On August 5, 2017, Secretary Perdue plans to announce an initiative that will increase access to business mentorships by farmers, ranchers and small business entrepreneurs. Please join us for this announcement and a panel discussion on supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers! [node:read-more:link]
Today American Farmland Trust and Growing Food Connections announced the publication of GROWING LOCAL: A Community Guide to Planning for Agriculture and Food Systems. The national guide showcases ways communities can strengthen their food systems through planning, policy and public investment. It includes the most comprehensive collection of local policies ever assembled to support local farms and ranches, improve access to healthy food, and develop needed distribution and infrastructure. [node:read-more:link]
Value-added and portion-controlled pork and veal products maker Delft Blue will close its pork processing plant in New York Mills, N.Y., just months after announcing it would expand its operation and add 22 jobs in exchange for a $330,000 government grant, according to local media reports. According to NewYorkUpstate.com, the expansion never happened, and now Delft Blue plans to close the plant and lay off its 83 employees, filing a notice under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act saying it will shut its plant in October. [node:read-more:link]
A new final rule establishing stricter animal welfare standards for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program are being delayed until at least November 2017, but Mid-States Specialty Eggs and Eggs “R” Us Inc. argue the final rule – originally published in January 2017 – won’t hamper the organic egg business or send prices skyrocketing as some are predicting. [node:read-more:link]
New Jersey’s new telemedicine regulations are being held up as state officials try to determine whether they pertain to veterinarians. Gov. [node:read-more:link]
California dairy farmers are eager to abandon the state’s milk marketing order and join the federal marketing order system, hoping to increase the price they receive for their milk. They have, however, been adamant that loss of the state’s quota program would be a deal breaker.That program pays quota certificate holders $1.70 per hundredweight above the state blend price for the amount of milk covered by their certificate. [node:read-more:link]
The State of Utah passed an Act in 2012 making it a misdemeanor to record an agricultural operation without permission. Simple enough, but a couple of animal rights groups objected and filed a suit to have the law overturned. [node:read-more:link]
DuPont Co. got a boost from U.S. farmers as it closes in on the historic $75 billion merger with Dow Chemical Co. next month. Seed sales climbed in the second quarter as DuPont introduced new varieties of soybeans in North America, while pesticide revenue jumped on demand for new fungicides and insecticides, the company said in a statement. DuPont is benefiting as North American farmers sow a record soybean crop after enduring years of low corn prices. U.S. growers are on course to increase soybean acreage 7 percent this year, according to the Department of Agriculture. [node:read-more:link]
In the second quarter of 2017, there were a number of significant legal developments in the agricultural sector. Many of these issues will continue to play out over the next year and will impact agriculture throughout the country. Notably, there were important developments involving the WOTUS Rule, dicamba registration, and checkoff programs. In this light, the Agricultural and Food Law Consortium has compiled this review of some of these developments, with links for additional resources. [node:read-more:link]
The 85th Legislative Session brought an amendment to the law related to use of unmanned aircraft in Texas. Importantly for agriculture, the amendment adds confined animal feeding operations (“CAFOs”) to the list of “critical infrastructure” facilities to which additional flight limitations apply for many drone operators. The amendment will go into effect on September 1, 2017. This post will review, in detail, the current Use of Unmanned Aircraft statute and discuss the most recent amendment. [node:read-more:link]
