FDA pressed to release glyphosate residue data Presented by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

With help from Helena Bottemiller Evich, Sabrina Rodriguez and Maya Parthasarathy

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Morning Agriculture will not publish from Aug. 27-Sept. 3. Our next Morning Agriculture newsletter will publish on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

FDA PRESSED TO RELEASE GLYPHOSATE RESIDUE DATA: Last week’s media frenzy — and large dose of scientific criticism — over the Environmental Working Group’s glyphosate residues report, which found trace amounts of the herbicide in popular foods like cereal, oatmeal and snack bars, has prompted a renewed focus on what FDA is up to on glyphosate these days.

The EWG report, released last week, caused an outcry on the internet, especially from parents who were concerned because they frequently feed their children foods that were listed, such as Cheerios, Quaker Oats and Lucky Charms. Many of those who commented on the report pointed to the recent $289 million jury verdict against Monsanto, the maker of glyphosate, for the cancer diagnosis of a former groundskeeper who had regularly used the company’s weedkiller Roundup, which contains the herbicide.

FDA on the case: The agency in 2016 decided to start testing certain foods for glyphosate residue in light of increasing consumer and activist concerns, but it has not released data from the project. This week, FDA said its testing project has been completed and “the results are being evaluated and those results will be included when the agency releases the 2017 pesticide report.” It could be a two-year process for the results to be posted, the agency added.

Schumer wants the data: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer jumped into the fray on Sunday, calling on the agency to release the results of its residue testing. “Simply put, the FDA must not only weed out the facts on glyphosate, but they must update the public on their progress,” he said. “I have full confidence in their ability to effectively continue this study, but we are here to send them a message: get going.”

Early results: FDA said it found no pesticide residue violations for glyphosate in “preliminary testing” of samples of soybeans, corn, milk and eggs conducted between 2016 and 2017.

Expanded testing: An FDA spokesperson said Monday the agency is stepping up residue testing efforts more broadly: “This year, FDA has expanded capacity for testing for glyphosate, 2,4-D and dicamba as part of the general panel of pesticides the agency samples and the related results will be included in the 2018 and future pesticide monitoring reports.”

HAPPY TUESDAY, AUG. 21! Welcome to Morning Ag, where your host just learned about the story of Johnny Cash’s overheated truck sparking a wildfire that burned 500 acres and led to an $82,000 fine (equivalent to half a million bucks in today’s dollars). Send news and tips to [email protected] or @liz_crampton. Follow the whole team @Morning_Ag.

A message from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: When animals are healthy, people are, too. Our 3,100 U.S. employees enhance the well-being of animals and people by guarding against diseases that threaten their health and our food supply. We’re proud to build on our long history of supporting U.S. producers by supplying a FMD vaccine bank for the USDA. Learn more.

A ROADMAP FOR THIS WEEK’S NAFTA TALKS: Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo returns to Washington today for more talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as buzz continues to build that the two officials could reach a preliminary agreement on U.S.-Mexico NAFTA issues this week.

Negotiators from the U.S. and Mexico have been meeting consistently for the past month in an effort to resolve the remaining thorny topics between the two countries by the end of the month. But even if the high-level talks result in a breakthrough on U.S.-Mexico issues, Canada is still not at the negotiating table, and there are numerous questions surrounding how negotiators would be able to conclude a trilateral deal in a few days even if Canada returns to the fold.

Where’s Canada? “Canada will most likely — but let’s say most likely in italics — be back this week,” a source close to the talks told our friends at Morning Trade, adding that it remains to be seen how Canada will respond to the bilateral solutions the U.S. and Mexico have found on certain issues.

Once Canada is at the table, negotiators from the three countries will need to reach agreement on controversial U.S. proposals that are being left until the end, such as government procurement and the so-called sunset clause. Plus, the U.S. and Canada have to work out a compromise on U.S.-Canada issues, including President Donald Trump’s repeated vow to get U.S. dairy farmers a better deal.

But aren’t the 232 tariffs still in place? There’s some expectation that a preliminary deal between the U.S. and Mexico will be enough to get Trump to grant Mexico an exemption from the administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports — a move that also could incentivize Canada to move swiftly to wrap up the talks.

“It already makes no sense that [negotiators] are reaching an agreement when there’s still a gun on everybody’s head,” the source said, referring to the steel and aluminum tariffs.

Time check: Guajardo is expected to meet with Lighthizer at 4 p.m., but that could change depending on their schedules, according to a source familiar with the tentative plans. Regardless, Guajardo will remain in town for “as many talks as needed” this week, the source said.

