Topic: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Top 5 product recalls in US history
Product recalls happen nearly every day, but these five had a lasting impact. Can you guess which product recall was the most significant?
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Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts
Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.
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Leap Year: this day in the history of Feb. 29
We don’t mean to state the obvious, but Feb. 29 happens once every four years (usually) – and leap year is here again. That means a whole day's worth of news will tomorrow be added to this date's comparatively small archive.
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5 invasive species now in retreat
Invasive species are ones that don't naturally occur in an area and may have detrimental effects. Here are some eradication success stories.
Sources: Global Invasive Species Database, International Union for Conservation of Nature, National Cotton Council, US Dept. of Agriculture
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Who are Forbes' 10 most powerful women?
Every year, Forbes releases a list of the world’s most powerful woman, influential in everything from politics to technology to culture.
All Content
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'Dairy cliff'? Milk prices poised to spike unless Congress acts.
Prices could surge in January, but probably not double, if inaction by Congress results in the revival of a 1949 price system. And it probably won't come to that, as lawmakers work to avert dairy-case price shock.
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Change Agent
Restoring US native prairies, acre by acre, yard by yardAcross the US Midwest, homeowners are restoring their yards and former farmland to the native prairie that existed in pre-settlement days. The benefits can be substantial — the need for less water and no fertilizer, and an ecosystem that supports wildlife.
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Food price outlook: Will Buffalo wings break your budget in 2013?
Buffalo wings are only the most dramatic example of 2013 food price rises. Beef and corn prices are headed up, too, for the new year
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Washington dodges the 'dairy cliff,' avoids spike in milk prices
The House's Agricultural Committee reached an agreement with the Senate to extend the US farm bill that will keep milk prices in check in 2013. Without the compromise the price of a gallon of milk may have reached $7.
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Obama, Congress struggle toward fiscal cliff deal
On Friday President Barack Obama met with congressional leaders once again to try negotiating a budget deal. Obama said he walked away from the meeting 'optimistic.'
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Border security advocates eye remote lands
In an effort to beef up border security, some have argued wilderness areas near the Canadian and Mexican borders should not be subject to environmental review. Others say Border Patrol has enough roads, and more expansion could harm the soil and environment.
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Top 5 product recalls in US history
Product recalls happen nearly every day, but these five had a lasting impact. Can you guess which product recall was the most significant?
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How Ernest Hemingway's cats became a federal case (+video)
The descendants of Ernest Hemingway's cats – dozens of them – freely roam the writer's former home, now a museum. In a controversial court case, a judge says the felines must be regulated under federal law.
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Stubborn US drought could be costlier than hurricane Sandy
As drought conditions persist across the South, hitting farmers and ranchers, parts of the Mississippi River are on the verge of becoming unnavigable. The potential costs are large.
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Trader Joe’s recall: Suspect frozen chicken affects 14 states
Trader Joe's recall involves a batch of Butter Chicken with Basmanti Rice frozen dinners, which may be contaminated with listeria. Trader Joe's advises customers to throw away the affected product or return it for a full refund.
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Mayor on food stamps? Cory Booker to live on $1.40 per meal
Mayor on food stamps: N.J. Mayor Cory Booker will live on food stamps next week for seven days. Mayor Booker is following in the footsteps of the mayors of Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, who have taken the 'food stamps challenge.'
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Change Agent
New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker will try living on food stampsCory Booker has committed to living on the equivalent of food stamps for at least a week to spur a discussion on the role government plays in providing food for the poor.
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Paper Economy
Whatever happened to limited government?The concept of “limited government” seems to have become a relic of sorts, writes SoldAtTheTop, mocked by one side of the ideological spectrum, paid lip service to by the other but widely discarded overall.
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Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts
Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.
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Drought: Food prices poised to rise
The impact of this summer's extensive drought should show up on grocery shelves at the end of the year. Pork and beef prices will rise the most.
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How reliable are drought predictions? Study finds flaw in popular tool.
Researchers say the Palmer Drought Severity Index, devised for monitoring short-term trends, has been misused for longer term analyses and is thrown off by higher temperatures from global warming.
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Spinach recall for Fresh Express. Are you affected?
Spinach recall from Fresh Express involves 9-ounce bags in as many as 18 western US states due to possible contamination with salmonella. Customers affected by the spinach recall should throw the product away and call Fresh Express for a full refund.
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Change Agent
Brass City Harvest brings fresh food to an urban 'desert'In the middle of Waterbury, Conn., a faded industrial city, Brass City Harvest will open a year-round farmers market, offering fresh produce and other goods from eight Connecticut farms.
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Why is Brazil the new America? Hint: water.
While the US farm belt is mining its groundwater, Brazil is expanding production and lowering the cost of raising food.
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Bacon shortage? It's coming, British group warns. (+video)
Bacon shortage in much of the world will drive up prices to new records in 2013, a British association of pig farmers says. It's not just a bacon shortage. Higher prices should also hit beef, eggs, and poultry.
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Why Midwest drought could have been much worse for some corn farmers
Estimates suggest that drought-resistant corn breeds might have diminished potential crop losses by one-quarter this year – a development with major implications for a hotter, more crowded world.
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Candy, cereal, cookies: Farmers keep cows going on creative feed alternatives
With the worst drought in recent memory driving corn prices up, farmers have been forced to buy what they can to feed their cows cheaply. Alternatives could be anything from orange peels to marshmallows.
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Cover Story
How rising food prices are impacting the worldHigh grain costs, caused by severe drought, are hitting dinner tables from Guatemala to China. But the world has learned valuable lessons since the food shocks of 2008. Will it be enough to prevent social unrest?
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School lunches: Students protest less portions, rising nutrition
School lunches are changing due to new federal guidelines requiring school districts to serve more grains, fruits, and veggies. Michelle Obama promoted "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010," which touts these changes but students are not thrilled.
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Automatic budget cuts would be 'deeply destructive'
Automatic budget cuts would hit Pentagon with 9 percent reduction, hurting military readiness, and 8 percent cuts in nondefense programs from the FBI to the Border Patrol to air controllers, a new White House report says.
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