Food Relief At Record Levels In U. S.

Arecord 38.2 million Americans were enrolled in the food stamp program at latest count. Food stamps are the primary federal anti-hunger program, helping poor people buy groceries. The Agriculture Department updated enrolment data Feb. 5 with a preliminary figure for November. USDA estimates up to $58 billion will be spent on food stamps this fiscal

U. S. Will Narrow Scope Of Livestock-Tracking Plan

The government will redraft its moribund livestock-tracking program, attacked as a violation of privacy, so it covers only animals that cross state lines, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Feb. 5. In a speech to state agriculture directors, Vilsack said the revamped system would be run by states, with the Agriculture Department bearing much of the


Biomass Crop Subsidy Carries Hefty U. S. Price Tag

Anew U. S. program that subsidizes biomass crops for energy use may cost $263 million this year – nearly four times its expected cost – with an opening emphasis on forest and sugar scrap. The Obama administration cited the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Feb. 3 in steps to encourage clean energy production. It would

Obama Export Plan Nudges Farm Trade Agenda Forward

U. S. farm exporters are relieved that trade has finally made it on to President Barack Obama’s agenda, although his new goal to double U. S. exports in five years might be a little too optimistic. After a year when farm expor ters wondered aloud whether the administration even had a trade policy, Obama linked


U. S. Invests $1 Billion In Expanded Biofuel

Th e Agriculture Department will spend $1 billion in the next 12 months to underwrite U. S. biorefineries and in cost-sharing payments for biomass, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Feb. 5. Half of the money would go to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, now focused on use of forest and sugar cane scrap. Large amounts

U. S. Farm Group: Stop EPA On Greenhouse Gases

“They don’t have enough lipstick to put on that pig (climate legislation) to make it look good.” – MISSOURI FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT CHARLES KRUSE The largest U. S. farm group called on Congress Jan. 12 to prevent the government from regulating greenhouse gases if lawmakers kill climate change legislation. The six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation


U. S. Top Court To Decide Monsanto Alfalfa Case

The U. S. Supreme Court said Jan. 15 it would hear an appeal by Monsanto Co. of a ruling that barred the company from selling its genetically modified alfalfa seed, until an environmental review is done. The justices agreed to review a ruling by a U. S. Appeals Court in California that upheld a federal

Recipe Swap – for Jan. 21, 2010

Recipe Swap Just before Christmas we received this kid-friendly recipe from Lillian Deedman. She writes that 12-year-old Megan McPhail enjoys making these snowmen. MEGAN’S MARSHMALLOW SNOWMEN White icing Jet Puffed marshmallows Oreo cookies or coloured sugar cookies Decorating gel Pretzel sticks Red string licorice Use Oreo cookies or coloured sugar cookies as a base. Stack


Clubroot Keeps Its Distance In 2009

Manitoba canola growers can breathe a little easier with news that a new plant disease spreading in Alberta hasn’t made it to this province – yet. A field survey last summer found no signs of clubroot, a disease which attacks canola as well as vegetables, said Ingrid Kristjanson, a Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Corn Hybrid Trial Results Available

Results from the 2009 Manitoba corn hybrid performance trials are now available, the provincial Agriculture Department has announced. Trial locations for 2009 were Carman, MacGregor and Melita for grain corn hybrid evaluations and Elm Creek and St. Pierre for silage corn hybrid evaluations. The performance trials are co-ordinated by the Manitoba Corn Committee (MCC), which