Agri-Pulse staff

Almost three dozen advanced biofuel companies, led by the Advanced Ethanol Council and Biotechnology Industry Organization, sent a letter to President Barack Obama to express the industry’s concern about the proposed rule for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Tighter profit margins for crop producers were a drag on farm income in the Federal Reserve Bank's Tenth District during the first quarter of 2014, says the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's quarterly Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions.

According to the latest survey on the organic industry from the Organic Trade Association (OTA), sales of organic products in the United States had their fastest growth rate in five years. Sales increased to $35.1 billion in 2013, up 11.5 percent from the previous year’s $31.5 billion.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for its proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard, which dictates pesticide handling safety standards. EPA first announced changes to the standards in February.

While the northern half of the U.S. West saw a mix of rain and snow from April storms, the drought-plagued southern half, including California, got little relief, USDA’s latest assessment shows.

A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study shows the application of sewage sludge as fertilizer on farm fields can leave traces of prescription drugs and household chemicals long after the biosolid has been applied to the soil.

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says USDA’s service agencies did not follow government guidelines in making staffing decisions.

Legislation that would permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and prohibit the sale of horses to other countries for human consumption may get increased traction in Congress as a temporary ban on slaughter facilities ends