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USDA News Release

USDA Strengthens Partnerships and Protections to Keep African Swine Fever Out of the Country

By USDA | March 7, 2019

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced additional steps to keep African swine fever (ASF) from entering the United States, even as the disease spreads internationally. These steps strengthen the protections announced last fall after the deadly swine disease reached China. The goal remains to protect our nation's swine industry from this disease. ASF does not affect people, nor is it a food safety issue.

Environment

Most nitrate, coliform in Kewaunee County wells tied to animal waste

By Sarah Whites-Koditschek/Wisconsin Public Radio | March 6, 2019

The latest findings from a study of drinking water wells and their surroundings finds manure from cows that is stored or spread on farm fields poses the highest risk for certain contaminants.

Opinion

Opinion: Supreme Court needs to rule in favor of SNAP data transparency

By Dave Dickey /Big Ag Watch | January 30, 2019

The Food Marketing Institute is trying to conceal how taxpayer dollars are being spent by recipients of the Supplemental Food Assistance Program. To date it’s been an almost eight-year court battle between South Dakota's Argus Leader newspaper and USDA and FMI.

University of Illinois

Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent

By RIPE/University of Illinois | January 24, 2019

Researchers from the University of Illinois and U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service report in the journal Science that crops engineered with a photorespiratory shortcut are 40 percent more productive in real-world agronomic conditions.

Opinion

Opinion: Ag blazing 5 for 2019 (and beyond)

By Dave Dickey/Big Ag Watch | January 16, 2019

Breaking out major prognostic tools (including an 8-ball, Ouija board, paper fortune teller and dart board...yeah we're high tech around here) here are some of the big agricultural issues on the horizon for 2019.

Government

USDA rural broadband investment tops $200 million in 2018

By Christopher Walljasper/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | January 9, 2019

The USDA has announced plans for a pilot program to bring broadband internet to all of rural America.

The plan, which Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue calls a “proof of concept,” will provide $600 million dollars in grants and loans to internet service providers to bring connection to parts of the country that are too remote, underpopulated or expensive to serve.

Government

USDA’s Rural broadband plan met with citizen criticism and concerns

By Christopher Walljasper/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | November 21, 2018

Slow speeds, bad coverage and expensive service.

These are just some of the concerns contained in nearly 300 public comments on Rural Broadband Pilot Program proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a review by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting found.

Government

Business, education, healthcare top of mind as rural broadband expansion inches forward

By Christopher Walljasper | November 21, 2018

When nearly 300 Americans submitted comments this summer on the USDA's pilot plan to bring high speed broadband internet to rural America, they mentioned the great opportunities reliable internet connectivity could bring.

But they also voiced skepticism over the agency's proposed plans for the project, which has been in the works for nearly a year.

Dicamba in the fields

EPA extends registration for continued use of pesticide dicamba into 2020

By Kaolin Sewell/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | November 8, 2018

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended use of pest control substance, dicamba, until December 20, 2020. What are the new regulations for extended use of the herbicide?

Opinion

Opinion: Smithfield may profit from U.S. China trade war

By Dave Dickey/Big Ag Watch | November 6, 2018

Generally speaking, pork barrel politics amounts to politicians trading favors to constituents or special interest groups for political support, often as campaign contributions. Pork barrel spending, better known as earmarks in federal spending bills, have surged in 2018. Who may be profiting this year? Smithfield Foods.