46th Annual Georgia Peanut Show and Farm Bill Hearings Begin
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Peanut producers at the 46th Annual Georgia Peanut Show last month heard many policy updates.
www.gfb.org reports, one of them was the National Peanut
Board encouraging attendees to beat the February 21 deadline to ask the USDA to include peanut butter in the food packages through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
Research has shown peanut butter should be introduced to infants beginning as early as 4-6 months to help prevent peanut allergies.
www.gfb.org/media-and-publications/news.cms/2023/1412/peanut-show-speakers-discuss-allergies-and-farm-bill
**To kick off a set of farm bill hearings, Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman will hold the first today, titled, "Farm Bill 2023: Trade and Horticulture."
Stabenow and Boozman say, we’re both looking forward to a collaborative process with all Senators to deliver a strong Farm Bill.
Three other hearings will be: February 9 on Commodity Programs, Crop Insurance and Credit, February 16 on Nutrition Programs, and March 1 on Conservation and Forestry Programs.
**Public health advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration challenging the refusal to phase out unnecessary uses of antibiotics in animal agriculture.
The groups allege roughly two-thirds of important antibiotics sold are for use in food-producing animals, often healthy animals, to compensate for the risk of infections caused by cramped, unsanitary or stressful conditions.
The lawsuit claims this contributes to the rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
