FDA to Redefine “Healthy”; Ag Lenders Expect Rise in Loan Demand

**The FDA will have to sift through hundreds of comments containing often-conflicting advice as it tries to redefine the term “healthy” for use on food products.

FDA accepted comments until April 26 and now has the unenviable task of trying to figure out how to balance the recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which emphasizes the importance of dietary patterns with Americans’ need for specific nutrients.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says the science behind the DGA needs to be improved.

**It’s been a roller-coaster ride for U.S. Ag after President Trump first threatened to pull the U.S. out of the North American Free Trade Agreement and then, almost as suddenly, announced he was willing to negotiate with Mexico and Canada to keep the trade pact alive – maybe.

U.S. farm groups are sending their best and brightest to Mexico to try and reassure buyers that the U.S. will remain a stable source of corn, soybeans, dairy, pork and beef.

But, that’s become increasingly difficult because Trump continues to threaten to pull out of the 23-year-old deal.

**Almost 90 percent of agricultural lenders report declines in farm profitably and expect increases in loan demand this year.

Brittany Kleinpaste, with the American Bankers Association, tells Brownfield they’ve created a biannual joint survey with Farmer Mac to take a pulse on the Ag lending amid a declining farm economy. She says 66 percent of lenders anticipate increasing ag operating loan demand for the first half of 2017.