(USDA.gov via Flickr)

USDA clears Monsanto, Syngenta corn traits

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will no longer regulate a genetically-modified corn developed by Monsanto to resist dicamba herbicide, the agency said on Wednesday. The move by the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), means it can now be planted without permits or any additional regulatory oversight from […] Read more


(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Canada blocks poultry, eggs from Indiana

Cross-border travellers coming into Canada from the U.S. are now warned against bringing in raw poultry and eggs from Indiana, the site of the country’s latest cases of avian flu. Travellers entering Canada from the U.S. may not bring in uncooked poultry products, live birds and/or eggs from Indiana, North Dakota or Missouri, the Canadian […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

USDA regulators approve new Syngenta corn trait

Chicago | Reuters — Syngenta on Wednesday cleared one U.S. regulatory hurdle toward domestic marketing of corn seeds containing a trait that is genetically engineered to resist weed killers including glyphosate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said it will no longer regulate the Syngenta Seeds corn trait known […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Poultry, eggs from seven U.S. states still blocked at border

While the U.S. has declared itself free of high-path avian flu, Canada is still warning cross-border travellers not to bring in poultry or eggs from seven previously affected states. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Thursday — a.k.a. Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. — rolled out a statement to remind travellers that Canada’s restrictions […] Read more


(Monsanto.com)

Monsanto clears USDA regulatory hurdle for new GM corn

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday signed off on a new genetically modified type of corn developed by Monsanto after a review concluded it posed no significant threat to agricultural crops, other plants or the environment. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it would deregulate Monsanto’s MON […] Read more


(USDA.gov via Flickr)

USDA analyzing effects of wild pigs on crops, livestock

Chicago | Reuters –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it has started analyzing for the first time data it has collected on the impact that wild pigs have on U.S. farmers’ crop and livestock operations. It is estimated by federal and state agricultural officials that there are more than five million wild […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. may kill poultry with heat stress to stop bird flu

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. agriculture officials seeking ways to control deadly bird flu have approved the use of a method to kill poultry by turning up the heat in their barns and shutting off ventilation systems. The Agriculture Department will consider using the method, condemned by animal rights groups as cruel, if there are […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. regulator sued for withholding information on GMOs

Reuters — A food safety advocacy group sued an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, saying it illegally withheld public information on genetically engineered crops. The lawsuit, brought by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) against USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), claims the regulator has routinely failed to respond […] Read more