Latest United States Department of Agriculture Stories

TFAH's Statement on Farm Bill Legislation in the House and Senate: Much Should be Improved

2013-05-16 12:30:31

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) finds the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture-passed Farm Bill damaging to the nation's health. The House legislation would significantly cut programs (most notably in the nutrition title) that have benefited millions of Americans and continually improve the nation's health. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100204/TFAHLOGO) In contrast, on Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture...

The Sweet Truth Behind Honey: Consumers prefer clear honey; National Honey Board provides new research insights

2013-05-15 23:26:48

The National Honey Board announces new research insights surrounding consumer's honey preferences. The NHB creates "The Story of Honey" to dispel myths from bee to table. Firestone, Colorado (PRWEB) May 15, 2013 With confusion swirling in the news regarding honey’s sources and authenticity recently, the National Honey Board (NHB), a federal research and promotion board with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight, wants to clarify any misconceptions...

Charitable And Faith Leaders Respond To House Farm Bill Inclusion Of Severe Cuts To Food Assistance

2013-05-15 16:29:20

Charity cannot make up the increased need that would be created by proposed cuts WASHINGTON, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's leading hunger-relief charities and religious advocates expressed outrage in response to the severe cuts to anti-hunger programs included in the farm bill considered today by the House Agriculture Committee. The bill includes $21 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest nutrition assistance...

The Sweet Truth Behind Honey

2013-05-15 04:21:34

Consumers prefer clear honey; National Honey Board provides new research insights FIRESTONE, Colo., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With confusion swirling in the news regarding honey's sources and authenticity recently, the National Honey Board (NHB), a federal research and promotion board with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight, wants to clarify any misconceptions surrounding this natural sweetener. (Photo:...

Feeding America Responds To Passage Of A Farm Bill By The Senate Agriculture Committee

2013-05-14 16:29:27

CHICAGO, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statement Attributable to Bob Aiken President and CEO of Feeding America: "Feeding America strongly opposes the $4.1 billion cut to SNAP included in the Senate Farm Bill, which would cause an estimated 500,000 low-income households to lose an average $90 in monthly benefits. "The effect of this cut would be concentrated in 15 states and the District of Columbia and would equate to about 36 lost meals per month for impacted...

Consumer Watchdog Groups Urge House and Senate Leaders to Oppose Milk Supply Management

2013-05-02 16:32:25

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A trio of national consumer organizations expressed their strong opposition to "dairy programs that propose to assist dairy farmers by imposing limits on milk production" in letters sent this week to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders this week. The comments refer to the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP), a supply management provision included in the Dairy Security Act, part of the Farm Bill versions proposed by...

As the Pigford I Settlement comes to a close: The Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates stresses its positive impact on society

2013-04-27 00:20:36

US Department of Agriculture deserves credit for its progress ATLANTA, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pigford consent decree on April 14, 1999 marked a productive first step toward compensating thousands of black farmers who faced decades of discrimination from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) over a 16-year period. Fourteen years later, as the commitments in the settlement are complete, the Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates claim the lawsuit succeeded....

IDFA Urges Congress to Support Bipartisan Compromise Dairy Bill

2013-04-25 20:22:58

Farm Groups, Food Industry, Consumers, Taxpayers Embrace Dairy Solution WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leading up to the formulation of the 2013 Farm Bill, two House Agriculture Committee members introduced a bill today that forges a bipartisan compromise approach to reforming U.S. dairy policy. The "Dairy Freedom Act" by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA) provides a safety net for dairy farmers that would establish a new revenue...

More Than 1,300 State And Local Hunger-Relief Agencies Urge Congress To Protect Nutrition Programs In Farm Bill And Spending Legislation

2013-04-25 12:31:10

CHICAGO, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1,300 state and local hunger-relief organizations sent a letter to Congress urging members to strengthen and protect programs and policies that shield vulnerable, low-income Americans from hunger. The letter comes as the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare to mark up farm bill legislation in May. The letter calls on Congress to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), strengthen The Emergency...

NRCS California Celebrates Earth Team Volunteer Week

2013-04-22 12:25:24

182 volunteers donated 6,700 hours to benefit conservation projects and efforts throughout California DAVIS, Calif., April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is celebrating National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, 2013, by thanking and honoring its Earth Team volunteers for their service to conservation. Earth Team is NRCS's official volunteer program. Over the past 12 months, 182 volunteers dedicated approximately...