President Obama’s proposed budget released today would combine USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies’ efforts into a single agency under Health and Human Services (HHS). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spent much of a 45 minute press conference about the budget talking about and defending that proposal. “What the president is asking …
USDA Deregulates Dicamba-Tolerant Traits
USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced “determinations of nonregulated status for Monsanto Company’s (Monsanto) soybeans and cotton that are resistant to certain herbicides, including one known as dicamba.” Monsanto officials say the decision to deregulate Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans and Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton “will provide farmers with more consistent, flexible control of tough-to-manage broadleaf weeds.” …
AFBF President Surprises Vilsack with Branding Iron
American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman presented Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with a special gift Monday to recognize his support of farmers and ranchers. Noting that a Texas cowboy phrase denoting loyalty to the ranch is “ride for the brand,” Stallman gave Vilsack a specially-made “US AG” branding iron. “Mr. Secretary, thank you for riding for the brand for …
Farm Bureau Town Hall with Secretary Vilsack
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held an informal town hall-style meeting with members of the American Farm Bureau on the floor of the IDEAg trade show Sunday in San Diego. On a circular stage with AFBF president Bob Stallman, Vilsack took questions from members on a variety of topics, including the proposed Waters of the US rule, transportation, trade, and biofuels. …
Ag Coalition for Cuba Launched
More than 25 companies and organizations launched the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) in Washington Thursday to liberalize trade and re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. Among the speakers who introduced the new coalition were a list of lawmakers from a variety of states, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, and representatives …
Agriculture May Benefit From Cuba Relations
The White House announcement Wednesday that the United States will begin the process of normalizing relations with Cuba brought positive responses from the agriculture industry. “Throughout history, agriculture has served as a bridge to foster cooperation, understanding and the exchange of ideas among people,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. “I have no doubt that agriculture will continue …
More Renewable Energy Means Healthier Forests
Harvesting biomass from forests is not only helping those forests’ health, it’s helping the country achieve energy independence. This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) has removed 200,000 tons of biomass that could have been a fire risk and was turned into biofuels. “This initiative helps to retrieve forest residues that …
Specialty Crop Growers to Get Better Insurance
Growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops will get some better protection courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This USDA news release says the agency will now provide greater protection from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. “These new …
USDA Chief Economist to Retire
The chief economist with USDA is retiring at the end of the year after 30 years of federal service. “No one has a higher level of credibility on issues impacting the agricultural economy than Dr. Glauber,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. “Farm country and, truly, the country as a whole have been extraordinarily well served by Joe …
2014 Census of Horticulture Underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has started 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties. This news release says the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the survey that will provide a comprehensive picture of the horticultural sector of the U.S. economy, along with offering detailed production and sales data for the U.S. floriculture, nursery and specialty crop industries, including greenhouse food …