Secretary Vilsack announces NAIS listening session locations
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced May 4 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will hold a series of listening sessions on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The meetings will take place next month in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington state. more

Conservation funds available for organic and transitioning organic producers under new organics initiative
The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a special initiative of $50 million, of which Texas will be receiving more than $4.3 million, to provide financial assistance for conservation practices available for growers transitioning to organic farming or who are already certified for organic agriculture under new provisions of the 2008 farm bill. more

U.S.-EU take first step in resolving twenty-year beef trade dispute
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced May 6 a meaningful first step in the longstanding trade dispute between the U.S. and European Union (EU) over the use of growth promotants in cattle. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has been working closely with industry and USTR on this issue for several years. more

Obama issues directive to USDA, EPA, DOE to expand access to biofuels
President Obama issued a presidential directive on Tuesday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels. On a conference call with Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Vilsack also announced that he will help lead an unprecedented interagency effort to increase America's energy independence and spur rural economic development. more

Texas crop, weather, 5-6-09
The majority of Texas saw much-needed rain supply crops and stock tanks with moisture. But areas in the South and South Coastal Plains didn't fare so well with the limited rain they recieved. Far West Texas is still parched and continues under the threat of wildfires. more