…(REINS) Act passed the House last week on a 237-187 vote. One amendment to the bill would require agencies to repeal existing rules to offset any expected costs of new…
Food Safety Rules Challenge Farmers on Several Fronts
…Safety Modernization Act’s produce rules, according to Bob Ehart, senior policy and science advisor with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ehart spoke to farmers and ranchers from…
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Board Appointments
…Watermelon Promotion Board in accordance with the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act and the Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan. USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals…
API Looking to New Administration with Hopes of RFS Changes
…be a banner year, but only if Congress and the administration permit it. Gerard pointed to the Endangered Species Act and the Renewable Fuel Standard, according to Agri-Pulse. API has…
New Congress Likely to Address Regulatory Reform
…one or more pieces of legislation, one of which is likely to be the Regulatory Accountability Act, which was introduced in the previous Congress as H.R. 185 by Rep. Bob…
New Congress Targeting Regulations
…the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or REINS Act. According to USA Today. The REINS Act would require that before any new major regulation could take effect,…
Snowpack’s Statewide Water Content Below Average
…usually starts happening around April 1.” Acting DWR Director Bill Croyle said above-average precipitation since the start of Water Year 2017 in October added significantly to storage in 154 reservoirs…
GIPSA Reduces Fees for Weighing and Inspection Services
…U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) was amended by the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015, to require FGIS to adjust annually the export grain inspection and weighing fees when the operating…
USDA Microloans for Farmers: Participation Patterns and Effects of Outreach
…and ethnic minorities), and veterans. The maximum size of a Microloan was originally set at $35,000 and was raised to $50,000 in November 2014 by the Agricultural Act of 2014….
Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board Appointments Named
…appointed member representing importers is Dana Ehrlich, Newton, Mass. The 100-member board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985. The Secretary of Agriculture selects the appointees…
Final Environmental Documents for WaterFix Released
…the Delta’s ecosystem and a vital water supply for California.” The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describe environmental impacts that could arise from modernizing California’s…
USDA to Measure Financial Well-Being of Dairy Farms
…Act of 2014. With operational costs driving structural changes within the dairy industry, this new program aims to help dairy producers when milk prices drop and feed prices remain high….
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council Members Named
…U.S. Secretary of Agriculture administer the program. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council in accordance with the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act…
National Processed Raspberry Council Members Named
…with the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 and the Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order. USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals…