…busy time for buying plants. Buy yours from reputable nurseries or online businesses. Ask if they comply with federal and state quarantine restrictions to ensure their plants are pest-free. Planning…
Federal Bill Aims to Prevent Local Regulation of Agriculture
A bill introduced by a member of Congress seeks to prevent state and local regulation of agriculture by prohibiting any additional restrictions placed on agriculture and food production when a…
New Trap Better at Snaring Stable Flies
…eggs in wet, organic materials such as hay, manure, compost heaps and grass clippings. Both males and females feed on blood-delivering painful bites to livestock, pets and people. For livestock…
GAO Gives USDA Approval to Ditch Organic Livestock Rule
The Government Accountability Office says the Department of Agriculture complied with rulemaking procedures during its withdrawal of The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. The office reviewed the USDA…
USDA Warns Dangerous Pests are Emerging, Adds Cherry Fruit Fly to Alert List
…online businesses. Ask if they comply with federal and state quarantine restrictions to ensure their plants are pest-free. Pests can also move through the mail. Take care not to send…
Easter Eggs for Your Basket Will be a Bit Higher This Year
…following: half-gallon whole regular milk, $2.04; half-gallon organic milk, $4.24; and one dozen “cage-free” eggs, $3.53. The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks closely with the federal government’s Consumer…
Organic Groups Suing USDA over Livestock Rule
Four organic groups have filed a lawsuit against The U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, regarding the organic livestock welfare rule. Led by the Center for Food…
Chinese Retaliation On U.S. Pork Exports Will Harm The Rural Economy
…in response to U.S. tariffs and restrictions – being placed on a host of Chinese goods. “We sell a lot of pork to China, so higher tariffs on our exports…
U.S. Talking With Other Countries About Tariff Exemptions
…a mixture of tariffs and investment restrictions. Lighthizer told the committee that, “We’re losing to China in ways that are not reflective of the underlying economics.” Brazil is also a…
USDA Announces Regionalization Agreement with South Korea
…should another detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occur in the United States. The agreement will allow for trade restrictions at the state level instead of the country level…
Roof Rat Damage Causing Concern for Growers
…other nontarget animals from eating the bait. Diphacinone has shown to be effective, but growers should be aware of the restrictions and pay close attention to application instructions. There is…
Exchanging Seeds at a Seed Library
…can optionally return the seeds once their own plants sprout, based on an honor system. Many of the libraries and museums with seed libraries also offer classes on organic gardening…
Secretary Perdue Supports Agriculture Exemption Extension for ELD Mandate
…an additional 90-day temporary waiver for agriculture-related transportation. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a statement regarding his support for the decision. “The ELD mandate imposes restrictions upon the…
Agri View: Imported Organics
Everett Griner talks about how unreliable imported organics really are in today’s Agri View. Organic farming has become a well known phrase in today’s world. From it’s start a little…