Family Farm and Food Bytes
FDA WARNS AGAINST LIVESTOCK MEDICATION AS COVID TREATMENT – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted on its Twitter account Saturday cautioning people from using Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication for livestock, to treat COVID. The FDA’s warning came a day after Mississippi’s Department of Health said on its website that it “has received an increasing number of calls from individuals with potential ivermectin exposure taken to treat or prevent COVID-19 infection.” (Voice of America)
IF STEPPED-UP BASIS GOES AWAY – A recent survey showed 95% of farmers are concerned that changes in tax policy will make it harder to pass their farms to the next generation. Here’s what everyone’s doing about it — and what you can do to help. (Farm Progress)
ANALYSIS-HIGHER U.S. FOOD BENEFITS GIVE LEGS TO DOLLAR STORES' FRESH FOOD PUSH – U.S. dollar stores including Dollar General and Family Dollar are likely to see a sales and earnings boost from the Biden administration's plan to hike food stamp benefits, an added payoff for the chains' strategy to tap the $274 billion fresh food market. (Reuters)
ILLINOIS HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTS CAN BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS IN 2022 UNDER NEW LAW – Soon farmers markets won’t be the only place to find home-based food products in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Home-to-Market Act (SB2007) into law, effectively opening the door for small farms and home bakers to sell their products directly to customers through fairs and festivals, home sales, pickup, delivery and shipping. (State Journal-Register)
"Her strong roots in agriculture and her experience in America’s largest exporting state have prepared her for the challenges of representing the nation on trade issues," AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a press release. “Opportunities to create new trade agreements with the European Union and Great Britain as well as expanding the China Phase 1 agreement make filling this position with the most qualified person extremely important,"
As the leader of an organization that advocates for California’s leading agricultural export, Trevino understands tariff and nontariff barriers to trade and the importance of maintaining America’s strong trade agreements and global positioning, the White House said in a press release. She served as a deputy secretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture for former Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis.