Ban on Cell-Cultured Dairy and National Proving Grounds for Ag Tech
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**A Mississippi bill became law that creates the nation's first ban on the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of cell-cultured dairy products, those derived from animal cells cultured outside of a live animal.
That goes into effect July 1st with fines of $500 per day, or a maximum of $10,000.
But Wisconsin's governor recently vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the sale of products containing cultured animal cells if not labeled as "lab-grown."
**The USDA launched a nationwide initiative to help farmers adopt new technologies with greater confidence amid ongoing economic pressures.
Announced by Undersecretary Scott Hutchins, the National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech will evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world conditions.
The program will generate data on performance and return on investment for tools such as digital and AI-driven technologies, helping farmers make more informed decisions while reducing financial risk.
**Rising energy and fuel costs are placing increasing strain on rural communities, even as the broader U.S. economy shows signs of resilience.
CoBank says a strong first quarter, steady job growth, solid consumer spending, and continued investment, has done little to shield rural areas from surging gas and diesel prices.
Conflict in the Middle East has fueled volatility in global oil markets, and despite record domestic production, U.S. fuel prices remain closely tied.
