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SPECIAL UPDATE for Friday, March 12 - President Obama's antitrust enforcer, Asst. Attorney General Christine Varney lays out scope of DOJ efforts in agriculture enforcement at competition workshop in Iowa.

Update for Monday: Vilsack and Johanns spar over which administration dropped the ball on beef exports to Japan.

Update for Tuesday: Senate cloture vote today on bill containing farm disaster relief and biodiesel tax credit extension, May eyed for bipartisan estate tax fix.

Update for Wednesday: USDA S&D Rpt: grain stocks rise again, soy surplus falls for fourth straight month.

Update for Thursday: House Ag Subcommittee reviews USDA's IT problems.

Update for Friday: "Bust up big ag" rally precedes first-ever USDA-DOJ ag competition workshop in Iowa.

Update for Saturday: Commodity Classic Update

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Welcome to Agri-Pulse, the news source you can depend on for daily updates on the web and weekly e-newsletters regarding the latest in agricultural news and rural policy. Browse our website for concise coverage of daily farm and rural policy developments, and click on the link above to view a sample issue of our e-newsletter. If you like what you see, sign up for a four-week free trial subscription or subscribe by clicking the links above. Let our experienced, reliable team of editors cover and analyze all of the news and deliver it to your e-mail box. Whether it is about food production and safety, the environment, renewable energy, conservation, global climate change or other topics impacting agriculture and Rural America, we summarize and report to you.

FARM AND RURAL POLICY NEWS:
	News Archive

	Latest USDA look at climate change leaves unanswered questions 12-03-09	What’s ahead for Washington this week 11-29-09
	U.S., now China: will India be next to set climate change targets? 11-27-09	Obama’s Copenhagen plans get positive & negative reviews 11-25-09
	Obama sets targets & will attend Copenhagen climate summit 11-25-09	Nov. 30 deadline for USDA value-added producer grants 11-23-09
	Research cracks corn genome code, promising higher yields 11-20-09	Senate HELP Committee passes comprehensive food safety bill 11-19-09
	USDA & Commerce racing to deliver $7 bil. for rural broadband 11-19-09	‘One Health’ aims to integrate animal & human health issues 11-18-09
	Senate Ag hearing questions new rules for derivatives markets 11-18-09	Sept. pork exports regain momentum, beef exports struggling 11-18-09
	RFA: 'Ethanol Truths Prove Inconvenient in New Gore Book’ 11-17-09	USDA Report: Household Food Security in the United States 11-16-09
	USDA and DOE award $24.4 million in biomass R&D grants 11-13-09	Midwestern senators seek fairness in climate change bill 11-13-09
	Prices drop for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in 2009 11-12-09	Sec. Vilsack announces $234.5 mil. spent to promote ag exports 11-12-09
	25x’25 report sees cap & trade boosting net farm income 11-11-09	Senate Environment Committee passes climate bill in 11-1 vote 11-05-09
	New climate bills floated as Senate Republicans continue boycott 11-04-09	Senate Republicans unite to block Tuesday’s climate bill markup 11-02-09
	Scientists complete first draft of swine genome 11-2-09	EPA requiring ‘switch from carbofuran to safer pesticides’ 10-30-09
	Farm Bureau’s Stallman sets the climate bill record straight 10-29-09	No date yet, but China intends to lift ban on U.S. pork 10-29-09
	Third day of Senate climate bill hearings turns testy 10-29-09	Jobs & national security dominate 2nd day of Senate climate hearings 10-28-09
	25x’25 recommends changes in Kerry-Boxer climate legislation 10-27-09	President Obama: clean energy is key to ‘lasting prosperity’ 10-23-09
	Renewable Energy Standard to add $13.5 bil. to farm income 10-23-09	NPPC President Don Butler explains pork industry problems 10-22-09
	Pork industry’s continuing losses highlighted in House hearing 10-22-09	Update-House Ag Committee OKs bipartisan OTC derivatives bill 10-21-09
	Senate Energy Committee hearing examines climate bill allowances 10-21-09	Op-Ed: Is it the end of the road for the biofuels bus? 10-21-09
	American Petroleum Institute rebuts Gen. Clark on COOL 10-21-09	Obama Administration officials head to China to talk trade 10-20-09
	H1N1 flu virus confirmed in pig sample – but all pork safe to eat 10-19-09	H1N1 confirmed in Minnesota State Fair hog sample 10-19-09
	Op Ed: Is the Ag Community to blame for Michael Pollan’s success? 10-19-09	Secs. Clinton & Vilsack: export more ag expertise, less grain for aid 10-16-09
