YAKIMA, Wash. — Northwest growers should not make any changes to their water quality plans and testing while the Trump administration reviews agricultural water rules adopted by the Obama administration, says Kate Woods, vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima.
The Food and Drug Administration is also trying to clarify whether packing houses are farms or processors, Woods said.
The FDA announced Sept. 12 a 60-day review of a proposed rule to extend deadlines for compliance with agricultural water requirements of the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act by two to four years while the requirements are reviewed. The Produce Safety Rule was announced by the Obama administration on Nov. 27, 2015.
American Soybean Association (ASA) and other farm organizations have been urging Congressional leaders to provide additional funds to the Agriculture Committees so they can write a new farm bill in 2018 that responds to the difficult times farmers are facing. In the absence of outside assistance, however, the Committees and groups that support enactment of the farm bill are facing some tough decisions over the next few months. We will need the active support and participation of all farm bill sectors to get the best possible legislation during what can be described as highly uncertain times for production agriculture in the United States. 
California Sens. Dianne Feinstein an Kamala Harris continue to press for a bill to help the state better prepare for wildfires.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set aside $4 million to help farmers and ranchers impacted by the California wildfires recover.
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule is now final, and the earliest compliance dates for some farms begin one year after the effective date of the final rule (see “Compliance Dates” below). The rule establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.