California Phasing Out Diesel Rigs and USDA on Domestic Organic

**California is set to phase out nearly all diesel trucks in the state over the next two decades.

The California Air Resources Board has voted unanimously to approve a ban on medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks, including big rigs that transport fresh agricultural products.

The state rule will ban the sale of new diesel trucks and buses by 2036 and most diesel trucks operating in the state by 2042.

**The USDA is taking additional steps to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods and support producers seeking organic certification through its Organic Transition Initiative.

The program helps existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says, the transition period before attaining organic certification can be cost-prohibitive, so USDA is also helping mitigate the risk.

FSA will cover up to 75 percent of costs associated with organic certification.

**The Consumer Price Index rose again in April, but grocery store prices for food declined.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the CPI for All Urban Consumers rose 0.4 percent in April.

The overall food index was unchanged in April, as the food

at home index fell 0.2 percent over the month.

Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes decreased over the month.