A news release yesterday from U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Darren Soto (D-FL) stated that, “[Reps. Johnson and Darren Soto] today introduced the Food Safety Modernization for Innovative Technologies Act, a bill which would formalize a regulatory framework for food derived from cell-cultured technology.

“Earlier this year, the Trump Administration established an agreement between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure food and labeling safety. The bill leverages the lab and food safety oversight expertise of the FDA and USDA. As cell-cultured meat technologies progress, this bill will ensure thorough agency oversight to protect consumers and the integrity of product claims.

“‘South Dakota ranchers already produce a safe, quality product, anything lab grown should have to meet the same standards for consumers,’ said Johnson. ‘As cell-cultured foods make way to the supermarket, Americans deserve to know exactly what it is they are feeding their families.'”

Yesterday’s update added that, “Under this legislation, FDA would oversee the lab process of multiplying animal collected cells to make tissue and USDA would oversee processing, packaging and labeling. Through a coordinated agency process, the Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to require prior approval of labels or labeling claims before introduction into the consumer market. The bill also provides protections for misbranded products, including ‘imitation’ products that could confuse consumers.”

An update yesterday from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “The [USDA] reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to enroll by February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term.

“‘This is the first opportunity for general sign up since 2016, and we want producers and private landowners to know that we have just one month remaining,’ FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. ‘It is critical that they make their final determinations and submit offers very soon to take advantage of this popular conservation program.’

“Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive yearly rental payments for voluntarily establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as ‘covers’), which can control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands.”

The FSA update added that, “The CRP continuous signup is ongoing, which enables producers to enroll for certain practices. FSA plans to open the Soil Health and Income Protection Program, a CRP pilot program, in early 2020, and the 2020 CRP Grasslands signup runs from March 16, 2020 to May 15, 2020.

“To enroll in CRP, contact your local FSA county office or visit fsa.usda.gov/crp. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.”

Wall Street Journal writers Laura Kusisto and Ruth Bender reported on Friday that, “The latest trial over allegations that Bayer AG’s  popular Roundup weedkiller causes cancer was postponed indefinitely at the last minute on Friday to allow room for escalating settlement talks to continue.

“Bayer was hours away from facing another jury on the issue, after the German chemical and drug conglomerate over the last year and a half lost the first three Roundup trials for a total of $190.5 million in awards. A fourth adverse verdict could have handed plaintiffs, who number more than 42,000, additional ammunition in settlement talks that have dragged on for months.

“Analysts estimate any settlement would be in the $8 billion to $12 billion range, in talks led by court-appointed mediator Ken Feinberg, who said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ a deal could be struck in the coming weeks.”

The Journal article noted that, “Bayer and a host of plaintiffs have moved closer in recent weeks to settling the Roundup litigation, according to attorneys and Mr. Feinberg.

“In talks, Bayer and plaintiff lawyers are trying to establish the conditions for compensating plaintiffs as a step toward coming up with a total amount for a potential settlement, according to people familiar with the settlement negotiations. Bayer wants a deal that would include a way to handle potential future claims. How that can be done is still uncertain, though lawyers expect the company to set aside a pool of money to address future claimants.”

A news release Friday from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “[RMA] is reminding producers who received a prevented planting ‘top-up’ payment last fall that they are required to purchase Federal crop insurance for the next two crop years. The deadlines (Sales Closing Dates) to purchase these crop insurance policies are January 31, February 15, February 28, and March 15, 2020, depending on a producer’s policy.

“‘We encourage crop insurance agents to help us spread the word to their customers,’ said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. ‘We want to make sure producers pay their premiums on time, so they don’t become ineligible to buy crop insurance.’

“Producers who have trouble making their premium payment should contact their crop insurance agent to set up a written payment agreement to avoid being made ineligible to purchase Federal crop insurance and having to pay back the ‘top-up’ payment.”

Last week’s update added that, “Producers who had a payable prevented planting indemnity related to flooding, excess moisture or causes other than drought in 2019 automatically received a ‘top-up’ payment from their Approved Insurance Providers in fall 2019. As of January 20, RMA has paid roughly $4.29 billion in claims related to prevented planting for the 2019 crop year, and $4 billion of those total prevented planting claims were associated with flood and excess moisture causes of loss.”

“For more information on the two-year Crop Insurance Purchasing Requirement, see RMA’s Prevented Planting Disaster Payments FAQs.”

Reuters writer Tina Bellon reported today that, “Bayer AG is set to face a fourth U.S. jury trial over allegations that its Roundup weed killer causes cancer, with four cancer patients in the hometown of its agricultural subsidiary Monsanto scheduled to begin making their case on Friday.

“The lawsuit marks the first multi-plaintiff trial in the litigation over whether glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, is carcinogenic, and is the first trial outside of California. It is being held in St. Louis, where Monsanto was headquartered before Bayer bought the company in a $63 billion deal in 2018.

“Three consecutive juries found the company liable for causing cancer with damages of tens of millions of dollars awarded to each plaintiff. Bayer is appealing those verdicts.”

The Reuters article stated that, “Court-appointed mediator Ken Feinberg has put the number of Roundup cancer claimants at more than 75,000 while Bayer said the claims it has been served with in court were below 50,000.”

Ms. Bellon added that, “While most plaintiffs’ lawyers have agreed to postpone trials pending negotiations, some have decided to pursue their clients’ day in court.

“The case in Missouri’s Circuit Court for the 22nd Judicial Circuit of the City of St. Louis is scheduled to last several weeks, with both sides presenting extensive scientific evidence through expert witnesses.”

A news release earlier this month from the Organic Trade Association stated that, “A final rule published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) now requires the use of certified organic flavors in certified organic products when they are commercially available. The rule was implemented and went into effect on December 27, 2019.

“‘It is now time that the regulations catch up with the marketplace,’ says Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. ‘Our position is that the organic flavor supply has grown to a size where it is no longer appropriate to allow the use of non-organic natural flavors in certified organic products.’

“The Organic Trade Association submitted a petition to help grow the availability and use of organic flavors in 2014. Natural flavors have been included on the National List since it was first implemented in 2002. Since that time, however, many organic flavors have been developed, and are being successfully used by many companies.”

The news update added that, “In addition to its practical guide, the Organic Trade Association is offering a webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern on January 29 titled “New Rules: Requirement for Using Organic Flavors in Processed Organic Products” to its members as well as non-members.”