Ag Headlines for Thursday, November 5, 2015

Some Ag Groups Opposing Transportation Bill

The American Feed Industry Association expressed disappointment with the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to reject the inclusion of the SAFE Trucking Act as an amendment to the highway reauthorization bill. The amendment, offered by Rep. Reid Ribble of Wisconsin would have permitted states to increase a six-axle truck's maximum weight to 91,000 pounds on interstate highways within their borders, up from the current 80,000-pound limit. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association also expressed disappointment, on the failure to include Rooney’s amendment to address what NCBA calls the outdated truck weight laws. Rep. Rooney’s amendment would have allowed states the option to issue special permits for livestock shippers to operate vehicles weighing up to 95,000 pounds. The U.S. House is expected to vote on a six-year transportation funding bill today (Thursday), sending it to conference with a version already passed by the Senate.

Senate Passes Resolution to Scrap WOTUS Rule

Wednesday, the Senate passed a resolution to scrap the expanded Waters of the U.S., or Clean Water rule. However, the resolution sponsored by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is headed for a veto if it makes it through the U.S. House. The House is expected to vote on the resolution later this month. The White House has threatened a veto of the resolution, and another bill that would force a rewrite of WOTUS. However, the Senate to force a rewrite of the rule failed in the Senate a day earlier. The rule does remain under a nationwide stay and a federal appeals court will hear arguments regarding the rule next month.

CDC: More Work Needed On Food Safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns more steps need to be taken against multi-state pathogen outbreaks. The CDC says such outbreaks cause more than half of all deaths in foodborne disease outbreaks. The agency’s latest Vital Signs report found that the leading causes of multi-state outbreaks – Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria – are more dangerous that the leading causes of single-state outbreaks, according to Meatingplace. The report notes that these three pathogens cause 91 percent of multi-state outbreaks and can contaminate a wide variety of food products, including beef, chicken, vegetables and fresh fruit. Salmonella accounted for the most illnesses and hospitalizations, while Listeria caused the most deaths, mostly from the 2011 outbreak involving contaminated cantaloupe. The CDC is calling on food industries to play what it described as a “larger role in improving food safety” by following best practices for growing, processing and shipping foods.

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