Monday June 12 Ag News

CONTROL POTATO LEAFHOPPERS IN ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Potato leafhoppers are starting to injure alfalfa in many areas.  Scouting for these insects and protecting your alfalfa from injury may be needed in your fields.

               Potato leafhoppers are tiny, yellowish-green, wedge-shaped insects.  They blow into our region from the southeast during late spring through mid-summer.  Leafhoppers turn alfalfa yellow and stunt growth, and they especially hurt new seedlings.

               An early symptom of leafhopper damage is a triangular or V-shaped yellow or purple area at the tip of alfalfa leaves.  This discoloration is caused by a toxin the leafhopper injects into the alfalfa plant as it sucks out plant juices.  As feeding continues, the entire plant can turn yellow and growth may stop.

               Check fields at least weekly for leafhoppers before symptoms appear.  Don’t wait!  If you detect leafhoppers early and they are still present, insecticides can kill them easily.  You may need to spray a couple times, though, since leafhoppers can migrate from other fields and reinfect your sprayed field.

               What if your alfalfa already is yellow and stunted?  Then, do not spray.  Instead, first mow your alfalfa to remove affected plant tissue and to stimulate new growth.  Unmown plants might not grow much more all year, lowering yield and potentially leading to stand loss over winter.  After mowing newly seeded fields, spray insecticide when regrowth begins to protect that growth.  But, don’t automatically spray established stands.  Instead, scout new regrowth at least weekly for leafhoppers.  If they reappear, then use insecticides before much damage occurs.

               More information, especially about threshold levels and insecticides to help you protect your alfalfa from potato leafhoppers,   is available on-line and at local extension offices.



 Steady Land Market Defies Trend

As agriculture enters the projected fourth year of lower farm incomes, the question landowners, operators and lenders have is: Where are land values heading from here?

“The trend in today’s land market is hard to discern as some sales bring a better than anticipated price, while others may show a decline in value from previous sales,” said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company.

For sellers, buyers and lenders alike, there are important aspects of the current land market everyone should be aware of as it slowly transitions from the declines in value experienced in the past few years.

“Agricultural land values in most areas can be expected to continue to gradually decline over the next several years if commodity prices and the underlying farm incomes remain at current low levels,” Dickhut said. “Small interest rate increases, potential tax law changes and world economic uncertainties will also keep some outside pressure on land prices in the coming year.”

One unknown factor that could adversely affect land values later this year is the potential increase in the number of properties for sale caused by financial stress in the ag economy. If that occurs, knowledge and experience in the local land market becomes more important than ever as land prices seek equilibrium between sellers and buyers in a declining price environment.

“This is the No. 1 reason Farmers National Company is seeing a 21 percent increase in the volume of sales that the company is handling this year as sellers and buyers seek out our land expertise in this uncertain market so that they have the right representation to make the best decisions in buying or selling land,” Dickhut said.

Despite anticipated additional declines in land prices in most areas, there are positives on the horizon for land values.

“Those include potential improvements in farm and ranch incomes after bottoming out. If we have limited stress sales and no other shocks to the markets, land values will move to stabilize over the next several years,” Dickhut said. “Our agents are actively talking to landowners who are considering selling their farm or ranch and are seeking the marketing exposure and expertise that will get them the best price in the current market.”

Nebraska - Lower land values in Nebraska have not slowed the sales volume for Farmers National Company. Grain and livestock prices both have an impact on Nebraska land values across many regions of the state.

“Our number of sales is up 10 to 20 percent over last year and good quality land is definitely in demand,” said JD Maxson, assistant area sales manager for the company based out of Omaha.  “The value of top quality land has declined a moderate amount, whereas lower quality land has taken more of a drop.”

Land auctions continue to be a primary way of selling ag land in much of the state and Farmers National Company auctions achieve a successful sale 95 percent of the time despite buyers being more cautious. Private treaty sales are being used more in the case of lower quality land and grazing acres. Local farmers and ranchers are predominate buyers as they seek to purchase land that may only come up for sale once in many generations.

“We have only seen two or three stress sales where the owner/operator needs to shore up working capital. Depending on the season and commodity prices, we could see more of these types of sales this fall if the state’s farm economy stays soft,” Maxson said. “Buyers and sellers are paying close attention to the farm and ranch economy as they consider a land transaction.”

Iowa - Land auctions lead the way in Iowa for Farmers National Company as it has seen a 30 percent growth in sales in the last year.

