Officials: ‘Mystery seeds’ not dangerous, still should not be planted
Sissy Watson’s family received a package in the mail in mid-July with a label that indicated jewelry was inside. Instead, it “smelled almost like lavender” and contained tiny, oval-shaped seeds, she said.
What’s on school lunch menus this fall? Trade mitigation
School lunch menus already have Meatless Mondays and Taco Tuesdays. Now some may get Trade Mitigation Thursdays.
This fall, some U.S. school cafeterias are expecting shipments of free food, one little known consequence of President Donald Trump’s trade disputes.
Some fear federal safety net is unraveling for those in need
Doris Cochran, a disabled mother of two young boys, is stockpiling canned foods these days, filling her shelves with noodle soup, green beans, peaches and pears — anything that can last for months or even years.
USDA delays deadline for farmer aid to offset tariff losses
Farmers already reeling from low prices and uncertainty amid the nation’s trade dispute with China are welcoming a decision to extend a deadline for federal aid because of the partial government shutdown.
USDA moves to tighten restrictions on food stamps
The Trump administration is setting out to do what this year’s farm bill didn’t: tighten work requirements for millions of Americans who receive federal food assistance.
Area schools aim to feed 40,000 meals to children over summer
Columbus Municipal and Starkville-Oktibbeha school districts aim to serve more than 40,000 meals this summer, at no cost, to children 18 and younger.
USDA: Drought disaster help in 79 of 82 Miss. counties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says drought disaster aid is available in 79 of Mississippi’s 82 counties — and in 22 counties in adjacent states.
USDA to reopen offices closed after email threats
The Agriculture Department will reopen some offices Wednesday that were closed after an unspecified email threat.
Government to help cotton producers with costs
Federal officials have announced that cotton producers across the country will receive an estimated $300 million as part of a cotton ginning cost-share program.
Program will serve nearly 3 million free meals to needy kids
Almost 3 million free meals will be served to needy Mississippi children this summer.
Citizen-scientists: Uncle Sam wants you to fight Zika!
The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are already buzzing among us. The U.S. government could use some help figuring out exactly where.
Lowndes Co. supes vote to refinance USDA loan
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors used its last meeting of 2015 to refinance a 2011 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will save the county at least $2.5 million and shorten the term of the loan from 30 to 15 years.
New federal rule for catfish inspection process finalized
Catfish and other ray-finned fish species will undergo a new inspection process starting in March.
USDA fights endless battle of wits with ingenious beavers
In his weekly column, Columbus historian Rufus Ward often recounts the experiences of the first white settlers to move into Lowndes County in the early 19th century.
Lowndes Co. supes restructure USDA loan
Lowndes County supervisors on Monday approved a proposal to restructure a $13 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan that will save the county approximately $2 million over the life of the loan.
USDA to buy up to $13M in canned pink salmon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to buy up to $13 million in canned pink salmon to ease a glut that has weighed down prices for Alaska fishermen.
First lady responds to school meal critics
First lady Michelle Obama is striking back at House Republicans who are trying to weaken healthier school meal standards, saying any effort to roll back the guidelines is “unacceptable.”
House GOP bill would roll back school lunch rules
House Republicans are proposing to let some schools opt out of healthier school lunch and breakfast programs if they are losing money.
Schools seek changes to healthier lunch rules
Becky Domokos-Bays of Alexandria City Public Schools has served her students whole-grain pasta 20 times. Each time, she said, they rejected it.
Southern Quality Meats responds to PETA video
PONTOTOC — The president of a north Mississippi meat processor said a video released by an animal rights group shows two instances in which pigs