Food

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Farm groups are appealing to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take steps to speed the approval of H-2A workers following his department’s suspension of regular visa processing services in Mexico because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The White House is asking Congress for $45.8 billion to cover the rising cost to the Agriculture Department and other departments and agencies of responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus has sent the markets into a tailspin, closed down schools, and turned restaurants into to-go stands. But so far, agriculture’s intricate supply chain is – for the most part – still turning.

A coordinating structure that was first established in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is diligently working to protect US food production and avoid potential COVID-19 disruptions in the food supply chain. It’s not been easy.

The USDA GIPSA proposal billed as bringing “clarity” to regulations enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act is receiving opposition from some prominent government officials, including a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission and eight state attorneys general.

Federal agencies are cutting travel and preparing to operate with staff disruptions because of the coronavirus outbreak, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signaled that he’s open to expanding feeding programs if Congress gives him the legal authority. 

Groups that have been engaged in the process of developing the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans are trying to get the ear of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar before the last meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

The Department of Agriculture recently released a plan that would allow for a nationwide hog standstill in the event of a potential outbreak of African Swine Fever in the United States.