Latest news with #DepartmentOfAgriculture
E&E News
9 hours ago
- Business
- E&E News
House panel approves deep USDA spending cuts
A House Appropriations panel approved a $25.5 billion spending plan for agriculture Thursday that would slash climate-related programs while boosting efforts against animal and plant diseases. 'Times have changed at the Department of Agriculture,' said Agriculture Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) as the panel took up the bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The vote was 9 to 7, along partisan lines, with the full Appropriations Committee ranking Democrat, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, participating and voting 'no.' Advertisement The measure, which next moves to the full Appropriations Committee, represents an overall 4.2 percent reduction from this year's discretionary spending level for the Department of Agriculture and related agencies, the Republican majority said.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
USDA to Review Reports Following Delay of Latest Trade Outlook
The US Department of Agriculture is undergoing a review of non-statutory reports including a quarterly forecast on trade that pointed to a record farming deficit. The agriculture report, which is released on a quarterly basis, was expected to be updated on May 29. It typically shows the USDA's estimates for exports and imports of several farm product categories as well as an analysis by the agency's economists. A version of the report showing a trade deficit but stripped from comments and analysis was released on June 2.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Beast or best friend? Officials weigh in
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Curiosity spread like wildfire after a blurry image hit the internet two weeks ago. Search for possible large wild cat in Mānoa called off The snapshot sparked speculation with many, including the eyewitness, Donovan Luis, who took the photo, convinced the animal was a large wild cat. Jonathan Ho, the manager of the Department of Agriculture plant quarantine branch, said it looks like this one is a case of mistaken identity. 'It's more than likely a dog,' Ho explained. 'The way that they have their paws kind of wide, where cats tend to have their feet closer together. And then the color pattern, it again, much more like a bulldog mix.' Ho admitted they don't have definitive proof the animal is not a wildcat, but said all the evidence they've gathered has led to this conclusion. 'We put out trail cams and we baited them just to see if we could get something to come in. We got quite a few pictures of cats, feral domestic, feral cats in the areas,' he said. 'Those animals are not disappearing. People's pets aren't disappearing. All of that really doesn't lead us to believe that it is a large wild cat.'Ho said big predators have large territories and they don't usually hang around, and this animal was spotted twice in one week in the same place, which doesn't fit the profile. Even the location is an unlikely choice for a mountain lion. 'At that point of the mountain, kind of in between all these residential areas, for an ambush predator. That's kind of cryptic. It doesn't comport with biology. So based off of all of that, we've, you know, we're kind of calling it off,' he explained. But Ho added that they are glad Donovan Luis reported the sighting. 'Things happen and realistically if you don't know, call,' he said. '(It's) better to be safe than sorry. And you know, we can work with folks. And thankfully, this one turned out to be nothing.' Check out more news from around Hawaii Nothing? Or another mystery that had us chasing our tails? If you see an animal that you don't recognize, call their hotline at 643-PEST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
E&E News
3 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
Trump budget takes hatchet to farms and forestry
The Trump administration's budget request for the next fiscal year would curb help to farmers for conservation efforts and cut off forestry funds for state and privately owned lands, while boosting the fight against plant and livestock pests and diseases. Those are some of the themes emerging from the more detailed spending wish list the administration released late Friday for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Presidential budget requests typically don't go very far in Congress, where lawmakers are less likely to embrace the most far-reaching spending reductions. But the Trump request reflects the administration's priorities and offers some hints about planned agency reorganizations. Advertisement Total discretionary spending would fall by about 22 percent, to $22.1 billion, at the Department of Agriculture, the administration said.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Here are the 10 riskiest foods to eat in the US right now
Foodborne illness affects tens of millions of Americans every year, leading to costly trips to the emergency room and massive product recalls - now a group has identified the riskiest foods on the market. Some 48 million are sickened, 128,000 go to the hospital and approximately 3,000 people die each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foodborne illness cost Americans an estimated $75 billion in medical care, lost productivity and premature deaths, according to the Department of Agriculture. The top five foodborne germs causing deaths are salmonella, toxoplasma gondii, listeria, novorvirus and campylobacte - with salmonella as the worst on the list. After a particularly fraught year, with related cases rising by a reported quarter, a new report from Consumer Reports has identified 10 foods you may want to avoid because of the risk of food poisoning. Here's what's on the list: Deli meat Last year, a Listeria outbreak linked to meats sliced at delis resulted in more than 60 cases and 10 deaths across 19 states. Some groups, including pregnant women and seniors, are more vulnerable to Listeria. It can cause a more mild intestinal illness, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting. Alternatively, it may lead to invasive illness, meaning the bacteria have spread beyond the gut. Related symptoms include fever, flu and even seizures. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics, depending on the severity of the patient's condition. 'Even when there are no ongoing Listeria outbreaks, women who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system should avoid deli meat or reheat it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or until steaming hot to kill any germs,' the CDC says. Cucumbers Cucumbers have been recalled this month after people in 15 states were infected with salmonella. No deaths have been reported, but there have been nine hospitalizations and 26 cases. Most people recover from exposure without treatment in about a week. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Raw milk products Outbreaks tied to raw milk products have been associated with salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter. 'Drinking or eating products made from raw milk can expose people to germs such as campylobacter, cryptosporidium, E. coli, listeria, brucella and salmonella,' according to the CDC. Children under the age of five, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness. Amid continuous spread, the H5N1 bird flu is also a concern in raw milk products. Cotija and queso fresco cheese An outbreak of listeria in February of 2024 was tied to queso fresco and cotija cheese. That outbreak resulted in two deaths and 26 cases. Eggs In September, there were 93 cases of a salmonella outbreak tied to eggs. That was before the egg shortage tied to the spread of bird flu. Onions A major E. coli outbreak last year was tied to slivered onions served in McDonald's hamburgers. One person died and there were more than 100 cases reported across 14 states. Symptoms usually start as many as four days after swallowing the bacteria, resulting in stomach cramps, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Most people recover without treatment after a week. Leafy greens There have previously been E. coli outbreaks associated with leafy greens. Dozens of people were infected in late 2020, and 20 people were hospitalized. Carrots A late 2024 E. coli outbreak tied to organic carrots also resulted in one death. That outbreak infected 39 people from 18 states. Of those, 15 were hospitalized. Basil Last spring, a salmonella outbreak linked to fresh basil resulted in 36 cases across 14 states. There were four hospitalizations.
