Still No Crab Pickers, Watermen from Other Counties Worry

As the shiny, silver tables inside places like Russell Hall Seafood in Hooper's Island lie waiting, so do watermen in other Eastern Shore counties - like Bunky Chance of Talbot County. "It's not upon us yet, but if something doesn't break loose, we're going to all be highly impacted," Chance said.

Chinese Soybean Purchases Plant Seeds of Concern for US Farmers

Matt Aultman, a grain salesman and feed nutritionist with Keller Grain & Feed, Inc., shows locally grown soybeans during an interview at their facilities in Greenville, Ohio, April 5, 2018. Farmer Scott Halpin is facing another year of high prices for seed and fertilizer, and low prices for the corn and soybeans his family is planting on farmland outside Morris, Illinois.

Lobbyist tied to Pruitt pushed clienta s committee candidates

The lobbyist whose wife rented a condo to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt at $50 a night sought EPA committee posts for a lobbying client, according to a newly released EPA memo. J. Steven Hart's seeking those appointments from his wife's former tenant, Pruitt, shows "the extent to which the special interests providing him with gifts have sought specific favors from EPA in return," said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Memo: Pruitt landlord’s husband sought EPA work for client

The lobbyist whose wife rented a condo to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt at $50 a night sought EPA committee posts for a lobbying client, according to a newly released EPA memo. J. Steven Hart's seeking those appointments from his wife's former tenant, Pruitt, shows "the extent to which the special interests providing him with gifts have sought specific favors from EPA in return," said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label Source: AP

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

USDA Announces Financial Support For Specialty Crop Industry

USDA ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY May 1, 2018 Source: USDA news release The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the funding of $7 million to support 11 projects in six states to develop solutions to challenges affecting the specialty crop industries that cross state boundaries. The awards are managed through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service .

Gov, Paul LePage, Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, Congresswoman…

Gov, Paul LePage, Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Knox County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Tim Carroll -- a former president of the Maine Lobster Festival -- are among those people who will not be allowed to march in this year's Festival parade. The Festival Board voted Tuesday to exclude all political organizations and candidates from the annual parade held on the first Saturday of August.

Ag groups express opposition to amendments to Farm Bill

INSURANCE ARGUMENT: A monster hail storm that hit Kansas on the night of May 14 provides an illustration of why farmers so strongly support crop insurance. This field in Scott County was just one of many that were wiped out in the storm, which destroyed thousands of acres of wheat.

House panel moves to curb food stamps, renew farm subsidies Source: AP

A bitterly-divided House panel Wednesday approved new work and job training requirements for food stamps as part of a five-year renewal of federal farm and nutrition policy. The GOP-run Agriculture Committee approved the measure strictly along party lines after a contentious, five-hour hearing in which Democrats blasted the legislation, charging it would toss up to 2 million people off of food stamps and warning that it will never pass Congress.

Fear of competition – not consumer protection – is behind…

A desire to protect its members, not consumers, is the primary motivation behind the US Cattlemen's Association petition to restrict use of the terms 'beef' and 'meat' to products from animals "born, raised, and harvested in the traditional manner" claim leading plant-based and cultured meat companies. In a comment a a to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service urging it to reject the USCA petition, the Good Food Institute, Tofurky, Lightlife Foods, Field Roast Grain Meat Co, Impossible Foods, Finless Foods, Sweet Earth Foods, and Hungry Planet, argue that USDA is authorized to regulate meat labels to protect the health and welfare of consumers.

Eating Out: The only way is up for Jack Spice

SEVEN months ago, the future was looking decidedly dicey for Jack Spice - a routine check by licencing officers uncovered illegal immigrants were being employed there and the place was shut down after its licence was revoked. Not long after, we reported that a takeaway operation had restarted from the premises, but the restaurant doors remained firmly closed and it seemed as if Jack Spice's days were numbered.

Drug testing plan considered for some food stamp recipients

The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives who've long sought ways to curb the safety net program. The proposal under review would be narrowly targeted, applying mostly to people who are able-bodied, without dependents and applying for some specialized jobs, according to an administration official briefed on the plan.