Articles by Derrick Cain

The Senate Agriculture Committee will likely approve the three nominees for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), including for the chairmanship, before the Easter recess, according to Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Despite some recent rain in California, farmers continue to suffer through a historic drought there and in nearby states as the Obama administration and lawmakers work to provide assistance.

The State Department announced today that is extending the comment period, for an unknown amount of time, for federal agencies to submit views on the controversial Keystone pipeline project.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and three other top Republican leaders requested information today from the Department of Health and Human Services on its efforts to oversee states using benefits from a home heating assistance program to bolster the Supplemental Nutrition

The Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) and the American Waterways Operators (AWO) discussed their 2014 legislative priorities Tuesday, largely focusing on congressional passage of water resources development legislation that would improve the nation’s maritime travel routes.

The USDA supported rural businesses, infrastructure and housing with more than $33 in investments in fiscal 2013, creating 75,000 jobs in the process, according to a department report.

President Obama released a $3.9 trillion fiscal year 2015 budget to fund government departments, including USDA and EPA – and included a familiar theme: proposals to trim crop insurance.

Farmers in California who are patiently waiting for rain and congressional drought assistance have their eyes focused on the Senate where legislation has been slow to move.

The USDA intends to finalize a proposed rule by the end of the year that seeks to create a new speedier inspection system at poultry slaughter plants, according to Brian Ronholm, USDA acting undersecretary for food safety.

The House approved today a fiscal year 2015 budget proposal (H.Con.Res.96), on a 219-205 vote, that aims to reduce federal spending by $5.1 trillion over 10 years and includes spending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and mandatory agricultural outlays.