A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report from earlier in the month revealed that national net farm income—a key indicator of U.S. farm well-being—is forecast at a record $131 billion in 2013, up 15% from last year, and about $13 billion above 2011’s previous record. In addition to record net farm income, farm wealth is also at record levels. […]
The obvious issues in the farm bill are nutrition programs, crop insurance, and farm safety net supports. However, there are some important sections in the bill that could be almost as important that don’t get much attention. The first one deals with trade. Trade accounts for 25 percent of U.S. farm receipts. When we plant
John Block: What’s In The Farm Bill? Read More »
We should get a farm bill in January. It appears that we now have a budget. That helps because now the Ag Department will know how much money the Department has to spend. Let’s keep the pressure on to get it done. The subject that I want to focus on today has not had enough
John Block: Free Trade With Europe Read More »
Not all “wetlands” are equal. And while protecting these previous environmental legacies is a high priority for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), its power to penalize farmers for inadvertent wetland conversions must be tempered by reason and science. The National Appeals Division (NAD) recently underscored this message in a Hearing Officer Determination (FSA chose not
We all know that Republicans and Democrats are at each others’ throats and we can’t seem to get anything done. It also appears that President Obama has not demonstrated the kind of leadership to move things along. No one wants to take responsibility. Sometimes, “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.”
John Block: Cabinet Meetings Read More »
I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving this year. The celebration of Thanksgiving dates back to our ancestors who settled this country. They didn’t have any of the comforts that we take for granted today. They were just thankful to have a roof over their head and food to eat. Even today, there are people
John Block: Bounty of Food Read More »
I am always amazed each Thanksgiving that my friends have questions on “cooking turkey.” I am even more amazed that they ask me questions, because I have a solid reputation for not being able to cook anything! That said, perhaps they ask because I do know how to make certain the turkey makes it safely
A Safe Thanksgiving Read More »
By Marshall L. Matz with Molly O’Connor, as published by Agri-Pulse The food stamp program, currently called SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) has exploded in size and may now be the biggest hurdle to a farm bill. As of August, some 48 million Americans participated in the program at a cost of almost $80 billion a year.
We don’t have a budget yet. We don’t have a farm bill. House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) hopes to have a draft bill by week’s end. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senate Ag Committee Chair, acknowledges there are a lot of differences to be worked out, but she has hope. They are both hoping. The
John Block: Farm Bill Conflict Read More »
I was on the farm earlier in the week and I am now in Kansas City at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention. Harvesting our crop at the farm this fall has been so smooth. However, spring planting season was so difficult. It seemed to rain all the time. Most of our crop ground
John Block: Down on the Farm Read More »
Last week, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a final rule to significantly expand the categories of meat and poultry labels that may be generically approved without formally submitting them to FSIS for approval, as well as a Labeling Compliance Guidance regarding the final rule. Currently, labels that are applied to meat and poultry
FSIS Rule Expanding Generic Label Approval Should Benefit Industry, but at What Cost? Read More »
The National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a webinar on USDA’s Country of Origin Labeling rule for meat sold in retail establishments. The webinar, “COOL or Not-So-COOL: An Overview and Discussion of Country of Origin Labeling,” will take place on November 14, 2013, at 1 PM (EST). The webinar will feature a friendly point-counterpoint discussion
Upcoming Webinar on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (CLE Credit Opportunity) Read More »
Will we get a farm bill or won’t we get a farm bill? No one knows at this point. There are still a number of unanswered questions. The biggest fight is over how much to cut the spending on food stamps. We have 50 million people receiving food stamps now and growing. House Republicans want
Former Secretary Block Comments on Farm Bill Read More »
In a time when there is an information vacuum, I would encourage all meat and poultry establishment operators to “build the relationship” with their FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP). While these individuals have a specific job to perform, verification and enforcement of the regulations, we all have the same goal – the shipment of safe
Building the Relationship Read More »
“Livestock matters to climate change. The sector contributes 7.1 gigatonnes (giga=billion) CO2-eq (equivalent) to global anthropogenic GHG emissions – a contribution that can be readily reduced by up to one-third – placing the sector as an integral part of any solution to climate change.” FAO Report Rome, 2013 Once again, the United Nations Food and
Is Livestock Causing Climate Change? Read More »
At least once a month, our USDA or FDA practice group receives that phone call…the phone call that comes from an existing or prospective food client at that point in time (and no sooner) when the proverbial “slop is about to hit the fan.” In our experience, most food companies do a good job recognizing
The Phone Call that Comes Too Late Read More »
No, it is not time to face the Christmas shopping crowds, the kids have their back to school supplies, and we have made our fantasy football selections. So what is it I am supposed to be dreading? Oh yes, final days for government budgets, continuing resolutions, and possible government shutdowns. What does this mean, how
It Is “That” Time of Year Read More »
