Animal agriculture applauds White House appointment of Ray Starling, current chief of staff for Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., to the position of Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Aid. John Weber, president of the National Pork Producers Council said, “By picking a true champion of American agriculture to serve in this key advisory role, President Trump … Read More
Legislation Pushes New Labeling Laws for Soy, Almond Milk
Soy and almond milk producers may soon face new labeling laws if new industry-backed legislation, sponsored by a pair of dairy state lawmakers, attracts more support in Congress. The Dairy Pride Act, sponsored by Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Vermont Rep. Peter Welch, would enforce longstanding FDA definitions (CFR 131.110) that define milk. The new bill expands the definition of … Read More
Beef, Pork Groups Congratulate Pruitt as EPA Admin
Groups representing the beef and pork industries released statements in response to the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator. Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), said, “For far too long, the EPA has been a runaway bureaucracy largely out of touch with how its policies directly affect folks like cattle ranchers, who use … Read More
Dairy Groups Unhappy with Canadian Milk Pricing Policy
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) urged President Trump to discuss Canada’s protectionist milk pricing policy during yesterday’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The groups are calling it “one of the most sensitive and urgent topics complicating the … Read More
Meet NCBA’s New Policy Division Chair
Joe Guild will serve as Chairman on the policy division for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association during the coming year. Jamie Johansen spoke with him at this year’s Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show about the skills he brings to the position from his job as a ranch manger in Nevada. Guild owns a ranch management business and has … Read More
Livestock Supports Legislation on BLM Planning Rule
The Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) applaud the introduction of concurrent resolutions in both the Senate and House disapproving the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 rule finalized last December and urge Congress to pass these resolutions without delay. The resolutions, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. … Read More
Pork Forum – Power of Pork: Moving Mountains
The 15 producers who serve as members of the National Pork Board from across the U.S. and Pork Checkoff staff leadership will gather in Atlanta, March 1-3, for the annual National Pork Industry Forum. Each year the delegates confer, vote on resolutions and advisements and provide valuable direction on the important issues facing pork producers and the industry. The theme … Read More
Supreme Court To Hear WOTUS Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether jurisdiction rests with the federal district or appellate courts to hear a lawsuit brought by several agricultural organizations, businesses and municipalities against the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a Clean Water Act rule that would give the government broad jurisdiction over land and water. “The WOTUS rule is vague, … Read More
Dairy Groups: Canada’s Policies Will Hurt U.S. Economy
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) told President-elect Donald Trump that Canada’s existing and protectionist policies are designed to block imports from the U.S. and are in direct violation of Canada’s trade commitments under the NAFTA and the … Read More
Livestock Groups Send Priorities to Trump Admin
Industry groups, including the Public Lands Council (PLC), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) have issued federal land management priorities for the incoming administration with the hope to bring responsible management and economic viability back to the Western landscape. “Ranchers and other multiple-use interests in the West have been subjected to an almost … Read More