BREAKING NEWS
US to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren't happy
Read full article: US to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren't happyCalifornia avocado growers are fuming about a U.S. decision to hand over pest inspections of Mexican orchards to the Mexican government.
The Clintons pitch philanthropic commitments as pro-democracy work at their 2024 foundation meeting
Read full article: The Clintons pitch philanthropic commitments as pro-democracy work at their 2024 foundation meetingOver 2,000 participants from over 80 countries descended on New York this week for the Clinton Global Initiative.
USDA updates rules for school meals that limit added sugars for the first time
Read full article: USDA updates rules for school meals that limit added sugars for the first timeU.S. agriculture officials announced new nutrition standards for school meals that will limit added sugars for the first time.
New WIC rules include more money for fruits and veggies. They also expand food choices
Read full article: New WIC rules include more money for fruits and veggies. They also expand food choicesThe federal program that helps pay for groceries for millions of low-income mothers, babies and young kids will emphasize more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Advocacy groups are petitioning for the end of SNAP interview requirements
Read full article: Advocacy groups are petitioning for the end of SNAP interview requirementsStudent and legal advocacy groups are petitioning the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lift the interview requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants to receive food aid.
USDA estimates 21 million kids will get summer food benefits through new program in 2024
Read full article: USDA estimates 21 million kids will get summer food benefits through new program in 2024About 21 million children are likely to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program.
Agriculture gets its day at COP28, but experts see big barriers to cutting emissions
Read full article: Agriculture gets its day at COP28, but experts see big barriers to cutting emissionsThis year’s global climate summit in Dubai set aside Sunday to spotlight food and agriculture, a sector that accounts for about a third of the world’s emission.
Biden’s Minnesota trip serves as a show of political force against primary challenger Dean Phillips
Read full article: Biden’s Minnesota trip serves as a show of political force against primary challenger Dean PhillipsPresident Joe Biden has visited a family-run farm in Minnesota and held a fundraiser featuring many of the state’s top Democrats.
Biden will visit a Minnesota family farm this week as top officials kick off stops in rural America
Read full article: Biden will visit a Minnesota family farm this week as top officials kick off stops in rural AmericaPresident Joe Biden will visit a family farm in Minnesota on Wednesday as part of two weeks of stops in rural America by top administration officials.
New organic rules announced by USDA tighten restrictions on livestock and poultry producers
Read full article: New organic rules announced by USDA tighten restrictions on livestock and poultry producersLivestock and poultry producers will need to comply with more specific standards if they want to label their products as organic under final rules announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Food insecurity shot up last year with inflation and the end of pandemic-era aid, a new report says
Read full article: Food insecurity shot up last year with inflation and the end of pandemic-era aid, a new report saysAn estimated 17 million households reported problems finding enough food last year.
Feds spread $1 billion for tree plantings among US cities to reduce extreme heat and benefit health
Read full article: Feds spread $1 billion for tree plantings among US cities to reduce extreme heat and benefit healthHundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit health and improve access to nature.
Broadband subsidy program that millions use will expire next year if Congress doesn’t act
Read full article: Broadband subsidy program that millions use will expire next year if Congress doesn’t actOne of the programs set up to ensure affordable internet for all is set to run out by the middle of 2024.
Biden administration spending $150M to help small forest owners benefit from selling carbon credits
Read full article: Biden administration spending $150M to help small forest owners benefit from selling carbon creditsThe Biden administration is spending $150 million to help owners of small parcels of forestland partner with private companies willing to pay them for carbon offsets and other environmental credits.
Biden administration announces more new funding for rural broadband infrastructure
Read full article: Biden administration announces more new funding for rural broadband infrastructureThe Biden administration is continuing its push to bring internet connectivity to every home and business in the U.S. On Monday, the Biden administration announced a new investment of $667 million to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the country.
Biden goes west to talk about his administration's efforts to combat climate change
Read full article: Biden goes west to talk about his administration's efforts to combat climate changePresident Joe Biden will travel to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah next week and is expected to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change as the region endures a brutally hot summer with soaring temperatures.
Agricultural producers and food businesses throughout nation getting $320 million boost from USDA
Read full article: Agricultural producers and food businesses throughout nation getting $320 million boost from USDAThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeding agricultural producers and food businesses with millions of dollars in investments designed to improve markets, create and strengthen jobs, control food prices and improve nutrition.
Biden administration announces nearly $11 billion for renewable energy in rural communities
Read full article: Biden administration announces nearly $11 billion for renewable energy in rural communitiesThe U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a nearly $11 billion investment on Tuesday to help bring affordable clean energy to rural communities throughout the country.
