http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/usda/ en-us Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:59:15 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2139718/posts Confused? Various local governments have declared obesity a crisis, fast food chains are being sued, school lunches are now abstaining from all fried foods, But last week the USDA release their report stating more children are hungry than before the downturn. Who is responsible for the food that these poor, hungry, obese children are given? Surely not Heather Mills. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2139718/posts#comment Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:59:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135323/posts In the waning months of the Bush administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has joined the ranks of federal agencies rushing through new regulations that weaken protections for human health and the environment. USDA has released a proposed rule that would significantly weaken oversight of all genetically engineered crops, and which continue to allow companies to grow food crops engineered to produce drugs and industrial chemicals. The USDA began this process over four years ago by promising stricter oversight. Unfortunately, improvements considered early on have been dismissed, and the proposed rule now has the same gaping holes as the... GA3.ORG http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135323/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:22:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134195/posts John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, is among those being vetted for Agriculture secretary in the Obama Cabinet, an individual with knowledge of the transition process said Thursday. Congressional Black Caucus members are backing Boyd in an attempt to reverse the department’s track record on civil rights, which government investigators and outside watchdogs have described as abysmal, aides said. The fourth-generation farmer and civil rights activist would be a surprise choice given the leadership pedigrees of other possible nominees, such as former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. But the pick would help fulfill President-elect Barack Obama ’s pledge... Congressional Quarterly http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134195/posts#comment Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:57:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134036/posts Amish farmers are to sue the US government on the grounds that plans to put electronic identity tags on livestock constitute imposing the "mark of the Beast". A group of seven Amish farmers in Michigan say the state's insistence that they use radio frequency ID devices on their animals "constitutes some form of a 'mark of the Beast' and/or represents an infringement of their 'dominion over cattle and all living things' in violation of their fundamental religious beliefs," according to their lawsuit. Some Amish, who have a booming business in producing organic milk, disagree with radio ID tagging so strongly... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134036/posts#comment Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:24:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130194/posts Three names have emerged in the first round of speculation about who will be the secretary of agriculture in an Obama administration: National Farmers Union President Tom Buis, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson. Before joining the NFU, Buis was the senior agricultural aide to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and worked as legislative director for Rep. Jim Jontz, D-Ind. In the 1980s, he was a grain and livestock farmer in Indiana with brothers Mike and Jeff, who continue to operate the family farm. Vilsack served two terms as governor of Iowa before... The Delta Farm Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130194/posts#comment Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:02:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2123983/posts Obama wants to reshape the agriculture industryIf he is willing to "bankrupt" the coal industry over global warming, what's he going to do to the agriculture sector which "actually is contributing more greenhouse gases than our transportation sector"? Don't forget about biden's EVIL corn syrup...evil corn syrup redstate.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2123983/posts#comment Mon, 3 Nov 2008 21:51:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122680/posts Below, Moe writes on some shocking statements by Barack Obama about "bankrupting the coal industry" in order to address global warming. Obama has it in for another industry: agriculture. Check out these statements from an interview he gave with Time's Joe Klein: As a consequence, our agriculture sector actually is contributing more greenhouse gases than our transportation sector. And in the mean time, it's creating monocultures that are vulnerable to national security threats, are now vulnerable to sky-high food prices or crashes in food prices, huge swings in commodity prices, and are partly responsible for the explosion in our healthcare... Redstate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122680/posts#comment Sun, 2 Nov 2008 18:29:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097420/posts Melamine Found in Chocolate Products From China South Korea's food watchdog has detected quantities of melamine, an industrial chemical, in chocolate products from foodstuff giants Nestle SA, Mars Inc. and South Korea's Lotte that were manufactured in China, Yonhap News reported Saturday. The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) said 2.38 parts per million (ppm) and 1.78 ppm of the toxic substance was discovered in samples of M&M's Milk and Peanut Snickers Fun Size products, respectively, from Mars Korea. A Kit Kat bar from Nestle Korea was also found to contain 2.89 ppm of melamine, the agency said. The... Korea Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097420/posts#comment Sat, 4 Oct 2008 15:47:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2075530/posts The government of Mexico has voluntarily suspended shipments of meat and processed poultry to the United States after U.S. officials raised concerns about the quality of Mexican food processing and inspections, an Agriculture Department official said Thursday. The department's Food Safety and Inspection Service identified systemic problems with sanitation controls and recordkeeping during an annual audit that took place in Mexico between June 24 and July 31. The voluntary suspension began Aug. 29, said Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the service. About 2 percent of beef and poultry in the U.S. comes from Mexican producers. "Safety concerns in multiple establishments... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2075530/posts#comment Fri, 5 Sep 2008 19:40:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063472/posts Juxtaposed on opposite pages of the BBC International newspaper were two stories: "..thousands of people (in Seoul, South Korea) protesting against resumption of U.S. Beef imports..." and "The U.S. announced that it will send half a million tons of food aid to North Korea." How can two so closely connected groups of people hold such strong opposite opinions about the safety of U.S. food exports? Easy. It's the haves vs. the have-nots. South Korea is a strong democratic nation, our ally, who owes its existence to the U.S. and the United Nations. It has the luxury to be choosey. Its... http://www.amarillo.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063472/posts#comment Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:50:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061541/posts A Georgia company looking to solve America's energy problem has finally teamed up with the federal government, hoping to make millions of barrels of oil every day from virtually anything that grows out of the Earth. Bell Bio-Energy, Inc. says it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Defense Department to build seven test production plants, mostly on military bases, to quickly turn naturally grown material into fuel. "What this means is that with the seven pilot plants – the military likes to refer to them as demonstrations – with those being built … it gives us the real-time engineering... WorldNetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061541/posts#comment Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:36:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061382/posts Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Up to 12.3 billion bushels of corn are expected to be harvested this season in the U.S., despite the recent Mississippi flooding which inundated many farms in the Midwest. With 600 million extra bushels for the summer harvest, it will be the second-highest corn yield on record, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Prior to the confirmation of the bountiful harvest, there were fears the Midwest flooding could lead to food shortages and major economic losses for American farmers. Before perfect weather was enjoyed by farmers recently, corn future prices rose to $8 per bushel. On... All Headline News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061382/posts#comment Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:00:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058541/posts Companies throughout the food chain are changing the way they do business in response to soaring grain costs, and consumers are likely to bear the brunt in the form of rising food prices. Farmers are making the broadest cuts to their livestock herds in decades, meaning meat at the supermarket will likely cost more in coming years. Middlemen are trying to shorten the duration of supply contracts to 90 days from one year so they can pass on higher costs more quickly. And food brands are shrinking the contents of their packages, from ice-cream cartons to beverage containers. ...In another... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058541/posts#comment Fri, 8 Aug 2008 13:30:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051676/posts Barack Obama's vice presidential search team has floated the name of a member of President Bush's first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate. The search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, raised Veneman's name — among others — in discussions with members of Congress, two Democrats familiar with the conversations said. Politico.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051676/posts#comment Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:12:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051524/posts Obama veep team floats Republican name By AMIE PARNES & BEN SMITH | 7/25/08 6:41 PM EST Ann Veneman Obama's vice presidential search team has floated the name of a former member of President Bush's first-term cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate. Photo: AP Barack Obama's vice presidential search team has floated the name of a member of President Bush's first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate. The search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, raised Veneman's name — among others — in discussions with members of Congress, two Democrats familiar... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051524/posts#comment Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:29:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026137/posts <p>TSN 17.11, +0.13, +0.8%) dropped 8% to close at $16.98 Tuesday following a report that 15,000 chickens in a northwest Arkansas plant had tested positive for a mild strain of avian influenza.</p> <p>U.S. Dept. of Agriculture spokeswoman Angie Harless said the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the presence Sunday of avian influenza antibodies in Tyson chickens, indicating that they had a mild strain of avian flu.