What is ‘Rural’?
During a recent visit to Kansas City, Mo., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he would ask the White House Rural Council to try to reduce the number of federal government definitions of rural America. He also indicated he would urge Congress to take up the issue, as rural officials have complained they have a hard time figuring out what programs they qualify for. USDA currently has 11...
Read MoreRoberts Urges Fair Transportation Treatment for Ag
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) sent a letter last week to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expressing concerns over critical transportation proposals related to transporting agriculture commodities. “The FMCSA proposed rule changes would provide no proven benefit, and would only serve to excessively and unnecessarily overburden our agriculture producers who are already overstrained by...
Read MoreHealthier Happy Meals Means More Apples Sold
McDonald’s Corp, the world’s largest hamburger chain, will add apple slices to all Happy Meals served beginning in September. An estimated 10 percent of Happy Meals are now sold with a 3.1 ounce side of apple slices. The apple portion will be reduced to just over one ounce in September, but adding the fruit to every Happy Meal will boost sales for U.S. growers. Happy Meals will continue to be...
Read More5 More Counties Given Disaster Designation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated five counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that began May 1, 2011, and continues. “I’m pleased that USDA will be able to help Colorado farmers affected by the drought” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I realize that during this time of disaster, federal assistance...
Read MoreWeather Woes Could Push Corn to $7.25, Soybeans to $14.50
Corn prices could hit $7.25 per bushel in the 2011-2012 marketing year and soybean prices could climb to $14.50 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade due to production concerns in the U.S., according to the report by Morgan Stanley research analyst Hussein Allidina released Thursday. “We are growing incrementally more concerned over the state of the U.S. corn and soybean crops,” Allidina...
Read MorePolis Wants to Ban Potatoes
Colorado Farm Bureau is calling on Rep. Jared Polis to withdraw his support for new USDA school lunch standards that eliminate healthy vegetable choices for students, and increase meal costs for school districts. Rep. Polis on July 7, circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter to USDA voicing his support for the new standards which will severely limit potatoes, peas and corn in student diets. Under...
Read MoreLegislative Tracking 2013