	NCGA President continues quest for unity on ethanol messages 10-16-09	USDA testing for 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza in U.S. swine 10-16-09
	CFTC & SEC issue joint report on regulatory harmonization 10-16-09	USDA awards $49 mil. in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 10-15-09
	Combating climate change seen as essential for U.S. national security 10-15-09	Senators want Country-of-Origin-Labeling for Dairy 10-15-09
	House Financial Services Committee OKs tough OTC derivatives bill 10-15-09	USDA’s new NIFA awards $7 mil. to deal with climate change impacts 10-15-09
	Schools call on Congress to boost school meals funding 10-15-09	USDA ‘08 counter-cyclical payments only for cotton 10-14-09
	OTC derivatives markup reveals sharp party differences 10-14-09	Growth Energy Responds to NCGA request for reconciliation 10-12-09
	Biogas makes sustainable, reliable renewable energy possible 10-08-09	Canada asks WTO to rule on COOL 10-08-09
	Leibniz Ag Engineering Institute develops new biomass technology 10-07-09	Germany calls for global response to combat climate change 10-05-09
	Extra $350 million for dairy hands off tough decisions to USDA 10-01-09	AGCO agrees to pay penalties as part of Oil-for-Food investigation
	Conferees approve ag spending bill 10-1-09	Johanns calls Boxer-Kerry climate bill a ‘direct assault’ on farmers 09-30-09
	Senators Boxer & Kerry launch their climate ‘security’ bill 09-30-09	Senator Lincoln’s first hearing as Agriculture Committee Chair 09-30-09
	Ag producer calls for increased USDA research funding 09-30-09	Senate climate bill OKs long list of crop, livestock & forestry practices 09-29-09
	Op-Ed by Marshall Matz: U.S. farmers feed the planet 09-29-09	Boxer-Kerry climate change bill leaves lots of details to fill in 09-29-09
	USDA begins issuing Livestock Forage Disaster payments 09-28-09	CFTC Chair Gensler seeks joint US-EC crackdown on OTC derivatives 09-25-09
	Wind industry calls for long-term public policy commitments 09-24-09	Latest Murkowski bid fails to put brakes on climate change debate 09-24-09
	$320 mil. for Mississippi River Basin conservation projects 09-24-09	Treasury Sec. Geithner reassures Rep. Lucas on derivatives 09-23-09
	President Obama lists challenges & opportunities in UN climate speech 09-22-09	EPA greenhouse gas emissions report covers farmland & inputs 09-18-09
	House Ag’s Peterson frustrated by slow pace of financial reform 09-17-09	JBS to buy Pilgrim’s Pride out of bankruptcy for $2.8 million 09-16-09--Updated
	Sens. Murkowski & Lincoln speak out against cap & trade bill 09-16-09	JBS to buy Pilgrim’s Pride out of bankruptcy for $2.8 million 09-16-09
	Dorr named to lead U.S. Grains Council 09-15-09	Signup starts today for new livestock disaster assistance programs 09-14-09
	Obama Administration explains food strategy at United Fresh meeting 09-11-09	Agencies proposed more conservation, tighter livestock regulations 09-11-09
	Sec. Vilsack & United Fresh agree: better nutrition cuts health costs 09-10-09	Secretaries Sebelius & Vilsack working together on food issues 09-09-09
	Voter survey shows strong support for food safety mandates 09-09-09	Farm Bureau leaders find USDA Sec. Vilsack ‘receptive’ on pork crisis 09-04-09
	Ag groups urge Obama Administration to fill ag trade posts 09-04-09	New study sees winners and losers from climate change bill 09-04-09
	Coalition warns against retaliation on Chinese trade case 09-04-09	Sec. Vilsack: USDA buying another $30 million in pork products 09-03-09
	Tonsager: apply now for value-added producer grants 09-03-09	Sen. Harkin promises food safety bill to fix ‘unacceptable’ problems 09-02-09
	Science-based beef industry opposes fear-based legislation 09-02-09	Iowa State researcher rates climate bill positive for agriculture 08-30-09
	Huge demand for $4 billion in rural broadband loans & grants 08-27-09	Former U.S. Trade Reps warn on climate bill’s trade impact 08-26-09
	ACRE enrollment tops 104,000 farms and still growing 08-26-09	Farm & ranch estate tax exemptions win environmental backing 08-20-09
	Bipartisan Senate bid to improve Federal Crop Insurance 08-19-09	Pork groups ask USDA to spend $200 mil. on sow buy-out program 08-19-09
	USDA launches new Rural Tour website at www.RuralTour.gov 08-17-09	USDA implements Farm Storage Facility Loan program 08-17-09
	Sec. Vilsack sees economic & enviro gains in new forest policy 08-14-09	Growth Energy: USDA crop report ‘Contradicts land use theory’ 08-12-09
