Take a look back at some of the top headlines from the previous week.
1.Results from RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN
Bareback rider Richmond Champion walked away from RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN presented by Polaris Ranger a millionaire.
Champion won the bareback riding event, earning him the $100,000 prize, and won the $1 million side pot.
He rode for 90 points, beating out all the rest in his field.
The other event winners:
- Team Roping: Kaleb Driggers, Patrick Smith
- Steer Wrestling: Hunter Cure
- Saddle Bronc: Wade Sundell
- Tie-Down Roping: Tyson Durfey
- Barrel Racing: Lisa Lockhart
- Bull Riding: J.B. Mauney
2.USDA 2015 budget shrinks by $1 billion
The proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2015 reflects both old and new priorities under the new farm bill.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said his proposed budget reflects those priorities in a budget that will be $1 billion less than this year’s budget.
“This budget, I think, accepts the challenges that this department faces. It focuses on results that matter and places that matter. It focuses on creating new and additional opportunity in rural areas and to help revitalize that rural economy. And I think it makes a significant investment in innovation, which is going to be helpful to agriculture and to rural America,” said Vilsack.
The budget does ramp up proposed spending for beginning farmers.
3.No link found between feed and Canadian PEDV cases
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced that it is unable to confirm a link between hog feed containing blood plasma and several PEDV cases in Canada.
The feed investigation began last month when the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food found the virus in porcine blood plasma used in feed pellets produced by Grand Valley Fortifiers.
4.VVilsack gives farm bill timeline
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined some of the farm bill priorities while speaking at the Commodity Classic.
Vilsack named the market assistance loan program, MILC dairy program, non-insurance crop assistance program, sugar program as ones that the USDA would be sure to get up and running.
Read his full speech here.
5.Produce industry leaders look at consumer obstacles
Leaders in the produce industry say there’s one obstacle to getting Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables – cooking.
“Their sense of cooking a meal is taking something from, that’s frozen and microwaving it and putting it on the table, and that’s not cooking,” said Karen Ensle, a nutrition expert with the Rutgers University Extension.
Educating people about how to cook fruits and vegetables is something the produce industry will work for.
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