What Ottawa is watching for on NAFTA: Canadians are increasingly supportive of the job that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet are doing in the NAFTA talks, a new poll from Canadian research firm Pollara shows. Fifty-six percent of adults surveyed in late July said they approve of Trudeau’s handling of the renegotiation — an 11-point increase from a previous survey conducted in December.

A majority, or 55 percent, of the 1,227 participants also said they would only support a new NAFTA deal if it makes only moderate or minor concessions to the U.S., while just 11 percent would support major concessions.

The survey reinforces the view that Canadians — who are unhappy that Trump hit them with steel and aluminum tariffs based on national security grounds — shouldn’t be willing to submit to whatever Trump wants when it comes to NAFTA. And as Washington and Mexico City prepare to bring Ottawa back into the mix, the poll is a reminder that reaching a trilateral consensus on a reworked deal will involve complicated political considerations for Ottawa that could prevent things from being worked out as quickly or as easily as some would like.

SENIOR HOUSE REPS FACING NEW HEAT: The battle for control of the House this fall is leading a growing fraternity of GOP incumbents who represent some of the party’s safest congressional seats to pull out all the stops for the first time in years in the face of spirited challenges from Democratic candidates, writes Campaign Pro’s Elena Schneider. Among them, Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), Leonard Lance (R-N.J.), John Culberson (R-Texas) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) have all been outraised by their adversaries.

In particular, Chabot, currently serving in his 11th term, faces a tough opponent in Aftab Pureval, a 35-year-old clerk of courts in Cincinnati’s Hamilton County. Pureval has dragged Chabot into his first difficult reelection race in a decade.

“The question is, can some of these incumbents, including Chabot, be de-fossilized?” said one Republican strategist.

Adelsons shell out major cash: In a hopeful development for the GOP faithful, Republican megadonors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson gave $25 million last month to the Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC entrusted with keeping the Senate under Republican control. That represents almost the entire haul of the $26 million the super PAC brought in last month and is more than half of the $44 million it’s raised this year. POLITICO’s Theodoric Meyer has more.

ROW CROPS:

— Bernhardt drafting Cali water plan after recusal ends: Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has been put in charge of creating a plan to send more water to California farmers, just days after an ethics agreement preventing him from working on the issue expired, reports Pro Energy’s Annie Snider. Bernhardt was the longtime lobbyist for Westlands Water District, which delivers water to major farms in the state’s Central Valley and is one of the most powerful forces in California water politics. Under his ethics agreement, his prohibition from working on matters involving Westlands expired Aug. 1, one year after he was sworn in.

— Crab houses pinched by H-2B pullback: The Washington Post has a deep dive into how Eastern shore crab houses are affected by the Trump administration’s immigration policy. Changes to the H-2B visa program have left businesses without seasonal laborers: About one-third of picking jobs sit empty as U.S. workers haven’t filled the openings and Mexican workers don’t have permission to obtain a work permit.

— Trump declares disaster areas in Iowa: The president on Monday ordered federal assistance to areas in Iowa affected by severe storms, tornadoes, winds and flooding in June and July. Federal funding is available to state and local governments, as well as to nonprofits, on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repair of facilities in 30 of the hardest-hit counties, the White House said. Funds are also available for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

— Livestock herders’ H-2A suit revived: The D.C. Circuit Court on Friday reversed a decision by a D.C. federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a group of livestock herders challenging the government’s practice of issuing temporary visas for long-term labor, according to Law360. The lawsuit, brought by the Hispanic Affairs Project, argues that DHS is breaking the rules by routinely extending herders’ H-2A visas, which are intended for temporary or seasonal labor.

— PepsiCo buys SodaStream: PepsiCo is buying SodaStream International, an at-home soda maker company, for $3.2 billion. Seltzer has gained popularity in recent years, as consumers trade traditional sodas for the no-calorie, no-sugar drink. More from The Washington Post here.

— Argentina develops GMO potato: Argentina’s Ministry of Agribusiness has authorized the commercialization of a genetically modified potato that’s resistant to a virus that decimates up to 70 percent of the crop. More from the Genetic Literacy Project here.

— Language of love: Virginia Tech researchers have learned that farmers could harness the chemical language, or pheromones, that stink bugs use to attract mates as an alternative form of pest control. These new methods are sustainable and could save farmers millions of dollars. More from Phys.org here.

THAT’S ALL FOR MA! See you again soon! In the meantime, drop your host and the rest of the team a line: [email protected] and @ceboudreau; [email protected] and @hbottemiller; [email protected] and @liz_crampton; [email protected] and @sabrod123; [email protected] and @jmlauinger; and [email protected] and @pjoshiny. You can also follow @POLITICOPro and @Morning_Ag on Twitter.

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