U.S. Department Of Agriculture

Latest Stories

This photo taken Oct. 16, 2013 shows Larry Hasheider walking along one of his corn fields on his farm in Okawville, Ill. Hasheider grows soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on the farm, nestled in the heart of Illinois corn country where he also has 130 dairy cows, 500 beef cattle and 30,000 hogs and even gives tours, something he says he never would have done 20 years ago. Add one more item to the list of chores that Larry Hasheider has to do on his 1,700-acre farm: defending his business to the American public. There's a lot of conversation about traditional agriculture recently, and much of it is critical. Among the issues people are concerned about: genetically modified crops, overuse of hormones and antibiotics, inhumane treatment of animals and whether the government subsidizes unhealthy foods. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Government might deregulate corn, soybean seeds

By M.L. Johnson - Associated Press

Workers in Central Lake, Mich., prepare apples for shipment. Despite a bumper crop this year in Michigan, China still produced roughly half of the world's crop. Beijing is using its clout to press for expanded access to the long-restricted American market. (Associated Press)

Bye, bye American pie? China wants in on the U.S. apple market.

By Tim Devaney - The Washington Times

** FILE ** Dianna Hanson, a 24-year-old intern at the Cat Haven in Dunlap, Calif., was killed by a lion at the exotic animal park on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Paul Hanson)

Fatal cougar attack in Oregon similar to lion mauling in California

By Gosia Wozniacka - Associated Press

** FILE ** In this June 7, 2012, file photo, Steve Cahillane, president of Coca-Cola Americas, makes a point during an interview with The Associated Press while attending the Clinton Global Initiative America gathering in Chicago. Cahillane is scheduled to be at at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington, Ill., on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, to sign a five-year partnership with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to restore watersheds that have been damaged or altered by development, wildfires and agriculture. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Coca-Cola, USDA partner on environment to protect federal watersheds

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

** FILE ** (Getty Images)

Spend more on food stamps to curtail ‘food insecurity,’ says USDA report

By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times

Agriculture Department tells magician to write disaster plan for his rabbit

By Jessica Chasmar - The Washington Times

Illustration by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

SCANLON: Bubbles out of the bottle

By Terrence Scanlon

Illustration by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

LOGOMASINI: Nutritious apples, poisonous claims

By Angela Logomasini

Food stamps (illustration)

Feds spend $4 million for food stamps at farmers markets

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

Illustration by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

BOVARD: The great farm robbery

By James Bovard

** FILE ** In this photo taken Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, which food stamp recipients use to purchase food, is seen at the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Illegal immigrants on food stamps won’t face slower citizenship path: USDA

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

USDA workers caught on video: ‘Pilgrims were illegal aliens’

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

**FILE** A store receipt with a food recall notice on it sits June 27, 2011, near a check-out lane at a Cincinnati Kroger grocery store. Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. recalled Sept. 28, 2011, about 131,300 pounds of ground beef was possibly contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. (Associated Press)

Food inspectors see problems with computer system

By Jim McElhatton - The Washington Times

Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

EDITORIAL: Handout nation

The Washington Times

Dispute over federal loan to wireless firm settled

By Jim McElhatton - The Washington Times

Eastside Elementary school fourth-grader Raela Bridges (right) explains what parts of the school lunch she likes to her classmates Grace Bethany (left), Cameron Kinard (back left), and Brock Maddox (back right) on Sept. 12, 2012, in Clinton, Miss. (Associated Press)

Mixed grades for new, healthy school lunch rules

By Michael Hill - Associated Press

Mixed grades for new, healthy school lunch rules

By MICHAEL HILL - Associated Press

Nine Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies from a litter of 17, look out of their box in Nauen, 50 kilometers outside Berlin on Monday, Dec. 20, 2010. On Sept 28, and 29, 4 years old Ridgeback Etana had 17 puppies. All of them survived. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

EDITORIAL: Doggy discrimination

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES - The Washington Times