By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Christmas is behind us and the New Year is off to a wild start. But today, I want to talk about the Cabinet Secretaries luncheon that we held on December 14, just before Christmas. The luncheon was held at the Blair House – just across the street from the
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Last week, I attended the beautiful service at the National Cathedral for our 41st President George H.W. Bush. On the radio, I talked about the George Bush that I knew. This week, we will move on. Here is where we are right now. We are more than two months
Congressional Agenda Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. The passing of President George H. W. Bush has brought the whole nation to focus on his life and the contributions that he made to our country. President Reagan brought the Soviet Union down, but President Bush managed the clean-up of the Cold War. Eastern Europe emerged from the
During this Holiday Season, we all enjoy those extra calories and special desserts. It is part of giving thanks and enjoying family. There is no need to give that up, but let’s also keep an eye on the obesity equation. Food labeling regulations and guidelines, such as the USDA- HHS Dietary Guidelines for for Americans, are
Opinion: The Obesity Equation Calories in; Calories Out Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Thank you, God, for all of our blessings. Look at the turmoil, poverty, and destruction around the world. On this Thanksgiving Day, let’s not fail to appreciate our nation and our people. (I’m glad that we live here.) The cost of your Thanksgiving dinner has fallen for the third
Elite Food Standards and More Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Last week was really busy. Three days at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention in Kansas City. If you listen to farm radio, your broadcaster was probably there. I’ve been going for almost 40 years. After Kansas City, I went to our farm. Harvest is all in the
Uganda is in the final stages of debating biosafety legislation that will make it possible for the country to begin using genetically modified (GM) agricultural plants, such as bacterial wilt-resistant bananas, brown streak virus-resistant cassavas and insect-resistant maize. As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Uganda must have a biosafety law in
Report from Uganda Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Yes, I have something to say about the mid-term elections, and I will get to that in a minute. But first, we have been worried about the trade disputes with China and how their tariffs have cost us. Finally, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are going to
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. There has been a lot going on in the last week. I will focus on some of those topics. One of the saddest happenings would be the deadly attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh by a lone anti-Semitic gunman. Eleven were killed just because they were
Election and Hate Crimes Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Some good news – President Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires in November. Can they jump start a process to resolve our trade war? We hope. The European Union has agreed to give the U.S. a larger share of their
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. When President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, he said: “It is a very big deal for farmers. The new NAFTA, which is USMCA, has a very good ring. The ag industry across the country applauds the deal.” The deal is not done yet. Congress
Issues and Opportunities Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. I want to talk about a frog today, but before the frog hops up on the table – just a few words on the subject of trade. The U.S. trade deficit rose in August to $53.2 billion. That’s up $3.2 billion. A decline in soybean and oil exports is
Owners of retail food stores permanently disqualified from participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are saddled with serious consequences in addition to the loss of the store’s ability to accept food stamp benefits (EBT). After USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) permanently disqualifies a store, the agency promptly searches its SNAP retailer database
Disqualified from SNAP? SAM I Am! Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Issue number 1 – China is very unhappy that President Trump has imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese exports. Tensions have escalated. When I was in China with the Farm Broadcasters in June, we had a long meeting with our U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad. He was challenging the Chinese unfair
NAFTA Deal and More Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Will President Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh be approved? We may know by the time you hear this radio commentary. I think he will. It would be a sad outcome if he is rejected. On another subject, recent meetings between Presidents of North Korea and South Korea
Earlier this year, FNS updated its Training Guide for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers. This 18 page booklet is required reading for owners and managers of the more than 260,000 groceries, convenience stores, chain drug stores, and other retailers authorized to accept SNAP in exchange for eligible food items. In addition to detailing the
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Updates Its SNAP Retailer Training Guide Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Vladimir Putin of Russia wants to raise the age for his citizens to receive retirement benefits. That is what we should do to reform our Social Security retirement program. Russian citizens have been protesting. Nearly 300 people have been arrested. They marched toward Red Square and the Kremlin. Our
