WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2012- The number of obese adults and children in the United States remained steady over the past few years. More than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent

ROME, Jan. 17, 2012 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Commission announced a new $5.3 million project aimed at helping

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 - The U.S. House of Representatives returns from its break on Tuesday to a political environment that’s

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12- The USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board and National Agricultural Statistics Service released their Crop Production reports today. The following is information from today’s Crop Production report as well as the

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11- The National Petroleum Council, a federal advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy, released conclusions that North America’s gas and oil resources are

HONOLULU, Jan. 10 – Seventy years after Japanese fighters attacked the U.S. Navy stationed in Pearl Harbor, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

HONOLULU, Jan. 8 – While noting that our nation’s tight budget constraints will likely dictate how much of a role the government will play

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6- The nation is losing its competitive edge in global innovation, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 – A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) documents how private sector companies are increasingly dominating the development

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4- Mitt Romney pulled off a win in the Iowa caucus last night by a tiny margin, with just eight more Republican caucus votes

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 – This week’s Washington Week Ahead could easily be called the Iowa week and beyond. Most of the national news media, political pundits, and lawmakers

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the approval of two renewable energy projects that will deliver enough power for

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29- Among the contentious points in USDA’s proposed "Nutritional Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs" is sodium, which is

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27- From extreme drought, heat waves and floods to unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms, the United States this year suffered a record

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21- "Knee-jerk" reactions are not the solution to the mess left in the collapse of MF Global, said American Farm Bureau Federation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20-The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release its compliance standards for the 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards and 2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Volume

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19- House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are urging House-Senate negotiations on the payroll tax cut

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15—U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) today called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to appeal the World Trade Organization (WTO) decision

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-- The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement includes "new and innovative" proposals with the goal to create a model of how trade should be conducted

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 - It's Christmas time in Washington and the city is brimming with beautiful lights, holiday parties, pledges of good cheer and a

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 13 – With the help of new sponsors, the National FFA Foundation raised

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 – While noting that meeting the world’s future food needs is a “complex undertaking,” Sen. Dick Lugar

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7- USDA announced a new range of tactics yesterday aimed at preventing the use of SNAP benefits

Washington, Dec. 6 – In a unanimous voice vote, the full Senate Agriculture Committee supported issuing a subpoena for former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 – The Senate Agriculture Committee used today’s Wall Street Reform Act oversight hearing to question regulators on the collapse of MF Global Holdings Ltd., which left many farmers and ranchers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30- The Trustee for the liquidation of MF Global Inc. is seeking approval of a bulk transfer and distribution of up to $2.1 billion to former MF Global Inc. commodities customers.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30- Senator Stabenow told Agri-Pulse today that the Senate Agriculture Committee will continue to work with its counterpart in the House to continue fine-tuning Farm Bill negotiations

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30- Senator Stabenow told Agri-Pulse today that the Senate Agriculture Committee will continue to work with its counterpart in the House to continue fine-tuning Farm Bill negotiations

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 - The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced today that it will go ahead with the first phase of plans to update the

WASHINGTON Nov. 23- A lucky pair of Minnesota-bred turkeys will be spared the fate of their counterparts today when President Obama hosts the 64th anniversary

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21– The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction announced its failure today to reach a compromise on how to reduce $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit. House and Senate Agriculture Committee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 – The wheels that have been slowly driving the super committee “bus” toward a Nov. 23 deadline appeared to be

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16- Midwestern farmland values rose more than 25 percent in the third quarter of FY 2011, according to Federal Reserve Bank surveys. Tenth District farmland values

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – With just 10 days left to produce a $1.2 trillion package aimed at deficit reduction, the 12 members of the Joint Deficit Reduction Committee are providing only

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15- A group of bipartisan policy leaders, including former executive director of the UN World Food Program, Catherine Bertini, and former Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, are urging Congress to sustain funding levels for agricultural

Honolulu, HI, NOV. 13 - Public and private stakeholders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings held here this week pledged $1 million to create

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9- The Supreme Court heard arguments today regarding whether a California state law requiring the immediate euthanization of downed livestock should be overturned. The justices seemed inclined toward the argument

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8- The Supreme Court rejected a petition from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 – As members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees continue to work on finding $23 billion in farm bill spending cuts

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2- With the Congressional “Supercommittee” on the verge of proposing its deficit reduction plan within the month, the American Farmland Trust is prepared

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1- Conservation leaders gathered at the National Press Club yesterday to protect conservation, recreation and historic preservation investments in federal programs. These programs generate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26- Advocates say recent developments, including an annual report showing America’s small wind turbine industry experienced substantial growth in 2010, and a bill introduced in the Senate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20- A massive dust storm that hit Lubbock, Texas on Monday arrived during widespread drought in the southern plains and discussions of significant budget cuts to Farm Bill spending in Washington.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission adopted the controversial position limits rule under the Dodd-Frank Act. The rule, approved yesterday with

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), ranking member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, today testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works regarding flooding conditions in Kansas

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 – One week after lawmakers failed to find more than 50 Democratic votes in support of the American Jobs Act, S.1660, the White House

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14–USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is awarding 29 grants across 19 states, totaling $46 million, through its Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).

DES MOINES, Oct.14- Syngenta CEO, Mike Mack, joined the 2011 World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa to discuss the critical questions around agriculture, hunger and food prices

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13- The Dairy Advancement Act includes the repeal of the Dairy Product Price Support Program and establishes

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 - For many farmers and ranchers eager to expand export markets, this week could provide one of the biggest opportunities

ROME, Oct. 10 - Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity, the United Nations' three Rome-based agencies said

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 - A coalition of environmental groups lost a Florida court case against USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding field trials of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6- Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Cong. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) introduced $40 billion in farm bill cuts yesterday. The Rural Economic Farm and Ranch Sustainability and Hunger Act (REFRESH) would

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5- Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) spoke at the United Fresh Produce Association's 2011 Washington Public Policy Conference yesterday before meeting with Senate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 — The U.S. Supreme Court convenes Monday and will face a number of high-profile cases, including whether or not to review an Appeals Court decision

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 — The Center for Food Safety (CFS) announced its filing of a legal petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today, demanding

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to add two new staff members to the Natural Resources and Environment mission area and the Risk Management Agency.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29- The American Soybean Association today released its proposal for the 2012 Farm Bill, "Risk Management for America’s Farmers."

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28- Employment rates in rural areas are not significantly improving, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) report

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 - A coalition of 56 policy and advocacy organizations released their requirements to Congress today for the 2012 Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26- Senate Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement Monday night that will keep the government running until November 18 and provide

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 — Lawmakers have through Friday, Sept. 30, to pass a stopgap funding bill or the federal government will be headed for

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21- As a share of total farm income, government support to agriculture in the major developed countries fell to a record low 18 percent in 2010 as commodity prices spiked, according to a report today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20- The Rural Energy for America Program will add 50 more blender pumps before the end of the fiscal year, said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack at an ethanol industry group conference

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 – President Barack Obama finally showed farm country how he thinks farm programs should be cut as part of the deficit reduction process today. In a Rose Garden speech, the President called for

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 –President Barack Obama plans to call for a new minimum tax rate on millionaires Monday, dubbed the “Buffett Rule” after Omaha,

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on a petition filed by the environmental advocacy group

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15-U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced an extended deadline for producers to sign up for participation in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15—Rep. Michael Turner, Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, took the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Obama Administration to task for moving ahead

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14--Livestock and poultry producers gathered in front of the House Agricultural Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry today to contest policies they say are driving feed costs

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 – President Obama will continue to press Congress to pass the $447 billion “American Jobs Act” he outlined during a joint session of Congress last week

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is taking new steps to fight E. coli and protect the safety of the American food supply

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8- The House Agriculture Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Subcommittee held a dairy policy hearing today in an effort to review current USDA dairy programs.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7- In an effort to avoid insolvency, the United States Postal Service will attempt to make major reforms, including reducing the number of postal-operated retail facilities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 — After a long August recess, lawmakers and their staff members who flew back to Washington, D.C. on Labor Day got a blast of high winds and heavy rain—stormy weather which

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1- The 2012 forecast for agricultural exports remain at $137 billion, while imports rise to $105 billion, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31- Hurricane Irene’s high winds and excessive rain caused power outages, flooding and agricultural damage across much of the East Coast, particularly to tobacco

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30- The USDA Economic Research
Service (ERS) released the Farm Income and Costs report today, which indicates
that 2011 net farm income will increase

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29- U.S. exports of agricultural
machinery continued to grow in 2011 and ended the first half of the year with a
gain of 15 percent

Washington (August 25) - Governors from states with large rural and coastal areas that offer significant wind energy resources ask White House to help in seeking seven-year extension of tax credits.

Wichita, KS, August 25 – After experiencing both devastating floods and severe drought in different regions of the state, the need for a strong federal safety net, coupled with investments in conservation and research, were on the top

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22- USDA announced today that 18
telecommunication recipients will share more than $103 million in funding for
23 projects to provide

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19- The USDA Economic Research Service released a report detailing how farmers altered their land-use decisions in response to the higher demand for corn-based ethanol. Rising gasoline prices and new bioenergy policies stimulated

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16--The Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy to deliver $510 million in the next three years for the production of bio-based jet and diesel fuel.

ATKINSON, Ill. Aug. 17--During President Obama's
town hall meeting today at Wyffel Hybrids, he announced that he will present a
plan to the Joint Select Deficit Reduction Committee this fall

DES MOINES, Aug. 15- Celebrating the innovation of farmers, producers and all those involved in agriculture, thousands of cans of food are displayed in a life-size scene at the 2011 Iowa State Fair

NASHVILLE, Aug. 15- The first Land and Wildlife Expo in Nashville, Tennessee served as an opportunity to reach thousands of landowners with conservation and land management practices, said Dave White, chief of Natural Resources Conservation

WASHINGTON, August 15 - The DOE last week released an update to its 2005 Billion Ton Study that says biomass feedstock under baseline assumptions remain sufficient to meet near- and long-term bioenergy goals.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 – In the first survey-based estimate of U.S. crop production, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) says corn

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 - With lower than expected feed grain production, USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reflect smaller feed and residual use.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 – Today, President Obama announced the first fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule today to establish regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock

WASHINGTON, July 31—While noting that it’s not completely done yet, President Barack Obama told the American people Sunday night during a special televised briefing that

WASHINGTON, July 31— The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan debt ceiling bill by a vote of

WASHINGTON, July 29-Only four days before the August 2 deadline, members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of House Speaker John A.Boehner’s

WASHINGTON, July 28 -After securing a strong presence in the 2008 Farm Bill, organic and specialty crop producers hope the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will continue to support a growing organic, fruit and vegetable industry in the next farm bill.

WASHINGTON, July 24 - With just nine days before the Aug. 2^nd deadline that U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says will trigger a default on federal debt, lawmakers are still struggling to come up with a compromise

WASHINGTON, July 22 - President Obama summoned congressional leaders to the White House for an emergency meeting Saturday morning after discussions to raise the debt limit before Aug. 2 and cut federal spending broke down Friday.

WASHINGTON, July 19 – Noting that we "don’t have any more time to engage in symbolic gestures," President Barack Obama held another press conference

Washington, July 18 - Former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman encouraged farm and conservation communities to pressure their policymakers for renewed and responsible spending

WASHINGTON, July 18 - With few signs of movement over the weekend on President Obama’s self-imposed 36-hour deadline for a plan to raise the nation’s debt limit

WASHINGTON, July 12 -2011; The top two Republicans in Congress blasted President Barack Obama today for failing to deliver his own deficit reduction plan, just one day after the president asked congressional leaders to bring him ideas

WASHINGTON, July 11 - President Barack Obama and top Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet again today to discuss a deficit reduction deal,

WASHINGTON, July 7 - The days of big increases in conservation spending may be over, but there could be ways to deliver more voluntary conservation "bang for the buck" according to those participating in the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry audit hearings

WASHINGTON, July 7 – The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the ethanol tariff would end on July 31, 2011 with part of the savings going to deficit reduction and the remainder going into renewable fuel incentives, under a bipartisan agreement announced by U.S. Senators John Thune, R-S.D., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. and Diane Feinstein, D-CA, today.

WASHINGTON, July 6 - Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have uncovered a pathway in mice that allows white fat - a contributor to obesity and type 2 diabetes - to burn calories in a way that's normally found in brown fat and muscle.

WASHINGTON, July 4 - As Americans celebrate their country's independence on this Fourth of July holiday, lawmakers are participating in parades and picnics across the country. Traditionally, the rest of the week is also time for constituent work in their respective states and districts. Not this year.

WASHINGTON, June 30 -The 11 Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee laid out their opposition to including expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in a letter to President Barack Obama today.

WASHINGTON, June 30 – USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator William Murphy Thursday revised prevent planting requirements for farmers in “prairie pothole states” affected by flooding in recent years.

WASHINGTON, June 29 — USDA is accepting grant applications to assist small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and cooperatives in rural areas to spur job creation.

WASHINGTON, June 28 - A Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing to explore the state of the nation's $250 billion livestock sector, which Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, described as a "major area for job and economic growth" quickly turned into an opportunity to bash U.S. agencies for over regulating the industry, along with debate over ethanol and trade policies.

WASHINGTON, June 26 - The on again, off again budget talks move to a new level this week, with President Barack Obama scheduled to meet Monday morning with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the afternoon.

WASHINGTON, June 23 - Farm subsidy critics gained new ammunition in their attempts to dismantle farm programs today with the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) release of their updated farm payment database.

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today increased the fiscal year 2011 raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) by 120,000 short tons raw value (STRV).

WASHINGTON, June 16 The nation's four major meat organizations have joined to ask USDA to move forward with a comprehensive bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) rule that would align U.S. policy with international guidelines established by the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and establish legal authority to base decisions on whether to open the U.S. market to beef imports from other countries.

WASHINGTON, DC, June 15 – As Vice President Joe Biden picks up the pace with congressional leaders this week on budget negotiations, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow wants to make one thing perfectly clear:

Washington, June 15 - A House Judiciary panel heard testimony Wednesday on legislation that would require employers to electronically certify worker eligibility.

WASHINGTON, June 13 – Just one day before the measure will be debated on the House floor, the Obama Administration raised serious concerns about the content of H.R. 2112, which provides funds for USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and related agencies through 2012.

WASHINGTON, June 12 – With both the House and Senate in session this week, there are plenty of hearings scheduled throughout the week, but farm groups will be closely

BERLIN, June 11— Health officials in Berlin confirmed Friday that bean sprouts grown on an organic farm in northern Germany are the likely source

WASHINGTON, June 9 - Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., introduced legislation Thursday that they say will cap total farm payments at $250,000,

WASHINGTON, June 9 - Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., introduced legislation Thursday that they say will cap total farm payments at $250,000,

WASHINGTON, June 9- As anyone watching the weather this spring knows, it has been a rough and tumble year trying to get crops planted.

WASHINGTON, June 8 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today approved about $7.4 million to fund nine large-scale greenhouse gas mitigation projects in 24 states through U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG).

By Glenn Hurowitz-

Can EPA’s court-ordered efforts to cut industrial carbon pollution boost the bottom line of American agriculture?

ROME, June 7- With weather problems threatening grain and oilseed production around the world, global commodity prices are likely to remain high for the rest of this year

WASHINGTON, June 6 – The U.S. Senate returns on Monday with a series of hearings, while the U.S. House of Representatives is in recess this week.

WASHINGTON, June 2 – As part of an ongoing effort to fight obesity in the U.S., First Lady Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin unveiled the federal government's new food icon, MyPlate.

WASHINGTON, June 2 - The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee wants to reform federal dairy policy ahead of the 2012 Farm Bill debate.

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2011- Citing the need to focus on “principles, not programs,” Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, kicked off the first official 2012 farm bill hearing today.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23 – The House Appropriations Committee released the subcommittee draft of the fiscal year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill, a cut in discretionary funding of over $2.6 billion from last year’s level and over $5 billion below the President’s budget request

WASHINGTON, May 22 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is one of several who will testify this week before the Senate Agriculture Committee, providing a broad brush overview of the challenges and opportunities confronting lawmakers as they hold the first of many future farm bill hearings

TUNICA, Miss., May 19 - Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager and Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Ag Services Michael Scuse began a two-day tour of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri to meet with farmers and other rural residents affected by recent disasters.

WASHINGTON, May 19 – An Institute of Medicine committee seeking ways to accelerate efforts to prevent obesity found little support Thursday for the widely-touted thesis that farm price support programs are the cause of growing obesity and related diseases in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, May 17 – Facing gas prices hovering around $4/gallon, tthe Senate rejected a bill on Tuesday to cut billions in tax breaks for the largest oil companies. Democrats vowed to revive the measure as part of negotiations on the budget and debt ceiling.

WASHINGTON, May 17 - The 2010 winner of the 2011 Borlaug CAST Communication Award award, Nigeria-born Akin Adesina, told a World Bank crowd Tuesday that “Africa is rising”—forming “bread baskets”

WASHINGTON, May 11 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh Wednesday encouraging him to rebuild the Birds Point-New Madrid levee in Missouri as soon as conditions allow.

WASHINGTON, May 11– To say that Colombia has made tremendous strides over the last decade in improving its security, economy and personal freedoms, may be an understatement.

WASHINGTON, May 11 - The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unveiled a new work plan that it says will “allow the agency to focus its resources on the species most in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).”

Washington, May 9, 2011-Assuming the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Six” continues to hold its much anticipated long-term budget plan close to the vest, Congress watchers might content themselves this week with a look at trade agreements, rather than budget issues.

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2011-USDA has awarded an additional $1 million of FY2011 Market Access Program (MAP) funds to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to augment their ongoing beef promotion in South Korea.

BIRDS POINT, MO. May 3- Just after 10 p.m. local time Monday night, the Army Corps of Engineers blew a two-mile hole in the Birds Point-New Madrid levee, flooding 130,000 acres of farmland and at least 90 homes in an attempt to protect the town of Cairo, IL and other parts of the levee system.

WASHINGTON, May 2 - Congress returns from a two-week Easter recess on Monday amid

WASHINGTON, May 2 – Montana’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Bruce Nelson will take on the role as Acting Administrator of FSA, replacing Acting Administrator Val Dolcini, who will return to his role as FSA State Executive Director in California.

WASHINGTON, May 1 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Sunday toured the areas hardest hit by last week’s tornadoes, describing the damage in an exclusive interview with Agri-Pulse as  the most significant, widespread and devastating that he’s ever seen.

WASHINGTON, April 30 - In a case of government overreach which has set off alarm bells in Congress, the Interior Department seems determined to do whatever it takes to force a 3rd generation California farmer, rancher and oysterman out of business.

WASHINGTON, April 27 - The biofuels industry won strong endorsement from Big Oil when Shell Oil Co. President Marvin Odum said "biofuels are likely the most practical commercial solution for reducing carbon emissions in the transport fuel sector over the next 20 years."

WASHINGTON, April 27 - The Obama Administration issued a draft guidance that seeks to clarify exactly which waterways, water bodies and wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act

WASHINGTON, April 26 - Three climate change experts briefed congressional staff Monday to explain that expected climate change impacts include a possible 20% drop in U.S. corn yields with a 2 degree average temperature increase.

