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Ellyn Ferguson

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday that 50,000 USDA workers would be furloughed, affecting spending in the communities where they work and loans to farmers.

Vilsack sees shutdown taking away children’s food, farmers’ loans

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted September 25, 2023 at 4:02pm
Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has noted that a short-term lapse in the farm bill is possible.

McConnell concedes farm bill will be late; Stabenow eyes year-end

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted August 24, 2023 at 2:33pm, Updated at 3:26pm
House Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., said the Supreme Court decision on California's animal welfare law raises the prospect of trade conflict between states.

Thompson says House farm bill to address animal welfare law

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted August 2, 2023 at 4:31pm
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a meeting of his Competition Council in the State Dinning Room at the White House on Wednesday, joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard.

Biden versus fees: ‘Folks are tired of being played for suckers’

By Niels Lesniewski and Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 19, 2023 at 5:33pm
A federal alliance with state attorneys general announced Wednesday would target anticompetitive markets and industries that drive up food prices.

USDA, states join forces to fight grocery ‘price gouging’

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 19, 2023 at 5:00am, Updated at 11:40am
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said Republicans trying to cut nutrition in the farm bill will "have poked the bear."

House Democrats look for ‘lines in the sand’ on farm bill

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 18, 2023 at 6:30am
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said USDA wants to do better tracking carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions.

USDA launches effort to upgrade climate data tracking

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 12, 2023 at 12:36pm
Xochitl Torres Small, a former member of Congress from New Mexico, was confirmed as deputy Agriculture secretary by the Senate on Tuesday.

Senate confirms Torres Small as deputy secretary at USDA

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 11, 2023 at 12:58pm
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testifies to the House Agriculture Committee on March 28.

Vilsack touts Biden’s biofuel support as he details new aid

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 27, 2023 at 6:13am
A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 2019.

New food stamp requirements test states and USDA

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 8, 2023 at 5:30am
Xochitl Torres Small, who served one term in the House before becoming a USDA undersecretary, received unanimous Senate Agriculture backing Wednesday to become deputy secretary.

Senate Agriculture backs Torres Small to take deputy position at Agriculture Department

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 17, 2023 at 2:58pm
Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., must negotiate with Democrats and appease the GOP's right flank on a debt limit deal.

Debt limit drama

By David Lerman, Laura Weiss and Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 15, 2023 at 4:22pm
Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., says she wants to expand the Agriculture Department services and programs available to specialty crop producers.

Specialty crop producers seek farm bill recognition, support

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 15, 2023 at 11:24am
House Agriculture Chaimran Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., said he hopes the participants can agree to do a farm bill that is "bipartisan, bicameral, on time and highly effective."

Biden, Agriculture committee leaders to discuss farm bill goals

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 10, 2023 at 7:02pm
Xochitl Torres Small, the Agriculture undersecretary for rural development, received backing from Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to become deputy secretary.

Torres Small backed by Senate Agriculture leaders for USDA deputy

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 10, 2023 at 4:31pm
Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and ranking member John Boozman, R-Ark., disagree over use of money provided for climate programs in 2022.

Senate Agriculture leaders differ on shifting funds to farm bill

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 3, 2023 at 11:53am
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., the chairman of a Senate Agriculture's subcommittee, will lead a hearing Wednesday on food stamps.

Lawmakers steer toward food stamp clash on work requirements

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted April 18, 2023 at 7:00am
Bypassing suggestions that it switch to painted potatoes or even rocks, the White House is sticking with eggs for the Easter event on Monday.

White House sticks with tradition and rolls the eggs

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted April 6, 2023 at 12:10pm
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he supports legislation that seeks to block agriculture purchasers acting for China, Russia, Iran or North Korea.

Gap in data complicates legislation to keep China off US farms

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted March 15, 2023 at 2:16pm
A movie title is seen on the screen during "The Smell of Money" Los Angeles screening on Jan. 17 in Los Angeles, Calif.

The environmental, agricultural and moral stakes in ‘The Smell of Money’

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted March 2, 2023 at 2:37pm
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., ranking member on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, said he and several other lawmakers are jockeying for three seats still unfilled on the Agriculture Committee.

Bishop, Pingree among Democrats seeking House Agriculture seats

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted February 7, 2023 at 4:43pm
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., won her 2022 race by 4.6 percentage points, far less than the 33-point average margin of the four top House Democrats.

Spanberger takes swing-district views to Democratic leaders

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted January 30, 2023 at 6:45am
Rep. Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla., a former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was reassigned to be a member of the panel by House Republicans, giving it another lawmaker with experience of past farm bills.

After past farm bill stumbles, GOP this year faces the challenge of inexperience

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted January 24, 2023 at 6:00am
Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow will not seek reelection next year.

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow not running for reelection

By Ellyn Ferguson and Niels Lesniewski
Posted January 5, 2023 at 9:20am, Updated at 11:11am
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., at a hearing in May.

Sen. Bennet unveils bill to revise agricultural visa system

By Suzanne Monyak and Ellyn Ferguson
Posted December 15, 2022 at 9:30am, Updated at 12:56pm
Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., is seen in the Cannon tunnel during a vote Wednesday.

