Agriculture

Indiana farmers must choose between ignoring Massachusetts’ regulations or complying with them to sell product in that state.Curtis Hill, Attorney General for Indiana, is requesting the United States Supreme Court block the implementation of the Massachusetts’ Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (Animal Law).The Republican Indiana official on March 16, 2018, filed a Reply Brief in the Supreme Court to support an original Bill of Complaint. He argues “The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction of all controversies between two or more states.” [node:read-more:link]

The makeover at Bayer continues as the company attempts to purchase Monsanto. This time the German-based firm was granted concessions on proposed spinoffs. Bayer announced Wednesday that the European Commission has approved two modifications to its original approval of the takeover bid. Earlier this week, the U.S. [node:read-more:link]

Have you heard of Double Up Food Bucks Arizona? It has been around since 2015, but program organizers said not enough people are using it.  If you or someone you know is receiving SNAP benefits, which were formally known as food stamps, they can use Double Up Food Bucks Arizona to get more healthy fruits and vegetables directly from Arizona farmers. SB 1245 is making its way through the state legislature with broad bipartisan support right now and it would allocate more money to the program.  Participants can go to farmers market locationsand spend up to $20 on SNAP-eligible items. [node:read-more:link]

The USDA has determined a wheat cultivar that’s gene-edited for higher fiber content doesn’t need to undergo the deregulatory process for GMOs because it’s not a potential plant pest. [node:read-more:link]

U.S. immigration officials executed a criminal search warrant at the Southeastern Provision meatpacking plant in Grainger County, Tenn., leading to the arrest of 97 individuals who are subject to removal from the United States. [node:read-more:link]

The state of Delaware said it has granted permission to Mountaire Farms to store sludge at its Millsboro poultry complex, as the next step in a multi-year plan to improve the facility’s wastewater treatment process. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control issued a permit that allows Mountaire to transfer excess sludge to a previously abandoned lagoon at the facility that the company intends to retrofit for short-term storage. [node:read-more:link]

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) wishes to apprise the Surface Transportation Board (Board) of major concerns it has received regarding severe rail service problems and excessive charges involving Class I railroads that are being experienced by shippers and receivers of grains, oilseeds and processed grain products. There is a fundamental concern among rail customers that the underlying root cause of these service and accessorial charge-related issues is Class I railroads’ aggressive effort to reduce their operating ratios to impress Wall Street investors and shareholders. [node:read-more:link]

 The Canadian government recently announced the launch of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a C$3 billion commitment that will help chart the course for government investments in the sector over the next five years. The partnership aims to help the sector grow trade, advance innovation and strengthen public confidence in the food system, the government said. In addition, business risk management programs will continue to help producers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farms and are beyond their capacity to manage. [node:read-more:link]

The West Virginia Legislature approved seven rule changes related to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, most of which will go into effect April 29. House Bill 4079 adopted several rule changes involving animal disease control, state apiary law, fruit inspection, auctioneers, noxious weeds, inspection of meat and poultry, and inspection of nontraditional/domesticated animals.“Technology innovations and federal guidelines change on a yearly basis,” Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt said in a Monday news release. [node:read-more:link]

A declining flow of immigrants into the U.S. and aging population of immigrants already in the country is exacerbating challenges in the pork industry’s labor market, according to a study conducted by Iowa State University. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) commissioned the study, which it is using to support the organization’s argument for immigration reform that will provide them a larger labor pool.But the study states that immigration policy is only one of many factors that are changing the landscape in the rural Midwest, particularly in the hog industry. [node:read-more:link]