Executive branch, ag groups backing passage of final TPP
Farm groups last week joined the federal departments of Agriculture and Commerce to praise the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as the U.S. Trade Representative and White House continued pushing for what would be the world’s biggest free trade agreement to date.
Pig farmers prep for new feed directives, industry audits
U.S. pork producers are preparing for new common industry audits (CIAs) and veterinary feed directives (VFDs) that will impact the way they do business.
USDA scientist files whistleblower lawsuit, on suspension
"There’s a message: If you want to prosper at USDA, don’t make waves." That’s the warning delivered by the executive director of a watchdog group that has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the USDA.
USDA investigating charges of QPP animal mistreatment
The USDA has launched an investigation into one of the nation’s largest pork plants following revelations from an undercover video showing pigs being dragged across the slaughterhouse floor, beaten by paddles and sick to the point of apparent unconsciousness.
Hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the U.S. Supreme Court Nov. 12 in support of 3,000 Iowa pork plant workers who filed a class action lawsuit against a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse, hoping the high court will uphold a $5.8 million judgment awarding back pay to the Storm Lake plant employees.
U.S. vows sanctions if South Africa doesn’t lift ban
President Barack Obama is vowing to impose trade sanctions on South Africa if a ban on U.S poultry and unfairly viewed restrictions on other imported U.S agriculture goods is not lifted.
The USDA is leading a trade mission this week to Sub-Saharan Africa to increase U.S. ag exports in the region, which is a growing market for U.S. table-ready food.
Missionary teaching in Dominican Republic to grow, harvest crops
Their mission: To teach the people of the Dominican Republic how to grow food instead of feeding them for the rest of their lives. Mission ongoing, not yet complete.
Corn tops 264 bushels in a NW Ohio seed field test
Rarely do corn seed field tests produce astonishing results, but a full-season test conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) at the farm of Bill and Ken Glantz in Napoleon left FIRST Site Manager Rich Schleuning a bit amazed.
