…Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is said to have persuaded the President to renegotiate, rather than terminate the agreement, by emphasizing the importance NAFTA has for agriculture exports. Agriculture groups have…
USDA Seeks Public Input on Updates to Animal Welfare Act Licensing Requirements
Announcement During Week of 51st Anniversary of Law Protecting Animals in Research & Exhibition Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a trained veterinarian, prescribes a much-needed belly rub on Bring Your Dog…
Perdue Announces Tony Tooke as New Forest Service Chief
Tooke U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Tony Tooke will serve as the new Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Tooke has worked for the Forest Service since age…
South Korea Lifts U.S. Poultry Ban
…flu,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “South Korea is one of our best-trading partners, and we want to continue being their most dependable supplier of high-quality food and farm…
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tidwell Announces Retirement
…of the U.S. Forest Service, leading more than 30,000 employees working in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised Chief Tidwell, saying, “From the start,…
California Pursues New Health Protections on Chlorpyrifos
State considers identification of the pesticide as a toxic air contaminant and developmental toxicant The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced that both the California Department of Pesticide Regulations and…
Cotton Board Holds Annual Meeting
…voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s proposed 2018 budget of $74 million to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The Cotton Board also elected Louisiana cotton producer George LaCour, Jr. as Chairman…
Vilsack Helping Create Support for Democrats in Middle America
Vilsack Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is dedicating some of his time in trying to help the Democratic party gain support in middle America. ABC News reports Vilsack is part…
USDA Calls for Nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill vacancies expiring in 2017 on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). FVIAC, administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service,…
Perdue Turning to Industry for Dicamba Fix
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue indicated to reporters this week that he would like to see the industry work out a fix on dicamba issues. Perdue said: “I would much prefer…
Zinke Proposes New Sage Grouse Management Plan
Sage Grouse Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has announced a new plan to manage sage grouse in 11 Western states. Zinke said the new protocol would go into effect immediately, and…
Ag Secretary Perdue Speaks from “Back to Our Roots” Tour
…they could face civil and criminal penalties for normal agricultural practices. The upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations are on the Secretary’s radar as well. He tells reporters he’ll…
Funding to Encourage SNAP Participants to Purchase Healthy Foods
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced 32 grants totaling $16.8 million to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The program is…
Organic Family Farmers Need Strong Standards and Enforcement
…ranchers at a major disadvantage. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson highlighted the importance of the USDA enforcing those standards in a letter sent to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue. Johnson…