	Farmer Mac lists concerns: ethanol, dairy, timber, land prices 08-11-09	Farmer Mac reports steady improvement, despite ethanol losses 08-11-09
	Sec. Vilsack promotes biochar’s ag & economic benefits 08-10-09	USDA OKs over $15 million in renewable energy loans & grants 08-10-09
	Sec. Vilsack launches ‘unprecedented’ loan assistance effort 08-10-09	EPA peer review reveals problems with EPA’s RFS2 biofuels rules 08-07-09
	Senate hearing seeks to improve Waxman/Markey climate bill 08-06-09	Conservation Stewardship Program signup starts August 10 08-06-09
	CFTC Chair Gary Gensler favors ‘consistently applied’ position limits 08-05-09	USDA/DOJ public workshops on ag competition issues 08-05-09
	Still small, but ACRE participation continues to climb 08-05-09	New EIA report confirms earlier estimates of climate bill costs 08-04-09
	USDA proposes new biobased labeling rules 07-31-09	Sec. Vilsack boosts dairy price supports for an extra $243 mil. 07-31-09
	Pork Producers welcome Food Safety bill as ‘positive first step’ 07-30-09	President Obama welcomes House passage of food safety bill 07-30-09
	House passes bipartisan Food Safety bill in 283 to 142 vote 07-30-09	Senators working with Sec. Vilsack to raise dairy price support 07-30-09
	House schedules 2nd vote Thursday on Food Safety bill 07-30-09	CFTC Chair Gensler: set position limits for all non-commercials 07-29-09
	Cabinet members publish energy op-eds in regional papers 07-24-09	Secs. Vilsack, Salazar & LaHood deny claim of ‘meager’ stimulus results 07-24-09
	‘Smart Grid’ & smart people needed to make renewables work 07-23-09	Renewable Fuels Assoc. seeks immediate EPA OK for E12 07-23-09
	NASS plans to update acres planted to corn and sorghum 07-23-09	President Obama pitches healthcare, including rural healthcare 07-22-09
	USDA forecasts ag gains in climate bill, but leaves unanswered questions 07-22-09	Secretary Vilsack promotes ACRE signup as Aug. 14 deadline nears 07-20-09
	USDA volunteers recognized for serving in Afghanistan & Iraq 07-17-09	Vilsack announces more funds for farm loans 07-17-09
	EPA’s Jackson urges Corn Growers to support climate change bill 07-16-09	Midwestern governors urge EPA to raise ethanol limit to E15 07-15-09
	USDA announces new Conservation Innovation Grants 07-13-09	Secretary Geithner seeks ‘right balance’ for new derivatives rules 07-10-09
	House broadband hearing calls for re-writing funding rules 07-09-09	Senate Appropriations Committee boosts USDA budget 14% 07-08-09
	Will climate change legislation encourage innovation? 07-08-09	Broadband goes country – with $4 billion in 1st funding round 07-07-09
	President Obama sees renewable energy as key to recovery 07-02-09	Join USDA Sec. Vilsack for his cross-country blogs & tweats 07-01-09
	1st stop of Sec. Vilsack’s ‘Rural Tour’ focuses on rural broadband 07-01-09	Agriculture Secretary Vilsack leads Obama administration Rural Tour 07-01-09
	‘Global Warming’ hearing spotlights impacts on agriculture 06-29-09	44 Democrats, 8 Republicans broke ranks in climate bill vote 06-26-09
	President welcomes, Boehner blasts climate change bill 06-26-09	House passes Waxman/Markey climate bill in 219-212 vote 06-26-09
	Close vote expected around 5 PM as House debates climate bill 06-26-09	Most farm groups support Peterson amendment, oppose climate change bill 06-26-09
	Congressional leaders clash over Waxman/Markey climate bill 06-25-09	Climate/enegy bill jockeying continues over undecideds’ votes 06-25-09
	President Obama urges House to pass climate & energy bill 06-25-09	New agriculture & forestry provisions for climate change bill 06-25-09
	Farm Bill implementation hearing airs long list of complaints 06-24-09	Waxman & Markey still working out details of their climate bill 06-24-09
	Chairman Peterson continues to work on climate change compromises 06-24-09	House leaders strike a deal on climate change bill 06-23-09
	Ag groups reject potential compromise on climate change legislation 06-22-09	Senator Crapo determined to block changes to Clean Water Act 06-18-09
	Senate Committee votes 12-7 to support Clean Water Act changes 06-18-09	Dep. Sec. Merrigan announces U.S.-Canada Organic Trade agreement 06-18-09
	Clean Water Restoration Act ‘unnecessary and unjustifiable’ 06-17-09	Harkin welcomes Obama’s financial reforms – but wants more 06-17-09
	Senate Energy Committee OKs energy bill in bipartisan 15-8 vote 06-17-09	Farm and Food Groups call for major changes in food safety bill 06-17-09
	White House’s financial reform package targets derivatives 06-16-09	Rural credit like the weather: sunny with threatening clouds 06-12-09
