Brown’s revised budget gives CDFA slight increase
The $96.4 billion revised budget proposal that Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled May 14 increases spending for the California Department of Food and Agriculture after several years of cuts. The governor’s proposed $61.9 million general fund allocation to CDFA is unchanged from the rosy fiscal outlook he presented in January, and the ledger sets aside $2.5 million for research to combat the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening.
Congressional ag committees to work on farm bills
It’s spring. Farmers have taken to fields to plant their 2013 fall crops, and congressional agriculture committees are taking another stab at enacting a new farm bill. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on May 14, by a vote of 15 to 5, approved the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill was written by Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, chairwoman of the agriculture committee, and ranking member Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi.
Farm Bill gets House hearing after Senate panel approval
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated legislation today to reauthorize farm programs, a day after the Senate panel approved a version that will cost $955 billion over 10 years.The House […]
Mexico slaughters 55,000 birds to contain outbreak
Mexico has slaughtered 55,000 birds in Puebla due to a reported H7N3 avian flu outbreak in the state, said the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture in a press release. The National […]
FDA releases new tool to help prevent intentional food contamination
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a new tool to help bolster the food industry’s defense measures against an act of intentional food contamination. The Food Defense Plan Builder is a comprehensive, easy-to-use software program designed to help owners and operators of food facilities-ranging from primary production and manufacturing to retail and transportation-develop customized plans to minimize the risk of intentional contamination at their individual food facilities.
Committee releases white paper examining environmental impacts of Renewable Fuel Standard
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is continuing its bipartisan review of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), releasing today the third in a series of white papers examining a number of issues emerging with the current system. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) are leading this effort to review the law and its implementation and are soliciting input from interested stakeholders.
News Analysis: China’s poultry prices to rise as H7N9 wanes
Prices of poultry products in China could rise sharply as early as next month as the waning H7N9 virus helps consumers regain confidence in poultry meat and eggs, experts said. Since late March, authorities have closed many poultry markets in eastern China to curb the spread of the virus and many consumers have stayed away from poultry products due to fears of being infected by the deadly virus. Since the beginning of May the number of new infections has been decreasing, according to health authorities.
Poultry organizations call for “real and meaningful market access” to European Union
In comments filed jointly today with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the National Chicken Council, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, and the National Turkey Federation said that for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations to be successful, the final agreement must result in "real and meaningful market access to the European market for U.S. poultry."
New laws affect local egg farms
State and federal regulations, as well as two lawsuits, are under way that could change how eggs are produced and sold in the former egg basket of the world – and how much they cost. The changes are widening the market for smaller egg producers who raise their hens in a "pastured" environment where the birds are free to roam and eat insects and grasses, while causing Petaluma’s more traditional farms to struggle to continue providing low-cost eggs.
UFCW, Food Manufacturers form alliance on Senate immigration bill
The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the Food Manufacturers Immigration Coalition (FMIC), including NCC, today announced their partnership on comprehensive immigration reform in a letter sent to the Senate "Gang of Eight," praising them for their efforts on S. 744. The labor-business coalition is also seeking improvements to the Senate bill in the areas of visa allocation and employment verification.