“Auction sales were 78 percent of Farmer National Company’s transactions in Iowa for the first six months of our fiscal year. Despite a more cautious land market, 97 percent of our auctions were successful and the land sold. That is a testament to the local agent who knows the buyers and sellers in their market,” said Sam Kain, ALC, GRI, ABRM, national sales manager for Farmers National Company based in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Good quality land in Iowa has been steady or experienced a slight decline in value in the past six months. Average quality land continues to see a slow decline in value while pasture land has experienced some strengthening. Estates remain the primary sellers of land as the inherited land is sold and the proceeds divided among the inheritors. Farmers continue to comprise the majority of land buyers with interest by investors coming back into play in the market.

“Overall, land values have stayed fairly stable due to the limited amount of land on the market over the past several years,” Kain said. “Recent commodity prices indicate there is still room for a downward trend in land values. If we start to see more land available on the market, we may see values decrease more rapidly.”



 U.S., China Finalize Details to Send U.S. Beef to China

As part of the U.S.-China 100-Day Action plan announced on May 11, 2017 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin, the Trump Administration today has taken important steps toward commercial shipment of U.S. beef and beef products to China for the first time since 2003.  These shipments are results of the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue co-chaired by Secretary Ross and Secretary Mnuchin for the United States and Vice Premier Wang Yang for China.  Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reached agreement with Chinese officials on final details of a protocol to allow the U.S. to begin the beef exports to China.  Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the posting of technical documents related to the beginning of shipments.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement:
“Today is a great day for the United States and in particular for our cattle producers, who will be regaining access to an enormous market with an ever-expanding middle class.  Since he was elected, President Trump has brought momentum, optimism, and results to American agriculture families that we haven’t seen in years and this agreement is a great example.  I commend the hard work of Secretary Ross, Secretary Mnuchin, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and our USDA representatives.  Without their dedication and persistence, this would have not been possible.  I have no doubt that as soon as the Chinese people get a taste of American beef they’ll want more of it.”

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross issued the following statement:
“President Trump is doing more to improve the U.S.-China relationship than any president in decades, and this final beef protocol agreement represents even more concrete progress. As we clear away long-standing issues like this one, focusing on near-term, verifiable deliverables, we are building a sound foundation for further discussions.  I look forward to engaging with our Chinese counterparts as we address more complex issues to the benefit of both our nations.”

Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin issued the following statement:
"The ‎reopening of China's market to American beef is an example of the results-oriented approach this Administration has taken in our engagement with China. We will continue to work toward a more fair and balanced economic relationship with China by expanding opportunities for U.S. workers and businesses."

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued the following statement:
"I welcome China taking this important step to start allowing U.S. beef imports after shutting them out over 13 years ago.  The President's firm commitment to fair trade that benefits the United States has made this new U.S. beef export opportunity possible.  I encourage China and all countries to base their requirements on international standards and science.  America's ranchers are the best producers of beef in the global economy, and they can compete and succeed wherever there is a level playing field."

Background:
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has posted the requirements for its Export Verification program for U.S. establishments shipping to China, which will enable packers to apply for approval to export to China.  The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has also updated its online Export Library specifying China’s requirements for certifying U.S. beef being shipped there.

China has emerged as a major beef buyer in recent years, with imports increasing from $275 million in 2012 to $2.5 billion in 2016. However, the United States has been banned from China's market since 2003. The United States is the world’s largest beef producer and was the world’s fourth-largest exporter, with global sales of more than $5.4 billion in 2016.  Until the ban took effect, the U.S. was China’s largest supplier of imported beef, providing 70 percent of their total intake.



Fischer Praises Agreement to Send U.S. Beef to China

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced an agreement to open the market for U.S. beef to China for the first time since 2003.

“Nebraska beef producers are the best in the world. Today’s agreement is welcome news for families across our state who can now compete in a new market that is estimated at $2.6 billion. I look forward to continuing my work with the administration to expand opportunities for our beef producers to deliver their outstanding, high-quality products to a hungry world.”

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s visit to Cherry County, Nebraska, where he joined Senator Fischer in hosting a rancher roundtable. During the discussion, Secretary Perdue stated that opening U.S. beef exports to China is a top priority and would better enable American ranchers to sell their world-class product to a growing market.

Nebraska is a proven leader in the beef industry. Currently, Nebraska exports beef products equivalent to 2,600 head of cattle worldwide every day.

Last Congress, Senator Fischer worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to export Nebraska beef to Israel. In February of 2016, USDA announced a new agreement with Israel to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports for the first time since 2003. The first shipments arrived from Nebraska’s WR Reserve plant in Hastings.



