Latest News


Taiwan: Food Processing Ingredients

In 2022, Taiwan imported record-high US$4.4 billion agricultural products from the US. Yet, due to COVID variants, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, labor shortage, and inflation issues, Taiwan's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased 0.17 percent at $774.7 billion.


Philippines: Corn TRQ Administration

The Philippines maintains a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for corn (H.S. 1005)


European Union: Regulation Published Lowering MRLs Due to Environmental Concerns

On February 15, 2023, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/334 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 lowering the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in or on certain products was published in the Official Journal (OJ).


China: National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Residue Limits of 112 Pesticides in Foods Released

On January 4, 2023, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Health Commission (NHC), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly announced the publication of a new National Food Safety Standard for 112 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in Foods.


Australia: Food Processing Ingredients

Australia has proven to be an appealing and profitable market for U.S. companies for many years.


Canada: Oilseeds and Products Annual

Dryness persists in scattered growing areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan.


Canada: Canada Opens Consultations on Proposed Changes to Livestock Identification and Traceability

Canada announced a consultation on proposed changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability), which will run from March 18, 2023 until June 16, 2023.


Canada: Canada Proposes Maximum Residue Limits for Benzovindiflupyr and Teflubenzuron

Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) announced two consultations on proposed maximum reside limits (MRL) for Benzovindiflupyr and Teflubenzuron.


China: Seed Variety Registration Open for Comment

On March 9, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published a Decision on Amending and Repealing Some Regulations (Draft for Comments) for seed variety registration.


Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly

Rice export prices increased 2-3 percent due to the strengthening of the Thai baht which offset the downward pressure on domestic rice prices.


Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton - Volume 3 Issue 6

Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong.


USDA Announces Dates for Oregon and Washington Pears Continuance Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum May 8-30, 2023, for pear growers to vote on whether to continue their federal marketing order.


USDA Reduces Barriers, Increases Opportunities for More Vendors to Participate in USDA Commodity Procurement Food Purchase Programs, Aligns Transportation Requirements with Industry Practices

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning July 1, 2023, suppliers of food purchase programs administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will no longer be required to use high security seals on trucks, railcars, vessels and other transports when transporting food products purchased to support those programs but will be allowed to use traceable, tamper evident, flat metal, wire or plastic commercial security seals.


USDA Expands Local Foods in School Meals through Cooperative Agreement with Kansas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Kansas for more than $2 million to increase their purchase of nutritious, local foods for school meal programs.


USDA Announces $7.6 Million in Grant Funding Available to Promote Food Security in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $7.6 million in funding available through the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food insecure communities in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.


Celebrating World Health Day Extension Program Efforts

Some Land-grant Institutions and Universities (LGUs) are addressing the challenges of physical inactivity and poor diet.


Southern Region Land-grant Researchers Finding Feral Hog Solutions

The following story first was published on the LSU AgCenter News webpage. It is reprinted here with permission.


NIFA Invests $300K in Response to Extreme Weather Events Across the U.S.

NIFA has funded — through the Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program — a hurricane-related project at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez.


NIFA Invests $5M for Higher Education Challenge

The purpose of the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development.


Living the Farm Dream

This piece was adapted from a piece in the Extension Administrators Newsletter.