News Update
May 5, 2017
Beef Sustainability Metrics Taking Shape
As the topic of sustainability continues to be discussed within the agricultural industry, the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) is moving forward with developing metrics to assess sustainable practices within each sector of the beef value chain.
Ben Weinheimer, vice president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and co-chair of the Sustainability Indicators Working Group within the USRSB, provided an update to cattle industry representatives attending the February 2017 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
Weinheimer noted that the three pillars of sustainability include considerations for the environment, economics and social aspects of the business. He said this correlates with planet, profit, people and animals. Within those parameters, he explained that six high-priority indicators to measure sustainability by sector have been identified, and agreed upon, by the multi-stakeholder members of USRSB. These indicators include:
- animal health and well-being;
- efficiency and yield;
- water resources;
- land resources;
- air and greenhouse gas emissions; and
- worker safety and well-being.
Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Ag Secretary Perdue Pledges USDA Support
in Face of Heartland Flooding
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue May 4 pledged the full resources and support of the USDA in response to severe flooding occurring in many states across the center of the country. Representatives of relevant USDA agencies, including the Farm Service Agency, the Office of Rural Development and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will be on the ground gathering information and assisting members of the agriculture community with their needs as they prepare to assess the damage.
Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:
“The people of the American agriculture community are made of hardy stock and can withstand their fair share of hardship, but just the same, they should know that their USDA stands with them during this natural calamity. We have seen levee breaks and flooding in the wake of storms, some of which have caused the loss of life, and USDA is ready to assist in any way we can. We have USDA employees in every county in this nation, and our people will be visible as they work to support people battling the flooding.”
For more information, read the USDA news release online.
DOC Announces Action to Stop Mexican Dumping
of Subsidized Sugar with Duties
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) May 1 announced that it would end the antidumping and countervailing duty suspension agreements in place with Mexico and impose duties on Mexican sugar beginning June 5, unless the two countries can reach an accord before then to stop Mexico’s unfair trading practices.
Phillip Hayes, a spokesman for the American Sugar Alliance, released the following statement about the announcement:
“We are grateful that the DOC is moving to bring the Mexican sugar industry into compliance with the U.S. trade laws that they were found guilty of breaking. But, Mexico has been unwilling to take the steps necessary to fully remedy the injury they created and instead are demanding the right to continue dumping sugar onto the U.S. market.
For far too long, the unfair trade practices of Mexico’s inefficient, subsidized industry have punished efficient American sugar farmers and workers. We’ve lost more than $4 billion in revenue since their dumping began. Hawaii ceased sugar production in December after more than a century in the business, and more U.S. farms and factories are facing the same fate.”
Learn more in the news release online.
FDA Extends Menu Labeling Compliance Date to 2018
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the compliance date for menu labeling requirements from May 5, 2017, to May 7, 2018. This extension allows for further consideration of what opportunities there may be to reduce costs and enhance the flexibility of these requirements beyond those reflected in the interim final rule.
The FDA is inviting comments for 60 days on the implementation of the menu labeling requirements, such as approaches to reduce regulatory burden or increase flexibility related to (a) calorie disclosure signage for self-service foods, including buffets and grab-and-go foods; (b) methods for providing calorie disclosure information other than on the menu itself; and (c) criteria for distinguishing between menus and other information presented to the consumer.
The extension will be effective on May 4, 2017, when the Federal Register publishes the extension in advance of the May 5 compliance date. The 60-day comment period will begin on May 4, 2017.
Submit electronic comments to www.regulations.gov.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Deere Emphasizes Importance of Precision Agriculture
Deere & Co, (NYSE: DE) announced it was informed by Monsanto Co., that it has chosen to terminate a 2015 agreement for Deere to acquire the Precision Planting LLC business.
“We are deeply disappointed in this outcome as we remain confident the acquisition would have benefited customers,” said John May, president, agricultural solutions and chief information officer.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice brought legal action in an attempt to block the transaction. Deere and Monsanto were prepared to present their case for approval of the acquisition later this year.
Said May: “With an opportunity to see this to conclusion, we believe it would have been clear the challenge to the transaction was based on flawed assessments of the marketplace.”
Two agreements related to Deere’s purchase of Precision Planting will also be terminated, including the digital collaboration agreement between Deere and The Climate Corp., a division of Monsanto. Also ending is an agreement that would have allowed Ag Leader to expand access to and distribution of certain Precision Planting products and technologies.
Continue reading this news release online.
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