A joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature to Congress urging the federal government to create a national policy for the labeling of genetically engineered foods has passed a House committee. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
Producers are changing the way they care for their livestock as increasing regulation and consumer awareness bring more scrutiny to the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture.
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Cattle on feed numbers in large U.S. feedlots on Feb. 1, at 10.7 million, were slightly higher than last year's count. Placement into those feedlots in January were 11 percent below year-ago levels, and fed cattle marketed during January were down 9 percent below a year earlier. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
Organizations representing beef and pork producers are crying foul over proposed dietary recommendations that advise Americans to lower their intake or red and processed meats. For more visit www.capitalpress.com
Researchers at Idaho State University and Montana State University collaborated on a project to use a quick blood test common in sports science to evaluate the disposition of livestock. Click here for the full story
Trade groups talk privately about changing law to prevent future port slow downs but don't appear to be getting any effort started. Click here for the full story
Agricultural shipments from West Coast ports are running at about 50 percent of the normal volume, and exporters have lost an estimated $1.75 billion in business during each of the past two months alone, according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
An unprecedented run in price for all classes of cattle in 2014 has cow-calf producers sending fewer cows to slaughter and holding back heifers to rebuild the U.S. beef herd. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
A consumer advocacy group will appeal a federal judge's decision to throw out its lawsuit against USDA's new poultry slaughter inspection system. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
The USDA has deregulated two genetically modified apples, saying they are unlikely to pose any risk, but the Canadian company developing them may have a hard time finding growers. Click here for the full story
A federal lawsuit filed Feb. 11 by conservation groups alleges USDA's Wildlife Services Program in Idaho has routinely killed predators without conducting the necessary environmental reviews. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com
Experts say some Oregon ag exporters won't be able to afford the cost of shipping products to ports in Washington or California if the Port of Portland loses its largest container shipper. Click here for the full story
GMO critics say a loophole in federal biotech regulations will backfire against major developers of transgenic seed. Click here for the full story
Agricultural industry sources are wary of a proposal by President Obama to consolidate FDA and USDA food safety regulatory authority into a single agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Click here for the full story
Air emissions from livestock at confined animal feeding operations should be regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to lawsuits filed by several environmental groups. Click here for the full story
Large farm machinery sales are slumping after years of robust growth, experts say. Click here for the full story
Research geneticist Roy Navarre, with the USDA's Prosser, Wash., Agricultural Research Service, has found that baby potatoes are exceptionally high in healthy phytonutrients. Click here for the full story
USDA's Jan. 1 cattle inventory report brought several surprises to industry watchers, revealing signs of faster-than-anticipated beef herd expansion. Click here for the full story
President Obama's budget proposes to consolidate the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and all of FDA’s food safety oversight functions. Click here for the full story
Cow-calf operators won't see the $550 per cow profits they enjoyed in 2015 in the expansion years ahead, but there's still plenty of opportunity to profit. Click here for the full story
