Monday, 23 April 2012 10:03

D.C. Watch: Farm bill debate continues

Rich Pottorff, Doane chief economist & Washington analyst   |   Updated: April 23, 2012   Both houses of Congress are working on the new farm bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, and ranking member Pat Roberts, R-Kan, are presenting one unified bill to the Senate Agriculture Committee. Committee debate of the plan will take place this week.  Stabenow says she hopes to pass the bill out of committee and doesn’t anticipate major objections. The plan will reduce farm program spending by $23 billion over 10 years and will include different options for different crops. There is expected to be higher target prices for some commodities produced in the South and a shallow-loss program for crops produced in the North. Cotton will have its own insurance program.   
Published in SureFed News
The FDA is asking livestock producers to voluntarily stop using livestock feed that contains antibiotics. The antibiotics in animal feed are not for the treatment for dangerous infections in the animals, but for promoting faster growth in the animals. This practice, though, is producing more drug resistance in microbes. The microbes, or “superbugs” as they are nicknamed, become increasingly difficult to treat, threatening public health.  
Published in SureFed News
  by: Leslie Malone Arlington, Va., April 11, 2012 – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration today released three guidance documents regarding antibiotic use in animal agriculture. AFIA supports the guidance and FDA’s collaborative approach to this issue which promotes the health of animal agriculture and consumers. These documents were issued with the intent to modify the distribution and use requirements of antimicrobial drugs and of animal feeds containing such animal health products.     
Published in SureFed News

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Rick Lundquist is an independent nutrition and management consultant based in Duluth, Minn. He provides livestock production advice.