The Ag & Food Law Update
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Delta Smelt case
- November 1, 2011
- Elizabeth
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal by Central California farmers who claimed the federal government lacks constitutional authority to...
USDA Invests in Crop Insurance Education
- October 31, 2011
- Elizabeth
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) will support crop...
New Rice Varieties Offer Benefits to Growers
- October 31, 2011
- Elizabeth
According to a USDA press release, new rice varieties that offer new options for U.S. growers and expanded market opportunities for...
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding to Expand the Production and Availability of Advanced Biofuels
- October 31, 2011
- Elizabeth
Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion...
USDA Announces Grants to Support Food and Agricultural Sciences Education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- October 31, 2011
- Elizabeth
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded 20 competitive grants to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in six states and Puerto Rico...
Senators help extend comment period for proposed farm labor rule
- October 30, 2011
- Elizabeth
Thirty-two Senators joined together to ask Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to give farmers and ranchers adequate time to comment on the...
Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act to be introduced in Congress
- October 30, 2011
- Elizabeth
Last week, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree announced that they will introduce the Local Farms, Food, and...
Bill Would Make Selling Fraudulent Maple Syrup A Felony Offense
- October 30, 2011
- Elizabeth
This month, U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced legislation to make the fraudulent sale of maple syrup...
Cost of Senate Inaction on Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act
- October 28, 2011
- Elizabeth
The Washington Examiner published an editorial by Agricultural Committee Chairman Frank D. Lucas yesterday, calling on the Senate to take action...
Statements by Attorney General Holder and Agricultural Secretary Vilsack on Court Approval of Pigford II Settlement Agreement
- October 28, 2011
- Elizabeth
Attorney General Eric Holder and Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statements on the U.S. Disrict Court for the District...
Court approves $1.15 billion settlement for black farmers in Pigford II
- October 28, 2011
- Elizabeth
Yesterday, a judge approved a $1.15 billion settlement in the decades old class action suit filed by black farmers against the...
USDA tightens belt by cutting agriculture reports
- October 28, 2011
- Elizabeth
The U.S. Agriculture Department has kept tabs for decades on a wide range of agricultural industries that generate billions of dollars...
Vilsack sees farm bill urging conservation
- October 28, 2011
- Elizabeth
This week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated that he is not proposing the linking of conservation compliance with subsidized...
USDA seeks comments on amendments establishing a controlled import permit
- October 27, 2011
- Elizabeth
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend regulations concerning the importation...
USDA Grants Protection to 45 New Plant Varieties
- October 27, 2011
- Elizabeth
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued certificates of protection to developers of 45 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants....