Legislative rider directs USDA to block farmland purchases by four nations
To foil foreign adversaries, the Agriculture Department should “take such steps as may be necessary” to prevent them from buying U.S. farmland, said the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, despite questions about whether the USDA has the authority to intrude on sales. “This is a very important step,” said Rep. Don Newhouse, sponsor of the legislative rider aimed at China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
USDA asks, is it really antibiotic-free, raised humanely?
Two USDA agencies will begin a sampling project to see if there are antibiotic residues in beef marketed as “raised without antibiotics,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday.
New lender dedicated to Native American producers
The Native American Agriculture Fund, a trust created by the settlement of the Keepseagle class action lawsuit against the USDA, said on Wednesday it would invest $12 million to set up a lender dedicated to working with Native American producers.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
‘Override Prop 12’: Congress should pass legislation to preempt California’s Proposition 12 animal welfare law, the governors of 11 states said in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. (Gov. Reynolds)
Meal plan: Vermont will become the sixth state to permanently provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of family income. (Vermont Public)
Pipelines, farmers, ethanol: A group that helped farmers and ranchers oppose the Keystone XL oil pipeline now campaigns against carbon pipelines and encourages farmers to oppose them as risky technology and a boon for Big Oil. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Walmart beef plant: The company, the largest U.S. grocer, said it will build a $257 million facility in the Kansas City suburbs to package and distribute ready-to-sell beef to its stores. (Meat + Poultry)
Boosting local food: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to New Hampshire on Thursday to announce “a significant investment” by the USDA to strengthen local and regional food supply chains. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