For turning 'mines to vines,' founder of Roots of Peace wins World Food Prize
Read full article: For turning 'mines to vines,' founder of Roots of Peace wins World Food PrizeA California peace activist who has worked to remove land mines from war-torn regions and replace them with grape vines, fruit trees and vegetables has been named the 2023 World Food Prize laureate.
Tribe warns US government against moving ahead with mine
Read full article: Tribe warns US government against moving ahead with mineNative American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will move forward on the project even as they await a federal appellate court ruling in the case.
Organic livestock farmers, hit by rising prices, seek help
Read full article: Organic livestock farmers, hit by rising prices, seek helpOrganic dairy and other livestock farmers are calling for emergency federal aid as they grapple with skyrocketing organic feed costs in part from the war in Ukraine and steep fuel and utility expenses.
USDA announces $1 billion debt relief for 36,000 farmers
Read full article: USDA announces $1 billion debt relief for 36,000 farmersThe federal government has announced a program to provide $1.3 billion in debt relief for about 36,000 farmers who have fallen behind on loan payments or face foreclosure.
Feds: $401M will add high-speed internet to rural US places
Read full article: Feds: $401M will add high-speed internet to rural US placesFederal officials announced plans Thursday to spend $401 million in grants and loans to expand the reach and improve the speed of internet for rural residents, tribes and businesses in 11 West and Central U.S. states.
US to plant 1 billion trees as climate change kills forests
Read full article: US to plant 1 billion trees as climate change kills forestsThe Biden administration wants the government to plant more than a billion trees across millions of acres of burned and dead woodlands as officials struggle to counter climate change's increasing toll on the nation’s forests.
Baby formula shortage fueling spike in milk bank interest
Read full article: Baby formula shortage fueling spike in milk bank interestThe U.S. baby formula shortage has sparked a surge of interest among moms who want to donate breast milk to help bridge the supply gap as well as those seeking to keep their babies fed.
Iowa attorney general leads study of high fertilizer prices
Read full article: Iowa attorney general leads study of high fertilizer pricesIowa Attorney General Tom Miller says dramatic increases in the price of farm fertilizers have prompted him to look into the causes and whether farmers have been subjected to unfair practices.
US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet civilization
Read full article: US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet civilizationThe Biden administration says it will significantly expand efforts to stave off catastrophic wildfires that have been torching areas of the U.S. West by more aggressively thinning forests around “hot spots” where nature and neighborhoods collide.
USDA rethinks approach to controlling salmonella in poultry
Read full article: USDA rethinks approach to controlling salmonella in poultryFederal health officials are rethinking their approach to controlling salmonella in poultry plants in the hope of reducing the number of illnesses linked to the bacteria each year.
White House competition council seeks lower consumer prices
Read full article: White House competition council seeks lower consumer pricesAt the first meeting of a new White House council on U.S. economic conditions, participants are highlighting at least 18 actions taken to help consumers and potentially lower prices.
USDA to permanently boost food stamp benefits by 25 percent
Read full article: USDA to permanently boost food stamp benefits by 25 percentThe Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families—the largest single increase in the program’s history.
US agency offers $307 million for rural water projects
Read full article: US agency offers $307 million for rural water projectsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture will be issuing $307 million in grants and low-interest loans to modernize rural water infrastructure across 34 states and the territory of Puerto Rico.
New US rules to protect animal farmers expected soon
Read full article: New US rules to protect animal farmers expected soonThe Biden administration plans to issue a new rule to protect the rights of farmers who raise cows, chickens and hogs against the country’s largest meat processors as part of a plan to encourage more competition in agriculture.
USDA sending $1B in funding to country's food bank networks
Read full article: USDA sending $1B in funding to country's food bank networksThe Department of Agriculture is sending $1 billion to the country’s food bank networks, seeking to expand the reach of the system and revamp the way food banks acquire and distribute aid.
Biden targets $2.8B for conservation, outdoor recreation
Read full article: Biden targets $2.8B for conservation, outdoor recreationThe Biden administration has proposed funding for dozens of conservation and recreation projects across the country as it allocates $2.8 billion in grants and programs authorized by a landmark conservation law.
World Food Prize goes to nutrition expert for fish research
Read full article: World Food Prize goes to nutrition expert for fish researchA nutrition expert who pioneered innovative ways of raising fish rich in micronutrients and fatty acids and incorporating them into diets in developing countries has won the World Food Prize.
