Biden chooses moderate Vilsack to return as agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack, agriculture secretary throughout the Obama years, is President-elect Biden’s choice to lead the USDA as farmers seek to recover from a trade war with China and the Covid-19 pandemic. A former governor of Iowa, Vilsack was a top backer… Continue reading

A Biden possibility: Tom Vilsack as three-term agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack could be on the verge of competing with a fellow Iowan, “Tama Jim” Wilson, for the record of longest-serving cabinet secretary in U.S. history. But as soon as Vilsack was identified on Monday as the leading contender for agriculture… Continue reading

Small share of coronavirus package for food aid and farmers The final coronavirus aid package of the year would direct 3 percent of its $900 billion in funding to food assistance and relief for agricultural producers, according to its Democratic and Republican sponsors. “It’s a deal that must come together,”… Continue reading

First Black chairman of House Ag will fight climate change, rural-urban split Rep. David Scott of Georgia soundly defeated a California rival in a vote among majority-party Democrats on Thursday to become the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Scott, who represents a suburban Atlanta district with 313… Continue reading

(Forbers) On December 21, Saturn and Jupiter will align into a beautiful bright star. This will be the first time they align like this since the Middle Ages.   According to Forbes, the two planets will look like a “double planet” and provide an extraordinary amount of light. The last… Continue reading

Record-high ag subsidies to supply 39 percent of farm income Despite the effects of the pandemic and the trade war, U.S. farm income this year will be the highest since 2013 because of the largest federal payments ever — $46.5 billion, triple the usual amount, the government said on Wednesday…. Continue reading

Farmers growing skeptical of victory in Sino-U.S. trade war American farmers were dogged supporters of President Trump’s trade war with China, accepting as “patriot farmers” the pain of retaliatory tariffs in the belief Beijing would be forced to alter its trade practices. But they are becoming skeptical of victory: Only… Continue reading

China sets monthly record for purchases of U.S. food and ag Although it is likely to fall short of its “phase one” target, China purchased a record $4.8 billion of U.S. food, agricultural and seafood products during October, contributing to the surge in grain and soybean prices, analysts said on… Continue reading

More than agriculture at USDA, but not in its name It took little more than a shake of the head and a few reproachful words for House Agriculture chairman Kika de la Garza to sink a Clinton-era proposal to change the USDA’s name to the Department of Food and Agriculture…. Continue reading