…process will be an introduction and vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation calls for adjustments to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program while providing legal status to…
USDA Announces Awards to Put Conservation Innovation to Work on U.S. Farms
(USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding more than $24 million in grants designed to help partners implement and evaluate innovative approaches that have demonstrated conservation benefits…
Survey Reveals Crucial Data on Fusarium Head Blight
…million is unacceptable for human consumption. FHB can also wreak havoc with barley crops, as maltsters have a near-zero tolerance for Fusarium. The survey, funded by the USDA Agricultural Research Service…
U.S. Pork Can Reduce Overall U.S. Trade Deficit with China by Nearly Six Percent
…American agriculture and the country, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Based on an analysis by Iowa State University (ISU) Economist Dermot Hayes, NPPC says unrestricted access to…
Latest Romaine Recall Expands Over E. coli Concerns
…far sent 28 people to the hospital for E. coli contamination. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has recalled more than 97,000 pounds of various types of romaine products,…
The Western View: Keep Your Pets Safe This Thanksgiving
…a newspaper and has written for agricultural publications since the 1980s. He was a regular contributor to California Farmer Magazine. His commentary “The Western View” is a regular feature on…
Agriculture Industry Experiences Most Workplace Fatalities in 2019
According to data from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), the agricultural industry has experienced the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2019 as of November. The National…
Legislation to Preserve Family Farms Introduced in Congress
(NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its strong support for the “Preserving Family Farms Act of 2019.” Introduced by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D – 20th Dist….
USMCA Ratification Appears Within Reach Before Year’s End
While some political obstacles still need to be worked through, it appears that a vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) may finally be on the horizon. The agricultural industry has…
State Officials Move to Circumvent Federal Plans for California Water
…Quality Act, with CDFW expected to establish the specific requirements in the coming months. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service released updated biological opinions back…
Farm Bureau Calls for Improvements to Ag Labor Bill
…failed to adopt any amendments that would have improved the legislation for agricultural producers. “We also know that once Congress passes legislation, no one will have an appetite to revisit…
Preparing for the Effects of Climate Change in Agriculture
…are being recorded around the world. While the cause for changing temperatures will continue to be debated, the agricultural industry would be best served by understanding the climate trends in…
Agricultural Immigration Bill Moves Forward
…Introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 would improve agricultural visa programs and accommodate immigrant agricultural employees already in…
Preparing for New Labor Laws Coming in Less than 50 Days
…more than 800 new bills into law during the last legislative session, with several new laws having a direct impact on agricultural employers. The deadline to file harassment and retaliation…