This And That – September 2018 Read More »
In the two years since the last African agriculture forum in Ethiopia, the momentum has fundamentally changed. The pace of advancement has quickened significantly; the world has discovered that Africa is the future. That was sure the impression one got from attending the African Green Revolution Forum hosted last week by President Paul Kagame in
Opinion: Africa Rising Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I wasn’t going to go down this road, but a CNN discussion and article that I have in front of me should not be ignored. Here is their criticism – they used internal e-mails from USDA that show “big food lobbyists are working hand-in-glove with agency staffers.” Now, they
Agriculture’s Message Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The agriculture industry in the U.S. is dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Falling prices and trade wars top the list. We expect our exports to grow faster than our imports. However, for 3 years in a row, that has not been happening. We are losing ground. Looking to
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It’s hard to believe, but summer is all but gone. We are looking at harvest season. Get that combine ready to go. Labor Day is next Monday. Speaking of Labor Day, I want to say how much respect I have for the hard-working men and women that labor
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary – I am talking to you on
Down on the Farm August 2018 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This is Rick Frank sitting in for John Block. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous
Keep Food Programs at the USDA Read More »
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) may impose civil monetary penalties (CMP) on retailers that are determined to have violated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations. These penalties are most frequently imposed against SNAP retailers who transfer ownership of their stores after being disqualified for trafficking. FNS may also grant a CMP in lieu of
SNAP Trafficking and Other Civil Monetary Penalties Edge Higher Read More »
Debate over the 2018 Farm Bill, likely to start in earnest this week with House consideration of H.R. 2, may focus sharp attention on the question of whether taxpayer costs for Federal Crop Insurance are reasonable and supportable. At least five amendments filed for floor consideration are intended to limit these costs in different ways.
Federal Crop Insurance AIPs: Some Misconceptions about Underwriting Gains Read More »
Small grocery stores and specialty retail food stores that sell hot foods are facing an unprecedented threat to their businesses. Not from competition or due to rising costs. Instead, thousands of small fish and seafood markets in impoverished urban neighborhoods across the country are threatened with the withdrawal of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”)
Selling Too Much Food Hot? SNAP-Authorized You’re Not! Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are under a lot of stress as we enter planting season. Farm income has been cut in half and uncertainty fills the air as we move into the 2018 year. Trade war – we are already being hurt, but there are some encouraging
John Block: Uncertain Times Read More »
This week on Wednesday, April 18, the full House Agriculture Committee met and successfully voted to report its version of a 2018 Farm Bill, based on a draft released last week by Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and backed by Committee Republicans (H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018). The bill was passed
Part 1: The House Farm Bill Mark-Up Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Here is what I read in the Wall Street Journal: “Deficit financing has become the mother’s milk of politics. Each party is giving the other its wish list with all the bells and whistles included and asking future generations to pick up the tab.” The Congressional Budget Office projects
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block All the time, we hear the loud voices of consumer groups that insist the public must be informed about the food we eat. “Label it organic.” “If it has GMOs, the consumer must know.” “You should not label it natural if it is not natural,” whatever ‘natural’ means. Now,
John Block: Clean Meat Read More »
In a highly unusual decision, a Federal District Court judge in Maryland granted summary judgment in a food stamp licensing appeal brought by a Baltimore convenience store without permitting the retailer to conduct any discovery whatsoever. In Negash v. United States, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett dismissed the retailer’s appeal of a Final Agency
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I don’t think we have any idea where the Trump tariffs on steel and aluminum will take us. There is still a lot of concern about how they could backfire on us, costing markets and pushing up the cost of cars, tractors, and everything metal. However, boosting the cost
John Block: Where To From Here? Read More »
By Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The drafting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has started….and it’s a good start. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced that, for the first time, the departments will seek public comments on the proposed priority topics and supporting scientific questions
Dietary Guidelines 2020 Read More »
By Nina Fedoroff and Alison Van Eenennaam, as published in the Des Moines Register In his speech at the recent American Farm Bureau convention, President Trump said his administration was “streamlining regulations that have blocked cutting-edge biotechnology.” Why is this necessary? Paraphrasing New York Times columnist Paul Krugman’s words on economic policy, it’s because we’re still living with “zombie” biotech
How the Federal Government Can Get Biotech Regulation Right Read More »
