American Farm Bureau condemns protester attack on US Capitol in Washington DC

From US farmers hitting out at protesters who stormed the Capitol to the UK’s decision to consult on the regulation of gene editing — don’t miss our wrap of what’s happening around the globe in agriculture.

THE American Farm Bureau has hit out at protesters who stormed the US Capitol yesterday in a bid to overturn the results of the nation’s recent presidential election.

Protesters and supporters of incumbent president Donald Trump broke into and destroyed parts the Capitol building while politicians were attempting to certify the results of the November election, won by Democrat Joe Biden. Four people died in the incident, with a police officer reportedly on life support.

In a statement Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall, a farmer from Georgia where two US Senate run-off elections this week went the way of the Democrats — handing the party a majority in the upper house — said the organisation was “saddened by the events that took place in Washington DC”.

“Our democracy is precious, and our dedication to the peaceful transfer of power is what sets us apart from much of the rest of the world,” Mr Duvall said.

“This nation was founded on the belief that we can debate our differences without resorting to violence. Storming the US Capitol — or any federal building — and threatening the lives of police officers, first responders and elected leaders is not the answer.

“We must come together, not as farmers or city dwellers or suburban families, but as Americans, and put aside the bitterness that has divided us and rally behind the principles that unite us.”

Genes fit

THE British Government’s decision to consult on the future regulation of gene editing has been welcomed by the nation’s peak lobby group, the National Farmers Union.

NFU vice president Tom Bradshaw said new precision breeding techniques such as gene editing had the potential to offer significant benefits to UK farming and the environment and were “absolutely critical in helping us achieve our climate change net zero ambition”.

“In our drive to achieve net zero by 2040, these new tools could help us address pest and disease pressures on our crops and livestock, increasing our resilience in the event of extreme weather events, as well as reducing our impact through a more efficient use of resources, resulting in lower emissions and less waste,” he said.

“New biotechnologies are also enabling the development of foods with much more direct benefit to the public, such as healthier oils, higher vitamin content and products with a longer shelf life. We know that on its own, gene editing will not be a silver bullet but it could be a very important tool to help us meet the challenges for the future.”

Cull call

FRENCH producers of foie gras this week called for a mass preventive cull of ducks to try to halt the spread of a severe strain of bird flu that is ripping through poultry farms in the southwest of the nation.

The highly pathogenic H5N8 virus was first detected in a bird in a pet shop on the Mediterranean island of Corsica in November before spreading to duck farms on the mainland in December.

Several European countries have reported cases of infection, five years after a major outbreak prompted the slaughter of millions of ducks in France.

“The virus is stronger than us. New clusters are constantly emerging,” the head of France’s CIFOQ federation of foie gras producers, Marie-Pierre Pe, told AFP.

The number of outbreaks had now risen to 124, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday, adding that around 350,000 ducks had been slaughtered since December 24.

— AFP

Protest continues

THOUSANDS of farmers clogged up a major highway into India’s capital this week as they warned their month-long protest would not stop until recent agriculture reforms are repealed.

Tens of thousands of farmers have held sit-ins on key roads into New Delhi after being blocked from marching into the capital in late November over laws deregulating their industry.

“Down with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi! Down with the government!,” they chanted as a kilometres-long convoy of farming machines snaked along the expressway.

There was minimal police presence on the road and although officers tried to restrict the tractors to two lanes, they were unsuccessful.

The farming unions leading the protests said the rally was a dry-run for a much bigger tractor parade to cripple the capital on January 26 when India holds its annual Republic Day celebrations and Modi delivers a keynote speech in Delhi.

Modi has said the changes would allow farmers to sell to private buyers instead of just at state markets.

— AFP