Articles Tagged with ''USDA''

Lawmakers have finished their last major piece of pre-election business – keeping the government from shutting down when the new fiscal year starts next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the majority of Republicans call on their leadership to pass a farm bill before the end of the year

In this opinion piece, Sara Neagu-Reed, director of production and environmental policy at the International Fresh Produce Association, calls on policymakers to prioritize support for organic agriculture in the next farm bill. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and some allies in his "Make America Healthy Again" movement are trying to get a toehold on Capitol Hill even as the food and agriculture industry worries about what role he could play in a second Donald Trump administration.

Commenters on USDA’s latest attempt to promote fair and competitive livestock and poultry markets expressed widely divergent views on the proposal’s legality and provided a preview of the litigation to come if the rule is finalized.

USDA does not provide standard, user-friendly guidance to state and local agencies that implement food pantry, assistance programs, and does not effectively track program progress, a recent Government Accountability Office report found. 

The National Farmers Union has named Chase Kusel director of communications. Anne Knapke joined the Meridian Institute as a senior director. She has been at USDA since 2021. 

FMC president Darren Dillenbeck was elected to a two-year team as chair of the CropLife America board of directors. Fifth-generation Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury was elected president of the Public Lands Council. Torrey Advisory Group hired Grace Walker as a member and events manager. 

In this opinion piece, Dana M. O’Brien, president and founder of BioHarbor Strategies, argues that former President Donald Trump's embrace of RFK Jr could negatively affect U.S. agriculture. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is encouraged by congressional talks aimed at getting a farm bill passed this year and urged lawmakers to be “practical” as they iron our disagreements over reference prices and nutrition assistance.

Former Senate Ag Committee chief economist John Newton is joining Terrain where he will lead a team of economists and analysts. Jamila Thompson was appointed chief of staff and Jon Hurst was promoted to special advisor for agriculture for United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Darryl Blakey joined BASF as manager of government affairs. Emma Scott was appointed director of the food and agriculture clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School. The Conservation Lands Foundation tapped Chris Hill as CEO. The World Shipping Council appointed Tamekia Flack as director of U.S. government relations. 

In this opinion piece, Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, argues that the latest forecasts for farm income and agricultural trade underscore the need for a new farm bill.