	Appropriations Subcommittee pulls funding for animal ID system 06-12-09	Senate Energy Committee postpones reporting energy bill 06-11-09
	Agriculture Secretary Vilsack defends climate bill in House hearing 06-11-09	Republicans unveil their own ‘all-of-the-above’ energy bill 06-10-09
	Senators sponsor restaurant menu bill focused on prevention 06-10-09	Monsanto, BASF announce corn gene that can combat drought 06-10-09
	House Ag rural development hearing spotlights glaring needs 06-10-09	‘Cash for Clunkers’ pays up to $4,500 to upgrade cars & trucks 06-09-09
	Senate Energy Committee debates, divides & postpones on energy bill 06-04-09	House Ag Committee releases stakeholder climate change input 06-04-09
	FDA Commissioner, Congress & industry back radical food safety reform 06-03-09	CFTC & SEC heads discuss merger & seek funds to fight market fraud 06-02-09
	Organic and small farm advocates team up to kill animal ID system 06-02-09	Bipartisan Senate group sponsors bill on ag exports to Cuba 05-21-09
	House committee OKs Waxman/Markey energy & climate bill 05-21-09	House members work late in partisan clash over energy/climate bill 05-20-09
	NRC says long road ahead for renewable fuels to replace petroleum	Waxman, Markey introduce climate bill to boost renewables & green jobs 05-15-09
	Peterson bill to strip ‘indirect land use’ from EPA biofuels rule 05-14-09	Senators debate key details of proposed energy legislation 05-14-09
	Secretary Vilsack explains budget cuts & priorities in House hearing 05-13-09	White House & Congress join forces to reform food safety 05-13-09
	NFU rejects ag budget cuts, calls for role in cap-&-trade system 05-08-09	President Obama proposes several cuts in farm programs 05-08-09
	Senator Lugar blasts EPA’s proposed RFS2 rule as threat to biofuels 05-08-09	Senators urge USDA nominees to fight for ag & rural priorities 05-07-09
	Biofuels battle heats up in House Ag hearing on RFS2 05-06-09	U.S. and EU reach tentative agreement on beef trade 05-06-2009
	USDA distributes $15 mil. in rural development loans & grants 05-06-09	Secretary Vilsack announces National Animal ID listening sessions 05-04-09
	Canadian hog farm quarantined after testing positive for H1N1 virus 05-03-09	Joint U.S., Canadian, Mexican statement on H1N1 flu outbreak 05-02-09
	Secretary Vilsack suspends Farm Loan Programs (FLP) foreclosures 05-01-09	Farm leaders call for common sense solutions on climate change 4-30-09
	House Ag hearing highlights USDA steps to end discrimination 04-29-09	Secretary Vilsack promises more $ for rural America – & some cuts 04-29-09
	Secretary Vilsack fights to reverse H1N1 flu damage to pork market 04-29-09	Secretary Vilsack launches multi-media report on USDA performance 04-29-2009
	‘Swine’ flu not connected to eating pork products 4-28-09	Despite objections, California board adopts low-carbon fuel standard 4-24-09
	U.S. food safety spotlighted in House Ag subcommittee hearing 04-23-09	Earth Day: Obama touts clean energy, GOP Congressmen object 04-22-09
	EPA greenhouse gas ‘health threat’ finding concerns farmers 04-17-09	EPA seeks public comment on raising ethanol blend level to E15 04-17-09
	Secretary Vilsack awards $84.8 million for rural watershed projects 04-16-09	President Obama touts renewables in message to Latin America 04-16-09
	Herseth Sandlin leads bipartisan group asking EPA to approve E-15 04-16-09	New USDA loan repayment rate system effective April 15 04-14-09
	Obama Administration won’t appeal court’s decision on pesticide applications 04-10-09	World leaders call for renewed focus on trade talks 04-09-09
	ACRE Program signup starts April 27 04-09-09	Bipartisan call on USDA to tighten farm program payment rules 04-08-09
	Food Stamp (SNAP) increase to benefit families, economy & farmers 04-03-09	Bipartisan Harkin/Thune/Johnson bill to build biofuel pipelines 04-03-09
	Who is going to participate in the new ACRE program? (updated) 04-03-09	House Agriculture food safety hearing praises FSIS, finds fault with FDA 04-02-09
	Agriculture Secretary Vilsack reinstates base acreage on federally owned land 04-02-09	Senate Agriculture Committee promises swift USDA confirmations 04-01-09
	25x’25 coalition spells out imperatives for climate change legislation 04-01-09	Comprehensive Senate energy bill to curb market speculators 04-01-09
	USDA predicts a little less corn, fewer soybeans than expected 03-31-09	Opinion: Obesity Conference Call 03-30-09
	Sec. Vilsack: $52 mil. in grants to help farmers get greener 03-27-09	Senate budget plan cuts crop insurance, not farm program payments 03-26-09
