There is a lot of talk today abut the next Farm Bill. What will be in it? When will it get done? But I think the agriculture industry should remind the new Secretary of Agriculture when Donald Trump takes office that the last Farm Bill had an important provision that was never implemented. The 2014 […]
John Block: Trade Under Secretary Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to review a few issues today as we plan our farming operation and look over the horizon at next year’s opportunities and challenges. U.S. farm income this year is expected to be down again, hitting an 8-year low of $71 billion. In 2013, we climbed to
John Block: Cuba And More Read More »
As published in the November issue of The National Provisioner In the October issue, The National Provisioner honored 25 past icons who made their mark on industry since 1991. This month, to wrap up the magazine’s coverage of its 125th Anniversary, the editorial team decided to take on a bigger challenge: Select 25 individuals we expect
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I’m not talking about politics or President-Elect Donald Trump today. Let’s be thankful for our good fortune to be here in America this Thanksgiving weekend. The celebration of Thanksgiving dates back to our ancestors that settled this country. They didn’t have the comforts that we take for granted
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Zen Magnets, the tiny Colorado company that has challenged the CPSC’s actions regulating small, powerful magnets, will be having a very good Thanksgiving this year. That is because, once again, Zen has shown it is possible to fight the federal government and win. Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that
Court to CPSC: Your Magnet Rule’s a Turkey Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Now that the election is over, Democrats are trying to figure out what went wrong. Not only will they lose the White House in January, they did not get control of the Senate and gained very little in the House. Donald Trump will choose the next member of
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Wow! Last Tuesday was quite something! Throughout Washington, folks are now trying to figure out what the new Administration will mean for our country. But so far I have not seen anything written about what the CPSC will look like going into 2017, so here is my take. Unlike the cabinet officers who serve at
A Course Correction at the CPSC? Read More »
Donald Trump’s “Contract with the American Voter” lists a number of actions that he plans to take in his first one hundred days in office. Among those actions is to “announce my intention to renegotiate the NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205.” Naturally, this has raised the question of whether, as President, he
President-Elect Trump and NAFTA Read More »
Irrespective of whether you voted for or against Donald Trump, last night’s election results will lead to a significant changing of the guard in how food is regulated by FDA and USDA. In his Contract with America, soon-to-be-President Trump promised that for “every new regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.” The Obama Administration has
Food Regulation: A Changing of the Guard Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It’s a new day. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Washington, D.C. is in shock. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Clinton was supposed to win. A year and a half ago, Donald Trump opened his campaign, predicting “I will make America great again.”
John Block: Trump Wins Read More »
With the House and Senate remaining under Republican majorities, it is very unclear what matters may be handled in the lame duck session, and which ones will be pushed into the 115th Congress. Some will want to extend the Continuing Resolution from its current expiration on December 9 to presumably March so that President-Elect Trump can
An Early Look at Some Congressional Changes Impacting Agriculture Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block This year’s election process has been wild and crazy. Hard to imagine, but we will know the results on Tuesday. Last week, Rick Frank delivered this radio program for me. He said that he would vote for Hillary Clinton, but hoped that Republicans would hold on to their majority
John Block: Election Day 2016 – Part II Read More »
On October 27, 2016, OFW Law founding principal Richard L. Frank filled in for former USDA Secretary John R. Block on his weekly radio broadcast: Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day. A free and fair election is what separates the U.S. from many of our toughest competitors – for example, China, Russia, and Iran. And – make
John Block Reports: Election Day 2016 & the Need for a Balanced Government Read More »
Danny Hakim’s attempt to skewer biotech crops in his recent article on the front page Sunday’s New York Times (Doubts About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops, Oct. 29, 2016) is skewed from beginning to end. His insight – what he says the debate has missed – is that genetic modification has not accelerated
Hakim’s Effort to Skewer Biotech Crops in Sunday’s NY Times Read More »
By Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse While agriculture, like many other issues, has been overshadowed in the presidential campaign this year, if you look closely there is evidence on how Secretary Clinton would approach agriculture policy and rural America: Senator Clinton had a strong record in support of agriculture while serving in the Senate and consistently
Hillary on Agriculture Read More »
A fundamental principle of administrative law is that federal agencies must provide the public with reasonable notice and the opportunity to comment on proposed administrative issuances that impose substantive obligations that did not previously exist. Not every agency issuance, including guidance and policy interpretations, rise to that level. Whether agency action requires notice and comment
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I will cover a list of issues today. I am encouraged to note that Secretary Vilsack made a wise suggestion to the House and Senate Ag Committees. He said they should change the “Farm Bill’s” name. He is right. We need to broaden support. I would go even further.
John Block: This and That Read More »
By Marshall Matz, as published in The Des Moines Register Norman Borlaug, the father of the World Food Prize and the winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, had a dream. His dream was to extend the Green Revolution to Africa. His work introducing high-yielding wheat and modern seed breeding started in Mexico and then spread to Asia.