 Smith Applauds Trump Administration Agreement to Send U.S. Beef to China

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the Trump administration finalized an agreement to restore trade access for U.S. beef to China for the first time since 2003.

“We know opening more markets for Nebraska agriculture producers is crucial to their continued success in feeding the world, and restoring access to China is an incredible step forward,” Smith said.  “There is no doubt consumers in China will be pleased with the quality of Nebraska beef.  I applaud President Trump and his administration for their leadership in this effort, and I will continue to stress the importance of strong trade policy which benefits U.S. agriculture and consumers around the globe.”

Smith serves on the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade, and is the founder and co-chairman of the Modern Agriculture Caucus.

Smith also recently introduced a resolution in the House calling on the Trump administration to negotiate a trade agreement with Japan.



NCBA Hails Final Agreement That Clears Way For U.S. Beef's Return to China For First Time Since 2003

Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) announcement that it has reached a final agreement with Chinese officials on a deal that will allow U.S. producers to begin beef exports to China for the first time since 2003:

"NCBA commends the leadership of President Trump and our skilled negotiators who were able to restore U.S. beef access to China, something that has been a top priority for NCBA for 13 years. NCBA worked closely with USDA throughout the entire process. In recent years, China has become one of the largest import markets for beef, and these terms are a reflection of China's trust in the safety and quality of U.S. beef. We hope that by getting our foot in the door we can develop a long lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with China."



Withdraw ‘GIPSA’ Rule, Say NPPC, Pork Producers

The National Pork Producers Council in comments submitted today again urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw a regulation related to the buying and selling of livestock. It also delivered to the agency comments from 630 pork producers and others in the pork industry, opposing the regulation and asking that it be withdrawn.

The comments were on an interim final rule of the so-called Farmer Fair Practices Rules, which was written by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The interim final rule is set to become effective Oct. 19. (NPPC in late March submitted comments in opposition to the broader Farmer Fair Practices Rules.)

The interim final rule would broaden the scope of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) of 1921 related to using “unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices” and to giving “undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages.” Specifically, the regulation would deem such actions per se violations of federal law even if they didn’t harm competition or cause competitive injury, prerequisites for winning PSA cases.

In its comments, NPPC said the rule “is illegal and in conflict with the clear direction of every federal Circuit Court of Appeals that has reviewed the Packers and Stockyards Act, was improperly promulgated, is not supported by the Administrative Record and will have a destructive impact on the meat sector by harming the very farmers GIPSA is entrusted to protect.”

USDA in 2010 proposed several PSA provisions – collectively known as the GIPSA Rule – that Congress mandated in the 2008 Farm Bill; lawmakers rejected a provision that would have eliminated the need to prove a competitive injury to win a PSA lawsuit. Additionally, eight federal appeals courts have held that harm to competition must be an element of a PSA case.

“The Interim Final Rule, promulgated without any justification, will trigger a torrent of lawsuits against members of the pork industry and create uncertainty that will stifle investment and innovation without providing any identifiable benefits to consumers,” NPPC said. “In doing so, it will harm U.S. pork producers and their employees and customers, reversing decades of growth and job creation by the U.S. pork industry.”

An Informa Economics study found that the GIPSA Rule today would cost the U.S. pork industry more than $420 million annually – more than $4 per hog – with most of the costs related to PSA lawsuits brought under the “no competitive injury” provision included in the interim final rule.



Livestock Producers Support Nomination of Susan Bodine to Key EPA Enforcement Post

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council today sent a letter to U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Thomas Carper (D-Del.) urging them to support the nomination of Susan Bodine to be the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). Sens. Barrasso and Carper serve as chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing regarding Bodine’s nomination on Tuesday morning.

“Bodine has impeccable credentials with 29 years of environmental law and policy experience garnered from leadership positions in the federal government and private sector,” said NCBA President Craig Uden and PLC President David Eliason in the joint letter. “America’s livestock producers are invested in keeping our air, water, and land clean for future generations of livestock producers. A compliance-first approach to regulatory programs would enable farmers and ranchers to work with EPA as partners in environmental stewardship rather than simply being regulatory targets. With Bodine at the helm of OECA, we believe we can achieve this goal and herald an era of environmental success.”

Bodine currently serves as Chief Counsel for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and she was previously the staff director and senior counsel for the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. During the George W. Bush Administration, Bodine served as the Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Bodine was a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP where she led coalition efforts on environmental issues.

