Farmers skeptical of farm bill as Prop 12 slayer
Large-scale farmers and ranchers are slightly more optimistic than they were last month that Congress will pass a farm bill this year, but they doubt it will be a vehicle for overturning California’s Proposition 12 animal welfare law, said the Ag Economy Barometer on Wednesday. The pork industry is seeking a legislative override of Prop 12 after losing a Supreme Court challenge to the law in May.
‘Forever chemicals’ in 45 percent of U.S. tap water
Researchers conducting the first broadscale test for so-called PFAS in private and public water supplies found the so-called forever chemicals in 45 percent of the nation’s tap water, said the U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday. The agency said PFAS were far more likely to be detected in tap water in urban areas than in rural America.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Bailey to challenge Bost: Darren Bailey, the defeated 2022 GOP candidate for governor, will run against fifth-term Rep. Mike Bost, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, in a Republican primary in southern Illinois. (Illinois Newsroom)
He’s a ‘plow horse’: The chief lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, referencing an old adage, described Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson as “more of a plow horse” for his steady approach to passing a farm bill in his first year as House Agriculture Committee chair. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Europe and gene-edited crops: The European Commission proposed modifying its biotechnology regulations to treat gene-edited plants much like their conventionally bred counterparts if they have traits deemed comparable to naturally occurring plants. (Euractiv)
Teen loses hand at work: The owner of a meat processing plant pleaded guilty to illegally employing a minor in a dangerous profession after the 17-year-old lost his right hand in a meat grinder at the plant, said the Michigan attorney general’s office. (Meat and Poultry)
FAO and water management: Noting that agriculture uses 70 percent of the world’s fresh water, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu recommended three areas for addressing water shortages: better governance, more integrated water resources, and increased investment. (FAO)