</p> Market Watch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026137/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:43:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022440/posts USDA report says climate change affecting crops, livestock By JUDITH KOHLER | Associated Press Writer 12:06 AM CDT, May 28, 2008 Article tools DENVER - Climate change is increasing the risk of U.S. crop failures, depleting the nation's water resources and contributing to outbreaks of invasive species and insects, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report released Tuesday. Those and other problems for the U.S. livestock and forestry industries will persist for at least the next 25 years, said the report compiled by 38 scientists The Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022440/posts#comment Wed, 28 May 2008 14:29:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016317/posts I may have neglected NAIS in recent months, but the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund hasn’t. Shortly after I received the reminder, the FTCLDF made its first foray beyond raw milk cases, announcing its intention to file a major suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture over enforcement of NAIS in Michigan. USDA and MDA have cooperated over the last few years to make Michigan in effect a prototype for the full NAIS program of premises and animal regisration. I wrote extensively about the MDA’s grueling effort to implement NAIS in Michigan via its campaign... The Complete Patient http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016317/posts#comment Thu, 15 May 2008 14:24:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2010633/posts WATERBURY -- The first thing that Hill Street brings to mind probably isn't farming, but in a small way, Sue Pronovost is hoping to change that image, one vacant lot at a time. "This is our crown jewel," said Pronovost, director of Brass City Harvest, a newly organized agency focusing on growing food in the inner city. Pronovost, whose specialty is grant writing, became a convert to urban agriculture several years ago and is now trying to bring the city up to speed on a movement that has been having a big impact in tough urban areas. With the Crownbrook... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2010633/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 12:15:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003693/posts WASHINGTON -- The head of the union that represents 6,000 federal food inspectors told a congressional committee Thursday that the Agriculture Department tried to intimidate him and other employees who reported violations of regulations, an allegation denied by the agency. Union chief Stan Painter said that following a mad cow disease scare in 2003, he told superiors that new food safety regulations for slaughtered cattle were not being uniformly enforced. Painter said he was told to drop the matter, and when he didn't, was grilled by department officials and then placed on disciplinary investigative status. Painter said he was eventually... Seattle Post-Intelligencer/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003693/posts#comment Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:34:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000306/posts WASHINGTON -- The only U.S. facility allowed to research the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease experienced several accidents with the feared virus, the Bush administration acknowledged Friday. A 1978 release of the virus into cattle holding pens on Plum Island, N.Y., triggered new safety procedures. While that incident was previously known, the Homeland Security Department told a House committee there were other accidents inside the government's laboratory. The accidents are significant because the administration is likely to move foot-and-mouth research from the remote island to one of five sites on the U.S. mainland near livestock herds. This has raised concerns about... Seattle Post-Intelligencer/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000306/posts#comment Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:53:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1983813/posts WASDE-456 March 11, 2008 WHEAT: Projected U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2007/08 are lowered 30 million bushels this month on higher projected food use and exports. Food use is raised 5 million bushels based on the latest mill grind data from the U.S. Bureau of Census. Hard red spring wheat food use is increased on indications that discounts for spring wheat relative to winter during the first half of the marketing year encouraged heavier use. Exports are raised 25 million bushels based on the pace of export sales and shipments and on continued export restrictions by major competitor countries. Despite... USDA/Cornell Univ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1983813/posts#comment Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:02:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977880/posts Washington - -- As Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton toured the land denouncing special interests, giveaways to the rich, home foreclosures, job losses and a middle-class squeeze, back in Washington House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats met behind closed doors on a plan to raise taxes and cut food stamp money to protect billions of dollars for agribusiness, a sector of the economy that is booming. The negotiators agreed Tuesday to find $10 billion in extra money in a last-ditch effort to save the farm bill, once seen as an opportunity to reform commodity programs and... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977880/posts#comment Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:45:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977796/posts WASHINGTON, (AP) -- The Agriculture Department abruptly ordered congressional auditors to leave its headquarters and told its employees not to cooperate with them. "You are hereby instructed not to meet with any member of the (Government Accountability Office) today, or until this matter is resolved," Michael Watts, a top USDA attorney, wrote to employees Wednesday in an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press. The auditors were seeking information for an ongoing audit on Agriculture's office of civil rights and its handling of discrimination complaints. Specifically, they were investigating allegations that the department had previously provided false information for the audit.... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977796/posts#comment Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:30:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975646/posts The United Nation’s agency responsible for relieving hunger is drawing up plans to ration food aid in response to the spiralling cost of agricultural commodities. The World Food Programme is holding crisis talks to decide what aid to halt if new donations do not arrive in the short term. Josette Sheeran, WFP executive director, told the Financial Times that the agency would look at “cutting the food rations or even the number or people reached” if donors did not provide more money. “Our ability to reach people is going down just as the needs go up,” she said. WFP officials... Financial Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975646/posts#comment Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:21:25 GMT