On April 30, the Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to discuss challenges facing the livestock industry. The most common topics cited were feed costs, drought, animal disease, trade, and the regulatory requirements that impact this sector of the agricultural economy. Panel 1 – Questions for USDA The […]
Archives for May 2014
Loan Guarantees Link Food Hubs with Consumer Markets
On Wednesday, April 30, USDA’s Rural Business–Cooperative Service issued a notice with additional details relating to the availability of federal loan guarantees through the Local and Regional Food Enterprise provision of the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. The B&I program helps improve, develop, or finance businesses and employment in rural areas by bolstering […]
House Agriculture Committee Discusses Pollinator Health
On April 29, the House Agriculture Committee convened a hearing to discuss challenges facing pollinator populations, with the honey bee as the focal point. Throughout the hearing, the increased incidence of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was discussed, and the current research available to identify causes of the devastating decrease in honey bee populations and economic […]