The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production,promotes agricultural trade and production,works to assure food safety,protects natural resources,fosters rural communities and works to end hunger in the United States and internationally. It is headed by the secretary of agriculture,who reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president's Cabinet. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack,who has served since February 24,2021.
Intensive pig farming,also known as pig factory farming,is the primary method of pig production,in which grower pigs are housed indoors in group-housing or straw-lined sheds,whilst pregnant sows are housed in gestation crates or pens and give birth in farrowing crates.
Ann Margaret Veneman is an American attorney who served as the fifth executive director of UNICEF from 2005 to 2010. She previously served as the 27th United States secretary of agriculture from 2001 to 2005. Veneman served for the entire first term of President George W. Bush,and she left to take the UNICEF position. Appointed by the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on January 18,2005,she took over the post on May 1,2005. A lawyer,Veneman has practiced law in Washington,DC and California,including being a deputy public defender. She has also served in other high-level positions in both the state and the federal government of the United States,including being appointed secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture,serving from 1995 to 1999,as well as United States deputy secretary of agriculture,serving from 1991 to 1993. Throughout her public career,Veneman was the first woman to serve in a number of positions,including secretary of agriculture,deputy secretary of agriculture,and California's secretary of food and agriculture. She was also just the second woman to lead UNICEF,following her predecessor,Carol Bellamy.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for the federal regulation of agriculture,including policies governing the production,processing,and marketing of all farm,food,and agri-based products. Agriculture in Canada is a shared jurisdiction and the department works with the provinces and territories in the development and delivery of policies and programs.
In the United States,a commodity checkoff program promotes and provides research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. It collects funds through a checkoff mechanism that is sometimes called checkoff dollars,from producers of a particular agricultural commodity and uses these funds to promote and do research on that particular commodity. As stated earlier the organizations must promote their commodity in a generic way without reference to a particular producer. Checkoff programs attempt to improve the market position of the covered commodity by expanding markets,increasing demand,and developing new uses and markets. Checkoff programs amount to $750 million per year.
Farm Sanctuary is an American animal protection organization,founded in 1986 as an advocate for farmed animals. It was America's first shelter for farmed animals. It promotes laws and policies that support animal welfare,animal protection,and veganism through rescue,education,and advocacy. Farm Sanctuary houses over 800 cows,chickens,ducks,geese,turkeys,pigs,sheep,and goats at a 300+ acre animal sanctuary in Watkins Glen,New York and more than 100 animals at its location in Acton,California,near Los Angeles.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is a cabinet-level agency in the government of California. Established in 1919 by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor William Stephens,the Department of Food and Agriculture is responsible for ensuring the state's food safety,the protection of the state's agriculture from invasive species,and promoting the California agricultural industry.
The light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae. The moth was confirmed to be present in mainland United States in 2007,principally along the West Coast. The State of California and the US Department of Agriculture quickly imposed agricultural quarantine measures and decided to use aerial spraying to try to eradicate the moth. This led to substantial public controversy and claims of adverse health effects. Aerial spraying was discontinued in 2008. Trapping,monitoring,and inspection efforts were reduced or eliminated in 2012 due to budget problems.
Proposition 2 was a California ballot proposition in that state's general election on November 4,2008. It passed with 63% of the votes in favor and 37% against. Submitted to the Secretary of State as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act,the initiative's name was amended to officially be known as the Standards for Confining Farm Animals initiative. The official title of the statute enacted by the proposition is the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.
The National Pork Board is a program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service whose purpose is to provide consumer information,perform industry-related research,and promote pork as a food product. The board's activities are funded by a mandatory commodity checkoff program,which requires hog producers to pay a small percentage-based fee each time an animal is sold.
The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) was established in 1974 as an advocate for California's wine grape growers,providing leadership on research and education programs,public policies,sustainable farming practices and trade policy to enhance the California wine grape growing business and communities. According to their website,major objectives of CAWG's advocacy are:improvements in industry statistical data,funding for viticultural research,reform of federal estate tax law,and preventing misleading grape origin and varietal information on wine labels.
Rayne Pegg was the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture,and was appointed on July 6,2009,by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In her position,she has the responsibility of overseeing AMS policies and programs. AMS administers programs that facilitate the efficient,fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products,including food,fiber,and specialty crops. She participated in the World Trade Organization and US-Korea FTA negotiations,and was previously appointed to USDA’s Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables.
The National Pork Producers Council is a trade association representing U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders. It lobbies on behalf of its affiliated state associations from its headquarters in Des Moines,Iowa.
An Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals,more commonly known as Question 3,was the third initiative on the 2016 Massachusetts ballot. The measure requires Massachusetts farmers to give chickens,pigs,and calves enough room to turn around,stand up,lie down,and fully extend their limbs. It also prohibits the sale of eggs or meat from animals raised in conditions that did not meet these standards.
Proposition 12 was a California ballot proposition in that state's general election on November 6,2018. The measure was self-titled the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act. The measure passed,by a vote of about 63% Yes to 37% No.
Richard Rominger was an American politician who served as the eighth deputy secretary of agriculture from 1993 to 2001 during the administration of Bill Clinton. Rominger previously served as the California secretary of food and agriculture.
The meat industry has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Outbreaks of the virus have taken place in factories operated by the meat packing industry and the poultry processing industry. These outbreaks affected dozens of plants,leading to closures of some factories and disruption of others,and posed a significant threat to the meat supply in the United States. By April 27,2020,there were at least 115 facilities with cases across 23 states,and at least 4,913 workers diagnosed positive with COVID-19,or approximately 3 percent of the workforce,with 20 deaths reported.
California Border Protection Stations (CBPS) are 16 checkpoints maintained by the California Department of Food and Agriculture along the state's land borders with Oregon,Nevada,and Arizona. Officials staffing CBPS checkpoints inspect vehicle traffic entering California for the presence of pests;vehicles discovered to be carrying infested cargo are denied entry to the state.
Jennifer Lester Moffitt is an American organic farmer and government official from California and the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Biden administration;she is the first woman to serve in this position. Moffitt previously served as the Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
National Pork Producers Council v. Ross,598 U.S. 356 (2023),was a United States Supreme Court case related to the Dormant Commerce Clause.