USDA relocations curtail ag research, farmer confidence
Read full article: USDA relocations curtail ag research, farmer confidenceHiring at the Kansas City site remains well below the roughly 550 high-paying jobs local leaders had anticipated. However, he said those frustrations have dealt more with reports published by other USDA agencies, and that some farmers may be confusing them. For example, a two-year research project on pollinators such as honeybees was shelved because the entire team working on it left the agency rather than move to Kansas City. In October 2016 — before Trump's first year in office — ERS had 318 permanent employees, according to USDA data. “And here in the United States, what we do with groups like that — we can’t send them to Siberia, so we send them to Kansas City.”
A look at how Biden's Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday
Read full article: A look at how Biden's Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday(Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden's Cabinet is starting to fill out, with nominees for agriculture secretary and United Nations ambassador gaining Senate approval Tuesday. “And that’s what we intend to do.”Schumer couldn’t resist a jab at former President Donald Trump, saying that all Biden’s nominees are “undoubtedly qualified for their positions, a stark departure from the caliber of nominees the Senate was made to consider during the previous administration.”But one of Biden's nominees, Neera Tanden to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget, is clearly in trouble in the evenly divided Senate. Currently California's attorney general, Becerra appeared Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “I'm not sold yet,” Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the health committee, said, addressing Becerra. ___INTERIORRep. Deb Haaland, Biden's nominee to lead the Interior Department, fielded sharp questions from Republicans over what some called her “radical” ideas that include opposition to fracking and to the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Vilsack confirmed for 2nd stint as US agriculture secretary
Read full article: Vilsack confirmed for 2nd stint as US agriculture secretaryFILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, his second run at the Cabinet post. The former Iowa governor spent eight years leading the same Department of Agriculture for former President Barack Obama's entire administration. “We’re going to be a USDA that represents and serves all Americans,” Vilsack said after the vote. AdWith systemic racial inequity now a nationwide talking point, Vilsack also envisioned creating an “equity task force” inside the department.
Black farmers unconvinced by Vilsack's 'root out' racism vow
Read full article: Black farmers unconvinced by Vilsack's 'root out' racism vowAdJohn Boyd Jr., a Virginia farmer who is president of the National Black Farmers Association, has voiced his concerns during several conversations with the nominee. AdSome Black farmers want Biden to sign an executive order they drafted halting foreclosures on Black-owned farms and making other civil rights reforms. But Vilsack's supporters contend lending to Black farmers was prioritized during his time at the department. At the beginning of Obama's first term, USDA made 557 direct farm loans to Black farmers, representing less than 2.4% of all direct loans. By 2015, that number had risen to 945 loans, with nearly 3.4% of direct loans going to Black farmers.
Iowa governor auctioned off access for pork barons' charity
Read full article: Iowa governor auctioned off access for pork barons' charity(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa Gov. AdThe records show Reynolds has supported policies Iowa Select has sought, made several appearances for the corporation and its charity, and routinely spoken with Jeff Hansen. Ad“From the top of the gold dome to the Governor’s office, you’ll be treated to a tour unlike any other!” it said. Weeks after he won the auction, Reynolds was a keynote speaker at Lynch's annual charity banquet in Decorah. Iowa Select spokeswoman Jen Sorenson said the company feels “an important responsibility” to educate elected officials on Iowa's multibillion-dollar animal agriculture industry, saying it leads to better policy.
Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels push
Read full article: Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels pushFILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of agriculture, pledged Tuesday to focus on climate change initiatives and work to address racial inequities in agricultural assistance programs. Vilsack, who testified before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, would bring much on-the-job experience to the position. In addition to serving two terms as the governor of Iowa, he spent eight years as President Barack Obama's Agriculture Secretary. But if you don’t have a grocery store, what then?”AdVilsack seems to enjoy bipartisan support and faced no serious criticism from Republicans on the committee.
What Biden's Cabinet picks say about how he plans to govern
Read full article: What Biden's Cabinet picks say about how he plans to governHis Cabinet picks help demonstrate how he plans to deliver. Many have already begun meeting with interest groups and advocacy organizations, and his transition team has had what’s been described as an “open-door policy” toward advocacy groups for months. It’s a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, which was dominated largely by white men with little experience in Washington. Biden’s aides say that was one of the goals he set in filling out his Cabinet: to signal that his presidency means a return to competent, stable leadership government. While Salguero recalled meetings with the Trump administration on key issues, he said the Biden transition team’s outreach already has gone further.
