Obama
Congress passes global food-security bill
The House gave final congressional approval, 359-53, to a bill that calls for a comprehensive U.S. strategy to reduce hunger and malnutrition in developing nations. President Obama praised passage of the bill, which makes permanent the Feed the Future program, an early initiative of his administration.
Obama: ‘The longer we wait, the harder it will be to pass the TPP’
China is trying to outmaneuver the United States in the Asian market, President Obama said, in pressing for approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
Obama’s last fight with Big Food: Salt
The Obama administration will propose voluntary levels on sodium in processed foods as early as this summer, in "one of its last fights with Big Food," says Politico, citing current and former administration officials.
Agriculture may help end the Cuban trade embargo, says Obama
The United States and Cuba, adversaries since the 1960s, agreed to cooperate in improving food production and conserving natural resources as part of President Obama's visit to Havana.
Obama in Cuba — will ag trade benefit?
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is part of the U.S. delegation in Cuba today as part of President Obama's visit to the island, the first by a U.S. president in 88 years. U.S. farm groups have high hopes for supplying a large share of Cuba's $2 billion a year in food and agriculture imports, although sales have trended downward since peaking at $710 million in 2008.
Obama trip to Cuba will include Vilsack
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, on a trade mission to Peru and Chile this week, will travel to Havana next Monday and Tuesday as part of President Obama's trip to the island, the first U.S. president to visit in nearly 90 years.
House ag chair criticizes Obama’s honeybee ‘infatuation’
During the Plains Ginners Association’s annual meeting in Lubbock, Texas, on Monday, House Agriculture Committee chairman Mike Conaway said President Obama had developed an “unreasonable devotion to honeybees.”
School lunch factions meet, look for solutions
Obama administration officials suggested additional steps to help schools meet requirements to serve healthier meals during an hour-long meeting with nutrition, school and consumer groups. Sam Kass, senior nutrition advisor at the White House, said it was a "positive discussion" and Wendy Weyer of the School Nutrition Association said the meeting was "very solutions-oriented."
Prieto tapped to be USDA general counsel
President Obama has nominated Jeffrey Prieto, a federal attorney since 1998, to be general counsel for the Agriculture Department, said the White House. The general counsel is USDA's chief lawyer.
U.S. to give preference for meat raised with fewer antibiotics
President Obama directed the government to support "the emerging market for meat that has been produced according to responsible antibiotic-use policies" by serving the meat in federal cafeterias and, by 2020, giving routine preference to vendors selling the meat.
White House releases five-year plan on antibiotics
The Obama administration released a five-year "national action plan" to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In a blog, the secretaries of Health, Agriculture and Defense say it is "a whole-of-government approach" built around slowing the spread of resistant bacteria; better surveillance to detect resistant bacteria; development of rapid tests to guide treatment of infections; more research into new antibiotics and alternative treatments; and expanded international health work.
USDA to co-chair Broadband Opportunity Council
President Obama signed a presidential memorandum creating a Broadband Opportunity Council, co-chaired by the secretaries of agriculture and commerce, that will expand the availability of high-speed Internet access.
Ten pilot projects will test food-stamps-to-work ideas
The Obama administration will announce today "grants to 10 states looking for a better way to get food-stamp recipients back to work," says NPR. The pilot projects are the result of a compromise by lawmakers over food stamp cuts in the 2014 farm law.
Majority of US House opposes new EPA water rule
Some 231 U.S. representatives, including 18 committee chairmen, signed a letter asking the Obama administration to withdraw a proposed rule on federal jurisdiction over waterways, says Drovers CattleNetwork.
Oxfam urges a fine-tuning of Feed the Future
In a 40-page report, Oxfam America suggests several steps to improve Feed the Future, an Obama administration initiative that uses public-private partnerships to boost local food production in targeted countries.
Lawmakers to POTUS: “Be bold” to protect monarch butterfly
In a letter, 52 House Democrats asked President Obama to "be bold" and protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act, "the last, best chance to save this amazing species and its incredible migration."
Obama selects McBride to lead Rural Utilities Services
President Obama selected Brandon McBride, a Senate Agriculture Committee staff worker, to serve as administrator of USDA's Rural Utilities Services, the White House announced.
White House announces steps to boost rural exports
The Obama administration announced eight steps to boost exports by rural businesses, including "reverse trade missions" that bring foreign business officials into the United States as well as an effort to double the number of rural businesses that take part in traditional trade missions overseas. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the announcement was the result of workshops held over the past year in rural America.