Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack wants to put together a diverse group of dairy industry representatives to review and make recommendations regarding volatile milk prices and farm profitability.
Those nominated and accepted to participate in the group will form a newly established Dairy Industry Advisory Committee, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The Obama administration is committed to working with all sectors of the dairy industry to develop changes to the dairy pricing system to avoid the boom and bust cycle behind the crisis facing many dairy farmers this year,” Vilsack said. “The input provided by the members of this committee will play an important role in building a more stable market for dairy producers in years to come”
Vilsack plans to appoint up to 15 representatives of the dairy industry to serve in an advisory capacity on the committee. He hopes those who serve will represent producers, processors, handlers, consumers, academia, retailers and state agencies involved in organic and non-organic dairy at all levels.
The committee members will elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson who will each serve a two-year term. Brandon Willis, deputy administrator of the Farm Service Agency’s Farm Programs, will serve as the committee’s executive secretary.
Written nominations, due before Sept. 29, should be sent, faxed or e-mailed to:
c/o Judith Lindsay, secretary to Brandon Willis, deputy administrator
Farm Service Agency
Farm Programs
USDA Room 3612-S, Stop 0501
Washington, D.C. 20250-0501Fax: (202) 720-4726
judith.lindsay@wdc.usda.gov
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