	USDA transfers dry milk to help both consumers & dairy industry 03-26-09	Rural America’s top ten issues in health care reform debate 03-26-09
	Senate budget plan protects ag spending for now, but leaves options open 03-25-09	Lessons (that could be) learned from the new White House Garden 3-25-09
	Soaring CBO deficit forecasts put major Obama initiatives at risk 03-20-09	Mexico’s long list of stiff retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods 03-20-09
	USDA & IRS link up to end payments to ineligible farm program participants 03-19-09	Senators express strong concerns about President Obama's budget 03-19-09
	Senate votes 92-5 for Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative 03-18-09	Cattlemen’s group plans new anti-ethanol-subsidy strategy 03-13-09
	Jim Miller & Dallas Tonsager picked for empty posts at USDA 03-13-09	Secretary Vilsack defends his proposed farm program direct payment cuts 03-13-09
	Bipartisan House Ag Committee letter rejects direct payment cuts 03-12-09	Global economic recovery, might – or might not – boost commodity prices 03-11-09
	Growth Energy asks EPA to OK job-creating 15% ethanol blend 03-06-09	Senator Grassley asks President Obama to clarify NAFTA policy 03-05-09
	Secretary Vilsack promises to ‘maintain an appropriate safety net’ 03-04-09	Farm groups & USDA discuss proposed Obama budget cuts 03-04-09
	Senate ‘smart grid’ hearing - first step toward new energy bill 03-04-09	Harkin & Chambliss back global ban on persistent chemicals 03-04-09
	Stimulus bill: Extra $10 billion for NIH research vs. $0 for ag research 03-04-09	NASS report shows continued decline in most farm prices 03-02-09
	Commodity Classic: Major commodity groups react to Obama budget proposal 02-27-09	CFTC’s Chilton seeks criminal authority to fight futures market fraud 02-27-09
	EPA Administrator promises partnership & science-based regulations 02-26-09	President’s budget includes both winners & losers at USDA 02-26-09
	President’s budget phases out direct payments to large farms 02-26-09	2008 Crop Insurance indemnity payments near $6.5 billion 02-25-09
	Senate confirmation hearing for CFTC chair spotlights past mistakes 02-25-09	First Lady Michelle Obama visits & praises USDA employees 02-23-09
	Secretary Vilsack implements voluntarily ‘enhanced’ COOL rules 02-20-09	Soybean growers say Secretary Vilsack shares their priorities 02-18-09
	Senate follows House in passing stimulus bill, ready for Obama to sign 02-13-09	CFTC approves CBOT limits on non-commercial delivery instruments 02-13-09
	Here are the highlights from the stimulus package compromise 02-13-09	House Agriculture Committee approves tough derivatives bill 02-12-09
	As USDA forecasts 2009 farm income down, Vilsack plans more help 02-12-09	Secretary Vilsack breaks ground for new USDA organic community garden 02-12-09
	Food safety reform legislation likely in wake of Peanut Corp. abuses 02-11-09	Here is how House and Senate stimulus ag spending compares 02-11-09
	USDA Sec Vilsack warns: major farm program changes ahead 02-09-09	President Obama blasts GOP critics over stalled stimulus legislation 02-05-09
	Senate peanut hearing spotlights serious food-safety problems 02-05-09	Here is how renewable energy provisions compare in stimulus package 02-04-09
	House Ag Committee plans derivatives bill mark-up next week 02-04-09	House Agriculture Subcommittees – List of members 01-28-09
	House Agriculture Committee – List of members 01-28-09	Senate Agriculture Committee – List of members 01-28-09
	Vilsack confirms plans for national Rural Policy Summit 01-28-09	Ethanol industry outlook: consolidation & better times ahead 01-27-09
	Report boosts life-cycle benefits from corn-based ethanol 01-27-09	EPA head Lisa Jackson promises science-based decisions 01-23-09
	Sec. Vilsack makes 48 appointments to key USDA posts 01-23-09	Vilsack praises USDA, outlines challenges & opportunities 01-23-09
	NFU delivers wish lists to USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack & Trade Rep. Ron Kirk 1-22-09	Highlights of the Agriculture Inaugural Ball 1-22-09
	USDA Sec. Vilsack outlines priorities & challenges in his first press conference 01-22-09	Obama nominates, Senate confirms first six Cabinet members 01-20-09
	USDA OK’s loan for 1st commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant 01-16-09	Harkin introduces legislation to regulate all OTC swaps & derivatives 01-15-09
	Peterson announces House Ag Committee members 01-15-09	USDA, EPA: $23 million for Chesapeake Bay restoration 01-15-09
	USDA, EPA: $23 million for Chesapeake Bay restoration 01-15-09	$300 mil. USDA loan for coal plant carbon sequestration 01-15-09
