Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to investigate the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent announcement that it released the Social Security Numbers of more than 38,000 USDA program participants. The numbers were publicly available on the internet. Committee members questioned USDA officials about the circumstances surrounding the disclosure of these Social Security Nu... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review rural broadband programs operated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina is Chairman of the Subcommittee. "Access to the high speed broadband is critical for economic development, community g... Read more »
Today the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing to review proposals to amend the program crop provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill. "Today, we heard in detail from agricultural processors and major farm groups about what kind of commodity title provisions they would like to see in the next Farm Bill and what their members think about the current ... Read more »
Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, held a hearing to review the Federal Milk Marketing Order rulemaking procedures. The Federal Milk Marketing Orders were established in the 1930's to make sure that milk, which is a highly perishable product, reached consumers at a fair price and in a time sensitive fashio... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research held a hearing to review USDA Farm Bill conservation programs. Congressman Tim Holden of Pennsylvania is Chairman of the Subcommittee. "In the 2002 farm bill, we funded the most significant programs in order to preserve farmland and improve soil and water quality," said Chairman Holden. "The hearing today remind... Read more »
Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson announced that Congressman Joe Donnelly of Indiana has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. Congressman Donnelly represents Indiana's Second District. Congressman Donnelly's appointment was approved unanimously by the Democratic members of the committee. "The... Read more »
Today, Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, held a hearing to review the economic impacts of organic production, processing, and marketing of organic agricultural products. Organic food is currently a $14 billion industry, accounting for about 2 percent of total retail food sales in the United States. That n... Read more »
Today, Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, held a hearing to investigate colony collapse disorder in honey bee colonies across the United States. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is characterized by the sudden die-off of honey bee colonies. The cause of CCD has not been determined, and the Subcommittee heard ... Read more »
Today the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing to review proposals to amend the commodity provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill. Congressman Bob Etheridge of North Carolina is Chairman of the Subcommittee. "Today we heard in detail from major commodity groups about what their members would like to see in the next Farm Bill and what they think of ... Read more »
