Electoral College Members Meeting Across the Country to Cast Votes

But in cases where breast milk is not available from an infant's mother, getting access to saf... - The 538 electors are meeting Monday to cast their votes in the last step of the presidential election. But what is usually a formality has taken on new significance this year with Donald Trump's election and calls for electors to defect.

Cornucopia Institute Calls For Investigation Of USDA’s National Organic Program

In a letter to the USDA's Office of Inspector General, The Cornucopia Institute has requested an independent audit of the National Organic Program , charging a multiplicity of illegal actions and inactions. The Wisconsin-based farm policy research group alleges that the National Organic Program has failed to enforce the laws governing organic agriculture, thereby allowing multinational corporate agribusinesses to squeeze out family-scale farmers, compromising the integrity of the organic label.

US Court of Appeals: States and counties can ban GMO crops despite federal laws

The entire organic community of the United States just won a massive victory that many may not yet even realize. Even though the DARK Act was passed by Obama and some Senate goons to prohibit labeling of GMOs nationwide, the US Court of Appeals just passed a law that enables states and counties to completely ban genetically engineered crops from ever being planted in the first place.

Five Things We’ve Learned From Trump’s Cabinet Picks So Far

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet selections are now almost complete -- save for that secretary of state position, as well as Agriculture, Energy, and Interior.

Branstad picked for post in China

It may seem odd for the governor of a lightly populated agricultural state to be chosen as U.S. ambassador to China, especially amid escalating talk of a trade war with the major U.S. trading partner. But Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad boasts a 30-year relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader in decades.

Trump’s choice for top China diplomat has long ties to Xi

It may seem odd for the governor of a lightly populated agricultural state to be chosen as U.S. ambassador to China, especially amid escalating talk of a trade war with the major U.S. trading partner. But Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad boasts a 30-year relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader in decades.

USDA offers new loans for portable farm storage, handling equipment –

Attention Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, and Whitley County producers - Farm Service Agency will provide a new financing option to help you purchase portable storage and handling equipment. County Executive Director Megan Moore explains, "The loans, which now include a smaller microloan option with lower down payments and attractive interest rates, are designed to help our producers grow their businesses and markets.

New Aerial Survey Identifies More Than 100 Million Dead Trees in California

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that the U.S. Forest Service has identified an additional 36 million dead trees across California since its last aerial survey in May 2016. This brings the total number of dead trees since 2010 to over 102 million on 7.7 million acres of California's drought stricken forests.

The Latest: Trump to bar officials from lobbying for 5 years

Donald Trump's transition team says the incoming president is planning to require officials to pledge that they won't lobby the government for five years after leaving the Trump administration. Transition spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump will require new government officials to terminate their role as either state or federal lobbyists before joining the administration.