The Biden Administration’s requirement that all federal employees, including the employees of the Farm Service Agency, be vaccinated against COVID-19 will not cause FSA offices to close or farmers to…
Farmer-led Coalition Advancing $100/acre Climate Policy Plan
…rewarding farmers for the total public value of their conservation practices. In addition to carbon sequestration, the voluntary federal program would pay for improved soil health, cleaner water, biodiversity and…
USDA Announces Plan to Integrate Climate Adaptation Into its Missions and Programs
As part of an Administration-wide rollout, the Department of Agriculture released its climate adaption and resilience plan. The plan describes how USDA will prepare for current and future impacts of…
Reclamation Awards Construction Contract for First Phase of Friant-Kern Canal Repairs
…water to more than one million acres of highly productive farmland and 250,000 residents. The canal, part of the Central Valley Project’s Friant Division, is owned by the federal government…
U.S. Trade Rep Tai Completes Review, Offers Steps Forward on China
The Biden Administration has completed a months-long review of the U.S. trade relationship with China. Pointing out that the previous administration’s unilateral approach alienated allies and trading partners while hurting…
Mandatory Inspections Suspended for California Walnuts
…past year, it was discovered that many requirements of the Federal Marketing Order were already being met in complying with market demand. CWB Director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Joshua…
USDA’s Climate-Smart Initiative Celebrated by Industry Members
…Rob Larew said in a press release. USDA is currently seeking feedback on the new climate-smart initiative. Comments on the initiative’s design will be accepted via the Federal Register before…
District Court Allows R-CALF Lawsuit to Proceed
…filed this legal challenge over amendments the USDA made to the operation of the federal Beef Checkoff program in September 2020. Tri-State Livestock News says the new lawsuit builds on…
Continuing Resolution Includes Disaster Relief for Agriculture
…federal agencies funded through December 3. Included in the bill is $10 billion in support for disaster relief for farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses in 2020 and 2021….
American Bumblebees Could be Listed as Endangered
…The announcement kicks off a one-year status assessment of the species. A Federal Register document follows a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and others. The Center says…
Ag Groups Seek Supreme Court Appeal of Proposition 12
…on precedent that counters several other decisions issued in the federal circuit court. “Supporters of Proposition 12 claimed it would improve animal welfare and food safety. The law fails to…
NASDA Outlines Priorities During 2021 Annual Meeting
…Glenn noted that state departments of agriculture play a critical role in implementing federal programs. During the meeting, NASDA members adopted an action item supporting a more robust emergency food…
USDA is Asking What Cell-Cultured Meat Should Be Called
…agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration back in 2019, outlining joint powers for regulating the production of products developed from cultured cells for human consumption. FSIS noted that…
USTR Tai Meets with United Kingdom on Trade
…a potential agreement could support the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader Build Back Better agenda. Back in March, the Biden Administration suspended some tariffs on goods from the United Kingdom. No longer…