Carbon-trading, a boon for dairy farmers with environmentally friendly protocols, will get a shot in the arm from the new USDA Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets. According to USDA, agriculture producers provide many ecosystem services which have historically been viewed as free benefits to society — clean water and air, wildlife habitat, carbon storage and scenic landscapes. Lacking a … Read More
USDA Proposes New Grazing Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed stricter grazing standards for cows certified to produce organic dairy products, increasing grazing days to at 120 days a year. Also, thirty percent of the cows’ feed must be from such grazing, rather than being fed organically produced food in a feedlot or an indoor facility. The change, eight years in the … Read More
USDA Releases New Proposed Downer Rule
As reported by Drovers magazine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday a proposed rule to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to initiate a complete ban on the slaughter of cattle that become non-ambulatory after initial inspection by Food Safety and Inspection Service personnel. Under the proposed rule, all cattle that are non-ambulatory disabled at any time prior … Read More
USDA Issues Interm Mandatory COOL
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an interim final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program that will become effective on Sept. 30. The 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. Those commodities include: Muscle … Read More
Downer Ban Likely to Take Effect
The USDA has proposed to ban all downer cattle from slaughterhouses in the country, a policy that could take effect before the summer’s end. The move by Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer is an effort to boost public confidence in the safety of the nation’s food supply. The proposal, which could take effect within a few months, follows the largest beef … Read More