Agribusiness Update for Friday 2/22/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

The Scientific Commission for the World Organization for Animal Health has recommended upgrading the U.S. risk classification for BSE to negligible risk. Negligible risk is the lowest risk level under the OIE animal health code. Countries with negligible risk status have implemented robust BSE controls and done extensive surveillance of their herds.

Even with the defeat of Proposition 37 in November - it was clear the effort to label foods containing genetically modified organisms would continue. Now Colorado Representative Jared Polis is bringing the issue to the national stage with legislation to mandate the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms in all 50 states.

Several national farm groups joined together to send a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in opposition to recently proposed cuts to farm programs. They believe the farm program cuts outlined in the American Family Economic Protection Act advanced by Senate Democrats to avoid sequestration are disproportionate. The proposal would cut 27-billion dollars from agriculture spending - with all of that savings coming from commodity programs.

That’s today’s Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.