**Democrats voiced strong objections to funding levels and legislative riders in the Interior/Environment spending bill, but saved amendments for this week when the full House Appropriations Committee will mark up the fiscal 2018 bill.
At last week’s hearing, the bill was cleared for consideration by the full committee despite expressions of disappointment from some Democrats...
**House appropriators are rejecting President Trump’s proposals to slash spending on rural development, international food aid, research and other key areas of the Agriculture Department’s fiscal 2018 budget.
But a draft appropriations bill would still require cuts in some programs, providing a total of $20 billion to the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Commodity Futures Trading Com
**During a visit with Ag leaders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last week, President Trump delivered an optimistic campaign-style speeches embracing farmers and ranchers as the “backbone of America.”
The president has come under fire from rural Democrats for proposed cuts in his first budget outline and for lacking specifics about plans to deliver some of his ambitious plans...
**63 people have been indicted for their role in the Brazilian meat scandal and corruption in the Ministry of Agriculture. Federal auditors are accused of taking bribes in exchange for fraudulent sanitary permits.
The suspects are also charged with falsifying medical records and certificates, tampering with food products, conspiracy and corruption...
**President Trump is proposing to slash the Agriculture Department’s field staff and also make deep reductions in research, rural development and international food aid.
A 62-page budget summary released by the White House is skimpy on details but it calls for a $4...