Happy 2017, everyone! 2016 has come and gone. Looking at 2016 in my rear-view mirror, here are a few matters that caught my personal attention. As food and drug lawyers and corporate execs in regulated companies know (or definitely should know!), individuals in a position of responsibility can be prosecuted criminally for what are often […]
2016 – Gone But Not Forgotten Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week, I – along with 2 other former Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Dan Glickman) – attended the portrait unveiling ceremony of Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Department of Agriculture. Vilsack served as Secretary of Agriculture for 8 years. It’s very rare for any Cabinet member
John Block: Vilsack – 8 Years Read More »
Ever since the election we have been asked which Obama Administration regulations and executive actions are likely to be stricken by the new Trump Administration or the 115th Congress. Will the focus be on the rules issued since mid May of this year, as provided for by the Congressional Review Act of 1996, or is
Food Rules Potential Targets for Elimination or Revision Read More »
FNS Issues Final Rule Enhancing SNAP Retailer Standards On December 8, 2016, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued its Final Rule entitled “Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Problem (SNAP).” The Final Rule amends FNS’s SNAP regulations in a number of important ways that will affect nearly all of the more
FNS Issues Final Rule Enhancing SNAP Retailer Standards Read More »
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 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
John Block: Rural America Speaks Up 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 »
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (“FNS”) administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). Formerly known as “food stamps,” this important federal nutrition benefit program serves over 45 million Americans by increasing “food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.” 7 U.S.C. §2011. FNS licenses eligible supermarkets and convenience stores to participate
Oh, SNAP! Connecticut Judge Affirms Permanent Disqualification of New Haven Grocery Read More »
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 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 My agenda for this post will be Labor Day and Tough Times. I want to begin by saying how much respect I have for the hard-working men and women that labor in the trenches day in and day out. I’m not talking about big corporation executives, not talking about Wall
John Block: Labor Day and Tough Times 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 »
On behalf of the Agriculture practice group at OFW Law, following is a copy of our Summer 2016 newsletter. We hope you find it useful. To receive this periodic newsletter by e-mail, please contact Carrie Morgan.
Regulatory Round-Up Newsletter, Summer 2016 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 »
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 »
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 »
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
John Block: GMOs Are Safe Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block As a farmer, I would not like it if Europe shipped subsidized beef into our market. That would undercut our prices. What if Brazil shipped subsidized soybeans to us? We would be furious. Did you know that the U.S. government does this all of the time? Think about it
John Block: Peanuts Read More »
As published in Agri-Pulse The landmark civil rights lawsuit by Indian farmers and ranchers against the Department of Agriculture for discriminatory lending practices has come to a conclusion (barring any unexpected turn of events on appeal). U. S. District Court Judge Emmett Sullivan approved an agreement reached by the Government, counsel for the plaintiffs’ class,
$380 Million Keepseagle II Settlement Reached Read More »
Please see Dr. Nina Fedoroff and former USDA Secretary John Block’s op-ed featured in the New York Times on April 6, 2016 – Mosquito vs. Mosquito in the Battle Over the Zika Virus.
NYT: Mosquito vs. Mosquito in the Battle Over the Zika Virus Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week was Ag Day. In fact, it was an Ag Week. Agri-Pulse had a panel of speakers talking about one of our industry’s biggest challenges – how do we communicate about our industry today? Very few people know anything about the business of producing food. We can’t produce
John Block: Ag Day Read More »
People often ask why Washington has to involve itself at all in providing crop insurance to American farmers. After all, homeowners across the country buy fire insurance, individuals buy life insurance, business owners buy casualty and liability insurance, all without taxpayers having to kick in subsidies. So why are farmers any different? Why the special
A Tale of Two Maps: Why Crop Insurance Is Different. Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Nancy Reagan was laid to rest this week. She was a very elegant First Lady and she was number one on President Reagan’s list – the love of his life and a trusted defender of the President. She was not interested in getting deeply involved in policy issues. However,
John Block: GMO Legislation Read More »
At the recent crop insurance industry conference in Indian Wells, California, Brandon Willis, administrator of USDA’s Risk Management Agency or RMA, surprised many and made some trade-press headlines by announcing a seemingly-obscure statistic: that RMA’s “improper payment” rate — a closely-watched standardized measure of waste and abuse required of all major Federal spending programs –
RMA’s 2.2 Percent “Improper Payment” Rate: Why this Matters. Read More »
USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) is authorized to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). This $80 billion program, formerly known as the food stamp program, provides monthly supplemental nutrition benefits to more than 45 million Americans. SNAP beneficiaries may redeem their monthly benefits at over 250,000 SNAP-authorized retailers across the country. To participate
