Policy & Politics

Obama Nominates Judge Sotomayor for Supreme Court

Published May. 26, 2009

Today President Barack Obama announced Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice Souter on the Supreme Court of the United States. Read more about Judge Sotomayor and the President's decision to nominate her in the official White House Blog.

USDA Re-Establishes Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

Published May. 21, 2009

USDA is re-establishing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues facing the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions to USDA on how programs can be tailored to best meet the challenges of the industry...

Farm Bureau Reiterates Opposition to House Climate Change Bill

Published May. 21, 2009

Climate change legislation unveiled last week (H.R. 2454) “ignores the complex needs of a very diverse U.S. agricultural industry” and will draw opposition from the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a letter sent to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, AFBF President Bob Stallman...

Tests Confirm H1N1 Did Not Originate on Mexican Hog Farm

Published May. 21, 2009

Officials with Mexico’s agriculture department announced test results indicating the H1N1 influenza strain that infected 4,300 people in 33 countries did not originate from hogs at a Smithfield Foods operation in Veracruz. The hogs at the Granjas Carroll de México farm also tested negative...

U.S. Beef Hormone Agreement Signed

Published May. 21, 2009

The United States and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in their dispute over the EU’s import ban on U.S. beef produced with hormones.

Vilsack Stands Up for Livestock Farms

Published May. 20, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack defended the livestock industry against a lawmaker’s allegations that crowded conditions and antibiotic usage in modern farms are endangering human health. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) told Vilsack at a House appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday...

Honeybee Colony Decline Slows

Published May. 20, 2009

The decline of honeybee colonies has slowed slightly since last fall, but the Agriculture Department says a mysterious combination of ailments is still affecting honeybee populations. Research at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., found that honeybee...

Obama's Fuel Efficiency Standards a Blow to E-85

Published May. 20, 2009

President Barack Obama's tough fuel economy program for vehicles could put another damper on the struggling ethanol business, because the alternative fuel packs lower energy content than gasoline, according to Reuters. Obama on Tuesday introduced the most aggressive proposal yet...

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Equine Enthusiasts Call for Expanded Gaming

Published May. 20, 2009

Supporters say this would provide an economic boost to the industry and recover as much as $1.2 billion in gambling income lost to surrounding states.

California Bill Would Extend Cage Ban Out-of-State

Published May. 14, 2009

A bill is moving through the California Legislature that would extend the state’s upcoming ban on small cages for egg-laying hens to out-of-state egg producers. The bill has received support from legislators who opposed Proposition 2.