nutrition

For a variety of reasons, the potato industry struggled last year, with demand for the spud down.  Consumers habits have changed after the pandemic, and the U.S. is not exporting as many potato products as growers and industry leader would like to see.  On top ...

Last week, Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin called for the American dairy industry to be protected.  A bipartisan group of lawmakers say they want to ensure that plant-based imitation products are not equated in upcoming dietary guideline changes.   The le...

The way things are going, or not going, on Capitol Hill right now, it's going to be very hard to get a new Farm Bill passed, that according to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.  While visiting with a group of Farmers Union members Monday, Secretary Vilsack shared what it will take to get a Farm Bill on the books.   “...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is giving an estimated 3,000 more school districts in high-need areas the option to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, by expanding the availability of the Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP.

The Senate Agriculture Committee once again released a newsletter entitled "Farm Bill 101: Forestry." The one-pager is designed to be easily digestible and explain how the bill helps in forestry.

The Food and Drug Administration this week proposed a redesign of the Human Foods Program to enhance coordinated prevention and response activities.  The proposal includes a transformative vision for the Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA's field-based operations. Acc...

The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the appointment of 20 nationally recognized scientists to serve on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.  The Committee will review the current body of science on key nutrition topics and develop a scientific report that includes its independent assessment of the evidence and recommendations for USDA and HHS as t

According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, when it comes to crafting the new Farm Bill, the USDA’s role is one of advisory and providing information.  But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a wish list of his own.  First, he said it will be important all sides work together to get a Farm Bill done on time.    “It will be important and n...

A University of Idaho crop researcher is trying to work out the agronomics of raising food-quality fall peas as a high yielding rotation crop for farmers in the state’s panhandle.  The UI’s Kurt Schroeder says while local growers have planted fall peas in the past as a cover crop, planting them for food is very different.  He said one of the ...

Earlier this week, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced an investment of nearly $10 million through the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program.  The funding, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, bolsters USDA’s food and nutrition security efforts.  Specifically, the f...