By former USDA Secretary John R. Block If we are anything in this country, we are creative – from the Internet, to GPS driving my tractor while planting corn. Did you know that Goodyear Tire Company is now using soybean oil to make their tires? If you want better traction, hit the road with soy-based tires.
John Block: Creativity Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have been on the farm in Illinois the last few days. As we loaded a semi with market hogs and I walked through the barns with baby pigs, it made me think once again about the challenges farmers face. As I reported last week, the outlook can change
John Block: Down on the Farm Read More »
Congress Bars FNS from Enforcing Portions of its Enhancing Retailer Standards in SNAP Final Rule Federal agencies are viewed by many as possessing immense power over regulated businesses. This is especially true at the Food and Nutrition Service (“FNS”) in the context of retail food stores that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”),
Food companies and industry trade associations have overwhelmingly supported a decision by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to move the U.S. Codex Office from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to the Office of the Undersecretary for Trade and Agricultural Affairs led by Ted McKinney. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) is a United
Relocation of U.S. Codex Office Makes Sense Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have a number of subjects to put on the table today. To open this up, I want to remind everyone just how much our farm and ranch economy is suffering today. Farm income is expected to fall 7% to $60 billion this year. That is less than half
John Block: Opportunities and Challenges Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, my subject is Senator Bob Dole (Kansas). Two weeks ago, he received the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest award bestowed by the U.S. Congress. Very few individuals have been so honored. The Senator is a decorated World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Congress longer
John Block: Senator Bob Dole Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block From my perspective, our government has been getting some good things done. Remember a year ago when hundreds of out-of-towners blocked the construction of the North Dakota pipeline? The government spent millions of dollars on law enforcement and court fights. In the end, the pipeline was completed. North Dakota
John Block: Good Things Done Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It has been 25 years since a President of the United States addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The last President to speak was President George H. W. Bush. President Donald Trump spoke this week in Nashville, Tennessee, to a cheering, packed house of farmers and ranchers. They
John Block: Trump – AFBF Speech Read More »
Of all the issues surrounding a new Farm Bill in 2018, perhaps none unifies American agricultural producers more than Federal Crop Insurance, provided by USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Be it North or South, big or small, row crops or specialty, organic or conventional, the FCIC crop insurance program is today viewed almost universally
Top Priority for the 2018 Farm Bill: Protect Federal Crop Insurance Read More »
According to the Wall Street Journal: “Organic milk sales have cooled as the very shoppers who drove demand for the specialty product not long ago move on to newer alternatives, leaving dairy sellers and producers grappling with oversupply….Now, organic-milk supplies have ballooned just as demand has stalled. Many shoppers have moved on to substitutes such
“Milk” Comes from Breasts/Udders Read More »
By Marshall L. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse When it comes to agriculture research, no organization is as important to our farmers as is USDA and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS). ARS works with our land grant universities to support US farmers and ranchers. Our unique system of research and extension is a major reason for our
The Vast Army Fighting Hunger Around the Globe Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to look back at 2017. In some respects, President Trump had a pretty rough year with his critics, including much of the mainstream media attacking him without relief. However, I think the case can be made that he and the Republican Congress had an impressive year. Tax
John Block: Trump’s Year Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The Holiday season is here. Amazing – Tax reform legislation has passed, and President Trump has said he will sign it. That is a big Christmas present. President Trump and Republicans in Congress got it done without any Democratic help. Before President Trump was elected, Democrats — including President
John Block: Tax Reform Passes, a Present for the Holiday Season Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Maybe the “chickens are coming home to roost” in California. The state of California can’t think of enough new regulations. In 2015, California passed legislation demanding that those who sell eggs in the state must adhere to their cage-size law. Midwest states such as Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska are crying
John Block: Egg Regulations Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block For most farmers across the U.S. there is a big sigh of relief. The harvest is over. Time to sit back and relax. Well, there is no time for relaxation here in the Nation’s Capital. This has been a very busy week. On Friday, December 1, I hosted the
John Block: What’s going on in Washington Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking a very long time to fill some of our most important management positions. The Administration has 4 under secretary posts unfilled and 3 Assistant Secretary jobs unannounced. Sec. Perdue’s choice for the newly created farm services and conservation post, Bill Northey, should
John Block: The U.S. Department of Ag Team Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block We just celebrated another Thanksgiving. And we do have a lot to be thankful for. Our economy is roaring with GDP in the 3% range and near full employment. The best advantage that we have is that we don’t live in the Middle East where years of war have
