Ag News: Colorado Animal-Cruelty Initiative

**Ranchers are keeping a wary eye on a proposed Colorado animal-cruelty initiative.

According to www.agrimarketing.com, animal-welfare advocates are trying to place the Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation, or PAUSE, initiative on the November 2022 ballot.

Critics say the measure would ban artificial insemination and other commonly accepted veterinary practices in Colorado and would ban the slaughter of livestock younger than about five years old.

With title language approved, backers will now begin gathering the 125,000 signatures they'll need to put Initiative 16 before voters.

www.agrimarketing.com/s/135765

**Pistachio production and processing pumps more than $5 billion into the California economy, according to a new study commissioned by the American Pistachio Growers.

It says the pistachio business generates more than 47,000 full-time-equivalent jobs, with almost $2.5 billion in labor income.

The report says farmer investment in new pistachio acreage has helped boost the economic impact.

**The Emergency Food Assistance Program, a federal nutrition program run by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service, has decided to expand TEFAP to include a presorted, prepackaged fresh produce box.

According to www.thepacker.com, the federal program helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. USDA provides 100% American-grown USDA Foods and administrative funds to states to operate TEFAP.

www.thepacker.com/news/industry/fresh-produce-coming-emergency-food-assistance-program?mkt