Articles tagged under: Tom Vilsack
Animal Welfare Standards Included in USDA Organic Rule
Published October 26, 2023
USDA’s new standards for Organic Livestock and Poultry Production include strong language dealing with animal welfare. To qualify for the organic label, poultry must have access to the outdoors and pigs must have adequate space to move freely. Agriculture Secretary…Vilsack Announces $2.3 Billion Trade Investment
Published October 24, 2023
USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $2.3 billion investment to boost trade promotion and fund a regional agricultural promotion program meant to diversity export markets for U.S. ag products. Vilsack says with so much uncertainty in Congress, this will…Foreign Farmland Purchases Under Scrutiny
Published September 28, 2023
Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is being described as a threat to national security. At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, South Dakota Senator John Thune said USDA should have a larger role in overseeing foreign ownership of farmland. Earlier in…Vilsack Visits Farm Progress Show
Published August 31, 2023
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack was at the Farm Progress Show where he spoke about fertilizer initiatives to support fertilizer production plants in the U.S. "We're learning more about how to efficiently use fertilizer. There is some indication that as much…A Stern Warning for Brazil
Published August 11, 2023
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is demanding timely reporting of cattle diseases, especially BSE. Earlier this year, Brazil reported two cases of atypical BSE two months after the disease was discovered. Vilsack said beef trade between the two countries is dependent…Vilsack Defends RFS Decision
Published June 27, 2023
While announcing plans to increase the availability of domestic biofuels, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was asked about the recent EPA decision on renewable fuel obligations for the next three years. Vilsack said EPA’s announcement represents the largest biofuels production target…Vilsack’s MN Visit Canceled by DC Flight Grounding
Published June 26, 2023
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was scheduled to be in Minnesota today to make several announcements about biofuels. However, issues with the air traffic control communications system grounded flights out of the Washington, D.C. area and prevented travel. As an alternative,…USDA Announces Clean Energy Funding
Published May 16, 2023
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the largest investment in Rural Electrification since the 1930’s under the Inflation Reduction Act. Clean energy funding will be made available in two programs for clean energy in Rural America. A total of $10.7 billion…Farm Bill Issues Heard at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Published May 14, 2023
House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership met with President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the White House this past week. In a joint statement following the meeting, the congressional leaders stressed the importance of passing a farm…