Ag News, Monday June 22, 2015

Hay and Forage Expo this Week

The 2015 Hay and Forage expo opens Wednesday in Southeast Minnesota. The two day expo is the nation’s largest hay and forage event. The 29th annual expo this week will be held on the Hernke’s Inc. farm near Cannon Falls Minnesota. The show promises to bring the latest hay and forage tools, technologies and suppliers to the event. The two-day hay exposition showcases mowing, conditioning, baling, hay handling and silage demonstrations on 200 acres of prime alfalfa and forages.

McConnell Moving Forward on Trade Votes 

Trade votes in the Senate are coming this week, despite no guarantee of support by pro-trade Democrats. The Hill reports Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed motions to advance Trade Promotion Authority Thursday and a separate package of trade preferences for African Nations combined with an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance. The Senate will vote to end debate on fast-track Tuesday and then will vote on final passage of the measure later that day or Wednesday, according to the Hill. McConnell needs at least 11 Democratic votes to make up for the expected loss of five Republicans who voted against fast-track last month.

Lawmaker Support Building for National Labeling Law

More lawmakers are showing support for a national labeling law. A House hearing last week by the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health reviewed a labeling bill introduced by Kansas Representative Mike Pompeo and North Carolina Democrat G.K. Butterfield. The bill would create a national, voluntary standard for labeling. Agripulse reports language in the bill that preempts state laws requiring mandatory labels on food made with genetically engineered crops following the hearing remain unchanged. The bill also includes a provision that would require food makers to go through a USDA program to receive a certified non-GMO label for their products.

Source:  NAFB News