Ways and Means chairman coy about path ahead for Trump taxes

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted December 1, 2022 at 6:56pm
A tractor kicks up dust in a field near Parker, Ariz., on Aug. 24, 2021.

Vilsack sees farmers keeping climate on congressional agenda

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted November 14, 2022 at 3:11pm
President Joe Biden led a White House summit on hunger, nutrition and health last month, but his administration has thus far avoided putting new requirements on food companies.

Nutrition advocates want investors to improve food sector practices

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 27, 2022 at 7:00am
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Tuesday thousands of producers "will be able to breathe a little easier. They are going to know that USDA is going to try to work with them and not against them."

USDA begins debt relief payments for thousands of farmers

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 18, 2022 at 4:01pm
John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, was one of four plaintiffs in the suit filed by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.

Civil rights lawyer Crump sues US over repealed aid to Black farmers

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 12, 2022 at 5:20pm
The Supreme Court is seen on Oct. 4.

Justices probe limits of California law on pig production

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 11, 2022 at 7:49pm
Pigs are herded through a maze of pens at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa.

Question for justices: Does California put US pigs in clover?

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 11, 2022 at 10:30am
“These rules are a step in the right direction and a long time coming,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, House Foreign Affairs ranking member.

US tightens controls on advanced chip exports to China

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 7, 2022 at 7:08pm
President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in Washington on September 28.

Hunger plan builds on federal role in getting food to millions

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted October 3, 2022 at 10:30am
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who has long pushed for a conference on hunger, wears an “End Hunger Now!” mask during the first session of the 117th Congress on Jan. 3, 2021.

At conference short on GOP voices, Biden says US can end hunger

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted September 28, 2022 at 4:09pm
President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the White House hunger conference on Wednesday.

White House hunger strategy widens free school meals, food stamps

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted September 27, 2022 at 8:40am
Sen. Cory Booker says the FDA should set mandatory targets for salt and added sweeteners.

Food industry wary of mandates ahead of hunger conference

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted September 21, 2022 at 7:00am
A BNSF intermodal freight train travels across a crossing at Williams, Ariz., on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

Senators’ legislation seeks to avert freight rail stoppage

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted September 12, 2022 at 3:52pm, Updated at 9:05pm
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., has sought to change eligibility rules to allow people convicted of drug crimes to receive food stamps, saying the ban disproportionately affected people in Black and other minority communities.

Panel urges expanded free school meals ahead of hunger summit

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted August 23, 2022 at 10:27am
A private property sign is seen in a birch forest near La Salle Lake state park in Solway, Minn. The recently signed budget reconciliation law provides the U.S. Forest Service with money to aid private landowners in addressing the costs of climate change.

Forest Service to aid private owners on carbon markets, climate

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted August 18, 2022 at 3:21pm
Jim Diamond, left, and his wife Sally Jones-Diamond check the wheat during the harvest season at a farm in Akron, Colo., on July 15.

Senate reconciliation keeps farms, forests in climate formula

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted August 2, 2022 at 1:47pm
Rep. Robert C. Scott will chair a committee business meeting on July 27 to vote on a Democratic plan to reauthorize federal child nutrition programs.

House Democrats add child nutrition to legislative menu

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted July 25, 2022 at 2:28pm
Americans will spend 17 percent more for an Independence Day cookout than they did last year, according to a survey by the Farm Bureau.

Anyone for strawberries and cheese this Independence Day?

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 27, 2022 at 6:02pm
House Rules Chairman Jim McGovern has pushed for the hunger conference, calling it a chance to break down bureaucratic barriers to policy development.

Biden’s hunger summit echoes Nixon’s, but faces new challenges

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 23, 2022 at 5:30am
A cafeteria worker prepares lunch for students at Freedom Preparatory Academy on Sept. 10, 2020 in Provo, Utah.

Lawmakers reach bipartisan deal to aid school meal providers

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 22, 2022 at 7:09am
Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., indicated Wednesday the committee would move on the new nominee.

Biden picks USDA veteran for USTR agriculture negotiator post

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 8, 2022 at 6:25pm
The Commerce Department will scrutinize solar component imports from Chinese companies but won't impose tariffs for two years.

Biden taps brakes on solar tariffs, moves to boost clean energy

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted June 6, 2022 at 12:15pm
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands during a summit meeting in Tokyo on Monday.

Biden outlines economic framework for US, Asian nations

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 23, 2022 at 9:18am
President Joe Biden is expected to unveil steps to boost U.S. food crop production in an effort to rein in rising prices.

Biden to roll out retooled crop production plan at Illinois farm

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 11, 2022 at 9:19am
Ten Senate Democrats supported Sen. Ron Johnson's, R-Wis., motion to remove House language banning U.S. mink farming from a competition bill. "This is truly one of the more inappropriate additions that the House made to this bill," Johnson said.

The fur flies as House, Senate wrangle over ban on mink farming

By Ellyn Ferguson
Posted May 10, 2022 at 7:00am