On Tuesday, March 20th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited the offices of Vance Publishing in Lenexa, Kan. and conducted a news conference with Food360 editors. Johanns addressed several topics, including animal identification, the 2007 Farm Bill and immigration. To read all of Secretary Johanns comments, click here. The Secretary told Food360 editors he favors a market-driven, voluntary animal-identification system, … Read More
Senate Voices Approval for MILC
More news on this as it is announced. What do you think about extending the MILC program? An endangered federal subsidy for dairy farmers picked up support today from the Senate Appropriations Committee. The panel agreed in a voice vote to a proposal by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to extend the program for one month at a cost of $31 … Read More
Energy Funds Available from USDA
USDA is making available loans and grants to agricultural producers and small businesses for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant program was established under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill. It provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the purchase and installation … Read More
Massachusetts Hearings
Massachusetts dairy producers are the latest in the industry to unite and try to affect change in their milk prices. A decision on the state’s hearings should be available by the end of the month. With Massachusetts’ dairy farmers going out of business because of high production costs and stagnant revenue, Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s administration slated special hearings this … Read More
Production and Price Outlook From USDA
U.S. milk production numbers are lowered and prices are stronger according to a report out at the end of the week from USDA. Brenda Curtis has the report with the Chair of USDA´s World Outlook Board, Gerald Bange. USDA Production Report (1 min MP3)
Roundup Ready Alfalfa Put on Hold
Monsanto Company expressed disappointment today for a preliminary injunction issued in a pending lawsuit on Roundup Ready alfalfa. The ruling could have an affect on the planting decisions of producers across the country. In this case, the court had previously ruled that USDA had failed to follow procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act in granting non-regulated status to … Read More
Raw Milk Gets Attention
Selling raw milk to consumers continues to be a controversial subject. Where do you stand on the issue? Richard Hebron, 41, was driving along an anonymous stretch of highway near Ann Arbor, Mich., last October when state cops pulled him over, ordered him to put his hands on the hood of his mud-splattered truck and seized its contents: 453 gal. … Read More
Wolff Requests Extension
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff took a stand for his state today, requesting Congress to extend the deadline for the milk income loss contract program. To date, the program has provided more than $220 million in federal support to help many Pennsylvania dairy farmers stay in business during periods of extremely low milk prices. “Dairy is the largest part of … Read More
Dairy Industry Testimony on Feed Costs
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held a hearing this week to review the impact of higher feed costs on the livestock industry, specifically as a result of increased demand for ethanol from corn. One of the witnesses was Rob Wonderlich, a producer from Ollie, Iowa who testified on behalf of Dairy Farmers of America. Wonderlich testified … Read More
Organic Farmers Want Inclusion in Farm Bill
Organic farmers are hoping to have their needs heard and included in the new farm bill. Here are a few of the items they are seeking to be included. Creating a $50 million-a-year grant program to assist farmers in adopting organic practices Providing $5 million annually to help farmers offset the cost of attaining organic certification Establishing a $25 million-a-year … Read More