UGA's Value Added Institute and North American Cattlemen Meet
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**The University of Georgia is launching the Value-Addition Institute for Business Expansion, or VIBE, a new center for rural food business assistance and resources.
www.morningagclips.com reports VIBE is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the USDA’s Ag Innovation Center that establishes and operates centers that provide aid to producers interested in developing and marketing value-added ag products.
UGA’s team will travel to give personalized support and to host workshops across the state.
www.morningagclips.com/georgia-agricultural-innovation-center/
**The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association along with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts signed a joint statement pledging to work together on a number of issues.
The three groups are also calling on the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments to re-engage in opening markets for beef exports and provide stronger science-based oversight of beef imports.
Unfortunately, the three governments have expanded market access for beef IMPORTS while providing fewer opportunities for exports.
**A new report from The Hill says pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and agriculture interests have combined to spend over $400 million lobbying Congress on a new farm
bill.
The report also found that between 2019 and 2023, giant agribusinesses, and food and ag industry associations reported a combined $523 million in federal lobby expenditures on ‘farm bill’ issues.
The report says agribusiness lobbying has steadily increased, up 22% in the past five years.