On Monday, a group of trade associations representing the spectrum of America’s beef and pork production system issued an urgent plea to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Froman. The coalition wants USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to hold off on enforcing new country of origin labeling requirements until the
Livestock & Meat Groups Want COOL Relief Pending WTO Review Read More »
Opponents of USDA’s new mandatory Country-of-Origin-Labeling (mCOOL) rule received a setback this morning. A federal judge denied the mCOOL opponents request for a preliminary injunction, which would have halted implementation of the new labeling rule pending ultimate resolution of whether the new mCOOL rule was lawful. Opponents of the mCOOL rule argued that the new mCOOL
Judge Denies Attempt to Stop New COOL Rule Read More »
The United States has irked its neighbors with a meat labeling mandate that may have the effect of discriminating against Canadian and Mexican livestock. The Canadian and Mexican governments believe that USDA’s new mandatory Country-of-Origin-Labeling (mCOOL) Rule is a thinly-veiled technical trade barrier that will be devastating to their respective livestock sectors, which are dependent
Canada, Mexico Think U.S. Labeling Requirements are un-COOL Read More »
Farm producer and USDA program customers increasingly are turning to USDA’s National Appeals Division (NAD) as the best option when they find themselves facing an adverse decision from a USDA agency. NAD offers a far quicker, more user-friendly, and more inexpensive way to get an objective “second opinion” compared with suing the agency in Federal
USDA’s National Appeals Division: A Checklist for Farmers Read More »
Based on our experience reviewing a number of noncompliance records, we recommend that when USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documents regulatory noncompliance at your facility, you review it with a “fine tooth comb.” To successfully review a noncompliance record (NR), you must first know your food safety programs and the governing regulations. You
Reviewing Regulatory Noncompliance – It is Good For Your Business Read More »
On May 23, 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) issued a final rule to amend the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations (which became effective March 16, 2009). The final rule provides consumers more detailed information for muscle cut commodities by requiring that labels specify the production steps of
AMS Issues Final COOL Amendment Read More »
A little over a year ago, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a final rule requiring inspected meat and poultry establishments to notify their FSIS District Office within 24 hours of learning or determining that misbranded or adulterated meat or poultry product received by, or originating from the official establishment has entered commerce
FSIS Notification Rule – One year later Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced today that the first meeting of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) will be held on June 13, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. E.D.T. and June 14, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. E.D.T.
The Development of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Begins Read More »
Kudos to Secretary Vilsack and USDA for basing their regulatory decisions on sound science. Another recent example is the Proposed Rule published on May 3rd that would re-list carrageenan as appropriate for use in organic food products. The USDA decision is consistent with a recent decision by FDA affirming the safety of carrageenan for all food products. Moreover,
USDA is Right on Carrageenan Read More »
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a patent holder’s rights in biotech seeds extend to subsequent generations of crops grown by farmers. Widely viewed as a victory for biotech seed producers and American farmers, the Court’s decision in Bowman v. Monsanto Co. should provide seed trait developers with the confidence that
In conjunction with the opening of the G-8 Open Data for Agriculture conference on April 29, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the newest “Community” on the government’s data access point data.gov: the Food, Agriculture and Rural Community. Coincidentally, April 30 is the 20th anniversary of the release of the World Wide Web’s core standards for free
Data.gov Launches New Ag & Food Community Read More »
Few Washington government programs escape un-cut in the new 2014 budget unveiled today by President Obama’s administration, and Federal crop insurance is no exception. 2012 saw Federal crop insurance emerge as the premier Federal backstop for American farm producers against natural disaster, paying over $16 billion in indemnities as farmers virtually nationwide faced historic drought
New Obama Budget Includes Cuts for Federal Crop Insurance Read More »
If anyone doubted the huge role that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Federal crop insurance program is playing this year in protecting rural America from economic disaster following last summer’s historic drought, a new study from two economists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln should settle the issue. USDA Federal crop insurance has paid over
2012 Federal Crop Insurance Saved 20,900 Local Jobs in Four States Read More »
The House of Representatives and Senate have now given final approval to the FY 2013 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (the Bill) as part of a combined multi-Department omnibus measure, clearing it for the President’s expected signature. The current Continuing Resolution expires on March 27, 2013. The Bill
Congress Clears Final Agriculture/FDA Spending Measure for FY 2013 Read More »
While most people are filling out their brackets for March Madness®, producers of muscle cuts of meat are dealing with a different type of “March Madness.” On March 12, 2013, in response to a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that the current U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for muscle cut meat discriminate against
New AMS Proposed Rule for COOL Drives Meat Industry Mad Read More »
By Marshall L. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse School nutrition is front and center these days. At the USDA Outlook Conference, Secretary Vilsack proudly pointed out the many improvements USDA has made to school nutrition programs as well as other nutrition programs. The National School Lunch Act (the Act), signed into law by President Truman in
School Nutrition Update Read More »
