By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week on Saturday, it was Earth Day. I always thought of Earth Day as a celebration of the earth with its natural beauty and, of course, the food and crops it provides to feed everything living – especially mankind. But this year, it became a “March for
John Block: Sound Science Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I can report that I was on my Illinois farm last week. Weather was beautiful and we planted 360 acres of corn. Then it rained. At least we got started. It is always exciting when you first hit the field with hope and optimism of a good crop.
John Block: How Do We Raise Prices? Read More »
This week, I stopped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and met with Governor Perdue’s Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor, Brian Klippenstein. It was a short visit but we all agreed that we desperately need to get Sonny Perdue confirmed. All of the ag departments, from trade, forest service, nutrition programs, farm programs, and
John Block: Confirmation Process Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump took his oath of office with a priority list of actions he wanted to take in his first 100 days. It has not been easy. In the first place, I don’t think his team had prepared enough to move quickly on getting his nominees through the
John Block: Slow Process Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was back on the farm in Illinois last week. I’m glad to report that the pigs are healthy and happy, and we are ready to start planting next month. Some farms are not as fortunate. Wild fires have burned more than 1,000 square miles, killing thousands of
John Block: Farm Economy Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Before focusing on today’s ag issue, I want to pay tribute to Clayton Yeutter. Clayton passed away Saturday, March 4 – age 86 – having served as U.S. Trade Ambassador and Secretary of Agriculture for Presidents Reagan and Bush. Clayton Yeutter – a good friend and champion for
John Block: Organic Foods Read More »
Egg cartons in the United States are not required by federal regulations to bear labels which identify the living conditions of the hens. Two animal rights non-profit organizations and six individuals sought to change that by filing petitions with four different federal agencies under the apparent strategy of not putting all their eggs in one
Egg Carton Labeling Petitions Fail to Hatch Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump’s first major address to a joint session of Congress got a lot of attention. He told us what he is going to do. He reminded us what he has already done. He worked to sell his vision for the country to the Congress and the people.
John Block: Trump Speaks Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have two issues to put forward today. They aren’t related, but we are going to have more discussion about each of them this year. President Trump tells us he will put forth a tax reform plan with tax cuts. Speaker Paul Ryan also is advocating tax legislation,
John Block: Two Issues Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The headlines in the papers and on the evening highlights: “White House in Crisis” and “Conflicts Between Trump Appointees.” Yes – for anyone following the new President and Republican Congress’s effort to take control and move forward, it is a wild and crazy show. However, let me say
John Block: Controversy is Good Read More »
By Dr. Nina Fedoroff, as published in Agri-Pulse The Coordinated Framework (CF) for the Regulation of Biotechnology was first implemented 30 years ago. The CF was developed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). OSTP brought together representatives of the three federal agencies seeking to regulate commercial applications of biotechnology to
Biotech Regulations Must be Based on Facts, Not Fears Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to focus on trade today. From agriculture’s perspective, it is extremely important. 25% of ag income comes from products sold to other countries. Production from 1 out of every 3 acres is exported. Agriculture has a positive trade balance of more than $30 billion. As positive
By Senator Bob Dole and Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse Perhaps no sector of the American economy is more dependent on trade than agriculture. It is the life blood of the heartland supporting over 15 million jobs throughout the United States. Our economy is so large, however, that the importance of agriculture is frequently overlooked.
Trade is Key for Agriculture Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The news of the day is that Donald Trump is President. His critics are in shock. I say – “get over it.” He has tapped Governor Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture. Perdue grew up on a Georgia farm and has a veterinarian’s degree. Gary Baise, who pulled
John Block: Perdue as Ag Secretary Read More »
President Trump has made re-evaluating our approach to international trade a centerpiece of his economic agenda. In addition to putting what appears to be the final nail in the coffin of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Trump has signaled his intention to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); if the U.S. does not receive
NAFTA Renegotiation: What’s At Stake? Read More »
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has assured the kosher and halal meat industries that the meat they produce with the well-known USDA Organic label can clearly qualify as organic, even though kosher and halal slaughter methods follow religious law instead of standard USDA regulations. The USDA’s statement came in its final version of regulations for organic
USDA Guarantees Kosher and Halal Meat Can Be Organic, Too Read More »
By Marshall Matz and Peter Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The House of Representatives’ Freedom Caucus lists the USDA National Organic Program as one that should be a high priority for reform under President-elect Donald Trump. We agree. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), enacted in the 1990 Farm Bill, established the National Organic Program (NOP) to set
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block We know some people are not happy to see Donald Trump move into the White House. However, many others are very excited. Just go to rural America. Farmers, ranchers, and most red states cannot wait for President Trump to get rid of the flood of regulations that President
John Block: Priorities for 2017 Read More »
For more than 20 years, Federal law has expressly provided that states may test welfare recipients for use of controlled substances free from interference of federal agencies. 21 U.S.C. §862(b). Relying upon this Congressional enactment, Wisconsin passed Act 55 during 2015. Act 55 authorized new drug screening and testing requirements for certain SNAP beneficiaries in
SNAP Wars: Scott Walker, Tom Vilsack and Drug Testing of SNAP Beneficiaries Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The new year is upon us. 2017, like any new year, presents many unknowns – perhaps even more this year. I want to review where we are at today and look at where we may be going this year. Since Donald Trump’s election in November, the stock market
John Block: New Year 2017 Read More »
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 »