Transition stumbles test Biden's bond with Capitol Hill
Read full article: Transition stumbles test Biden's bond with Capitol HillFILE - In this Sept. 17, 2020, file photo, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, of S.C., speaks during a news conference about COVID-19, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President-elect Joe Biden brings more Capitol Hill experience than any president in decades. Biden's team swiftly adjusted, introducing Black, Latino and Asian American nominees as the president-elect vows to build the most diverse administration in history. Biden’s team incensed Hispanic and Asian and Pacific American lawmakers with its handling of Cabinet choices from their communities. “Democrats are always lecturing Republican senators about approving future Biden Cabinet nominees even if we don’t agree with them,” Grassley said.
Biden's challenge: Building Cabinet that meets all his goals
Read full article: Biden's challenge: Building Cabinet that meets all his goals(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – Shortly after President-elect Joe Biden’s victory last month, Cabinet hopeful Marcia Fudge pointedly noted that Black people are often typecast into positions such as housing secretary. He’s pledged to nominate the most diverse Cabinet in history and restore experience at beleaguered federal agencies. The GOP has barely acknowledged Biden's victory so the cooperation of its senators in the confirmation process is far from certain. “That’s why we are worried.”One prominent feature of Biden’s picks so far: deep ties to the Obama administration. Brent Colburn, a former Obama administration official who served in several agencies, encouraged Democrats to consider the bigger picture as they judge Biden's Cabinet.
Tom Vilsack faces new challenges as he returns to old job
Read full article: Tom Vilsack faces new challenges as he returns to old jobPresident-elect Joe Biden has selected Vilsack to reprise that role in his administration. Vilsack “has the necessary qualifications and experience to steer the agency through these turbulent times,” said Rob Larew, the president of the National Farmers Union. Then mayor of Mount Pleasant in southeast Iowa, Vilsack volunteered for the up-and-coming Biden before he exited the presidential race. Despite that, in 2007, after his own brief presidential campaign, Vilsack endorsed Hillary Clinton, even with Biden also running. In his endorsement, Vilsack called Biden “a man with empathy, and a man who has the heart of a president.
Biden: Cabinet picks from Obama era mean 'bold new thinking'
Read full article: Biden: Cabinet picks from Obama era mean 'bold new thinking'Susan Rice, the Biden administration's choice to lead the White House Domestic Policy Council, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. His choice for agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, served in the same post for Obama for eight years. Above all, they know how government should and can work for all Americans.”Relying too heavily on Obama administration veterans has already begun to draw some grumbling from members of Biden's own party, however. Mark Riddle, a Democratic strategist who founded a pro-Biden Super PAC during the 2020 presidential campaign, said there is no danger in relying too heavily on “all star” former Obama administration leaders. “If we come out of the box on jobs, jobs, jobs, I feel great.
Obama reunion? Biden fills Cabinet with former WH leaders
Read full article: Obama reunion? Biden fills Cabinet with former WH leadersIncreasingly deep into the process of selecting Cabinet members and other senior staff, the incoming Biden administration has a distinctly Obama feel. There's Denis McDonough, former President Barack Obama's chief of staff who Biden announced on Thursday would be nominated as the secretary of veterans affairs. Susan Rice, Obama's former national security adviser, was named the director of Biden's White House Domestic Policy Council. Jeff Zients, who did stints as acting Office of Management and Budget director and a top economic adviser in the Obama White House, will return as Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator. They're pressing Biden to focus in particular on the diversity of his Cabinet after several early picks were white men.
Biden picks former Obama chief of staff McDonough for VA
Read full article: Biden picks former Obama chief of staff McDonough for VAFILE - In this Oct. 28, 2013, file photo, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough listens as President Barack Obama speaks at FBI Headquarters in Washington. President-elect Joe Biden is nominating former President Barack Obama's White House chief of staff Denis McDonough as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Biden is continuing to stockpile his administration with prominent alumni of the Obama administration. The bill came about following exposes during the Obama administration into mismanagement at some VA hospitals and mounting complaints by advocacy groups. As chief of staff, McDonough was also deeply involved in an overhaul of VA leadership after the scandals, which led to the ouster of the department’s secretary.
AP sources: Biden to pick Katherine Tai as top trade envoy
Read full article: AP sources: Biden to pick Katherine Tai as top trade envoy(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is set to nominate Katherine Tai to be the top U.S. trade envoy, according to two people familiar with his plans. Biden's selection of Tai, who is Asian American, reflects his promise to choose a diverse Cabinet that reflects the makeup of the country. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Tai earlier oversaw China trade enforcement for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, setting U.S. strategy in trade disputes with China. Biden’s trade representative will inherit a trade war with China, put on pause by an interim trade pact in January that left many of the hardest issues unresolved and U.S. taxes remaining on $360 billion in Chinese imports. As the top trade staffer at Ways and Means, Tai handled negotiations last year with the Trump administration over a revamped North American trade deal.
