The House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee held a hearing today with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to review the administration’s 2015 budget request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Committee members from both sides of the aisle raised many questions about implementing the Farm Bill, school lunch programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in relation to the proposed budget numbers. When concerns about the poultry inspection rule were raised by Representative DeLauro (D-CT), Secretary Vilsack responded that after his recent review of the rule and the data from the 25 pilot programs, the data shows an increase of compliance with safety standards; equal to or fewer product safety issues compared to general plants and processes; and equal to or fewer worker safety issues compare to general plants. Read More

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