USDA identifies two Monsanto strains in rogue GMO wheat in Washington State
The GMO wheat discovered growing wild in a Washington State field this spring actually sprouted from two different strains developed by Monsanto, the USDA announced over the weekend. Genetically engineered wheat is not approved for cultivation anywhere in the world, yet “volunteer” herbicide-resistant plants have been confirmed four times in the U.S. Northwest more than a decade after field trials ended.
EPA approves sulfoxaflor as crop insecticide after studying impact on bees
Four years after an adverse ruling by a federal appeals court, the EPA approved the insecticide sulfoxaflor for use on a wide variety of crops, saying the chemical posed less of a risk to honeybees than previously thought.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
USDA to pay $100 million in dairy supports (USDA): Nearly 10,000 dairy farmers have enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage subsidy since signup began June 17 and the USDA estimates it will distribute $100 million in payments to producers.
Farmers as organic detectives (Minneapolis Star Tribune): The USDA has 40 people to oversee organic agriculture; an informal web of farmers and advocates provide tips of where to look for cheating among importers.
Bill would transfer H-2A to USDA (Crawford): The Labor Department would cede control to USDA of the H-2A agricultural guestworker program under a bill filed by Rep. Rick Crawford that also would allow employers to offer lower wages than now required.
End of an era for restaurants (Washington Post): There are too many restaurants to be supported by a dwindling number of middle class patrons so a shake-up is coming; “austerity breeds creativity,” writes food journalist Kevin Alexander.
Hemp needs regulatory framework (DTN/Progressive Farmer): The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture urged the FDA to create as quickly as possible “a clear regulatory framework for hemp products.”
ON THE USDA CALENDAR
Monday
– Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue tours the Rancho Guejito Avocado Farm, Escondido, California, 1:15 p.m. PT, and San Diego Zoo, 5 p.m. PT.
– USDA releases monthly Oil Crops Outlook and Cotton and Wool Outlook, noon ET
– USDA releases monthly Rice Outlook, Feed Outlook and Wheat Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.
– USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
– School Nutrition Association holds annual national conference, through Tuesday, St. Louis.
Tuesday
– House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Reviewing the state of the U.S. livestock and poultry communities,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
– Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee hearing to examine long-term management options for the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse and burro program, 2:30 p.m. ET, 366 Dirksen.
Wednesday
– House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Assessing the effectiveness of the national organic program,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
– USDA releases monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook, noon ET.
– USDA releases monthly Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
– Agriculture deputy undersecretary Scott Hutchins is lead witness at Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Agricultural research and 2018 farm bill implementation,” 10:30 a.m. ET, 328A Russell.
– Deadline for EPA to decide whether to ban agricultural use of chlorpyrifos under appellate court order of April 19, which gave 90 days for action
Friday
– USDA releases semi-annual Cattle inventory report and monthly Cattle on Feed report, 3 p.m. ET.
Saturday
– U.S. Dry Bean Convention, through July 23, Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Sunday
– Japan holds elections for 124 of the 245 members of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the Diet. The White House has said it will negotiate a new trade pact with Japan after the elections.
– Agricultural and Applied Economics Association annual meeting, through July 23, Atlanta.
– International Association for Food Protection annual meeting, through July 24, Louisville, Kentucky.
