GMO Labeling Battle Drags On; Ag Surplus to Fall to Lowest Level in 10 Years

The food industry may be pushing hard for lawmakers to address GMO labeling in the omnibus, but Sen. Debbie Stabenow says that such a rider is unlikely to get the support companies are hoping for. Stabenow said. "I think this is very controversial so it would be a difficult thing to get done.” Thirteen Senate Democrats oppose that rider but support a measure that would require the FDA to put in place a system of mandatory GMO labeling of foods. Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's agriculture subcommittee, said in a statement that he also opposes any such measure.

The surplus in agricultural trade will tumble 63 percent to the lowest in a decade, according to a report by Bloomberg. That’s because of lower commodity prices and a stronger dollar that reduces the competitiveness of the country’s exports. In the 12 months ending September 30th, U.S. shipments of grain, soybeans, cotton, meat and other farm products will fall 5.9 percent to $131.5 billion amid “strong competition” from global producers and weaker Chinese demand.