To end hunger, White House backs more free school meals and healthier food choices – September 27, 2022

To end hunger, White House backs more free school meals and healthier food choices The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed panoramic action to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030, including a “pathway” to free school meals for all students, expansion of SNAP, development of front-of-package nutrition labels and… Continue reading

USDA trade nominee would pair market opening with enforcement – September 23, 2022

USDA trade nominee would pair market opening with enforcement Asia is brimming with opportunities to win lifelong consumers of U.S. food and ag exports, said President Biden’s nominee for USDA undersecretary for trade on Thursday. At a Senate nomination hearing, Alexis Taylor said her priorities would be opening foreign markets… Continue reading

Farm-state Republicans object to climate focus in land stewardship – September 21, 2022

Farm-state Republicans object to climate focus in land stewardship Climate mitigation does not deserve priority over other soil and water conservation goals notwithstanding the $20 billion earmarked for it, said two senior Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday. “I don’t feel bound by the amount of funding or… Continue reading

Finally, U.S. lists biotechnology and ‘agricultural industrial base’ as national security interests – September 16, 2022

Finally, U.S. lists biotechnology and ‘agricultural industrial base’ as national security interests President Biden directed the Treasury-led committee that scrutinizes foreign investment in America to consider the national security impact any deals would have on U.S. technological leadership, including biotechnology and “elements of the agricultural industrial base that have implications… Continue reading

‘Right-to-repair’ bills languish as time for congressional action dwindles – September 15, 2022

‘Right-to-repair’ bills languish as time for congressional action dwindles So-called right-to-repair laws won’t help consumers but could damage the retailers and manufacturer-authorized repair shops now in business, said a string of Republican lawmakers at a House hearing on Wednesday, while a consumer advocate warned that “repair monopolization” was pervasive in… Continue reading

USDA triples funding for climate-smart ag projects – September 14, 2022

USDA triples funding for climate-smart ag projects Showered by “amazing” proposals, the Biden administration will put $3.5 billion — three times more than originally planned — into pilot projects to mitigate global warming and create markets for climate-smart commodities. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the demonstration projects would put the… Continue reading