A meeting by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to consider the Chairman’s Mark on Biotechnology Labeling Solutions has been rescheduled for Tuesday March 1 at 10 am Eastern. The committee meeting had been scheduled for this week but was delayed due to “changes on the Senate floor.” However, Agri-Pulse reports that it was delayed at the request …
GMO Labeling Bill Mark Up Delayed
A meeting by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to consider the Chairman’s Mark on Biotechnology Labeling Solutions has been postponed until next week. The committee meeting was scheduled for today but is being delayed due to “changes on the Senate floor.” The chairman’s proposed legislation has been endorsed by the Coalition for Safe, Affordable Food, which has …
Senate Ag to Consider Labeling Bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee will meet this week to consider a draft bill proposed by Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) to address labeling for genetically modified foods. Roberts calls the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions legislation draft “a framework to find a solution for a patchwork of laws.” With a labeling law in Vermont set to be implement in July, Roberts says they …
GROWMARK with Ag Retailers in DC
Joining the Agricultural Retailers Association last week in Washington DC was GROWMARK Executive Director for Corporate and Government Relations Chuck Spencer, who joined in legislative visits to discuss key issues for the cooperative and the industry. Spencer says top legislative priorities for GROWMARK include the labeling issue for genetically modified products. “We need to have a federal standard on genetically …
GMO Convert at #AFBF16
Anti-GMO activist turned advocate Mark Lynas shared his conversion experience during a featured workshop at the 97th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show. Lynas told an audience of farmers and ranchers how he changed his mind on GMOs when he came face-to-face with the science supporting biotechnology. “As a scientist, you must have data to back …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Farm Bureau Pres. Bob Stallman
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In this interview, Stallman reflects on his tenure as leader of the nation’s largest general farm organization and many of the changes that occurred. Stallman discusses accomplishments in the last session of Congress and identifies ominous challenges still facing the industry on Capitol Hill and …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Andy LaVigne, CEO of American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The seed industry is among many groups hoping Washington will approve legislation to establish a national voluntary GMO labeling standard. In this in-depth interview, Andy LaVigne discusses industry implications if Congress fails to develop national guidelines to override state statutes and how the Trans-Pacific Partnership …
What’s In and Out for Ag in Omnibus
The broad spending and tax legislation compromise unveiled by House Republicans Tuesday night includes some riders important to agriculture. Perhaps the most important, the bill repeals mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat to prevent more than $1 billion in trade sanctions from Mexico and Canada approved last week by the WTO. “I’m pleased American agriculture and businesses will escape these …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Debbie Stabenow. In this week’s interview the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee discusses a challenging agricultural agenda. With time running out on the congressional calendar, Stabenow feels an urgency to find compromise on GMO labeling and COOL trade laws. Stabenow discusses a potential compromise child nutrition reform and defines the TPP …
Senate Ag Hearing Reaffirms Safety of GMOs
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing this week that showcased the overwhelming scientific consensus regarding GMO safety, as well as the urgent need for Congressional action to pass a reasonable, common-sense solution that prevents a state-by-state patchwork of labeling laws. “Today’s hearing confirmed that GMOs are safe; a state-by-state patchwork of labeling laws will have dire consequences for farmers, …