USDA Promotes Innovation with Updated Plant Breeding Regulation

May 19, 2020

The USDA announced changes to its biotechnology regulations SECURE rule. The revised rule will encourage innovation of new plant breeding techniques while safeguarding our food supply.

The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall:

“We appreciate the USDA and Secretary Perdue for their common-sense approach to encouraging innovation. At a time when agriculture is facing many economic headwinds, the science-based rule provides the opportunity to solve current and future challenges for agricultural production and food security. This final rule will ensure the U.S. remains a leader in biotechnology while providing the safe, healthy and wholesome food supply America’s families deserve.”

Background:

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposed a change to part 340 in 2017.
The rules had not been revised since they were originally published in 1987.
The revised proposed rule was published in June 2019.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.