Topic: U.S. Department of Agriculture

GMO, Organic, and six other food labels you should know

A quick, easy guide to eight commonly seen (and misunderstood) food labels, from 'GMO' to 'grass-fed.'

How to join climate team

Meat recall expands to 13 states

Meat recall includes roast beef, ham, turkey breast, corned beef, and pastrami shipped to retailers. No illnesses have been linked to the meat recall.

Immigration reform: Farm-worker compromise brings bill a step closer to Senate floor

Farmer and labor groups are voicing support for a deal on farm workers, but it’s just one piece of the complicated effort by both political parties to craft an immigration reform bill this year.

Will we ever understand 2012 drought? Study blames 'random weather' (+video)

The drought of 2012 was more about unusual weather patterns than global warming, says a study. But its authors acknowledge the record-smashing event likely will be a puzzle for years to come.

Stir It Up! Michelle Obama invites kids to submit recipes for a state dinner

For the second Kids' State Dinner to be held in the summer of 2013, Michelle Obama and others invite American schoolchildren to submit healthy recipes to be served at the dinner.

For some farmers, a return to animal power

A nonprofit based in Michigan teaches animal-powered farming at home and abroad. Draft power, or animal traction, is a method smaller farmers still use because draft animals cost less than tractors and require no fuel.

Opinion: Proposals to ban purchase of sugary drink with food stamps won't work

The same flaws that caused a New York judge to overturn Mayor Bloomberg's ban on big sugary drinks are inherent in proposals to ban the purchase of sugary drinks using food stamps. Such bans are unlikely to help fight obesity and can do substantial damage to the safety net.

'Cous Cous' the lion innocent in death of handler, family says

The family of Dianna Hanson, who was killed by a 550-pound male lion named 'Cous Cous' on Wednesday, calls the incident a 'tragic accident' that was no one's fault, including the lion. 

Lion mauling death: How dangerous are private zoos? (+video)

Animal behavior experts called the mauling death of a young woman in California an unfortunately predictable tragedy. Conservationists say too many exotic animals are kept privately in the US.

Lion kills female volunteer at California zoo (+video)

Lion kills female volunteer, who was a new intern at Cat Haven, a private exotic animal park. Sheriff's deputies shot the lion after it had killed the female volunteer.

Robert Reich Why stocks are up while wages are down

Reich offers four reasons why the stock market is doing so well, while most Americans are doing so poorly.

'A Place at the Table' makes a persuasive case for why millions are going without food

'Place' supplies a somewhat simplistic history of hunger in America, but the documentary makes many good points about the situation.

Philadelphia schools offer new family-style lunches to students

As part of a new "Eatiquette" program, several Philadelphia schools are serving family-style lunches to students. The Philadelphia schools involved hope the family-style lunches will reinforce good manners and communication skills. 

Toxic mice air drop: Dead poisoned mice to target Guam tree snakes

Toxic mice air drop: The US government is about target invasive brown tree snakes in Guam by bombing the island with dead mice laced with acetaminophen, which is toxic to the reptiles.

Fewer bees in US threaten almond crop

Fewer bees are available to pollinate California's growing almond crop. Beekeepers in the US have fewer bees this year because of drought and ongoing colony collapse disorder. 

Is the South ready to say howdy to hemp?

Along with a federal bill, Kentucky is mulling the legalization of industrial hemp, marijuana's close cousin. Is it good business sense – or a Trojan horse for legalizing pot in the South?

Global warming: Yet another threat to Southwest's iconic pinyon pine?

Add to the long-studied global-warming perils of drought, insects, and wildfires, a new potential threat to the pinyon pine: dramatically lower production of seed-bearing cones.

House of Earth

Woody Guthrie's novel, 60 years in coming, offers a fresh window into the past – and into Guthrie himself.

Tear down this vending machine: US proposes school snack rules

Newly proposed rules would ban almost all sweet and greasy foods on school campuses with some exceptions, like bake sale fundraisers and a caloric limit on soft drinks instead of outright prohibition. Schools have 60 days to comment before the USDA finalizes the rules. 

Objections raised over additional projects lumped with Sandy relief

Some lawmakers are cautioning against passing the $50.7 billion Superstorm Sandy aid package, which includes $150 million in aid for fisheries in Alaska, Mississippi and the Northeast. House Republicans have introduced an alternative proposal.

Mother’s little helper? Microwave zap prevents bread mold

The dreaded blue-green mold on your bread loaves might be preventable – for up to 60 days – with new microwave technology from Texas Tech.  Researchers say the proecess could eliminate the need for preservatives and reduce global food waste.

McDonald's chicken wings? Testing expands.

McDonald's chicken wings had a successful test run in Atlanta earlier this year. Now, McDonald's is expanding testing for its 'MightyWings' chicken wings to Chicago.

Energy Voices A guide to public investments in clean energy technology

Energy innovation policy is often misrepresented as only research, Stepp writes, or largely ignored by advocates to support rigid economic doctrines or policy goals that divert attention from addressing climate change.

'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.