“Vilsack Encourages Ethanol Blends” U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is calling on petroleum companies to help increase the percentage of ethanol in our gas tanks to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, boost job creation and promote development of renewable energy from farm-produced feedstocks. E15 was recently approved by EPA and Vilsack says its availability [...]

“More BSE Details Released as Consumer Group Calls Case a Warning Flag” Even as USDA was working to provide additional details on the latest U.S. BSE case – a consumer group was telling the department and the Food and Drug Administration that this latest case is a warning flag. The group also called for a [...]

“Proposed Regulation Aims to Expand Biobased Product Designations” New proposed guidelines for the USDA BioPreferred program have been published in the Federal Register. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says these guidelines could expand the ability of USDA to designate biobased products for federal purchase. USDA is proposing to allow for the designation of intermediate ingredients including [...]

“Farm Bureau Urges Congress to Preserve Clean Water Act” The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking members of Congress to support legislation that would preserve existing U.S. water rights and responsibilities to the Clean Water Act. Farm Bureau says H.R. 4965 reaffirms the longstanding provisions of the Clean Water Act and would prevent the EPA [...]