Ag Headlines, Friday September 18, 2015

House Ag Committee to Examine Dietary Guidelines

The House Agriculture Committee will hear from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Sectary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell next month. The committee will grill the two regarding the process for developing the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Earlier this year, Chairman Mike Conaway sent a letter to Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Burwell raising concerns about recommendations received from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Conaway said the committee “greatly exceeded its scope with its February 2015 report by straying from traditional nutritional recommendations and advising on wider policy issues like sustainability and tax policy.” The hearing is planned for Wednesday, October, 7th.

2014 Organic Sales Top $5 Billion

The 2014 Organic Survey results released Thursday show organic farmers produced and sold $5.5 billion in organic products last year. That figure is 72 percent higher than sales reported back in 2008. The National Agriculture Statistics Service released the results that also show California is the leading state in organic production. California accounted for $2.2 billion worth of organic sales last year, according to the survey results. The survey also found 39 percent of organic farmers plan to increase production in the next five years while more than 600 more farms are working towards organic production. The report found 46 percent of all organic sales occurred within 100 miles of the farm.

NCBA National Anthem Contest Open

The third-annual National Anthem Singing Contest, hosted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is now open for entry. he winner will sing the National Anthem during the Opening General Session, as well as the Thursday night event on the USS Midway, at the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention in January. Entries are accepted from now until October 19th. The top four finalists will be chosen in early November. Video entries will be posted online for public voting and the winner will be announced December 4th. Registration information ad rules are online at http://www.beefusa.org/

NAFB News