Group Asks Supreme Court to Review E15
The Engine Products Group, a coalition of automakers and small engine manufacturers, has filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Washington, DC, Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision regarding E-15.
Ag Coalition Favors Adding Japan to TPP Negotiations
A coalition of 75 food and agricultural organizations and companies are urging the United States and other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to welcome Japan into the trade talks.
FSIS Furloughs Averted
President Barack Obama signed the continuing resolution (CR) that funds the federal government until Sept. 30, 2013.
Pork Export Reporting
U.S. pork exporters are now required to report weekly export sales to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
ADUFA Passes Senate Committee
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed legislation to reauthorize the Animal Drug User Fee Act and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act.
Senate Proposed Budget Cuts $23 billion for Agriculture
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee, released the Senate Democratic budget which includes an equal mix of spending cuts ($975 billion) and new revenues ($975 billion) by closing tax loopholes.
Slaughter Again Calls for Antibiotic Restrictions
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has reintroduced the “Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA).” According to Slaughter this legislation is to “stop the overuse of antibiotics on the farm.”
USDA Surveys and Reports to be Suspended
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it will suspend a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of this fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration. The reports and surveys affected are:
Proposed COOL Rule to Increase Labeling Requirements
The proposed country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rule by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) requires that the origin designation include information about where each of the production steps (born, raised and slaughtered) occurred. The proposal would eliminate the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts.
Reduce Crop Insurance Subsidies
Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Congressman John Duncan (R-TN) have introduced the Crop Insurance Subsidy Reduction Act (S. 446 and H.R. 943) that would return federal crop insurance premium subsidies to their pre-Agriculture Risk Protection Act (ARPA) levels of 2000.
