Agriculture Headlines
The President‘s Budget
Tue, 15 Feb 2011 4:45:54 CST
The President traveled to a school in Baltimore, Maryland, Monday to unveil what is being called “a Budget to Win the Future of Our kids.” The White House says this will be done by - out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our global competitors and creating the jobs and industries of tomorrow. Read more...
South Korea FTA Plans
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 4:58:40 CST
In testimony Wednesday before the House Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced the Obama Administration will submit the U.S. - Korea free trade agreement to Congress – in the next few weeks - perhaps yet this spring. The submission would trigger a mandatory schedule for congressional action. Read more...
Korea US Trade
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 4:54:10 CST
The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement has received a bipartisan endorsement from eight former Secretaries of Agriculture. Read more...
New NCBA Leadership
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 5:00:09 CST
Despite a blizzard and freezing temperatures in Denver, more than 56-hundred U.S. cattlemen and women attended the Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show. Saturday’s schedule focused on NCBA board of directors and membership meetings. Read more...
Roberts Ranking Member Ag Committee
Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:53:29 CST
The announcement had been expected - but it‘s now official. Kansas Senator Pat Roberts will serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Roberts chaired the House Ag Committee as the 1996 Freedom to Farm bill was written. Read more...
2010 Dietary Guidelines
Tue, 01 Feb 2011 4:13:41 CST
The federal government considers the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, its evidence-based nutritional guidance to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity. Read more...
EPA Announcement on Ethanol
Mon, 24 Jan 2011 4:40:04 CST
Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waived a limitation on selling gasoline that contains more than 10 percent ethanol for model year 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks. The waiver applies to fuel that contains up to 15 percent ethanol – known as E15. Read more...
Farmers Appreciation Month
Fri, 21 Jan 2011 7:04:43 CST
The Countdown to Farmers Appreciation Month begins! 12 days until the first day of February and the first day of WSMI‘s Annual Farmers Appreciation Month celebration. Read more...
Biobased Product Labels
Thu, 20 Jan 2011 5:20:16 CST
The final rule to initiate a voluntary product certification and labeling program for qualifying biobased products will be published today (Thursday) in the Federal Register. Read more...
President Orders Review
Thu, 20 Jan 2011 5:12:04 CST
President Obama has signed an Executive Order titled “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review” that seeks to review all federal regulations and eliminate job and growth-killing regulations. Read more...
USDA to Update Nutrition Standard
Fri, 14 Jan 2011 4:45:57 CST
USDA has published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Read more...
Plain talks about Livestock
Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:07:31 CST
Attendees at the 92nd annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation heard University of Missouri Extension economist Ron Plain characterize the 2011 livestock outlook. He said tight supplies of beef, pork and poultry bodes well for producers, but the optimism is tempered by higher feed costs. Read more...
Farm Bureau Members in Atlanta
Tue, 11 Jan 2011 5:44:19 CST
During the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd annual meeting in Atlanta, two state officials charged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with - engaging in a power grab that threatens the future of production agriculture in the United States. Read more...
Farm Bureau Files Suit
Tue, 11 Jan 2011 5:32:30 CST
The American Farm Bureau Federation has filed a lawsuit in federal court to halt the Environmental Protection Agency‘s pollution regulatory plan for the Chesapeake Bay. AFBF says the agency is overreaching by establishing a Total Maximum Daily Load or so-called "pollution diet" for the 64-thousand square mile area, regardless of cost. Read more...
Farm Bureau Files Suit
Tue, 11 Jan 2011 5:27:53 CST
The American Farm Bureau Federation has filed a lawsuit in federal court to halt the Environmental Protection Agency‘s pollution regulatory plan for the Chesapeake Bay. AFBF says the agency is overreaching by establishing a Total Maximum Daily Load or so-called "pollution diet" for the 64-thousand square mile area, regardless of cost. Read more...
Vote on Tax Deal Today
Thu, 16 Dec 2010 4:14:01 CST
Tuesday, the Senate focused on debating the tax cuts and unemployment package. The bill could soon come up for a floor vote. Once the Senate passes the bill, HR 4853, could be brought to the House floor one day later. That‘s where trouble could be waiting as some House Democrats are considering ways to toughen estate tax language. Read more...
Vote on Tax Deal Today
Thu, 16 Dec 2010 4:09:30 CST
... Read more...
House Dems Reject Tax Plan
Wed, 15 Dec 2010 4:38:20 CST
House Democrats, in a closed-door caucus Thursday, rejected the tax cut deal between the White House and Congressional Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said changes would need to be made before she would allow the bill to come to the House floor for a vote. Read more...
Vote on Tax Bill
Mon, 13 Dec 2010 7:08:05 CST
On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion to limit debate on the tax cuts & unemployment benefits deal. He wants a Monday afternoon vote to move the measure forward. In the meantime, Senator Bernie Sanders began a filibuster against the bill. Read more...
House Dems Reject Tax Plan
Fri, 10 Dec 2010 5:20:31 CST
House Democrats, in a closed-door caucus Thursday, rejected the tax cut deal between the White House and Congressional Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said changes would need to be made before she would allow the bill to come to the House floor for a vote. Negotiations continue between Democrats, Republicans and the White House. Read more...
Lucas Named Chairman
Thu, 09 Dec 2010 9:43:57 CST
Oklahoma Representative Frank Lucas has been selected to be the next chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Mr. Lucas is currently the committee’s Ranking Member, serving as a policy leader for all areas of the committee’s jurisdiction. Read more...
Japan to Use DNA Tests
Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:03:38 CST
Japan is expected to begin using DNA tests next year to determine the country of origin of beef. Japan has faced a problem in recent years with imported beef being labeled as domestically produced. The Japanese government views DNA testing as a possible remedy that will address consumer concerns. U.S. Read more...
Glitch in Food Safety Bill
Thu, 02 Dec 2010 5:17:36 CST
A - technical glitch - has been found in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act which could cause problems. A section of S.510 addresses money which the House considers to be a tax. By law, taxes must originate only in the U.S. House. Read more...
Senate Passes Food Safety Act
Thu, 02 Dec 2010 5:11:50 CST
Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 73 to 25. S. 510 must now be reconciled with the House version of the food safety reforms by the end of the lame-duck session. There is some expectation the House will pass the Senate version to speed up the process. Read more...
Local Harvest
Tue, 05 Oct 2010 5:24:22 CDT
Local harvest reports have many producers finished with their corn and making good progress with soybeans. Bond County Producer Jerry Mollet joined told WSMI‘s Rita Frazer that he had finished corn harvest last week and had harvested a good portion of his beans. Read more...