	Executive Summary: American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill 01-15-09	USDA seeks comments on Wetlands Reserve Program 01-15-09
	USDA seeks comments on Wetlands Reserve Program 01-15-09	USDA amends EQIP conservation program rules 01-15-09
	If confirmed at Interior, Sen. Salazar promises ‘to clean up the mess’ 01-15-09	House Democrats unveil economic stimulus package summary 1-15-09
	Tom Vilsack wows Senators in his confirmation hearing 01-14-09	Ag/Enviro coalition urges Congress to back renewables 01-13-09
	Vilsack part of busy week of Senate confirmation hearings 01-13-09	NFU: USDA ignored congressional intent for COOL 01-12-09
	USDA issues final rule on mandatory COOL labeling 01-12-09	USDA pays out $950 mil. in tobacco transition program 01-12-09
	At Farm Bureau: more bad news for cotton in ‘09 01-12-09	At Farm Bureau: Biotech speaker blasts ‘GE-free’ labels 01-12-09
	At Farm Bureau: lower ’09 crop & input prices forecast 01-12-09	As apparent criticism surfaces, is Obama honeymoon over? 01-09-09
	Schafer to Vilsack: Congress is the ‘obstruction’ 01-09-09	USDA Sec. Schafer on successes, COOL & ASA vs. USB 01-08-09
	Obama ‘Recovery’ speech highlights clean energy 01-08-09	Congressional report explains all 24 federal biofuels programs 01-07-09
	Congressional Research Service report on biofuels 01-07-09	Stimulus bill should include $3 bil. for backlogged Rural Development projects 01-07-09
	The Obama-Biden Recovery Plan 01-06-09	Senate confirmation hearing for Vilsack as USDA Secretary 01-05-09
	House hearing Wednesday on new economic recovery plan 01-02-09	USDA lowers CCC lending rates for January 2009 01-02-09
	25x’25 expects Obama Cabinet to favor renewable energy 12-31-08	USDA ‘Million-Dollar Farms’ report predicts more consolidation 12-30-08
	USDA announces new commodity allocations under McGovern-Dole 12-30-08	USDA updates for DCP & MILC programs 12-22-08
	Obama Cabinet listed: Ag & rural issues well represented 12-22-08	USDA tightens payment limits, income limits, direct attribution 12-19-08
	Milk income loss contract program signup begins Dec. 22 12-19-08	Schafer: ’09 DCP signup Dec. 22, ACRE signup in spring 12-19-08
	Harkin welcomes USDA action – Farm program signup begins Monday 12-19-08	Obama names his USTR, Labor, Transportation, Small Business picks 12-19-08
	New USDA program to turn ecosystems into ‘multiple income streams’ 12-19-08	Sen. Lincoln blasts USDA for Farm Bill implementation delays 12-18-08
	Obama fills key financial regulatory posts at SEC, CFTC & Fed 12-18-08	USDA creates two new tools to reap environmental benefits 12-18-08
	American Soybean Association welcomes Vilsack choice 12-17-08	Vilsack choice as Sec. of Agriculture sparks surprise, welcome & warnings 12-17-08
	National Cattlemen’s Beef Association close to CEO decision 12-17-08	Tom Vilsack & Ken Salazar nominated for Agriculture and Interior 12-17-08
	Obama expected to name Gov. Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture 12-16-08	Sen. Salazar pick as Interior Secretary expected this week 12-16-08
	Outgoing EPA Administrator praises his successor 12-15-08	Obama names 'Green Team' for energy & environment 12-15-08
	Majority Leader Reid picks Senate committee chairs 12-15-08	Sex, knives and soybean politics 12-15-08
	Grain groups seek $45 mil. for international ag research 12-15-08	EPA exempts farms from most toxic air release reports 12-13-08
	Disappointing delay for stalled Doha Round trade talks 12-12-08	Administration issues “relaxed” farm guest worker rules 12-12-08
	House hearing on rush of environmental rule changes 12-11-08	Lucas tapped to be GOP leader of House Agriculture Committee 12-11-08
	President-elect Obama adds Sen. Tom Daschle to cabinet choices 12-11-08	Senate Energy hearing: sign up now for bailout billions 12-10-08
	ASA asks USDA to investigate soybean checkoff 12-10-08	Harkin: beef recall showed USDA gambling with food safety 12-09-08
	Senators seek ‘balanced’ Doha trade deal – or no deal 12-08-08	GAO report, Harkin, Chambliss question biotech rules 12-05-08
	Alternative farm movement pushes its agenda on Obama	CFTC approves wheat futures contract amendments 12-05-08
	Europe OK’s biotech soybean imports for food & feed 12-05-08	USDA barters bulk commodities to feed swelling ranks of hungry 12-04-08
	Farm Foundation releases “30-Year Challenge” report 12-04-08	Seven former USDA secretaries wow Food & Ag Policy Summit 12-03-08
	Accidental release of genetically engineered cotton poses "No safety risk" 12-03-08	Free trade with Colombia: Another tool to jump-start the U.S. economy?
