The House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill Wednesday by a vote of 251 to 166. The Senate is expected to take up the bill later this week.
Negotiators from the House and Senate spent several weeks working out their differences on issues in the legislation, including cuts to food stamps, income caps on farm subsidies, and a price support program for dairy farmers...
A proposed new U.S. Department of Agriculture Livestock I.D. and Trace-back System was made ready for review the same day word started to spread about a recent case of BSE, or mad cow disease, in California. The new animal tracing system will be used to track and prevent disease outbreak...
Officially its called "boneless lean beef trimmings" and now its known as 'pink slime', a low cost filler made from fatty bits of beef and treated with ammonia. Its used in some hamburger meats and locally, major grocers indicate they've either discontinued selling ground beef that includes the product or they offer a slime free option...
$40 million federal dollars will go toward 20 different forest and water shed restoration projects.
USDA officials say the goal is to improve forest health, protect water and wildlife and provide jobs in rural communities.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, the goal is to increase "the number of acres by 20 percent where we will actively manage our forests to restore their health...
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Development in Washington of a reworked National Animal I.D. system is coming along. Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, says they hope to finalize this livestock program by the summer.
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