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A large part of the reason Congress did not pass a five-year farm bill is because rural America does not have the political clout it once had, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 2013 National Convention.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 - The House approved legislation (H.R. 152) late today, on a 241-180 vote, that would provide the Agriculture Department with $222.4 million as part of a larger disaster assistance package to help states dealing with the impacts of Hurricane Sandy.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today a “microloan” program aimed at boosting small and new farms by providing loans of up to $35,000 at an interest rate of less than five percent.

The United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) and other agricultural groups say they need more time to study a controversial plan to reintroduce black-footed ferrets in 12 western states

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today refused attempts to rehear an earlier case in which the court struck down challenges to an Environmental Protection Agency decision to allow E15 blended ethanol to be used commercially.

Lawmakers in both chambers are expected to continue to discuss how to proceed with a five-year farm bill, after efforts to pass one last year fell short.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and ranking member Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced their committee rosters Jan. 4 for the 113th Congress.

Farmers, ranchers and rural Americans are still relevant, “in spite of reports you might have read,” American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Bob Stallman told hundreds of Farm Bureau members during the 2013 National Convention today.

The World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released by USDA today adjusted feed grain supply estimates higher for the 2012/2013 season due to estimated increases in corn yield.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Jan. 11, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $25 million to fund research and development of next-generation renewable energy and high-value biobased products from a variety of biomass sources at a state-of-the-art bioindustrial facility at Renmatix.