UDAF’s Water Optimization Program was created during the 2018 General Session (HB 381) to reduce agricultural water diversion or consumptive use while maintaining or improving agriculture production and profitability.

The 2021 Legislative secession added an additional $3,000,000 in funding to the program. All projects must include real-time metering and document water saved. 2021 applications will be open May 5 – June 2, 2021.

Click here to learn more and how to apply.

For more information contact Jay Olsen: jayolsen@utah.gov, 801-718-0517.

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Due to global shortages of lab supplies, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) will be temporarily adjusting testing protocols for medical cannabis products. 

Laboratory supplies have been heavily impacted by supply chain disruptions related to COVID-19. Due to global shortages of filtered PCR clean pipette tips, commonly used in testing for SARS-CoV-2, pathogen testing capabilities using qPCR are limited. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has filed an emergency rule adjusting Section R68-29-8 Microbial Standards, effective April 29, 2021 through August 27, 2021. 

UDAF Laboratories and other licensed medical cannabis testing laboratories will continue to be required to test for total aerobic microbial counts and total yeast and mold counts. However, the additional specific pathogens listed in Table 2 of Rule R68-29 may be tested for, at the discretion of the department. A sample and related lot or batch of cannabis plant product, cannabis concentrate, or cannabis product will continue to fail quality assurance testing for microbiological contaminants if the results exceed any of the limits set forth in Rule R68-29, Table 2. Testing fees for affected businesses will be reduced from $120 to $70 per sample. 

“UDAF officials and other licensed laboratories will continue testing with available resources to ensure medical cannabis products remain available to patients and that those products are safe and meet quality assurance standards.” — UDAF Commissioner Craig W Buttars. As laboratory supplies become available the testing of cannabis samples for the specific pathogens listed in Table 2 will resume. 

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The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is seeking applicants to join the Utah Cannabis Production Establishment Licensing Advisory Board, approved in the 2021 legislative session under S.B. 192 Medical Cannabis Act Amendments. 

Meetings are expected to begin in May. “The department is looking forward to the new board members coming on as we work to drive the program and industry forward in the state” Cody James, Industrial Hemp and Medical Cannabis Program Manager. 

The Utah Cannabis Production Establishment Licensing Advisory Board will consist of six members comprised of the following: 

• One member of the public 
• One member with knowledge and experience in the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical manufacturing industry 
• One member representing law enforcement 
• One member of an organization representing medical cannabis patients
• A chemist who has experience with cannabis and who is associated with a research university; and 
• The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee as a non-voting member. 

Members of the board will be appointed by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Craig W Buttars and confirmed by Governor Spencer J. Cox. The term lengths of board members will be staggered to ensure that two or three new board members will be appointed every two years. The board will be responsible for meeting to review cannabis production establishment license applications as needed. Additional information about the composition and duties of the advisory board can be found here. 

Qualified applicants may find a link to the UDAF Cannabis Production Establishment Licensing Advisory Board application here. The application window will be open through 11:59pm Friday, April 23, 2021. To learn more about the Utah Medical Cannabis Program visit medicalcannabis.utah.gov. 

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Real Water Water, Inc., of Mesa, AZ and Henderson, NV with a bottling facility in Hildale, UT has issued a voluntary recall of all sizes of Real Water brand drinking water; this water may be linked to instances of non-viral hepatitis reported in or about November 2020 in the Las Vegas, NV area. Symptoms of hepatitis, including non-viral hepatitis, include fever, fatigue, loss

 of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay or gray-colored bowel movements, joint pain, yellow eyes, and jaundice. Those experiencing symptoms should contact their doctor. 

Recalled products include 1.5 liter, 1 liter, 500 ml, and 1 gallon ready-to-drink bottles distributed throughout the United States, including Utah, and are sold on Amazon.com. 5-gallon home and office delivery bottles were distributed through direct delivery to homes and offices in the greater Las Vegas, NV area, central California coastal region, and Phoenix, AZ. Also included in the recall are 4oz bottles of Real Water Concentrate, sold on the firm’s website. 

Consumers who may have recalled products should discard it immediately and not drink or cook with it. Customers of Real Water’s 5-gallon Home and Office Delivery should contact Real Water at the number or email below to have any remaining product picked up. Consumers who purchased Real Water ready-to-drink bottles may return it to the place of purchase or contact Real Water for refund. 

The ready-to-drink bottles sold in retail stores have a blue rectangular bottle with “Real Alkalized Water” printed on the label. 5-Gallon home and office delivery bottles are blue with white labels. The products have been embargoed in Utah. Distributors have been notified of the recall and instructed to immediately remove recalled products from all store shelves, distribution, and other inventories to ensure they are no longer available for sale or consumption. 

The recall is the result of an investigation by the Southern Nevada Health District and the FDA after reported cases of non-viral hepatitis in or about November 2020 were suspected to be potentially linked to Real Water’s 5-gallon Home and Office Delivery. The company has ceased production and distribution of the product as the FDA and the company continue their investigations into the potential cause of the problem. 

For additional information, see the full company announcement here. 

Real Water Inc. contact information for consumers: phone: (702)310-5437; email: customerservice@drinkrealwater.com

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Invasive Insect Program will be hosting a Japanese beetle (JB) eradication virtual open house Thursday, March 25 from 6:00-8:00pm. The meeting is open to public comment and can be accessed via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/utahagriculture.

For more information visit https://ag.utah.gov/jberadication/

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