U.S. Department of Agriculture
After 2012 drought, US farmers adapt for climate change
Mar 13, 2013 13:59 EDT
Emerging from the worst drought in 50 years, US farmers are bracing for long-term challenges from climate change including blasting heat and more capricious rainfall.
US dodges Super Bowl chicken-wing shortage
Feb 01, 2013 03:42 EST
Americans will wolf down 1.23 billion chicken wings this Super Bowl weekend, or nearly four wings for each and every US citizen, the National Chicken Council estimates.
Thailand 'loses rank of world's top rice exporter'
Jan 04, 2013 06:43 EST
Thailand lost its status as the world's top rice exporter in 2012 as a controversial scheme to boost farmer incomes saw it overtaken by India and Vietnam, an industry group said Friday.
Laid-off US worker sues over 'pink slime' reports
Dec 13, 2012 03:50 EST
A worker laid off by a beef processor after US media reported the use of "pink slime" in fast food and school lunches is suing reporters and a celebrity chef, alleging a campaign of "misinformation."
Australian scientists develop coconut-tasting pineapple
Dec 04, 2012 22:02 EST
Australian researchers are working on a new breed of pineapple -- one that is not only sweet and juicy but which has the added tropical taste of coconut.
China agrees to buy from Thai rice mountain
Nov 21, 2012 12:01 EST
China pledged Wednesday to buy rice from Thailand's growing mountain of unsold stocks, during a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao, officials said.
Is organic food better? The jury is still out
Oct 29, 2012 08:42 EDT
The debate over whether organic food is better for our health and worth its higher price keeps raging on in the United States as the conclusion of four decades of studies seems far from clear.
US beef producer sues ABC News over 'pink slime' label
Sep 13, 2012 15:07 EDT
A major US beef producer sued ABC News Thursday, claiming the network launched a "disinformation campaign" by calling its ground beef products "pink slime."
US corn, soy prices hit records as drought lingers
Aug 22, 2012 11:03 EDT
US corn and soybean prices closed at new record highs Tuesday as a new survey showed worse-than-expected crop damage from a brutal drought across the country's central breadbasket.
US corn, soy prices hit records as drought lingers
Aug 21, 2012 18:17 EDT
US corn and soybean prices closed at new record highs Tuesday as a new survey showed worse-than-expected crop damage from a brutal drought across the country's central breadbasket.
World must brace for higher food prices, experts say
Aug 18, 2012 23:51 EDT
With drought parching farms in the United States and near the Black Sea, weak monsoon rains in India and insidious hunger in Africa's Sahel region, the world could be headed towards another food crisis, experts say.
G20 to tackle rising food prices: report
Aug 13, 2012 05:26 EDT
The Group of 20 top economies will meet shortly to try and coordinate a response to soaring food prices, driven by drought and rising demand, the Financial Times reported Monday.
As drought worsens, Obama calls for new farm bill
Aug 11, 2012 06:35 EDT
US President Barack Obama urged members of Congress Saturday to pass a farm bill that would help the agricultural sector cope with the most severe drought that has struck the United States in half a century.
UN director presses US to cut biofuel output
Aug 10, 2012 12:47 EDT
The head of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization urged the United States to halt its biofuel output to prevent a food crisis, in an editorial published by the Financial Times on Friday.
Drought cuts production of major US crops: USDA
Aug 10, 2012 11:38 EDT
The US slashed production estimates Friday for its globally crucial corn and soybean crops, saying the record heat across the country's farm belt had cut expected output to the lowest level in six years.
Drought cuts US corn crop to smallest in 6 years: USDA
Aug 10, 2012 08:55 EDT
The stifling drought in the United States farm belt has cut likely corn production to the lowest level in six years, the US Department of Agriculture reported Friday.
Parched fields as drought devastates US crops
Aug 01, 2012 09:07 EDT
The sweat pours down Larry Hasheider's face as he walks across his parched cornfields to show the result of one of the worst droughts to strike the United States in decades.
US 'extreme drought' zones triple in size
Jul 27, 2012 06:49 EDT
The drought in America's breadbasket is intensifying at an unprecedented rate, experts warned, driving concern food prices could soar if crops in the world's key producer are decimated.
US drought woes deepen
Jul 27, 2012 00:05 EDT
The drought in America's breadbasket is intensifying at an unprecedented rate, experts warned, driving concern food prices could soar if crops in the world's key producer are decimated.
US drought woes deepen
Jul 26, 2012 16:50 EDT
The drought in America's breadbasket is intensifying at an unprecedented rate, experts warned Thursday, driving concern food prices could soar if crops in the world's key producer are decimated.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| United States Department of Agriculture | |
|---|---|
| Seal of the Department of Agriculture | |
| Logo of the USDA | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | May 15, 1862 (Cabinet status February 15, 1889) |
| Preceding agency | Agricultural Division |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | 1301 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 38°53′12″N 77°01′47″W / 38.88667°N 77.02972°W |
| Employees | 105,778 (June 2007) |
| Annual budget | US$95 billion (2009) |
| Agency executives | Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture |
| Child agency | Click here |
| Website | |
| www.usda.gov | |