Department of Agriculture Archives - Page 16 of 17

Vilsack to face food subsidy issues in top ag job

By Reuters January 1, 2009

Tom Vilsack, a former governor of the top corn-and soybean-producing state of Iowa, was set to be named next agriculture secretary by U. S. president-elect Barack Obama, Democratic officials said Dec. 16. Vilsack, a lawyer, will oversee one of the largest federal departments with 100,000 employees and a $95 billion annual budget, the bulk of

Hogs, Other

Philippines investigates Ebola in pigs

January 1, 2009

The Philippines has asked the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for help in stopping the spread of Ebola-Reston virus after an infection was found in some hog farms early this year, an official said on Dec. 17. The Agriculture Department has sent requests to the FAO to test an initial 10,000 swine in two

Livestock, News

U. S. finalizes meat label rule, WTO dispute looms

By Charles Abbott December 18, 2008

The White House is on track to finalize rules that require country-of-origin labels on meat sold in U. S. grocery stores and are challenged by Canada as a violation of world trade rules, officials said Dec. 10. Labelling became mandatory on Sept. 30 under an interim rule. The Agriculture Department says it will allow a

International news

Rich U. S. farmers cash in

By Roberta Rampton December 18, 2008

Too many rich farmers continue to receive U. S. farm subsidies in spite of income caps designed to restrict their participation, and the Agriculture Department needs to do more to enforce the rules, the auditing arm of Congress said on Nov. 25. More than 2,700 people whose gross income topped $2.5 million – making many

Hogs, Livestock Markets

Tainted Irish pork shipped to Canada

By Andras Gergely December 11, 2008

Ireland’s pork producers sought emergency aid on Monday to help foot a bill of at least 100 million euros (C$163 million) after dioxin contamination caused meat to be pulled from shop shelves in more than 20 countries. “We’re facing a major financial crisis, a major liquidity problem,” said Cormac Healy, director of the Irish Association

Cereals, News, Oilseeds

USDA economist sees more corn, less wheat

December 11, 2008

U. S. farmers will plant close to 90 million acres of corn in 2009 and cut back a bit on wheat, the Agriculture Department’s chief economist said Dec. 2. Chief economist Joe Glauber said at a conference sponsored by Farm Journal magazine that grain and soybean prices would remain volatile because of tight supplies. Food

Livestock, News

New Food Safety Act introduced

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 11, 2008

The Manitoba government is expanding its inspection regime to include inspecting facilities of food processors and distributors, including food warehouses. The new Food Safety Act, introduced last week, would give agriculture department inspectors new powers to enter these facilities and, if necessary, immediately seize and dispose of food or any else posing a food safety

Country Crossroads

Hunger still bites in land of plenty

By Charles Abbott December 4, 2008

Some 36.2 million Americans struggle to get enough food to eat and one-third of them go hungry from time to time, according to a government survey taken before this year’s economic downturn. Anti-hunger groups said hunger has worsened since the government’s survey of 45,600 households at the end of 2007. They want Congress to increase

News

USDA under review

By Charles Abbott November 20, 2008

Two former Agriculture Department officials, Bart Chilton and Carole Jett, will lead an examination of USDA to prepare for the Obama administration, the president-elect’s office said Nov. 14. USDA is partway through implementation of the 2008 farm law with some key decisions remaining. Most prominent are how high to set the benchmark for a new

News, Other livestock

Preventing coyotes from getting a taste for lamb

By Alexis Kienlen November 20, 2008

“So many dogs fail because they protect the kids playing by the swing set, but the lambs are all getting slaughtered by the coyotes in the pasture.” David Brennan says that coyote predation can be controlled, but you must first realize that you’re dealing with a smart opponent. “The coyote is right at the top

Daily Network News

U.S. grains: Soybeans mixed on doubts over Chinese demand

Tyson Foods to close U.S. beef plant as cattle supplies dwindle

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures dip as Brazilian beef tariffs lifted

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