by Elizabeth | Feb 27, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food Safety, Local Food Systems, Nutrition Programs
Posted February 27, 2014 California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez introduced a bill that would create the “Office of Farm to Fork” within the California Department of Food and Agriculture, according to an article by the Sacramento Bee available here. AB 2413,...
by Elizabeth | Feb 27, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food and Drug Administration, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act
Posted February 27, 2014 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently agreed to new deadlines for final rules for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), according to an article by Food Navigator-USA available here. National Law Review also reported on...
by Elizabeth | Feb 27, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Disaster Assistance Programs, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture
February 27, 2014 Drought relief for ranchers through USDA has been expedited, with the sign-up for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) beginning as soon as April 14, according to an article by Farm Futures available here. The Agriculture Act of 2014 livestock...
by Elizabeth | Feb 26, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food Safety
Posted February 26, 2014 A northern Michigan farm owner was sentenced to prison after producing and selling apple cider contaminated with E. coli that sickened several people, according to an article by Michigan Live available here. The Republic also reported on...
by Elizabeth | Feb 26, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update
Posted February 26, 2014 The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently voiced its concerns related to “big data,” ownership and control of farm-level data, and privacy, according to an AFBF news release available here. “Big data” in agriculture has been a...
by Elizabeth | Feb 26, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection Agency, Farm Labor, Food Safety, Labor, Pesticides
Posted February 26, 2014 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) which would increase protections from pesticide exposure for the nation’s two million agricultural workers and...
by Elizabeth | Feb 25, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Crop Insurance, Farm Bill, United States Department of Agriculture
Posted February 25, 2014 An updated projection by USDA late last week predicts significant price declines for corn, wheat, and soybeans, which may trigger payments under the new farm bill, according to an article by Politico available here. Farm Futures also...
by Elizabeth | Feb 25, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Clean Water Act, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Law
Posted February 25, 2014 A coalition of government officials and environmental advocacy groups have created a national network on water quality trading in an effort to show how water quality can be improved at a lower cost through market-based approaches, according...
by Elizabeth | Feb 25, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Corporate Farming
Posted February 25, 2014 The Nebraska Legislature’s Agriculture Committee recently heard testimony on a bill which would lift the packer ownership ban on swine in the state, according to an article by WNAX, available here. LB 942, available here, is sponsored by...
by Elizabeth | Feb 24, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, International Trade
Posted February 24, 2014 The United States and Japan will try to find common ground on agricultural trade and other issues at the next round of negotiations for a Pacific Rim trade agreement, according to a Reuters article available here. U.S. Trade Representative...
by Elizabeth | Feb 24, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Biotechnology, Food Labeling
Posted February 24, 2014 California state senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) recently introduced a bill requiring labeling for genetically engineered foods, according to an article by Food Navigator-USA, available here. The bill, SB 1381, is a “cleaned up” version...
by Elizabeth | Feb 24, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Crop Insurance, Farm Bill
Posted February 24, 2014 Congress will consider whether a federal crop insurance program for poultry growers is feasible, according to an article by the News Journal, available here. An amendment to the 2014 farm bill requires a report to Congress on whether a...
by Elizabeth | Feb 21, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Country of Origin Labeling
Posted February 21, 2014 The World Trade Organization hearing on the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements took place this week, according to an article by the Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest available here. The dispute began in 2008, when Canada...
by Elizabeth | Feb 21, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update
Posted February 21, 2014 A group associated with cockfighting has threatened Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) with political damage over his vote for the 2014 farm bill, according to an article by the Lexington Herald-Leader available here. Craig Davis, president of...
by Elizabeth | Feb 21, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update
Posted February 21, 2014 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and several other congressional Democrats have asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to delay $8 billion in cuts to SNAP (commonly known as food stamps), according to a NY Daily News article available here. ...
by Elizabeth | Feb 20, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Disaster Assistance Programs, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Law, United States Department of Agriculture, Water Law, Western Water
Posted February 20, 2013 California Governor Jerry Brown is urging Congress to find a compromise that will benefit drought-stricken areas in California and around the country, according to a Capital Press article available here. Brown’s reference to “political...
by Elizabeth | Feb 20, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Welfare, Biosecurity, Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture
Posted February 20, 2014 USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a final rule amending import regulations for animals and animal products regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as “mad cow disease.” The...
by Elizabeth | Feb 20, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update
Posted February 20, 2014 U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA) recently introduced legislation that would establish a grant program for investment in renewable and alternative fuel infrastructure, according to an Agri-Pulse article available here. The Renewable...
by Elizabeth | Feb 19, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Disaster Assistance Programs, Farm Bill, Farm Service Agency, United States Department of Agriculture
Posted February 19, 2014 USDA announced it will expedite the implementation of its livestock disaster assistance program and will begin accepting applications on April 14, according to an Agri-Pulse article available here. The $100 million program is part of the...
by Elizabeth | Feb 19, 2014 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food Safety
Posted February 19, 2014 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a defendant in lawsuits by victims of the deadly 2011 listeria outbreak, has now filed suit against the grower, distributor, and third-party auditor, according to an article by The Packer available here. The deadly...
