Mo. moves to lift ban on foreign farm owners

Weeks before a Chinese conglomerate agreed to buy Smithfield Foods Inc. in the largest such takeover of a U.S. business, Missouri lawmakers quietly approved legislation removing a ban on foreign ownership of agricultural land.

Food stamps focus of farm bill debate

Discussion about cutting spending for the program to feed poor Americans dominated Tuesday as three days of U.S. House debate began on the farm bill, a 2,000-page document to establish federal farm and nutrition policies for five years. Hundreds of amendments have been crafted to the bill, with a vote expected Thursday.

Peterson urges compromise on farm bill

Federal judges hear 4-H spat

Banning Bayley Kroupa, 17, from 4-H livestock competitions does not harm her agricultural education, a lawyer told judges June 13 in St. Paul, Minn. Gary Thimsen, a lawyer representing 4-H officials, participated in oral arguments to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

White House threatens veto of House farm bill

The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, five-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry.

Minn. governor seeks fed help to fight hay shortage

A combination of too little precipitation last year and two much this year is hurting Minnesota’s alfalfa crop, prompting Gov. Mark Dayton to turn to Washington for help.

Bovine tuberculosis meeting set for June 18 in Mandan, N.D.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Animal Health will hold a special informational meeting on bovine tuberculosis at 7 p.m. on June 18 at The Post, Mandan, N.D.

Pilot injured in ND crop duster crash

A crop-spraying pilot suffered what the North Dakota Highway Patrol says are minor injuries when his plane crashed about three miles west of Minot Air Force Base.

La. couple trains quarter horses

The Bulliards have trained and sold more than 80 quarter horses for the performance industry, some earning titles in top futurity and derby national competitions. Some of the quarter horse reiners trained by the Bulliards went to Italy, Germany and France, while others remained in the U.S. and went on to make names for themselves and their owners.

New hearing for Calif. raisin farmers

The Supreme Court opened the door June 10 for California raisin growers to challenge the constitutionality of a Depression-era farming law that requires them to keep part of their annual crop off the market.