U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined 29 of her colleagues in objecting to a report on food guidelines that advises Americans to decrease consumption of red meat. In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, the senators condemn the report’s conclusions, which ignore relevant scientific evidence on nutrition. Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding …
Farmland Partners Adds Former USDA Economist
After serving more than 30 years in the federal government, Dr. Joseph Glauber has been appointed as an independent director to ag real estate firm Farmland Partners Inc. Dr. Glauber has been active in the agricultural industry since the early 1980s and began working for the USDA in 1984. In addition, Dr. Glauber chaired the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board …
Former Ag Secretaries Urge Congress to Pass TPA
A bipartisan group of former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries, representing all past administrations since President Jimmy Carter, issued an open letter on Friday urging Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The former secretaries note that TPA has been given to all previous presidents since Gerald Ford and is critical for successfully negotiating new trade partnerships that boost exports and create …
Sec. Vilsack Addresses 2015 Commodity Classic
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke to over 7000 agricultural producers and industry members during his 6th appearance at Commodity Classic on Friday. Sec. Vilsack began by stating that he “was in the presence of greatness” and went on to thank farmers for all that they do on a daily basis. He also thanked farmers for their work on the …
USDA Gives $14 Million for Rural Economic Growth
Rural economies are getting a $14 million boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This news release from the agency says the grants through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) are aimed at increasing prosperity in rural America through research, education, and extension programs focused on promoting rural community development, economic growth, and sustainability. “Nearly 60 million …
Ag Groups Comment on Proposed Dietary Guidelines
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee submitted their recommendations to the Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA will consider this report, along with input from other federal agencies and comments from the public as they develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015, to be released …
Under Sec Scuse Visits Missouri State University
The Missouri State University William H. Darr School of Agriculture proudly hosted the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Michael Scuse. A luncheon was held where Under Secretary Scuse addressed a room full of leaders in Missouri agriculture. He also met with Missouri State agricultural students for a roundtable discussion and question and answer period. Most producers across …
Secy Vilsack to Keynote 6th Commodity Classic
Not only has Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack set a record as the longest serving secretary in modern history, there’s no doubt he has appeared in more places and events more times than any of his predecessors. Vilsack will visit the Commodity Classic next week for the sixth year in a row to address the annual convention and trade show …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Krysta Harden
Agri-Pulse interviewed USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden for Open Mic this week: USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden says it is critical for the government to provide a reasonable safety net for farmers, but that all programs- including crop insurance and conservation – must be scrutinized as part of the annual budget process. She shares her perspectives on farm bill implementation, …
Happy Birthday Farm Bill!
It was one year ago this week – February 7, to be exact – that President Obama signed the “Swiss Army Knife” farm bill into law. “Despite its name, the farm bill is not just about helping farmers,” President Obama said at the signing. “Secretary Vilsack calls it a jobs bill, an innovation bill, an infrastructure bill, a research bill, …