All Ag News

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the nation’s fourth case of BSE. USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford says the animal is a dairy cow from central California. He stresses that the carcass will be destroyed and was never presented for slaughter for human consumption. As such – it never presented a [...]

“AFBF Sees Lots to Like in Farm Bill Draft, But Room for Improvement” While the American Farm Bureau Federation sees room for adjustments to improve the Senate Agriculture Committee’s draft farm bill – numerous provisions follow the group’s core principles for rational, acceptable farm policy. That’s the message delivered by Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman [...]

“House Ag Finishes Farm Bill Field Hearings” The House Agriculture Committee has finished its series of farm bill field hearings. The final stop was Dodge City, Kansas. Members of the committee heard from producers of a variety of commodities and beef regarding the tools they need to produce a safe and affordable food and fiber [...]

“As Senate Prepares for Farm Bill Mark-Up, Farm Groups Speak Up” Eight prominent agricultural associations – the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association among them – have joined together to voice support for the Senate’s approach to the 2012 Farm Bill. The groups also raised several issues related to [...]

“Peterson Calls Process a Waste of Time” The House Agriculture Committee met Wednesday to consider a proposal to satisfy the Committee’s reconciliation instructions required by House Concurrent Resolution 112. The Committee passed the reconciliation measure by voice vote. Included are 33-billion dollars in cuts to federal nutrition spending over 10 years. The savings are achieved [...]

“Secretary Vilsack Talks Farm Bill” Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack believes Congress can approve a new farm bill before the current law expires in September. He says it’s clear the Senate Ag Committee plans to begin to mark up its version of the legislation this month. As such – he expects the full Senate will vote [...]

“Peterson Places Odds at 50-50 for Farm Bill Passage” According to The Hagstrom Report – House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson says there’s a fifty-fifty chance Congress will pass a farm bill this year. If both houses don’t approve a measure by August – he says Congress will need to extend some authorities and [...]

“MF Global Trustee May File Civil Suits” The MF Global trustee than plans to return millions to MF Global customers said Thursday he may bring civil lawsuits against some of the company’s employees – asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty and for violating rules that govern the segregation of client funds. Trustee James Giddens [...]

“IA’s Grassley Sees August Deadline for Farm Bill” If Congress doesn’t pass a new farm bill by August – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says efforts to undertake the biggest overhaul of farm policy in decades will have to wait until next year. Grassley told USA Today that he believes August 5th is the deadline for [...]

“FDA Guidance Concerns Pork Producers” The National Pork Producers Council has concerns about the impact of the implementation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance on the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry production. The group says the expected loss of and restricted access to products will likely disproportionately affect small producers, have a [...]