USDA:
Valley-based Foster Farms can continue operation amid salmonella outbreak
[Fresno Bee]
Foster
Farms can continue operating chicken-processing plants in Fresno and Livingston
that have been implicated in a salmonella outbreak, but with intensified
sampling for disease pathogens, a federal official said Thursday. Aaron
Lavallee, deputy assistant administrator for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, said the company has taken
action to correct problems that led to a salmonella outbreak in 18 states,
including California….Ron Foster, president and CEO of Foster Farms, said the
USDA's decision is a validation of the company's new food safety controls, and
its commitment to install additional improvements over the next 90 days. Foster
also defended the company's decision not to recall the contaminated chicken. He
cited a statement issued by California state health officer Dr. Ron Chapman
that said a recall was not necessary because with proper handling and
preparation the chicken is safe to consume.
Commentary: Foster Farms'
salmonella problem really is everyone's problem [Los Angeles Times]
I
hate to squawk, but what in the name of “EE-I-EE-I-O” is going on with
food safety in this country?...Look, it’s not as if we didn’t know that
antibiotics and factory farming can be a devil’s brew. The Times has
editorialized about it often. We’ve also written about improving food
safety regulations in this country. Now, I know, changing the food culture is
expensive. And it certainly doesn’t help that the tea party nuts in Congress
have the government shut down. But can we at least agree that we shouldn’t
allow the stuff we eat to make us sick? Even the penny-pinchers in Congress
ought to be willing to sign on to that. As in: I’ll trade you a couple of
aircraft carriers for some inspectors who’ll make sure that my chicken sandwich
won’t kill me.
Budget
trouble doesn't stop psyllid program [Visalia Times-Delta]
As
the budget wrangling continues in Washington D.C., citrus industry officials
are quietly getting ready to spend millions to keep the Asian Citrus Psyllid
program afloat. Citrus Mutual president Joel Nelsen said the industry was
prepared to subsidize the program for “as long as it takes” as the federal
shutdown continues. The federally-funded program has a $10 million budget for
the next fiscal year. “I’ve got a commitment from the Secretary of Agriculture
that we’re going to be reimbursed,” Nelsen said. “We don’t have a choice but to
move forward.”
Flood
insurance rate changes coming to Yuba and Sutter counties [Marysville
Appeal-Democrat]
When
it comes to upcoming changes to flood insurance rates, landowners in Yuba and
Sutter counties are in the same boat. Both areas will be impacted by the
Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, a controversial piece of
legislation designed to close a $28 billion funding gap in the National Flood
Insurance Policy through drastic insurance rate increases. The problem, according
to local officials, is that the burden of closing that gap is falling on the
backs of local farmers….The Sutter County Board of Supervisors wants the
federal government to know that flood insurance rate changes will have a
disastrous effect on local agriculture. In a letter to U.S. Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif., and copied to several other California representatives,
the supervisors outlined their case against the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance
Reform Act of 2012, claiming the changes will put an unfair financial burden on
the backs of local property owners without taking into account community
efforts to protect the area from floods.
Fresno
gathering promotes poll showing Valley support for immigration reform [Fresno
Bee]
Three
Republican congressman in the Valley were urged Thursday to co-sponsor proposed
legislation supporting a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 11 million
undocumented immigrants living in the country. A press conference in front of
Fresno's City Hall hinged on new poll data released this week by a
Republican-affiliated polling firm, showing the majority of voters in districts
represented by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford; Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, and
Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, support comprehensive immigration reform. While
the Republican congressmen have expressed varying degrees of support, all of
more than 100 co-sponsors on H.R. 15 -- a proposed immigration reform bill in
the House -- are Democrats, including Jim Costa of Fresno, said Andy Levine of
Fresno, executive director of Faith in Community.
Commentary: Drop corn ethanol
mandate to save California dairies [Modesto Bee]
Our
California dairies have suffered immensely in recent years due to a variety of
factors, including low milk prices; but one major factor is the exponentially
rising cost of feed. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard program is the primary
cause of this cost challenge because it mandates that gasoline consist of up to
15 percent corn ethanol, which uses the same corn farmers use to feed their
livestock. The competition between the corn market and the government corn
ethanol mandate is creating grave challenges for our California farmers, and
their ability to feed their livestock and, ultimately, the nation.
Ag
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