The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites you to a live, interactive webinar on Organic Reporting within our multiple Market News divisions.  Join us to learn about how our Specialty Crops, Dairy, Livestock, Poultry & Seed, and Cotton & Tobacco Market News programs provide you with FREE access to the market information you would want to know about Organic products.  Our webinar will cover areas such as:

Iowa Biodiesel Board praises Branstad, legislature for continued commitment to biodiesel

(ANKENY, IOWA) – Governor Terry Branstad, a steadfast supporter of growing the job-creating biofuels industry, has signed legislation that will help ensure its continued success in Iowa. The Iowa Biodiesel Board praised Branstad for signing the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund bill (HF 643), which provides $3 million to fund the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) protects the integrity of USDA organic products throughout the world, so consumers can trust the organic label. 

(Washington, D.C., May 12, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today hailed the agreement between the United States and China on several key trade issues, most notably the return of American beef to the Chinese market after a hiatus that began in 2004.

Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:

Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following comment on the news that the United States and China are making progress toward China’s allowing imports of U.S. beef by July 16, 2017.

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2017 – Acting Deputy Under Secretary Roger Glendenning today announced that USDA is providing zero-interest loans to two rural energy providers to help business and residential customers lower energy use and costs.

“Funding commercial, farm and residential energy efficiency investments supports rural economies,” Glendenning said. “These investments save money for consumers, create jobs in the community and help energy providers better manage costs.”

Two Notices about the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule appear in the Federal Register today. 

Second Proposed Rule

The first notice is a proposed rule that requests public comment on options related to the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. 

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a former chairman and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, urged the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce to ensure that the consequences of the multi-year U.S.-Mexico sugar dispute are contained to sugar and do not affect other U.S. trade interests, such as corn or high fructose corn syrup.

Iowa corn farmers have been dodging April showers this month to get a start on corn planting.

Rehn Angus Ranch, Davenport, Iowa, is a new member of the American Angus Association®, reports Allen Moczygemba, CEO of the national breed organization headquartered in Saint Joseph, Mo.

The American Angus Association, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 18 million registered Angus.

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