“On a personal level, NCBA and PLC have found Bodine to be a valuable resource due to her breadth of experience and knowledge,” Uden and Eliason said. “And importantly, she is fair and impartial in all areas of her work. For these reasons and many more, NCBA and PLC strongly support Susan Bodine’s nomination to Assistant Administrator of OECA.”



ASA Lists Benchmarks in Comments on NAFTA Renegotiation

In comments submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today, the American Soybean Association (ASA) underscored the importance of maintaining and building on the extensive agricultural trade relationships have developed between the United States and Canada and Mexico through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). ASA’s comments came following announcement by President Donald Trump last month that the U.S. would move to renegotiate the 24-year-old pact.

ASA included in its comments a list of benchmarks that reflect the gains already achieved in increasing U.S. agricultural exports to its NAFTA trading partners, and called on USTR to preserve if not exceed them in the renegotiation. These include maintaining a comprehensive, rules-based approach, and ensuring no backsliding by any party on agriculture or non-agriculture market access commitments.

With regard to biotechnology, ASA urged USTR to pursue stronger language on sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) geared toward enhancing cooperation between regulatory agencies and avoiding trade disruptions related to agricultural production technologies. ASA included suggestions to adopt trade-facilitative residue levels and adventitious presence mechanisms, and to establish in the renegotiation a long-term and formal low-level presence policy (LLP) for biotech trait shipments between the three countries. Looking to support the animal agriculture sector that represents the largest buyer of U.S. soybean meal, ASA included benchmarks to maintain the successful elements of the agreement with regard to dairy entry into Mexico, while targeting greater market access for poultry, egg, and dairy product exports into Canada.

Beyond its specific recommendations, ASA cited the dramatic growth of the Canadian and Mexican markets for U.S. soybeans, and for American agricultural products overall, since the implementation of NAFTA in 1993. In 2015, the U.S. exported $438 million in soy products to Canada, a 220 percent increase from the $199 million sold in 1987. Soy exports to Mexico in 2015 totaled $2.44 billion, nearly 500 percent greater than the $489 million sold in 1993.



Dairy Groups Pledge to Work with Trump Administration on NAFTA Modernization

Two leading dairy groups said today they will work with the Trump Administration to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to make sure it safeguards open trade with Mexico and confronts increasingly protectionist dairy policies by Canada.

In joint comments sent to the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) describe the existing North American dairy landscape as one in which U.S. dairy products flow relatively unhindered to Mexico but are curtailed by Canada’s increasing use of policy tools violating international trade obligations.

“NAFTA has accomplished a great deal over the past two-plus decades, but it has also been overtaken by new, unanticipated forms of trade and trade problems,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. Dairy Export Council president and CEO. “We agree that NAFTA could use a facelift and our industry looks forward to working with the Trump Administration to explore ways to preserve and strengthen it.”

Since NAFTA’s implementation, the United States has shifted from being a consistent net importer of dairy products to being a significant net exporter. Over the past five years, cumulative U.S. dairy exports are more than double the import total.

“The relationship between the dairy sectors of the U.S., Mexico and Canada is of such great importance to all of our nations that we need to devote the time and effort to make it better,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.  “A modernized NAFTA agreement must preserve the open and dependable trade relationship with Mexico, and remove remaining barriers to trade that were not adequately addressed in the original agreement.”

Last year, the U.S. dairy industry exported $1.2 billion worth of dairy products to Mexico, a dramatic increase from $124 million in 1995. Mexico is the largest U.S. dairy export market by far, roughly double the size of the industry’s second-largest market, Canada.

The comments submitted to USTR say a modernized NAFTA can increase U.S. dairy exports, create jobs and build business partnerships between the three countries. On the other hand, withdrawing from NAFTA could devastate the U.S. dairy industry. Last year’s dairy exports to Mexico alone required the milk equivalent of 1,500 American dairy farms.

The document’s top request of the Trump Administration is for a “decisive confrontation and resolution” of nontariff concerns, including the removal of Canadian milk pricing classes 6 & 7, and the inclusion of Canadian dairy tariffs.

The industry’s main concern for Mexico is protecting the ability to sell cheeses with common names, like "parmesan," "gorgonzola," "asiago" and "provolone.” An aggressive ongoing effort by the European Union (EU) to claim sole ownership of these cheeses must be rejected by Mexican and U.S. officials, according to comments from USDEC and NMPF.

U.S. dairy companies have been working with partners in the Mexican dairy industry for years to build the size and variety of cheese demand in Mexico. The comments ask the Administration to make it clear that the U.S. is “vehemently opposed to the imposition of any new restrictions on the market access opportunities for U.S. products relying on common names.”

