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USDA Secretary wants national GMO labeling

Tom Vilsack says labeling program would help with consumer concerns

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

In the debate over whether or not there should be a national GMO labeling program in the United States, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack offered support for such an initiative.

At the Commodity Classic in New Orleans on March 4, Vilsack said that Congress needs to act swiftly to establish a national GMO labeling program to prevent individual states from coming up with their own GMO labeling rules.

The labeling bill would need 60 votes to pass; Vilsack said he’s confident the bill would receive the required support and President Obama would sign off on the legislation.

Tom Vilsack

“Congress needs to act, and they need to act in the very, very short term,” he said according to Hoosier Ag Today. “It’s going to be important to avoid the kind of chaos that could ensue if we have 50 different states developing their own labeling requirements, or individual companies deciding to establish their own individual company’s label requirements.”

If the national GMO labeling bill isn’t passed by July, Vermont would be the first state in the United States with its own labeling laws.

Vilsack said all parties involved with food production need to launch an educational campaign to help calm the concerns of consumers when it comes to GMO crops.

“I’m here today to say very unequivocally they are safe to consume,” he said. “There is no risk associated with them and we need to make that clear to the consuming public.”


Trending Video

US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!