United States Department of Agriculture News

Federal investigators have broken up what they call the largest dog fighting ring in the country, and it happened in parts of Missouri.

A House agriculture appropriations bill that passed today includes $500,000 for the inspector general to investigate the U.S. Agriculture Department's National Organic Program to determine whether federal standards are being properly observed before farmers and food producers are allowed to use the USDA-certified label on food products.

Export restrictions on Montana's billion-dollar cattle industry are to be lifted today after federal officials declared the state was once again free of the livestock disease brucellosis.

USDA to offer quarantine crop insurance for California citrus, avocados Jul. 7, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Beginning this fall, USDA will offer California citrus and avocado producers limited crop insurance for losses from quarantines for the 2011 crop year.

U.S. winter wheat production is expected to be down 18 percent from last year, but plenty of spring rain in Colorado could give the state one of its best harvests in years, according to a forecast Friday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Thursday the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved his request for federal farm assistance for four Middle Tennessee counties due to heavy rains and extensive flooding that occurred in May.

Initial data reports from research projects in central South Dakota are showing that cover crops are an excellent tool for storing nitrogen in the soil for next year's crop, says Jason Miller, Conservation Agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service , Pierre.

In southeast Nebraska, the wheat harvest is more than halfway done, but statewide the harvest is just getting started.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the appointment of Ann Mills as USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment .

One third of Louisiana's soybean crop and nearly a quarter of its cotton are in poor or very poor condition because of the recent hot, dry spell.

DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred updated the introduction and conversion timeline for Optimum GAT corn, the company's proprietary herbicide tolerance trait.

One of the biggest benefits to growing peanuts in Mississippi has been the relative lack of disease pressure compared to other more established growing regions of the Southeast.

Years ago, Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson was a frequent visitor to his grandparent's wheat farm in Scott County.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced initial allocations under USDA's Dairy Export Incentive Program for the period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that eligible ranchers and livestock producers can begin applying for benefits under the provisions of the Livestock Indemnity Program in the 2008 Farm Bill on July 13.

The U.S. Agriculture Department would be given the power to regulate all food sold in schools -- including vending machine snacks -- when Congress renews child nutrition programs, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee said on Tuesday.

The latest local recipient of federal stimulus money is the Leetonia Public Library, which will receive $204,000 to purchase new furnishings and equipment to go along with its new building.

Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for beef products produced by this firm and purchased on or after April 21, 2009 and discard or return the recalled beef products to the place of purchase for a refund.

According to the Food and Drug Administration 75 percent of the processed food in the United States may contain components from genetically modified crops.

The Obama Administration today took a first step towards overhauling food safety regulations that have been blamed for a steady stream of food safety outbreaks and product recalls.