Assistance for Southeast Ag Producers and U.S. Pumpkin Production
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will pursue avenues to assist the Southeast seasonal produce industry in coordination with the USDA.
The announcement comes after members of Congress requested an examination of certain issues in a September 8th Section 301 petition that requires a decision on actions within 45 days.
Although USTR is not opening an investigation at this time, they are moving forward with an advisory panel.
**R-CALF USA is making a push for Congress to consider mandatory country-of-origin labeling of beef.
R-CALF is encouraging its members to show their support for the American Beef Labeling Act.
The legislation would require the U.S. Trade Representative, with the Secretary of Agriculture, to develop a World Trade Organization-compliant means of reinstating MCOOL for beef within one year of enactment.
USTR would have six months to develop a reinstatement plan, followed by a six-month implementation window.
**With Halloween just past, pumpkins were a common display across the United States.
The production of pumpkins, from classic orange Howdens to new varieties like Cinderella, is widely dispersed, with all states producing some pumpkins.
However, USDA’s Economic Research Service reports about 40% of pumpkin acres are in just six states.
Illinois is consistently the nation's largest pumpkin producer, followed by Indiana, California, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia.