The document concludes by stating its commitment to work with the Administration to modernize NAFTA.

“Improvements to NAFTA that prioritize our positive trade relationship with Mexico and address Canada’s flouting of its trade commitments to us can be achieved and are worth pursuing,” the document said. “This is an essential agreement that the United States dairy industry, and in fact the broader economy, cannot do without. It is because NAFTA is so important that this modernization effort is so valuable.



U.S. Should Create a Fair Trade Framework That Puts Family Farmers, Ranchers, & Rural Communities First

As the Trump Administration navigates a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the administration to establish a new, fair trade framework for international trade deals that benefits family farmers, ranchers, and rural residents.

In public comments submitted today to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, NFU President Roger Johnson highlighted the shortcomings of the United States’ current free trade paradigm, citing its contribution to the massive U.S. trade deficit and abandonment of U.S. sovereignty to the detriment of farming and rural communities. He urged Lighthizer to use the NAFTA renegotiation as an opportunity to create a new, fair trade framework for future trade deal negotiations.

“While exports and trade are essential to family farmers and ranchers, free trade agreements too often result in the corporate consolidation of power that ultimately undermines the economic opportunity for farmers,” Johnson wrote. “Renegotiation of NAFTA should prioritize family farmers and ranchers, not agribusiness, and the working people across our country.”

In his comments, Johnson stated that NFU has long been concerned with the nation’s massive and persistent trade deficit that U.S. trade negotiators have failed to address in past negotiations. In 2016, the U.S. accumulated a trade deficit of $502.3 billion, which represented a 3 percent drag on the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

“While agriculture typically maintains a trade surplus, which is beneficial, it represents less than 4 percent of the overall trade deficit,” he added. “Unfortunately, in recent years, even the agricultural trade surplus has declined. Free trade agreements have not resulted in a stable positive balance of trade for U.S. agriculture.”

Johnson noted that free trade agreements – which typically operate under the framework that NAFTA initiated – have benefitted multinational corporations, often at the expense of farming and rural communities.

For example, NAFTA was the first trade agreement to include the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions that give investors special privileges in international trade. “These protections allow for and encourage the offshoring of domestic jobs and threaten the sovereignty and democratic policies of the U.S. and our trading partners,” contended Johnson.

Johnson maintained that free trade agreements have stripped the U.S. of its sovereignty. He urged the Trump Administration to rework NAFTA to allow for domestic sovereignty over laws regarding food and agriculture.

“The Administration should include restoring Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) as one of the chief negotiation objectives in agriculture,” said Johnson. “COOL is one strong example of a popular domestic law that has been usurped by free trade deals that undermine our nation’s ability to pass and maintain laws for the benefit of America.”

“Agriculture has been central to the advocacy efforts around free trade agreements for decades. NFU stands ready to assist USTR and the Administration in creating a new fair trade paradigm,” Johnson concluded.



CWT Assists with 549,000 Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 6 requests for export assistance from member cooperatives that have contracts to sell 548,951 pounds (249 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda, and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from June through September 2017.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 38.257 million pounds of American-type cheeses, and 3.013 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to 17 countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 420.905 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Organic Livestock and Poultry Rules Benefits Family Organic Producers and Consumers

In an effort to improve the consistency and integrity of organic livestock practices and labeling, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to finalize a set of regulations on organic livestock and poultry practices that are currently on hold.

NFU President Roger Johnson emphasized the organization’s support in public comments submitted today to Dr. Paul Lewis, director of the National Organic Program.

“NFU supports organic livestock production standards that are uniform and account for feeding and animal health care practices,” said Johnson. “As such, we strongly endorse the final rule regarding Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices, which will ensure consistency across the organic label.”

Currently, organic certifiers are inconsistently applying animal welfare standards to farming and ranching operations, leading to consumer confusion and the endangerment of the organic label’s integrity. “This important set of regulations seeks to even the playing field and standardize organic livestock and poultry practices for the voluntary National Organic Program,” noted Johnson.

The final regulations include clarification on how, when and what physical alterations may be performed on livestock and poultry; definition of outdoor access; standardization of maximum indoor and outdoor stocking density for avian species; and clarification on the allowed treatment of livestock and poultry for their health and well being.

“Food producers and consumers alike benefit from thorough, accurate, and consistent food labeling,” said Johnson. “We strongly urge USDA to enact these rules on November 14, 2017, as scheduled.”