The Organic Trade Association welcomed a move by the Department of Agriculture aimed at stopping fraudulent organic products from entering the United States. USDA this week revoked the organic certificate…
Nebraska Firm First to Ship U.S. Beef to China
…Agriculture Director Greg Ibach joined Greater Omaha Packing Chief Executive Henry Davis to load the first box of beef destined for China Thursday morning. Davis told the Drovers Cattle Network:…
Secretary Perdue Hosts Inaugural Rural Prosperity Task Force Meeting
…authority that impacts agriculture and rural communities.” As Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue serves as the task force’s chairman. The task force will examine and consider, among other issues, current barriers…
Conaway, Peterson Praise U.S. Sugar Deal
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-7) made the below remarks following an announcement that an agreement was reached between the U.S. sugar…
No USDA Nominees Until September
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told lawmakers this week he may be the lone political appointment at the Department of Agriculture until September, or later. Currently, 15 executive posts at USDA…
USDA to Speed Through GMO Labeling Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to finalize GMO disclosure standards within a nine-month time frame, what Politico calls a breakneck pace for any rulemaking. USDA in that timeframe will…
Agri View: Crime against Agriculture Continues
Everett Griner talks about crime against agriculture and how law enforcement is dealing with it in today’s Agri View. Agri View: Crime against Agriculture Continues In spite of all that…
Critical Agricultural Water Resources Issues Funded
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 14 grants totaling more than $9 million to help solve critical water problems in rural and…
AFBF Details NAFTA Renegotiation Priorities
…NAFTA from agriculture’s perspective, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Under NAFTA, U.S. farmers and ranchers have seen their exports to Mexico and Canada grow significantly, from $8.9 billion…
Vilsack Joins Feeding America Board
Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has joined the board of directors of Feeding America, the nation’s largest anti-hunger organization. Feeding America represents 200 food banks across all 50 states in…
Opposition Rising Against Perdue Rural Development Pick
Hazlett Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s move to name Anne Hazlett as his assistant on rural development is drawing criticisms. Perdue announced Hazlett as his assistant on rural development this week,…
USDA Seeks Cotton Board Nominees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for candidates to fill 13 member and 13 alternate positions on the Cotton Board. The Cotton Board represents Domestic cotton producers…
Duvall Praises Selection of Hazlett for Rural Development
…USDA’s effort to grow our rural economies. “As Congress weighs in on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s proposal to reorganize USDA, we commend him for putting an experienced hand on his…
Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee Highlights Importance of Watershed Maintenance in Rural America
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing to examine efforts to address small watershed infrastructure. Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-3) and members heard from two panels…