fruits and vegetables. USDA data shows that between January and May of this year, imports…
UC Davis Receives $6 Million to Promote Safe Pesticide Use
…dispersed over a five-year period. The cooperative agreement between EPA and UC Davis is intended to advance the development of materials and projects to improve pesticide safety. UC Davis will…
Organic Fraud Prevention Program Gaining Industry Support
An organic fraud prevention initiative established by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is gaining supporters. Fraudulent organic products have created a significant amount of concern within the industry. Initially launched…