John Block: Thanksgiving Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week, I attended the Farm Broadcasters Annual Convention in Kansas City. Over the last 35 years, I have attended almost all of the NAFB events. This year’s convention attracted a near-record crowd. It was very exciting. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spoke and took questions from the audience
John Block: Secretary Sonny Perdue Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Tax reform is a hot topic here in the nation’s capital. That doesn’t mean that Congress will be able to pass the legislation. On paper, the planned tax overhaul will increase the national debt by $1.5 trillion (over the next ten years). Larry Summers, who served as economic advisor
John Block: Tax Reform Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, let’s talk about trade and tax reform. President Trump wants to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Congress is presenting a tax reform package. NAFTA is in the spotlight right now. The whole farm and food industry is worried that President Trump could formally
Virtually all grocery stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets sell hot foods. Nearly all sell cold prepared foods as well. Most of the more than 260,000 retail food stores authorized by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (“FNS”) to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits sell some hot foods and cold prepared foods. But the SNAP
SNAP Retailers Beware: FNS Wants to Take Away Your SNAP Authorization Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block By now, I should not be surprised when the federal government uses its power and strength to hammer a defenseless individual citizen. Let me tell you about Edward Poitevent and the dusky gopher frog. In 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a new habitat rule. On May
Jack Block: Dusky Gopher Frog Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Worries about our ag trade are escalating. Farmers are desperate. We export more than a quarter of what we produce. Farm prices are in the tank. Any wrong move that would cause us to lose markets would be a devastating blow. President Trump has threatened to withdraw from the
John Block: Trade Worries Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The TV has been dominated by hurricanes. The Texas coast was devastated and next, Hurricane Irma hit Florida. Powerful winds destroyed half of the crops. Orange juice is going to cost $2 per gallon more. We should not underestimate the destruction and cost to families, government, or the time
John Block: Priorities Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block You may have heard about the John Duarte wetlands case. John Duarte, a California farmer, bought 450 acres in 2012. He plowed and planted it to wheat. The Army Corps of Engineers, the California Water Quality Control Board, and the EPA came after him. He was looking at a
John Block: Duarte vs. Big Government Read More »
It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed this summer on the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida: dozens of lost lives, hundreds of thousands of destroyed homes, tens of billions in property damage and untold suffering and disruption. Some losses will take years to mend, some can never be
Texas and Florida Farmers: Time to Face Crop Loss Read More »
Several food industry groups hope so. The responsibility for implementing two major changes to food labeling requirements has fallen on the Trump Administration: Nutrition Facts Panel – On May 27, 2016, FDA published a final rule that will overhaul the Nutrition Facts panel that we have become accustomed to on foods. In addition to some
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, I have a fishy story to talk about, but before I get started on that, what do you think of the nation’s economy? I know the farm economy is not booming, but consumer confidence is off the charts – a 20% jump from last year. Unemployment is down
John Block: GE Salmon Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block To kick this off with some serious facts, let me ask – did you know that 7% of all American adults believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows? One in five adults doesn’t know that hamburgers are made from beef. Three in ten don’t know that cheese is
John Block: Gene Editing Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block There aren’t any forest fires here in the east near Washington, D.C. No raging fires near our farm in Illinois. But the front pages of the Washington Post and the Washington Times both tell us the west is burning. Thousands are fleeing wild fires – forests and range land
John Block: Forest Fires Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted the announcement of this year’s World Food Prize Foundation laureate. At one time, he was the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, and he now runs the African Development Bank – Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. He has been a leader in transforming African agriculture.
John Block: Ag Issues 2017 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Tip of the day— “Seven percent of all American adults believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.” “One in five adults don’t know that hamburgers are beef.” We have a major education challenge. Now to look at some priority issues of the day. Trade has to be near
John Block: This and That 2017 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I talked this week with John Duarte, a California farmer. He is in trouble. He bought 450 acres in 2012. He plowed it and planted it for wheat. He now faces $2.8 million in civil penalties because he did not get a permit to plow and plant. He wasn’t
John Block: Government Overreach Read More »
By Dr. Nina Fedoroff, as published in Agri-Pulse USDA and FDA proposals to regulate genetically engineered (GE) plants and animals following the recent update of the regulatory framework are on their websites awaiting public comment by June 19, 2017. The documents on which comments are requested are long, dense and, at times, internally inconsistent. Here’s a detailed
Think This is Biotech Regulatory Relief? Not Yet. Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have two subjects to cover today. One that is very hopeful – Governor Terry Branstad, now Ambassador Terry Branstad, is headed to China. The other issue, which is not very hopeful, has to do with horses. Ambassador Branstad – as Governor of Iowa, he was very close
John Block: Branstad and Horses Read More »
