150 Food Companies Joined in a White House Forum; Net Farm Income Decreases Since 2013

The Obama Administration hosted the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship on Tuesday - bringing together more than 150 food companies, retailers and human and animal health stakeholders to highlight commitments to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. President Barack Obama also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing federal departments and agencies to create a preference for meat and poultry produced according to responsible antibiotic use in the meat supply chain by supporting the emerging market for meat produced using responsible antibiotic use policies.

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing Tuesday on the financial health of farm country. Chairman Rick Crawford says America’s farmers and ranchers have experienced an estimated 43-percent decrease in net farm income since 2013 and are being forced to make substantial adjustments to their operations as a result. Ranking Member Tim Walz says lawmakers rely on boots-on-the-ground expertise to help them navigate a proper course for ag policy. He says they write the farm bill for the bad times - not the good.