	Green groups offer Obama an environmental agenda 11-26-08	Not yet president, Obama fields requests on Cuba, etc. 11-26-08
	USDA report calendar for 2009 11-22-08	Farm groups express new concerns about world trade talks 11-21-08
	Harkin urges Russia to maintain pork, poultry imports 11-21-08	California’s Prop. 2 sparks conflicting CAFO forecasts 11-20-08
	Harkin introduces bill to regulate all derivatives trading 11-20-08	Baucus, Grassley warn Taiwan on farm product imports 11-20-08
	More names announced for Obama transition team 11-13-08	Obama wave flipped 327 red counties to blue, McCain flipped 45 to red 11-13-08
	E85 ethanol pumps near you – with more on the way 11-12-08	NFU demands congressional hearings on food price manipulation 11-11-08
	President-elect Obama promises 2nd stimulus package 11-07-08	USDA announces 10-Acre base & other farm bill fixes 11-07-08
	Schafer works with Obama team on smooth transition 11-06-08	USDA adds hydrogen to its renewable energy portfolio 11-06-08
	In transition, USDA Sec. Schafer congratulates Obama 11-06-08	Distinguished Obama transition team goes public 11-05-08
	Possible new USDA Secretary outlines tough choices for Obama administration 11-05-08	Energy spotlighted in USDA Ag Outlook Forum Feb. 26-27 11-03-08
	Farm Groups wrestle with response to EPA's new CAFO rule 10-31-08	EPA announces final CAFO rule for manure management 10-31-08
	Opinion...Do not throw stones when you live in glass houses 10-30-08	DOE extends renewable energy loan guarantee deadline 10-30-08
	Cattlemen list priorities – & forego endorsing a presidential candidate 10-29-08	USDA revises October acreage and production forecasts 10-28-08
	Home ownership still gaining ground in Rural America 10-24-08	New pasture requirements for organically raised livestock 10-24-08
	Financial crisis select committee, more regulation, SEC/CFTC merger 10-23-08	Financial crisis hearing: ‘Someone ought to go to jail’ 10-22-08
	USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program tops two million acres 10-21-08	Justice Dept. files antitrust lawsuit to block proposed beef deal 10-20-08
	USDA pumps out cash as Farm Bill implementation accelerates 10-16-08	House derivatives hearing: too many questions remain 10-15-08
	USDA issues final ‘07 upland cotton counter-cyclical payments 10-10-08	U.S. Capitol turns green with its first E85 ethanol pump 10-09-08
	Here is a summary of the recently passed renewable energy tax package 10-08-08	USDA launches Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) with $28 mil. 10-8-08
	McCain-Palin campaign rolls out Farm and Ranch Team 10-7-08	$700 bil. rescue & renewable energy fix signed into law 10-03-08
	Is Gov. Palin the secret weapon for Sen. McCain in Rural America?	Senate OKs $700 bil. rescue bill and renewable energy 74 to 25 10-01-08
	Senate to vote Wednesday on rescue bill and renewable energy 9-30-08	10-acre-base fix passes in House, goes to President 9-29-08
	House rejects $700 billion bailout bill 228 to 205 9-29-08	House to vote Monday on bipartisan $700 bil. bailout bill 9-28-09
	Full text of $700 billion bailout bill 9-28-08	Sen. Landrieu: $700 billion for Wall St, $0 for farmers 9-27-08
	Senate OKs CR to open offshore, spend $634 billion 9-27-08	Congress extends session to pass bailout & stimulus legislation 9-26-08
	House OKs bipartisan renewable energy tax extenders bill 9-26-08	House votes to suspend 10-acre-base rule for two years 9-25-08
	EPA identifies prime sites for renewable energy projects 9-24-08	USDA/Farm Foundation "Bioeconomy" conference Oct. 15-16 9-23-08
	McCain campaign rolls out farm and rural policies 9-22-08	House Ag Committee OKs two-year 10-acre-base fix 9-19-08
	Senate OKs tax bill including renewable energy tax breaks 9-18-08	Farm groups back Barack Obama for President 9-18-08
	House OKs bill to curb commodity market speculation 9-18-08	Senators to Sec. Schafer: Implement ACRE as intended 09-15-08
	Harkin, Durbin, Brown write USDA about ACRE program 9-15-08	Bipartisan ‘Gang of 20’ leads the way to U.S. energy independence 9-13-08
	Senators Harkin & Lugar back E85 flex-fuel vehicles 9-12-08	Senate Energy Summit spells out promises, cost & challenges 9-12-08
	Legislation proposed to permit farmers to aggregate base acres 09-11-08	Boehner vs. Pelosi – Divided over Energy 9-10-08
	Congressmen praise NFU role in achieving ’08 Farm Bill 9-9-08	National Farmers Union urges Farm Bill & energy action 9-8-08
