WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The federal government will maximize enrollment in the land-idling Conservation Reserve, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a policy that would reduce U.S. cropland by 1.5 percent if successful. The amount of land involved, around 5 million acres, could produce more than 150 million bushels of wheat ...

Ky. group to help poor in central Appalachia tap into $25 million for low interest rate loansA Kentucky-based nonprofit group will help low-income home buyers tap into $25 million in federal funding set aside for four central Appalachian states. The Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises in Berea, Ky., said the ...

Groups say many chickens not as 'all natural' as advertised, seek labeling changesMany poultry consumers are getting an unhealthy dose of sodium with their bird these days, the result of injections of saltwater during processing that many shoppers don't realize have become common practice, according to consumer advocates and ...

Farmers, advocates optimistic new USDA rules mean better enforcement of organic labeling rulesNew federal rules that define what makes milk and meat organic have natural food advocates optimistic that the government is committed to ensuring the label means something. U.S. consumers bought $24 billion worth of organic products in ...