Washington DC -April 21- Getting a Farm Bill passed yet this year is a top priority for the National Farmers Union (NFU). Tom Buis, President of NFU, told WashingtonView Radio today that the House and Senate need to come to an agreement soon.

Listen to NFU Tom Buis interview NOW at:    www.blogtalkradio.com/washingtonview

Washington DC -April 10- USDA Secretary Mike Johanns today highlighted the Administration’s farm bill proposals related to conservation. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -February 13- The United States Department of Agriculture will release new 10-year agricultural projections Feb. 14 at noon EST. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -February 6- USDA Secretary Mike Johanns this week released details of President Bush’s FY 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget, which meets the Department’s most important priorities, while exercising fiscal discipline to meet
the President’s goal to balance the budget. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -February 2- U.S. farmers must make a host of decisions relating to their farms’ operation, including what to grow, when to grow it, in what quantities, and by what methods, according to a study released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -January 31- Following is a statement from National Farmers Union President Tom Bius regarding the Bush Administration’s Farm Bill proposal: Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -January 31- National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Bill Wilson sees today’s release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2007 Farm Bill proposal as a good opportunity to focus on the Farm Bill development process. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -January 31- The administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal contributes to the debate surrounding the structure and funding of the nation’s next farm program, and the American Farm Bureau Federation says it will analyze the proposal carefully as part of its effort to secure a new farm law that provides the best opportunities for its members. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -January 15- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the selection of Abigail Kimbell as the 16th chief of the Forest Service. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -January 1- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the National Organic Program (NOP) guidelines on the submission of petitions of substances for inclusion on or removal from the National List of Substances Allowed and Prohibited (National List) in Organic Production and Handling. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -November 29- In May 2006, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) held a workshop examining issues relating to the federal regulatory system governing agricultural biotechnology—known as the Coordinated Framework—and the appropriate role for state agriculture agencies in that system. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -November 22-The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced the expansion of its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to include the entire states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, more than doubling the previously quarantined area which includes the entire lower peninsula of Michigan. The new quarantine becomes effective on Dec. 1 following the issuance of a federal order. Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -November 7- “We can have all the conservation and farm stewardship  programs in the world,” says Ralph Grossi, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT), “but without adequate funding, they become nothing but lost opportunities for cleaner air and water, improved wildlife habitat and protected farmland and open space.” Read the rest of this entry »

Washington DC -November 2- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is soliciting comments on three petitions requesting that APHIS reconsider provisions and delay a recent final rule establishing a herd certification program and interstate movement restrictions for cervids to control the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Read the rest of this entry »