This is out of step with the USDA's latest annual report on food assistance program trends that shows the need for food stamps, by any name, is only increasing. It reflects a growing awareness that America's most prevalent health problems ---- obesity, diabetes and heart disease ---- are nutrition- and diet-related. Nutritionists and hunger advocates will be less pleased with a provision in President Bush's proposed budget that cuts the program by $540 million over the next five years....

Hearing generates Farm Bill proposals SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- It wasn't all grain and livestock Monday -- although those were major topics -- as farmers and other ag professionals testified at a public hearing held by 5th District Congressman Steve King and U. Hearing generates Farm Bill proposals SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- It wasn't all grain and livestock Monday -- although those were major topics -- as farmers and other ag professionals testified at a public hearing held by 5th District...

Meanwhile, rising obesity rates, mad cow disease and documentaries like "Supersize Me," which chronicled the ills of fast food, cast a spotlight on the conventional methods of growing and processing food. Organic food makes up the largest segment of the green market. Organic farming is practiced without the use of genetically modified organisms and applies standards that protect the land and water supply. The small cooperative grocery -- which specializes in organic and natural foods and...

The rising prices will be spurred in large part by increasing fuel and feed costs incurred by dairy farmers and a growing global demand for milk products, the economists say. The reasons include rising fuel and feed costs for farmers and increasing demand for milk products around the globe. Department of Agriculture forecast also predicts an increase in the price that processors pay to farmers for raw milk. USDA nutritional guidelines, for instance, recommend that most Americans drink 3...

However, increased corn acreage will help moderate grain prices, and that keeps livestock farms and ethanol distilleries financially healthy, Hart said. Friday's numbers were welcome news to livestock producers, although they'll be watching nervously to see if farmers grow as much as they've told the Department of Agriculture they will. Barring bad weather, that's good news for everyone from grocery shoppers to ethanol producers and hog farmers, because the big crop would help moderate...