USDA ends livestock tracking program
Washington, D.C. - The Obama administration is killing a national
livestock tracking program that never got off the ground amid widespread
complaints by farmers and ranchers.
Animal ID Put on States' Plates
WASHINGTON (DTN) -- USDA will ask states and tribal nations to administer
a system of animal identification to trace disease back to its source
rather than continue development of a national animal identification
system.
Energy, Jobs and Sequestration Problems
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., wrote a
column posted on her website Friday making the case for a piece of energy
legislation that came out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, describing the American Clean Energy Leadership Act as
"common-sense solution that we need."
Nevada could see more egg farms
Idaho is among states watching to see if a new California animal cruelty
law drives flocks of big egg farms there to fly the coop.
24 STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS THAT
COULD IMPACT THE SEED INDUSTRY
To date, 37 state legislatures have convened for the 2010 session. Of the
11,000 bills filed, Pat Miller, director of state affairs for the American
Seed Trade Association, has identified 24 that could have potential
implications for the seed industry.
New Legislation Aims to Ban Atrazine in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's largest agriculture group says there is a movement by some
lawmakers to ban the distribution and sale of all herbicides that contain
Atrazine.
Unicameral kills beginning farmer bill
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Skepticism and state budget woes have killed a bill
designed to help provide financing for young farmers, ranchers and
businesspeople in Nebraska. On Monday, Nebraska lawmakers voted down a
bill (LB297) from Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton that would allow the
state to lend money to banks at a low interest rate to spur loans for
budding businesses.
PURDUE ECONOMIST: LENDERS ASKING FARMERS TOUGH
QUESTIONS THIS YEAR
When commodity prices are high and incomes are up, farmers often can
borrow money to plant their spring crop with almost no questions asked by
lenders. That is not the case this year, said a Purdue University
agricultural economist.
Economist: Profits in Livestock Depend on Demand
“Tough times across the livestock sector can get better this year, but it
will take demand, demand, demand,” said Scott Brown, economist with the
Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI).
