Tom Vilsack

Hog farmers are obliged to report outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and work with offiicials to combat the disease and prevent its spread, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced at the World Pork Expo.

At a "Made in Rural America" forum, the administration unveiled a Web portal for rural businesses interested in the export market.

The government "has no clear idea" how Porcine Epidemic Virus entered the United States a year ago, Reuters says. The virus, with a high mortality rate for newborn pigs, has killed 10 percent of the U.S. hog herd and helped push pork prices to high levels.

U.S. farm exports will hit a record $149.5 billion in the year ending on Sept 30, up 5 percent from the previous estimate due to higher corn, wheat and soybean prices as well as larger export tonnage, said USDA in a quarterly report. The record now is $140.9 billion, set in fiscal 2013.

A Republican proposal to give hard-pressed schools a one-year waiver from school lunch reforms is headed for a floor vote in the House with predictions of more turmoil to come. "This is poison," warned Sam Farr, a senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. "It will tie up the whole ag appropriations bill." Farr lost on a party-line vote, 29-22, when he tried to delete the waiver during a four-hour committee markup.

The government is pledging $1.2 billion for the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program that could leverage an equal amount of money from private companies, local communities and others. The program was created as part of the 2014 farm bill. "This is going to be focused on measurable results," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

A nationwide roll-out it vital for success of a new whole-farm revenue insurance policy, says a small-farm group, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the new policy at the Organic Trade Association meeting last week.

The United States will not change its meat-labeling regime before an expected World Trade Organization ruling in July, Canadian Agriculture Minister Gary Ritz told reporters following a meeting of farm ministers from Mexico, Canada and the United States, says Country Guide. Ritz said he told Ag Secretary Vilsack that Canada is ready to retaliate over the U.S. country-of-origin labeling rules.

At the Organic Trade Association conference, AgSec Vilsack encouraged the industry to pursue a so-called checkoff program to pay for research and promotion of organic products. "This is an enormous opportunity the farm bill has created. The industry should take advantage of it," Vilsack said.

Ahead of the Senate Appropriations Committee markup today, Ag Secretary Vilsack spoke strongly against expected proposals to change WIC and school lunch rules. "I, for one, find it outrageous to be taking a step back from the commitments we made in 2010," Vilsack said, referring to the reauthorization of child nutrition programs.

The agriculture ministers of the three giant nations of North America met in Mexico City and issued a statement "to reaffirm the benefits of fair and open trade for our economies and food security...From Mexico City, to Washington, to Ottawa, we will continue to show the world how trade and open borders support economic growth and jobs."

AgSec Vilsack announced the availability of $78 million to promote farmers markets and local and regional food sales. The funds are authorized through the 2014 farm law. They include $15 million to promote farmers markets, $15 million for marketing and promotional support for local food businesses, such as food hubs, and $48 million in loan guarantee for projects that focus on local food enterprises. For details, click here.

The United States is "negotiating" with Brazil and trying to avert the potential imposition of $830 mln in retaliatory tariffs in the decade-old cotton dispute, AgSec Vilsack told the Senate Agriculture Committee. Brazil won a World Trade Organization case against U.S. subsidies several years ago and repeatedly held off retaliation while working with the United States to settle the issue.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and two California agriculture leaders called on the Republican-controlled House to vote soon on immigration reform. Vilsack, who said he was confident a reform bill would pass, said Republican leaders should "do what leaders are supposed to do.

AgSec Vilsack, saying "there is no question the opportunity for immigration reform is now," urged House Republican leaders to "pass something so you create a vehicle" for a House-Senate compromise.

The Agriculture Department received 51 patents and unveiled 180 inventions during fiscal 2013, according to its annual Report on Technology Transfer.

On Earth Day, AgSec Vilsack announced in Des Moines that USDA awarded $6 million to 10 universities to study the effects of climate change on agricultural production and to develop responses to them.