Thumbnail

With possible implications for fruit and vegetable servings, the government is seeking public input on how certain foods are counted for nutrition standards in school lunches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is inviting comments on what it called "food crediting," the system that defines how each food item fits into a meal for the National School Lunch Program and other federal child nutrition programs.

Low tomato volume sees high prices

With tomato prices soaring above $35 per carton in mid-December, some customers are cutting back, and shippers expect market conditions will be tight into the new year. Set back by Hurricane Irma in September, season-to-date shipments of Florida tomatoes this fall have totaled 3.44 million cartons through Dec. 9, down 54% from 7.4 million cartons the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

EPA chemical safety nominee drops out amid strong opposition

President Donald Trump's pick to oversee chemical safety at the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew his nomination Wednesday after bipartisan opposition made his Senate confirmation unlikely. Officials at the White House and the Senate told The Associated Press that Michael Dourson had sent a letter asking his name to be removed from consideration to serve as head of the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Oil Giant Exxon Just Caved To The Demands Of Global Warming Activists

Oil giant ExxonMobil has capitulated to activist shareholders and will begin issuing detailed reports on potential risks "climate change policies" pose to its business operations. "These enhancements will include energy demand sensitivities, implications of two degree Celsius scenarios, and positioning for a lower-carbon future," Exxon wrote in a federal regulatory filing submitted Monday night.

City, firm complete rural economic development loan

Officials with the City of Webster City have announced the completion of the USDAa SRural Economic Development Loan to Mary Ann's Specialty Foods of Webster City. In February 2016, the City Council of Webster City Approved a resolution authorizing the City's application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program for a loan in the amount of $1 million on behalf of Mary Ann's Specialty Foods.

The Snare of Escapism

Many things in modern life have an epicurean appeal, a flare that even the most ascetic among us may be hard done by to resist. While it is certainly true that a contemporary, urbanised life demands much of us, sometimes to the point of inducing breakage, this same life also affords us much time to indulge in activities and offerings that were proscribed to our agrarian forebearers.

GAO Confirms ‘Climate of Fear’ Exists in Poultry Processing Plants

The central underlying problem is the pervasive climate of fear inside poultry plants; when workers are afraid to report issues, OSHA and other inspection agencies are unable to detect or investigate problems. Eighteen months after the GAO issued a report confirming that poultry workers face inordinate health and safety hazards and that many of these problems go under-reported, a follow-up investigation calls on all three federal agencies-- the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-- to improve ways for workers to communicate issues without fear of retaliation.

Black hole

An artist's conception of the most distant supermassive black hole ever discovered, which is part of a quasar from just 690 million years after the Big Bang. Eduardo BaA ados had three nights to spot something that might not even exist: a supermassive black hole close to the beginning of time.

Smith awaits the president’s signature for confirmation

The Atlantic resident was nominated in September to the board of directors for the Farm Credit Administration and on Tuesday, Pat Roberts, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, announced that Smith's nomination was confirmed by the Senate, and Smith ... (more)

The Latest: Zinke strikes back at Patagonia on monuments

A coalition of five tribes that spent years pushing for the creation of Bears Ears National Monument said Monday it will wage a legal battle over President Trump's plan to reduce the protected area by 85 percent. SALT LAKE CITY - The Latest on President Donald Trump's decision to shrink two national monuments in Utah : A third lawsuit has been filed challenging President Donald Trump's decision to significantly shrink two national monuments in Utah.

Kathleen Parker: Big boxes and small towns

Even though an estimated 115 million Americans rushed to malls and big box stores for Black Friday sales, others were reporting that the annual spend-a-thon has lost its bang.Gone is the thrill of the stampede, the fist-fights over a big screen, the trample to grab the last Soggy Doggy. In a Washington Post story, one Alabama veteran of weeklong parking lot campouts lamented that his Best Buy store had closed owing to Americans' changing spending habits.

Judy Reyher calls the kettle black

What a shame for champions of statesmanship in our politics: A longtime political operative obviously conflicted on matters of race and religion in America is headed to the Colorado legislature. We shake our heads missed opportunity to find a good conservative more in line with Colorado views than newly appointed Rep. Judy Reyher.