USDA Announces Financial Support For Specialty Crop Industry

USDA ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY May 1, 2018 Source: USDA news release The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the funding of $7 million to support 11 projects in six states to develop solutions to challenges affecting the specialty crop industries that cross state boundaries. The awards are managed through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service .

Gov, Paul LePage, Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, Congresswoman…

Gov, Paul LePage, Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Knox County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Tim Carroll -- a former president of the Maine Lobster Festival -- are among those people who will not be allowed to march in this year's Festival parade. The Festival Board voted Tuesday to exclude all political organizations and candidates from the annual parade held on the first Saturday of August.

Ag groups express opposition to amendments to Farm Bill

INSURANCE ARGUMENT: A monster hail storm that hit Kansas on the night of May 14 provides an illustration of why farmers so strongly support crop insurance. This field in Scott County was just one of many that were wiped out in the storm, which destroyed thousands of acres of wheat.

House panel moves to curb food stamps, renew farm subsidies Source: AP

A bitterly-divided House panel Wednesday approved new work and job training requirements for food stamps as part of a five-year renewal of federal farm and nutrition policy. The GOP-run Agriculture Committee approved the measure strictly along party lines after a contentious, five-hour hearing in which Democrats blasted the legislation, charging it would toss up to 2 million people off of food stamps and warning that it will never pass Congress.

Fear of competition – not consumer protection – is behind…

A desire to protect its members, not consumers, is the primary motivation behind the US Cattlemen's Association petition to restrict use of the terms 'beef' and 'meat' to products from animals "born, raised, and harvested in the traditional manner" claim leading plant-based and cultured meat companies. In a comment a a to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service urging it to reject the USCA petition, the Good Food Institute, Tofurky, Lightlife Foods, Field Roast Grain Meat Co, Impossible Foods, Finless Foods, Sweet Earth Foods, and Hungry Planet, argue that USDA is authorized to regulate meat labels to protect the health and welfare of consumers.

Eating Out: The only way is up for Jack Spice

SEVEN months ago, the future was looking decidedly dicey for Jack Spice - a routine check by licencing officers uncovered illegal immigrants were being employed there and the place was shut down after its licence was revoked. Not long after, we reported that a takeaway operation had restarted from the premises, but the restaurant doors remained firmly closed and it seemed as if Jack Spice's days were numbered.

Drug testing plan considered for some food stamp recipients

The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives who've long sought ways to curb the safety net program. The proposal under review would be narrowly targeted, applying mostly to people who are able-bodied, without dependents and applying for some specialized jobs, according to an administration official briefed on the plan.

Stopping Cruel High-Speed Pig Slaughter

USDA's proposed " Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection " rule would expand a failed and unlawful pilot program, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-based Inspection Models Project , to pig slaughterhouses nationwide, creating the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System. While the largest meat companies stand to profit from this privatized, speeded-up pig slaughter, animals, consumers, and slaughterhouse workers will pay a steep price.

Trump faceoff with China exposes GOP weakness in rural U.S.

Matt Aultman, a grain salesman and feed nutritionist with Keller Grain & Feed, Inc., speaks beside grain and soybean silos during an interview at their facilities in Greenville, Ohio. Matt Aultman, a grain salesman and feed nutritionist with Keller Grain & Feed, Inc., speaks beside grain and soybean silos during an interview at their facilities in Greenville, Ohio.

USDA: Participation And Expenditures For SNAP Continue To Fall

USDA: PARTICIPATION AND EXPENDITURES FOR SNAP CONTINUE TO FALL Apr. 5, 2018 Source: USDA news release Fiscal 2017 marked the fourth consecutive year that participation in USDA's largest food and nutrition assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , decreased. On average, 42.2 million people-or about 13 percent of the Nation's population-participated in the program each month in fiscal 2017.

USDA recalls thousands of pounds of ‘high-risk’ beef

PFP Enterprises is recalling approximately 7,146 pounds of raw beef products that were produced and packaged without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday. The frozen and fresh beef items were produced on March 23-24, 2018.

King’s assassination eve speech to be read in Boston

In this March 26, 2018 photo, farmer Jeff Rehder looks over some of his pigs, in Hawarden, Iowa. Rehder stands to lose potential revenue on his hogs after China responded to Trump's announced plans to impose tariffs on products ... President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on a range of Chinese goods has prompted threats from Beijing that it will tag U.S. products, including pork and aluminum, with an equal 25 percent charge.

Sam’s Club Chicken Recalled After Plastic Pieces Found in Meat

If you're a frequent Sam's Club shopper, you might want to check your pantry in light of a massive recall just announced by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service . Nearly 100,000 pounds of canned chicken breast have been contaminated with large pieces of plastic, and the company who makes the product for Sam's Club is issuing a warning after customers found the nasty surprise in their meals.