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Agriculture

USDA, HHS, EPA join forces to bolster consumer protections

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced an updated Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting consumers from heavy metals and other contaminants in food. For decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have coordinated through the National Residue Program to monitor and regulate ...

Resilience on the vines: A Farm to Table Gala

BELLEVILLE — With its scenic backdrop of the rolling countryside dotted with horse-drawn buggies and farms, Brookmere Winery and Vineyard Inn in Belleville played not just host for a legislative tour and Farm to Table Gala organized by the Mifflin County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership ...

Penn State Extension to offer workshop on egg safety for small flocks

SELINSGROVE — Whether individuals have an established small poultry flock or are considering starting one, knowing how to manage a surplus of eggs is essential, according to organizers of an upcoming Penn State Extension workshop. “Small Flock Egg Production: From the Coop to the Kitchen” will teach participants about best management practices for food safety and product quality, covering everything from the chicken coop to the kitchen. The workshop will be Oct. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Christ Community United Methodist Church, 3939 Park Rd., Selinsgrove. ...

Pennsylvania invests more than $9.1 million in forever farms

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is investing more than $9.1 million to purchase development rights for 2,565 acres on 34 farms in 16 counties. The investment will protect prime farmland from future residential or commercial development and help ensure that farm families have the fertile land they need to produce food, fiber, and fuel to feed our economy in the future. “Pennsylvania leads the nation in farmland preservation because farm families, communities, and the Commonwealth are working together to protect the land that feeds us,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. ...

USDA announces Harvest to Hallways initiative

WASHINGTON — United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced sweeping new efforts to strengthen school meals by connecting more American farmers with local schools, investing in school kitchen infrastructure, and giving states and school districts new tools to serve healthier, more nutrient-dense meals to America’s children. Kennedy joined Rollins at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alongside farmers, students, school nutrition leaders, athletes, chefs, and parents, to announce the next phase of the ...

New steps to put farmers first

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced several steps that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking to support America’s farmers in response to ongoing challenges across the agricultural sector. These actions include a series of data modernization, payment flexibility, and enhanced crop insurance options to benefit farmers. “When I travel across farm country, I hear the same message over and over: producers want a USDA that works for them. The Trump USDA is focused on making changes that improve the livelihood of our great farmers. I am ...