Borlaug’s Dream is Within Reach in Africa Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block In these times of low farm prices, it is encouraging to see farm associations and leaders stepping up to protect our farmers and ranchers. The CEOs of CropLife America, the National Corn Growers Association, and the American Soybean Association became a powerful agriculture industry leadership team, including the American
John Block: Ag Industry United Read More »
By Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse For almost thirty years, August has meant returning to Jackson, Wyoming, the Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Yellowstone ecosystem. It is fishing, hiking, photography, reading under the aspens, the Grand Teton Music Festival….and more fishing. Most importantly, it is quality family time. The Bridger-Teton National
The Bridger-Teton National Forest Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block We are looking at record crops of corn, soybeans, and wheat this year. Dairy farmers are suffering with the lowest prices since 2009. We have too much milk – not just here in the U.S. but in Europe also. Members of Congress from farm districts and states want the
John Block: Farm Problems Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Yes – We now have legislation to deal with the GMO labeling question. Without the legislation, all the states could have required different labels on their food products. A patchwork national plan like that would have cost consumers a lot more money for their food. However, the battle is
John Block: GMO Labeling Read More »
As published in Agri-Pulse “I have sometimes thought it might be well to establish an office of insurance for farms against the damage that may occur to them from storms, blights, insects, etc. A small sum paid by a number would repair such losses and prevent much poverty and distress.” – Benjamin Franklin, October 24,
Crop Insurance: Priority # 1 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block How long have we been listening to the relentless insinuations that genetically engineered crops may not be safe? The environmental activists have chosen to ignore science and use every trick to frighten consumers into not eating GMO food. Most scientists, 70% or 80%, stand up for the safety of
John Block: Nobel Laureates Read More »
Voters in the UK sent shockwaves rippling through the marketplace when they voted to leave the European Union. Markets don’t appreciate uncertainty and no one knows exactly how or when the “Brexit” will be executed or what trade environment will emerge in the post-split EU and UK. The Brexit is expected to have a sizeable
How “Brexit” Will Impact Agriculture and Trade Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The Brits jump ship and the UK is on its way out of the European Union. I understand the UK getting sick of the regulations and rules written in Brussels, not London. European agriculture is heavily subsidized and regulated – much more than ours. I would expect UK –
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Yesterday, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released their long-awaited bill that would establish a federal GMO labeling regime and preempt any state laws, such as Vermont’s Act 120. This legislation, unlike earlier attempts, is expected to garner enough support to gain enough support to pass in the
Senate Ag Leaders Unveil Compromise GMO Labeling Bill Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, I want to concentrate on trade. We are in the process of negotiating a trade agreement with the European Union. We have just completed an agreement with 11 other countries (the Trans Pacific Partnership – TPP). That agreement now needs to be approved by the countries involved. Let’s
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block We hear a lot of talk about the economy. It’s not growing as fast as it should. Two percent growth is just too slow. It has taken forever to recover from the 2008 recession. There are a lot of opinions about why growth has been slow. I think one
John Block: Regulations and Licensing Read More »
The Department of Labor (DOL) released the final rule updating the overtime regulations, which will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 4 million workers within the first year of implementation. Starting on Dec. 1, 2016, the initial increases to the standard salary level and highly compensated employee total annual compensation requirement will go into
Upcoming Webinar: Understanding the New DOL Overtime Rules Read More »
Commissioner Mohorovic has just issued a thoughtful statement discussing the black hole that the Consumer Product Safety Commission calls its civil penalty policy. This statement follows another he filed this week discussing the $4.5 million penalty lodged against Sunbeam for a single-brew coffee maker that squirted out hot water when not used properly. The Commissioner’s most recent
CPSC: Let’s Play Penalty Roulette Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Another week goes by – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton look to be our Presidential candidates. It’s quite a contrast. Polls indicate that they are in a dead heat, but it’s a long time until November. Today, I’m going to put a series of issues on the table. The
John Block: A Lot Going On Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Agriculture is an industry that depends heavily on exports with some 30% of our production sold to other countries. That explains the reason why the Ag industry has so much interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement that has been negotiated with 12 nations representing 40% of the
John Block: Trans-Pacific Partnership 2016 Read More »
Last week, Commissioners Buerkle and Mohorovic each issued a statement on a civil penalty settlement involving glass tumblers manufactured by Teavana. Each is a thoughtful statement and both should be read by anyone interested in how the Consumer Product Safety Commission does its work. They can be found here and here. Both Commissioners address, in somewhat different ways,
CPSC: Navigating an Unmarked Channel Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hopefully, we are beginning to set the record straight. We have heard so much misleading information criticizing biotechnology that we could go down the European road. In Europe, GE food is not on the plate. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, with more than 60 experts, has
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