Ag News from the White House, Wednesday January 25, 2017

GIPSA, Organic Livestock Rules, Suspended for Review

The Donald Trump administration has suspended all new or pending regulations from taking effect for 60 days to allow for review by new leadership. For agriculture, that means the organic livestock welfare rule announced in the final week of the Obama administration will be suspended for at least another 60 days, along with the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration regulations announced last month.

At the least, the suspension adds 60 days to all pending regulations before taking effect or resuming a comment period in the Federal Register. The organic welfare rule would set strict guidelines for raising organic livestock. The GIPSA rules refer to the practices of poultry and meat processors relative to the farmers that supply them with live animals.

Trump Freezes EPA Grants and Communications

The Donald Trump administration has ordered a freeze on grants and contracts from the Environmental Protection Agency and ordered EPA staff to halt external communications. A memo to EPA staff instructs the employees not to publish press releases, blog messages or social media postings. The memo also says media request will be carefully screened and no new content can be placed on any EPA website.

Political analysts say the move is not uncommon, but further overreaching than a typical freeze by a new administration, according to the Huffington Post. The EPA awards roughly $4 billion in grant funding each year. President Trump and his transition team have promised a reduction of regulatory grasp by the EPA, specifically targeting Clean Air Act regulations and the Waters of the U.S. rule.

Source;  NAFB News