NATIONAL AG NEWS SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
National Ag News for September 29, 2022
Stabenow Addresses White House Hunger Conference
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow addressed the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Wednesday. The Michigan Democrat was part of a panel with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Stabenow says, “As long as we have hunger and food insecurity in America, we have work to do, and as Chairwoman, I’m confident that the strong anti-hunger and nutrition framework we’ve built can help to tackle it.” In conjunction with the White House Conference, Stabenow released a fact sheet detailing the Committee’s recent work on anti-hunger and nutrition issues. That work includes a 21 percent increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, investments in the food bank network and focusing on nutrition education, among other topics. Stabenow adds now is the time to build on the progress to eliminate hunger and commit to a healthier America.
***********************************************************************************
FDA Proposes Updated Definition of ‘Healthy’ Claim on Food Packages
The Food and Drug Administration Wednesday proposed updated criteria for labeling foods with the nutrient content claim “healthy” on their packaging. The proposal comes the same day as the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The rule would align the definition of the “healthy” claim with current nutrition science, the updated Nutrition Facts label and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FDA says more than 80 percent of people in the U.S. aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit and dairy. And most people consume too much added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. The proposed rule is part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to helping consumers improve nutrition and dietary patterns to help reduce the burden of chronic disease. The proposed rule would update the “healthy” claim definition to better account for how all the nutrients in various food groups contribute and may work synergistically to create healthy dietary patterns and improve health.
***********************************************************************************
Atrazine Proposal Comment Deadline Nears
The deadline to submit comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s atrazine proposal is next Friday. The National Corn Growers Association is encouraging growers to join its call-to-action and submit comments to the EPA on the important role atrazine plays in their work. The call-to-action was launched over the summer as EPA began revising its registration for atrazine. EPA is proposing a level of concern for atrazine at 3.4 parts per billion, down from the current level of 15 parts per billion. The move would significantly impair the effective use of atrazine on farms, according to NCGA. Brooke S. Appleton, NCGA vice president of public policy, says, “Reducing the effectiveness of this important herbicide will hinder the work of farmers and turn the clock back on our conservation efforts.” Since the organization launched the call to action on July 20, more than 3,000 growers have commented. EPA’s open comment period closes on October 7. You can submit comments via ncga.com.
***********************************************************************************
Grassley, Brown Propose Banning Foreign Individuals from Obtaining U.S. Farm Credit
Senators Chuck Grassley and Sherrod Brown introduced legislation this week to prevent foreign individuals from obtaining credit and financial services through the Farm Credit System. The Iowa Republican and Ohio Democrat content that currently, certain foreign individuals and entities are eligible to receive credit through this government-sponsored enterprise. Grassley states, “The expansion of foreign-owned farmland is a justified cause for concern among many family farmers and ranchers. Brown adds, “American taxpayer dollars should not be used as a financing tool for foreign governments to undermine our national security and take our family farms.” FCS was established in 1916 to provide credit to rural areas when commercial lenders were avoiding farm loans. It is mandated and limited by statute to serve agriculture. In 2021, FCS had a portfolio of roughly $210 billion in farm loans. Since 1997, regulations have allowed FCS associations to extend credit to certain foreign nationals who are not permanent residents of the United States and to foreign-owned entities.
***********************************************************************************
USDA to Invest $8 Million to Expand Monitoring of Soil Carbon
The Department of Agriculture plans to invest $8 million to support and expand carbon monitoring in soils. The investment also supports the assessment of how climate-smart practices affect carbon sequestration. The investment is part of USDA’s efforts to build out a national soil carbon monitoring network, which was kicked off with soil carbon monitoring on Conservation Reserve Program acres in 2021. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service requests proposals for regional projects focused on soil organic carbon stock monitoring, which are due November 28, 2022. The investment in building out the soil carbon monitoring network is part of USDA’s comprehensive effort to address climate change through climate-smart agriculture and forestry. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says, “Soil health management practices and activities are a tremendous part of our strategy when it comes to climate-smart agriculture and forestry.” Additional information is available in the notice of funding, which will appear on grants.gov
***********************************************************************************
U.S. Red Meat Industry Commemorates 45 Years in Japan
Leaders representing the U.S. red meat industry recently traveled to Tokyo to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the inaugural U.S. Meat Export Federation office, which opened in Tokyo in 1977. Japan has consistently been a top customer and is the leading international market for U.S. red meat, purchasing nearly $4.1 billion in 2021. Through July 2022, U.S. red meat exports to Japan reached $2.4 billion. The U.S.-Japan trade partnership is highly valued by those in the U.S. pork, beef and lamb industries. While in Tokyo for meetings, market visits and a celebration event attended by 200 importers, distributors, trade media and U.S. exporters, industry representatives expressed appreciation for the business relationships developed over the past 45 years and expressed a commitment to serve the Japanese market well into the future. The group traveling to Japan included representatives of the U.S. beef and grain industries, meeting with key leaders, traveling to local grocery stores and meeting with influencers.
***********************************************************************************