Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has a new plan to reduce foodborne illnesses. The latest initiative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines five key areas of focus for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, including enhanced testing, updated training for inspectors, a new approach to Salmonella in poultry, and expanding state partnerships.
Secretary Rollins made the announcement yesterday at the grand opening of a new food safety lab in Missouri, where researchers will do Listeria testing.
The USDA says the new facility will enable more in-person food safety assessments, with Rollins also indicating that the department will collaborate more closely with state safety programs to ensure expectations are met.
A report from the US PIRG Education Fund revealed a 25 percent increase in confirmed foodborne illnesses in 2024, accompanied by a significant rise in severe cases, including hospitalizations and deaths, many of which were associated with outbreaks involving Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli.
Strong corn exports offer support, while soybeans and wheat remain weighed down by ample global supplies, according to the USDA’s latest WASDE report for February.
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Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance discusses the importance of grain bin safety and joint efforts with Nationwide to provide farmers and first responders with access to critical, life-saving rescue tubes.
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Bankruptcy filings reflect prolonged margin pressure, rising debt, and limited financial flexibility across farm country. Bigger operating loans are helping farms manage costs, but they also signal growing reliance on borrowed capital.
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RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey was in Mission, Texas, where state and federal officials addressed growers and producers at a round table event hosted at a citrus grower’s facility. He shows us how welcome news was all around.
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A transition from traditional, technology-specific subsidies toward a performance-based, technology-neutral framework
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Lower freight costs helped sustain export demand amid a challenging pricing environment.
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Producers across the country spent the week balancing spring planning with tight margins and uneven moisture outlooks. Input purchasing stayed cautious, while marketing and cash-flow decisions remained front and center for many operations.
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Income support helps, but farm finances remain tight heading into 2026.
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