On trade, California Republican Nunes is an Obama critic turned ally
New plans for a big European trade deal put President Barack Obama and Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on the same page, for now. Obama wants the deal covering trade and investment with the European Union. To get it, he must navigate the House of Representatives’ trade subcommittee chaired by Nunes. What happens next will test the cooperation of two men who, until now, have rarely agreed on anything.
Ban on flea-market animal sales proposed by California lawmaker
Puppies, kittens and other live animals could not be sold at flea markets or swap meets under legislation proposed this week by a Sacramento legislator.
Assemblyman Roger Dickinson’s measure, Assembly Bill 339, would make first offenses an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250. If an animal suffers or is injured, however, the charge can be hiked to a misdemeanor and the fine to $1,000.
NCC, broad coalition urge USDA to uphold its commitment to food safety inspection
The National Chicken Council today, along with 37 organizations representing various aspects of animal agriculture, livestock and poultry producers, food processing and manufacturing, retail, international trade and transportation, wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to express strong concerns with the possibility of furloughing the nation’s federal meat, poultry and egg products inspectors in the event sequestration goes into effect.
USDA food inspection threatened by automatic U.S. budget cuts
As Congressionally mandated budget cuts move closer to their Mar. 1 launch, reports are surfacing that the nation’s food inspection operations will be forced to undergo serious changes that will impact food safety and prices. A memo distributed by the White House last week indicated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will be forced to shut down operations for as long as 15 days, a finding USDA officials confirmed to Meatingplace today.
Are plant-based diets environmentally friendly?
A nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables might not be the greenest in its environmental impact, according to a new study from France. After analyzing the eating habits […]
USDA broiler production forecast for 2013 increased again
The forecast for USDA’s broiler production for 2013 was increased again this month and is now expected to be 36.901 billion pounds, 495 million pounds above the department’s estimate last month, and 0.7 percent more than the slightly revised upward estimate of 36.640 billion pounds for 2012, according to the "World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates" report released today from the World Agricultural Outlook Board. USDA’s current broiler production estimate for 2012 at 36.640 billion pounds is 0.4 percent below the 36.803 billion pounds in 2011.
Dear CPF Board Members, Allied Members and Friends,
Our first meeting for 2013 is set for Tuesday, March 12 at the Piccadilly Inn on Shaw Avenue in Fresno. We kick off the meeting with a buffet breakfast and conclude before noon. CPF members should have received an email Tuesday with meeting details, however, as always, we will take your meal, room and meeting reservations by phone
or email.
Animal Agriculture gives big thanks to Ram Trucks for “So God Made a Farmer” Super Bowl commercial
This week nearly 250 regional, state and national farm, ranch and agribusiness organizations sent a heartfelt "thank you" to Chrysler Group Chair and CEO Sergio Marchionne – and his Ram Trucks team – for its outstanding XLVII Super Bowl commercial "So God Made a Farmer." The ad kicks off a campaign declaring 2013 "The Year of the Farmer," and features gorgeous still images from ten noted photographers including William Albert Allard and Kurt Markus.
2012 Census of Agriculture underway – Respond now
The Census, conducted only once every five years by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is more than a count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It is a look at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other things that affect the way farmers do business in the 21st Century.
Ethanol mandate target of repeal effort
An unusual coalition has been formed in Washington in an attempt to kill a creature of Washington: corn ethanol. The oil industry, environmentalists, taxpayer groups, livestock growers and foreign aid groups […]