	Sen. McCain accepts GOP nomination with grace & power 9-4-08	Energy expert Sarah Palin stars in GOP convention debut 9-3-08
	Scientists develop new poultry vaccine to protect human health 9-3-08	Senator Lugar urges Europeans to back biotech 9-2-08
	Congress under pressure to act on renewable energy 9-1-08	U.S. Farm machinery export sales surge 30.5 percent 8-29-08
	Barack Obama promises $150 billion for renewable energy 8-28-08	Spinach and lettuce irradiation – another tool for food safety 8-28-08
	USDA awards $35 million for renewable energy & energy efficiency grants 8-28-08	U.S. DOT awards $14.7 million for rural roads safety 8-28-08
	Can a Bipartisan "Gang of 10" rescue renewable energy? 8-28-08	USDA proposes “complete ban” on slaughter of downer cattle 8-27-08
	Is U.S. Energy Independence Possible? 8-27-08	USDA Chief Scientist: Moving from petroleum to renewables 8-27-08
	Democratic Convention champions renewable energy 8-27-08	Iowa Gov. Chet Culver: Renewables Rule 8-26-08
	Sen. McCain leaves Aggies uninspired	Farmland prices reach record highs
	FCIC board approves more states and traits for biotech program	How to keep people in the countryside
	Rural Development Policies	Finally: A completely new farm bill becomes law
	USDA delivers crop loan rates, LDP provisions	The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008
	Except for trade title, Farm Bill is now the ‘law of the land’	Farm bill deal finalized
	A billion here, a billion there	High prices prompt renewed focus on eliminating “death tax’
	Bakers urge actions to deal with low wheat stocks	Concerns grow over beef packing merger
	Animal Rights groups continue to grow funding base	Where's the farm bill money? USDA issues list of funding offsets and reform
	Farm bill funding: What types of ‘trickery’ are in play?	Cotton struggles to compete for acreage
	‘Bogus’ farm program payment reforms in House and Senate bills?	Farm bill funding: What types of ‘trickery’ are in play?
	Memories of Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz	Agri-Pulse adds Stewart Doan to editorial team
	FDA says cloning is safe, but USDA says more time needed	Nitrogen in ’08 – tight supplies or shortages?
	Presidential veto threat: Bad political strategy or not?	Interest in revenue-based risk management continues to surge
	Senate Approves New Farm Bill	Wind industry pushes for more incentives
	Global leaders rethink seed approval process, livestock squeeze	Humane Society prepares to wage another state livestock battle
	Meet the new nominee for Secretary of Agriculture	House approves U.S--- Peru Trade Pact
	Senate votes to override President's WRDA veto	USDA officials, farm groups react to Senate Ag Committee's farm bill
	Senate Agriculture Committee Approves New Farm Bill Package	Major U.S. farm groups fire ‘shot across the bow’ on trade talks
	APHIS Investigation yields few clues on contaminated rice	Finance Committee Approves Agriculture Tax Package
	Ag Committee Democrats discuss potential farm bill scenarios	Johanns’ Exit Alters Nebraska Politics, USDA Leadership Picture
	Searching for better risk management?	House passes new farm bill by 231-191 margin
	Here's a summary of the House Agriculture Committee farm bill proposal	Harkin continues calls for reform, rural development prioritie
	Chairman Harkin wants agriculture looking ahead	Efforts to advance world trade talks falls short in Potsdam
	Latest volley fired in food vs. fuel battle	Senate approves sweeping energy package
	EWG plans to launch revised farm subsidy database	Will Dole, Daschle provide hints to Harkin’s farm bill proposal?
	Animal ID pilots show real-life challenges and opportunities	USDA touts improvements in food stamp outreach and delivery
	House and Senate reach budget conference agreement	Ag Committees continue to make the case for more funding
	Ag Committees continue to make the case for more funding	Experts split on effect of ending Cuban export credit ban
	Will specialty crops hold the key to the 2007 Farm Bill?	Agri-Pulse guest commentary: An new perspective on the Food vs. Fuel debate






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University of Wisconsin law professor and antitrust expert Peter Carstensen joins us this week on Open Mic to preview the Departments of Justice and Agriculture Competition in Agriculture workshop series that begins Friday in Ankeny, Iowa. Carstensen talks about why the workshops are necessary and what regulatory actions he hopes will follow.

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