Schafer, who has no farm background, served eight years as governor starting in 1992 and later co-founded a wireless communications business that he has since left. Schafer originally supported the 1996 Freedom to Farm law, which was intended to wean farmers from subsidies, but he later changed his position, Carlson said. North Dakota lacks the favorable climate of states like Iowa, so farmers there rely more heavily on disaster payments, crop insurance and other types of federal...

Wrapped up in it, however, are some far trickier questions: Is it ethical to charge for saltwater that increasingly pumps up supermarket chickens? Is the sodium lactate used as a flavoring and preservative in sliced roast beef natural? How about the high-fructose corn syrup that sweetens sodas? Wrapped up in it, however, are some far trickier questions: Is it ethical to charge for saltwater that increasingly pumps up supermarket chickens? Is the sodium lactate used as a flavoring and...

New research, according to the USDA, reveals that pork tenderloin contains only 2.98 grams of fat per 3 oz cooked serving. In those superstitious eras, many farmers planted pig tails or ribs to aid the growth of their crops. That is still true today with farmers who butcher their own pork and utilize almost everything. As such, they were used by ancient Egyptians as a sacrifice to the gods, and in later years, by other people as animals possessing magical powers. Not only has the animal...

JACKSON -- Ranchers in some areas of the state have differing views of whether Wyoming's proposed new wolf plan is good or bad news for their business. Lundvall also said the packs the state aims to manage outside the national parks -- eyed at the minimum of seven -- will likely all be on lands around Cody because south of the parks there are elk feedgrounds, and the state has indicated it will not tolerate wolf activity near feedgrounds. That's because with trophy game status, the...

Agricultural Marketing Service: Works to set standards for and grade the quality of dairy, fruit, vegetable, livestock, meat, poultry and egg products. In the months ahead, Congress will consider proposals to change the system, including creation of a single food safety agency, an idea the FDA and USDA oppose. Critics of the food safety system say it is too fragmented and marked by overlapping authority, and they say that may help explain why dangerous foods keep slipping through and why...