7 ag stories you might have missed this week - Dec. 21, 2018

<p>1. The USDA’s <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/biotechnology/usda-releases-final-bioengine... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">final bioengineered foods labeling standard</a> goes into <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/groups-offer-reaction-bioengine... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">effect Jan. 1, 2020</a>, for major food manufacturers and 2022 for smaller businesses. – Farm Futures</p>

<p>2. President Trump <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-bill/2018-farm-bill-signing-early-chri... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">signed the farm bill</a> Thursday, calling it a “tremendous victory” for the American farmer. The bill protects crop insurance programs, offers funds to producers who rely on government support in times of disasters, doubles money provided for loans to farmers and expands broadband assistance. The <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-bill/new-farm-bill-becomes-law" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">bill has plenty of moving parts</a>, including some programs that are familiar and others that will be new. – Farm Futures</p>

<p>3. USDA is <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/20/u-s-department-a... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">proposing a rule</a> that would restrict the ability of states to exempt work-eligible adults from having to obtain steady employment to receive food stamps. – USA Today</p>

<p>4. The Farmers Business Network, which made a name for itself by helping farmers reduce input costs, has ventured into the health care marketplace. Farmers Business Network launched <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/fbn-launches-group-health-plan" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">FBN Health</a> in December. It’s a multi-state health care network designed to provide improved health care access for members. – Nebraska Farmer</p>

<p>5. Wheat acres in Kansas could reach <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/wheat/kansas-wheat-acres-could-reach-100-ye... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">100-year lows</a> this year due in part to abnormal weather patterns in October and November. – Kansas Farmer</p>

<p>6. The Bismarck, North Dakota, area has become ground zero for <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/doing-better-soil-health" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">soil health innovation</a>. Among those leaders is Gabe Brown, who hasn’t used commercial fertilizer since 2007. He has relied on cover crops, mineralization of residue, soil biology and livestock manure. – Dakota Farmer</p>

<p>7. In the past year, the food industry has begun looking to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennysplitter/2018/12/21/food-safety-blockc... style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">blockchain</a> as a solution to foodborne disease outbreaks. - Forbes</p>

<p>The Ottawa County Poor Farm is now the <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/farm-poor-becomes-park-public" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Eastmanville Farm County Park</a>. The poor farm opened in 1866. It became a county park in 2005. – Michigan Farmer</p>