Studying Affects of Weather and Climate on Cattle

Melissa Sandfort

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $19.5 million to support research, education and Extension activities associated with climate solutions in agriculture aimed at the impacts of climate variability and change on dairy and beef cattle. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. The announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts …

Agribusiness, Beef, Research, USDA

Ag Organizations Applaud Six Countries

Talia Goes

Key members of the U.S. agricultural value chain have joined together to applaud the work of the United States and like-minded governments to promote the importance of science-based regulations to facilitate trade of agricultural commodities derived from agricultural biotechnology. In a joint statement, the United States was joined by the governments of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Paraguay to announce …

Agribusiness, Trade, USDA

USDA and EPA Release Honey Bee Health Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. “The challenges are complex and there is no smoking gun,” said …

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, USDA

Discussing Open Data for Agriculture Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Data, data, data. I wonder how many times that word was used at this week’s G-8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture? A lot I’m sure. Well, I was not there but Paul Welbig, Raven Industries was. Here’s a photo of Paul on the left with Dr. Aboubacar Diaby, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. They are holding …

Audio, Farming, Precision Agriculture, USDA, ZimmCast

USDA Renews Dairy Energy MOU

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. “Through this renewed commitment, USDA …

Audio, Dairy, Energy, USDA

EPA Advisor Aims to Build Trust with Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

The new senior Agricultural Counselor to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator held a conference call Tuesday to discuss her background and her role as an advisor at EPA on ways environmental policy may impact growers and the greater agriculture community. Sarah Bittleman accepted the new position with EPA in February after serving Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as USDA Senior Advisor …

Audio, USDA

Vilsack: “Farm to Fly” Rural Job Producer

John Davis

Two members of Pres. Obama’s cabinet have signed their names to an agreement that will extend the administration’s commitment to the production of biofuels for use in airplanes, and that should be good news for the rural economy. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have extended by five years the “Farm to Fly” program, an initiative …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, USDA

Vilsack Speaks to North American Ag Journalists

Cindy Zimmerman

After speaking to 4-H members for breakfast, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined North American Agricultural Journalists for lunch on Monday, covering a variety of important issues, including immigration and getting a new food, farm and jobs bill. “I believe we will have a bill this year because we have to have a bill this year,” Vilsack said, noting the need …

Audio, USDA

Report Reveals Improper Payments at USDA

Cindy Zimmerman

A guest post by Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant When lawmakers talk about reducing “waste, fraud and abuse” in federal programs, they usually target the food stamp program, more recently called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In fact, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., introduced legislation recently that he said would “restore integrity” to the SNAP program, while saving $36 billion in …

Agri-Pulse, USDA

Support for Repeal of Catfish Inspection Program

Cindy Zimmerman

There’s a whole boatload of folks who think something is fishy about the USDA catfish inspection program that was included in the 2008 Farm Bill and they’d like to see it thrown back. An effort to repeal the program apparently has widespread support in Congress and with a variety of agricultural companies and organizations. National Fisheries Institute spokesperson Gavin Gibbons …

Aquaculture, Audio, USDA