“When the administration first launched its investigation, many antitrust and agriculture experts believed it was still possible to imagine an industry characterized by greater competition in the marketplace and greater diversity in seeds. That future may now be foreclosed.” How Monsanto Outfoxed the Obama Administration Lina Khan, Salon The inside story of how the government…
Kathleen Merrigan Resigns as U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary By Alan Bjerga – Mar 14, 2013 5:19 PM MT Kathleen Merrigan has resigned as deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency’s No. 2 job. Merrigan, an organic-foods expert, “played a vital role in the department’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative,” which…
Proposed beef fee on bumpy path By Art Hovey/Lincoln Journal Star CLATONIA — Having the state’s largest livestock organization test the potential for passage of a state beef checkoff might seem to give the idea a leg up. But maybe that link has its limits. The Nebraska Cattlemen got some very mixed reaction Monday night…
JBS to be fined $1 million for lengthening employee workday By Andre Sulluchuco on 3/12/2013 The Brazilian Ministry of Labor (MPT) has motioned to fine JBS Group $1 million for lengthening employee workdays by 2 hours, according to Brazilian news site Estadão. The employees are part of the JBS processing plant in the Brazilian city…
Proposed COOL Rule Mandates Ag Secretary’s Four-Year-Old Request Billings, Mont. – Four years ago Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to food industry representatives signaling to them that the country of origin labeling (COOL) rules drafted by the previous Administration did not achieve Congress’ intent to inform consumers about the origins of their food….
For immediate release: March 11, 2013 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mabel Dobbs, (208) 549-3433; or Liz Moran, WORC Regional Organizer, or Kevin Dowling, WORC Communications Director, (406) 252-9672 WORC statement on USDA release of new meat labeling rules BILLINGS, MONT. – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released proposed rules to fix U.S. country-of-origin…
Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez. (photo: Reuters) Vaya con Dios, Hugo Chavez, mi Amigo By Greg Palast, Vice Magazine 08 March 13 n 2005, Reverend Pat Robertson – channelling the frustration of George W Bush’s State Department, said, "Hugo Chavez thinks we’re trying to assassinate him. I think that we really ought to go ahead…
Tapeworm Economy Threatens Food Supply Posted on March 6, 2013 by Mike Callicrate Sucking the Life Blood from Family Farm Agriculture By Mike Callicrate | March 5, 2013 “Our ground beef comes from Stampede Meat Company in Chicago, it’s delivered by Sysco, and we need enough volume for 2,000 locations.” This was the response from…
Nebraska program markets humanely raised meat March 7, 2013 By Tom Steever Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen at the NFU convention, Springfield, Mass., March 4, 2013. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says that in addition to his members wishing for permanent farm legislation to be passed, they are able to take advantage of…