WASHINGTON, April 25 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its final "Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards" report on regulating dust.

WASHINGTON, April 22 – USDA announced Friday it will conduct a referendum on a proposed new national Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information marketing order.

WASHINGTON, April 22 - A letter sent by several members of Missouri’s congressional delegation to Eric Thorson, Inspector General for the Treasury Department, requests an investigation

WASHINGTON, April 21 - An ethanol report from Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) indicates that the “Food versus Fuel” debate may be based on manufactured myths rather than economic realities.

BRATTLEBORO, VT., April 21 – The U.S. organic industry grew at 7.8% in 2010, far outpacing the overall economy according to the Organic Trade Association's Organic Industry Survey released Thursday.

WASHINGTON, April 20 – USDA released a report Wednesday that details the wide array of renewable power opportunities available to farmers, utilities and others in rural America. 

WASHINGTON, April 18 – To mark Earth Day Friday, Agriculture Under Sec. for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager awarded $105 million Monday in grants and loans for water and wastewater projects coast to coast.

WASHINGTON, April 15 – A handful of USDA employees have lodged complaints that Communications Director Chris Mather, who was to leave Friday to take a similar post for Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel in Chicago, discriminated in hiring and promotion practices.

WASHINGTON, April 15 – The Departments of Agriculture and Energy announced Friday they are providing up to $30 million for research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products to reduce U.S. oil imports.

yWASHINGTON, April 14 – After repeated shutdown threats and angry accusations of deal breaking, the federal government is funded through the end of fiscal 2011, Sept. 30 – at $38.5 billion below last year's level.

WASHINGTON, April 13 – In a hearing on Wall Street Reform rules Wednesday, Rep. Michael Conaway charged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with going beyond the intent of Congress.

WASHINGTON, April 13 – Ten Republican senators sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Wednesday urging immediate committee action to block “continued regulatory overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

WASHINGTON, April 12 – A wide variety of spending cuts, as well as a few spending increases and policy riders are included in the final details of the 2011 budget compromise which was released early Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, April 11 – The last-moment deal which cancelled Friday's threatened federal government shutdown offers only temporary relief since tougher budget battles will continue this week.

WASHINGTON, April 8 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday that USDA is revising its REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) to provide grants and guaranteed loans to help gas stations and convenience stores install ethanol blender pumps.

WASHINGTON, April 7 – Even while the battle over federal budget cuts continued Thursday, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said that although funding will be a challenge, USDA remains committed to "voluntary, incentive-based conservation."

WASHINGTON, April 6 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told organic producers Wednesday that changes are needed to protect farmers' ability to farm they way they like, whether using biotech or organic practices.

WASHINGTON, April 6 - After years of waiting, the Obama Administration is now signaling that it is ready to ratify a free trade agreement with Colombia and expand U.S. exports by more than $1.1 billion, pending Bogota's enactment of stronger protections for labor unions.

WASHINGTON, April 5 - Promising a "Path to Prosperity," House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan unveiled a fiscal 2012 budget proposal Tuesday which "Stops Washington from spending money it does not have on government programs that do not work."

WASHINGTON, April 5 – Following earlier House passage, the Senate voted Tuesday to repeal the health care law's 1099 tax reporting requirement. With this 87-12 Senate vote, this legislative fix is now ready for President Obama to sign.

MOSCOW, Idaho, April 4 – Conservation advocate Amos Eno calls for a radically different approach to conservation, based not on environmental wishful thinking but on hard economic realities.

WASHINGTON, April 4 - Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts, R-Kan., introduced legislation Monday "to eliminate a burdensome, costly and redundant permit requirement for applications of pesticides."

WASHINGTON, April 1 – While Democrats and Republicans continued their budget battle, House Speaker John Boehner calmly told reporters Friday he expects negotiators to hammer out a spending-cut deal to avoid a government shutdown.

WASHINGTON, March 31 - In a hearing on new Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules for the $600 trillion derivatives market, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas, R-Okla., called for delay to avoid disrupting markets and driving up costs.