The USDA farm bill proposals for specialty crops would allocate $5 billion to benefit producers of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops. The funds would focus on research, development, and trade, as Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says specialty crop growers have not expressed an interest in the kind of direct monetary support that many commodity crops receive. Specialty crops are now nearly equal in market value to program crops, yet these producers receive no direct cash...

Monday, May 14, 2007 Current User :: Guest Add your news directly to the infoZine web sitelogin or create new user account Topics Consumer Information Friday, April 27, 2007 :: infoZine Staff :: page views Swine Fed Contaminated Pet Food Byproduct Pork and pork products derived from animals that were fed the adulterated product will be destroyed. Monday, May 14, 2007 Current User :: Guest Add your news directly to the infoZine web sitelogin or create new user account Topics Consumer...

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The Attorney General's Office last year filed suit against a number of tobacco companies that are parties to the landmark 1998 agreement to collect the full payment Cooper said Tennessee is owed. The payment came at the same time several tobacco companies again refused to pay their entire annual payments required by the agreement, Cooper said. Under the agreement, all major tobacco companies must make annual payments to 46 states, including Tennessee and six other jurisdictions. In...

Because the animal feed in question was adulterated, USDA cannot rule out the possibility that food produced from animals fed this product could also be adulterated. Based on information currently available, FDA and USDA believe the likelihood of illness after eating pork from swine fed the adulterated product would be very low; however, the agencies believe it is prudent to take this measure. FSIS, FDA and state authorities are in the process of determining whether any meat from animals...

It wasn't targeted just at starting farmers' markets, but several of them started. The markets are a way for farmers in the state to showcase their work. Last summer, his office started a new marketing program to help those small farmers meet special regional needs. McCutcheon is now considering starting a farmers' market organization for the state, he said. Mountain State farms typically are smaller than those found in other states, and what is being produced on them is much more diverse,...