Members of the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Board of Directors met in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss current policy issues affecting the animal food industry, including the cumbersome Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The group attended a legislative briefing at the U.S. Capitol Building during the trip, and board members promoted AFIA positions on proposed legislation for GMO … Read More
FDA Releases Final Antimicrobial Sales Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the final rule and revision regarding the annual reporting requirements for drug sponsors of all antimicrobials sold or distributed for use in food-producing animals in order to obtain estimates of sales by major food-producing species (cattle, swine, chickens, and turkeys). The revisions will improve industry understanding of how antimicrobials are sold … Read More
New Opportunities for U.S. Animal Ag in Vietnam
Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, traveled to Vietnam to meet with his counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, among others, to discuss the details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. Vietnam remains one of the fastest-growing markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, with U.S. exports totaling $2.3 billion in … Read More
Colorado Rancher Testifies Before House Committee
This week, fourth generation rancher Robbie LeValley, of Western Colorado, testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the potential consequences of the Administration’s critical habitat policy. LeValley’s meeting with the House comes in response to a rule recently finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that intends to change the regulations for designating critical habitat. While the Service … Read More
PLC & NCBA Say Senate Turned Back on West
As part of the Energy Security and Research Bill (S.2012) passed by the U.S Senate, the Public Lands Council (PLC) said the Senate inappropriately included a provision permanently reauthorizing the $900 million Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) with a requirement that not less than 40% of LWCF money be spent on federal acquisitions. In the process, the Senators voted … Read More
Lawsuit Filed Against Animal Rights Initiative
Massachusetts farmer James Dunn and local anti-poverty activist Diane Sullivan have joined together in a lawsuit asking Massachusetts courts to toss a proposed 2016 animal rights petition. Proposed Initiative Petition No. 15-11 would create strict new regulations on farmers and place new restrictions on interstate commerce, and experts have warned that the proposed rules will actually harm animals, while driving … Read More
Turkey Applauds Legal Worker Visa Pilot Program
The National Turkey Federation and its members appreciate the leadership of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) with the introduction of S. 2827, “Willing Workers and Willing Employers Act of 2016”. This legislation is an encouraging addition to the conversation about foreign-born workers in the semi-skilled sector of the economy. It creates a common-sense pilot program that allows the U.S. government to … Read More
NFU Appalled by Latest GIPSA Stall Attack
The National Farmers Union (NFU) doesn’t understand the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of amendment designed to further stall the Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule after Congress let the USDA implement a provision included in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide needed marketplace protections to contract farmers. “The idea that the House Appropriations Committee would ignore the progress … Read More
Dairy Organizations Seek Congressional Support for TPP
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) sent their own letter to members of Congress urging support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement while also addressing a number of critical implementation and enforcement issues. The associations urged the federal government to ensure that the other participating countries adhere to … Read More
Cattlemen Head to Capitol Hill
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Legislative Conference is scheduled for next week. Over 200 cattlemen are expected to take over Capitol Hill with one clear message: pass the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. The conference will kick off with an issues briefing by NCBA staff and morning session from United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Michael Froman. NCBA and the … Read More