No Wild Cow Milking in California
A proposed ordinance in Alameda County, California aimed at rodeo events was mostly voted down, although an amended version was passed which will ban the “wild cow milking” event that is popular at ranch rodeos. The original language of the ordinance proposed a ban on much of the equipment used at rodeos, including ropes, spurs, and straps:
Several Ag groups successfully opposed the ordinance, including Protect the Harvest, a national non-profit organization founded by Forrest Lucas to defend farmers and ranchers and preserve agricultural interests against radical animal rights activists. Other Ag supporters appeared before the County’s Board Supervisors to explain actual livestock production practices and explain the animal welfare practices used within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). You can read more on DTN Progressive Farmer here.
FTC Suing for Better Access to Generic Pesticides
The Federal Trade Commission, along with 10 State Attorney Generals, filed a federal lawsuit in North Carolina against Syngenta and Corteva this week, alleging that the companies are blocking access to off-patent, generic pesticides through the use of distributor loyalty programs. According to the FTC’s news release, distributors for the companies “only get paid if they limit business with competing manufacturers.” The result is that Syngenta and Corteva can continue to charge inflated prices for off-patent products which are passed on to farmers and ranchers. The active ingredients that are targeted by the lawsuit include the fungicide azoxystrobin; the herbicides mesotrione, metolachlor, rimsulfuron, and acetochlor; and the insecticide oxamyl. States joining in the suit include California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin.
