Articles by Jim Webster

Political and market forces could combine to create a “perfect storm” of elements that contribute to a new dust bowl in parts of the Great Plains, in the view of former USDA Economic Research Service Administrator Katherine (Kitty) Smith.

Debra S. Fischer, a rancher and state senator from Nebraska’s sparsely-populated sand hills, upset two better-known men with experience in statewide elections, yesterday to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate this fall. She will face Democratic nominee Bob Kerrey, a former governor an

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said today that the United States has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a dispute settlement panel to rule on its assertion that New Delhi’s restrictions on imports U.S. poultry meat and chicken eggs violates India’s obligations under WTO trade

The current farm program baseline tilts heavily in favor of cotton, wheat, peanuts and rice, according to a short primer on farm program budgeting prepared by a Cornell University agricultural economist

Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts want to go to the floor as soon as they can with the farm bill.

A “market stabilization” plan designed to tame milk price volatility and reduce dairy program costs has become the most contentious feature of dairy reforms in a new farm bill.

The Environmental Working Group says USDA could save as much as $18.5 billion over the next decade

The United States has taken the first step in the World Trade Organization dispute settlement process

USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) says in an audit report that USDA should require testing feed on organic farms

Seven former secretaries of agriculture during their joint appearance at USDA’s Outlook Forum today united in the belief that increasing production to meet the needs of billions more people in the coming years will be its greatest test.