The average value for farm real estate climbed 9.4 percent from 2012, according to the 2013 Land Value Summary released late last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The United States Department of Agriculture is set to release the 2013 report of agricultural land values on August 2, 2013. If trends continue as they have been for the past 10 years, then the value of agricultural land – especially in the Midwest region – will see a continuing increase.
An Office of Inspector General audit of the Supplemental Review Assistance Payments program estimates that about $17 million in improper payments were made due to poor accounting and review practices.
In a review of some 600 swine slaughtering plants, the Office of the Inspector General focused on 30 plants that raised red flags. Onsite visits by the OIG revealed inspectors were not following proper steps to ensure diseased meat does not enter the food supply.
A look into the practices of the Agricultural Marketing Service found a lack of overview of the "Beef Board" management unless a complaint or issue "arose". The lack of a management review revealed that funds collected, distributed and expended were not transparent, according to federal audit releas
