USDA

As wildfires consume several thousand acres in the southwest, U.S. Forest Service Chief, Tom Tidwell notes, "So far the 2011 fire season has been relatively severe. More than 4 million acres have burned across the country, which is more than twice the to-date 10 year average. Parts of the south and southwest are in a prolonged drought. Most of the large fires have burned in the southeast, Texas , Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico and we also have some large fires in Alaska."

Tidwell testified Tuesday at a Senate Natural Resource Committee meeting on wildfire management programs.

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The USDA and U.S. Forest Service Officials joined counterparts around the world last week to celebrate the International Year of Forests.

"We've partnered with a lot of other associations, most notably the National Association of State Foresters and with the American Forest Foundation to promote this awareness throughout the year."

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The wildfire season seems well on its way down in Colorado where another fire this weekend destroy homes west of Fort Collins.

Federal wildfire experts are preparing for the season with a new wild-land fire prevention and management plan.

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Agriculture officials warn that food prices will likely continue to rise this year.

As costs for food production go up so goes the price at the grocery story.  U.S Agriculture Department  Chief Economist, Joe Glauber...

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For now  the developers of Round Up Ready sugar beets and growers of the genetically altered root crop can continue to cultivate, but under some strict conditions.

Andre Bell for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says the decision comes following initial environmental assessments and public comment.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces deregulation of Roundup- Ready alfalfa.

"We promised that we would make a decision to enable folks to plant this spring and we have done that."

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