USDA | IATP

USDA's GMO disclosure rule designed to cover up, not inform

MINNEAPOLIS—Today, the U.S.

The 2017 Thanksgiving salmonella outbreak is still with us. Why?

With Thanksgiving and Christmas comes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reminder to cook turkey to 165 degrees to kill salmonella, a harmful bacteria, as in “Why a Salmonella Outbreak Shouldn’t Ruin Your Thanksgiving.” The reminder is particularly timely since an outbreak of salmonella-infected turkey resulting in foodborne illness was officially detected a bit more than a year ago. This inadequate response should raise serious questions about the proposed USDA takeover of all federal food safety duties.

USDA reorganization 2.0: Cut researchers, cut research

Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s former director of strategy, aimed to “deconstruct the administrative state.” The means of deconstruction are by now a familiar litany:

USDA's newly detailed aid package fails to address causes of farm crisis

MINNEAPOLIS—On Monday, the United States Department of Agriculture released the details of its "three-pronged approach" to aiding farmers affected by retaliatory agricultural tariffs. In response, Ben Lilliston, Director of Rural Strategies and Climate Change at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, issued the following statement:

Uprooted Episode 40: Giving to farmers with one hand, taking a whole lot more with the other

Josh and Steve Suppan talk about the $12 billion aid package to farmers who have been affected by tariff retaliation.

IATP Comments on "National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard"

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) appreciates this opportunity to submit comments on the proposed rule, “National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.” For more than 30 years, IATP has provided technical expertise and research in support of sustainable and economically viable family and small-scale farms, rural

Uprooted Episode 34: Meat Inspection in the US

Josh talks with Steve Suppan about meat inspection in the United States and proposed rule change that would allow companies to do self-inspection, potentially leading to higher line speeds and greater safety concerns in an industry that already has a history of unsafe conditions.  

USDA to hog slaughterhouses: Choose your own (faster) production speed

In January, the Food Safety Inspection Service proposed a rule to allow plant management to determine production line speed and configuration in swine slaughterhouses. IATP wrote a letter advising FSIS not to finalize the rule, particularly if enforcement failures and reporting shortcomings continued.

IATP Comment to USDA

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)appreciates this opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Some of the provisions in the proposed rule should not be controversial.

Trump's Budget Spurns Rural Communities

After securing tax breaks for the wealthy, President Trump's budget proposal undercuts Rural America.