AP sources: Biden picks Fudge for housing, Vilsack for USDA
Read full article: AP sources: Biden picks Fudge for housing, Vilsack for USDATwo Democratic women are contenders to be President-elect Joe Biden's secretary of agriculture. Vilsack spent eight years as head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Obama administration and served two terms as Iowa governor. A longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee and a fierce advocate for food stamps, Fudge was originally discussed to become agriculture secretary. After two terms, Vilsack ran a 10-week campaign for the 2008 Democratic nomination before withdrawing and throwing his support to Hillary Clinton, even as Biden remained among the field. Politico first reported the news of Fudge’s selection, while Axios was first to report Vilsack as agriculture secretary.
Biden weighs pick for agriculture chief from diverse slate
Read full article: Biden weighs pick for agriculture chief from diverse slateRep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio and former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota are in the running for the Cabinet position. (House Television via AP)WASHINGTON – One leading candidate for agriculture secretary hails from Cleveland, has the backing of progressives and has worked for years to boost food stamp programs. Tom Vilsack, who served as Obama’s agriculture secretary for eight years, is also being considered. Biden has said he wants a diverse Cabinet, and some Black leaders have said he needs to do more to achieve that. “You won't find a better person thant Heidi Heitkamp,” Manchin said in a statement, adding that she would make a “tremendous” agriculture secretary.
Key departures signal agriculture shakeup for Capitol Hill
Read full article: Key departures signal agriculture shakeup for Capitol HillMINNEAPOLIS – The reelection defeat of U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson in Minnesota and some key retirements mean a shakeup is coming for the industry on Capitol Hill, with power likely to shift from the Midwest to the South and the coasts. Both the House and Senate agriculture committees will get new chairs, and there will be a new top Republican on the House panel. Fischbach plans to seek a seat on the Agriculture Committee, but she'll have to draw heavily on her legislative skills to have much of an influence as a freshman in the minority party. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is the only one of the top four agriculture committee leaders returning in 2021. Neither Roberts nor Rep. Michael Conaway of Texas, the ranking Republican in the House committee, sought reelection.
Iowa again a battleground, sign of Trump's Midwest obstacles
Read full article: Iowa again a battleground, sign of Trump's Midwest obstaclesBut there are signs Iowa may be competitive again. Deep concerns about the economy and dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the coronavirus have changed dynamics of the race. However, Iowa, where Trump won by 9.4 percentage points in 2016, echoes the trend in Ohio, where Trump won by 8 but is now in a pitched battle with Biden. “I believe it is a close race in Iowa," former Iowa Gov. In 2018, Democrats showed signs of resurgence, even though Republican Kim Reynolds became the first woman to be elected Iowa governor.
Biden's Iowa hires signal tightening in state Trump won big
Read full article: Biden's Iowa hires signal tightening in state Trump won bigDES MOINES, Iowa Joe Biden's presidential campaign has lined up a senior team in Iowa, a sign Democrats see the state where Republican Donald Trump beat them handily in 2016 as within reach. Joining Norris as Biden's Iowa campaign director is Lauren Dillon, who directed Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's 2020 Iowa caucus campaign. She was a senior advertising strategist for Democratic Senate candidates during the 2018 midterm elections after serving in several roles at the Democratic National Committee. The tightening in Iowa follows incremental gains by Democrats since Trump carried the state. The Trump campaign named a senior Iowa team almost a year ago, including Eric Branstad, son of former Gov.
Democrats fight for chance to take on GOP Sen. Ernst in Iowa
Read full article: Democrats fight for chance to take on GOP Sen. Ernst in IowaDES MOINES, Iowa Four relatively unknown Iowa Democrats are competing in a primary Tuesday to take on Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, an endeavor viewed as a long shot when better-known prospects last year took a pass on running. But as Democrats are increasingly bullish about their prospects in places such as Arizona and Colorado, the Iowa race is getting renewed attention as a potential battleground that could help the party regain the Senate majority. Greenfield's fundraising prowess reflects a broad array of support among Iowa Democrats. As of a week ago, nearly 500,000 Iowa voters, about one-quarter of the states electorate, had requested absentee ballots, the highest number of absentee ballot requests for any Iowa election, primary or general. The influx of primary-voting Democrats, including those who have been less active in recent cycles, could signal a resurgence of Iowa Democrats.