The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Waters of the U.S. rule on Wednesday. The agriculture industry and farmers have opposed the rule, calling it a Washington power grab. Although finalized, the rule still faces lawsuit threats and legislative obstacles.
Powerful agribusiness companies that regularly net billions in profits are major recipients of state and federal tax breaks, subsidies, grants and loans. Just seven of those companies have pocketed billions since 2000, according to government subsidy data from Good Jobs First. Tax experts say the co
Tens of millions of people live off of government welfare in the United States. Some say that giant agriculture corporations do, too. An analysis of data attained by the policy research organization Good Jobs First shows that just seven agribusinesses have received billions of dollars in state and f
Taxpayer money funding the federal crop insurance program, a main safety net for farmers, has more than doubled in just over a decade. As the country's budgetary problems grow, critics continue to label the insurance program as inefficient and expensive.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its agriculture projections, which run through 2024. The projections bring good news for those in the livestock industry, as U.S. meat exports are expected to grow.
The federal crop insurance program has – once again – come under fire for giving farmers too many subsidies and costing the American taxpayer too much money. This time, the attempt to restructure what many in the agriculture industry refer to as the main “safety net for farmers” comes from the White
Jenny Mennenga farms corn and soybean in central Illinois. Similar to farmers throughout the country, Mennenga has had to work hard to keep her family farm's acres free of herbicide-resistant super weeds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service deregulated Monsanto GM soybean and cotton varieties in January. Organic farmers and environmental advocates say they are concerned the seeds may prompt an increase in costly herbicide drift.
To help farmers win the war on herbicide-resistant weeds, Monsanto is working on new varieties of genetically engineered soybean and cotton. Many farmers look forward to the GMOs, but some critics argue the varieties are shortsighted solutions to a long-term problem.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers official withdrew a piece of the Waters of the U.S. rule. The interpretive rule sought to clarify farming exemptions under Section 404 of the Clean water Act.
When Congress approved a nearly $1 trillion spending bill late last week, it also approved increased funding to federal food-safety programs. Under the new 2015 appropriations bill, two U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies will receive an estimated $40 million in funding.
The public comment period for a proposed rule defining "Waters of the U.S." is set to close on Nov. 14, more than half a year sine the rule was first introduced. During that time, thousands of national lawmakers, state authorities and agriculture officials have criticized the rule.
