On Monday the USDA published a report titled Promoting Fair Competition and Innovation in Seeds and Other Agricultural Input Industries. The report says that the USDA plans to immediately act in three areas.
?To deliver on its recommendations, USDA will:
? Stand up a new Farmer Seed Liaison. The Seed Liaison will serve a key need expressed by breeders, farmers, and industry, to coordinate information sharing and reduce confusion for all parties to successfully operate in a complex seed system.
? USDA and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will form a Working Group on IP & Competition in Seeds and Other Agricultural Inputs, where USDA and USPTO, together with Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, will work together to promote fair competition in the seed market.
? As part of USDA?s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency for farmers, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued a Notice to Trade regarding compliance with disclosing the kind and variety under the Federal Seed Act. The Notice underscores that farmers and seed businesses should know the kind and variety that they are getting from the label and as advertised, not just when they receive it. USDA will also expand its FarmerFairness.gov portal to enable farmers and seed businesses to report tips and complaints related to seed markets.?
https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/fair-competitive-seed
United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa was asked during his weekly conference call with ag reporters about the USDA taking steps to level the playing field in the seed industry.
Also, on Monday the U.S. Trade Representative?s Office requested technical consultations with the Government of Mexico under the U.S.?Mexico?Canada Agreement. Senator Grassley says he thinks this is a needed step for the two countries as tension remains regarding Mexico?s potential genetically modified corn ban.
Grassley says that the science backs up the United States? position on genetically modified corn.
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also recently approved a joint resolution to overturn the Biden Administration?s new waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the legislation this week. An identical resolution was introduced in the Senate with the support of all 49 Senate Republicans. Senator Grassley was asked whether he thinks that Senate Democrats Jon Tester (D-MT) and Joe Manchin (D-WVA) could be swayed to support the resolution.
Senator Grassley made his comments during his weekly press conference with ag broadcasters and reporters on Tuesday morning.
