Despite industry claims of higher yields from biotech corn and soybeans, much of the increase can be tied to other improvements in agriculture, according to a study released April 14. The Union of Concerned Scientists said its review found genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant soybeans and corn did not increase yields compared with conventional methods. Still, farmers
Biotech Corn, Soy Does Little To Boost Yield
Mandatory U. S. Animal ID On Its Way, Beef Sector Protests
The U. S. livestock industry could soon be facing a mandatory tracking system for animals, but the proposal is being vigorously opposed by beef producers. A voluntary animal-tracking system, known as traceback, has been in place since shortly after the country’s first case of mad cow disease in December 2003, but some members of Congress
Grocer Calls For Heightened Food Inspections
The U. S. Agriculture Department should expand its risk-based inspection system to focus on products neglected by the Food and Drug Administration to help stop a rash of massive food recalls, an official from a U. S. grocery chain said on April 2. The U. S. food supply system is under fire after a series
U. S. Donates Dairy Surplus To Schools, Food Programs
The U. S. government will shift $160 million worth of surplus dry milk into school lunches and food donations to help poor people, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack March 26. More than half of the dry milk will be bartered for cheese, ready-to-eat soup and milk processed so it does not need refrigeration. The “ultra-high-temperature
Antibiotic Ban On Livestock May Hurt U. S. Food Safety
A bill that would ban the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animals would hurt the health of livestock and poultry while compromising efforts to protect the safety of the country’s food supply, the leader of the largest U. S. farm group said March 24. Bob Stallman, president of the six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation, said
Bill Would Ban Non-Therapeutic Antibiotics
Despite growing public support to ban the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals, a U. S. representative says efforts to move legislation through Congress this year could be met with resistance. The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Louise Slaughter and in the Senate by Edward Kennedy March 17, would ban the
U. S. Finalizes Ban On Cattle Too Sick To Walk
Cattle too sick or injured to walk will no longer be allowed to enter U. S. slaughterhouses, the Agriculture Department said in a rule finalized March 14, nearly a year after the largest meat recall in American history spurred the change. The USDA proposed a total ban on all “downer” cattle from being slaughtered in
Trade Group Asks EPA For Higher Ethanol Blend Rate
An ethanol trade group submitted a formal request to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency March 6 to boost the allowed ethanol-to-gasoline blend rate as high as 15 per cent from the current cap of 10 per cent. The higher blend rate would create a bigger market for ethanol, spurring production of the alternative fuel
Subsidy Debate Weighs Farmers Versus Children
U. S. lawmakers will need to choose between supporting rich farmers or feeding more hungry children amid a slumping economy and surging deficit, U. S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said March 2. Vilsack said he already has heard some questions and concerns about the Obama administration’s plan to redirect subsidy payments for large farmers into
Small farms seen spurring U. S. farm growth
There are nearly 76,000 more U. S. farms than a few years ago but new operations tend to be smaller, more diversified and have lower sales than the average farm, according to Agriculture Department data released on Feb. 4. A USDA census taken every five years found four per cent more farms in 2007 than
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