Tagged: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

If you live in the Northeast, this has been a wacky winter: It has been deathly cold in Eastern Europe, as flowers bloom in New York City and temperatures rise to the high 40s and even 50s.

I went in search of flowers in bloom and was not disappointed. There were bushes of red camellias, and gorgeous yellow flowering Adonis. Kristin Schleiter is the acting director of outdoor gardens at the New York Botanical Garden. She took me to an outdoor test garden.

Agriculture officials say the President’s proposed budget for the USDA next year will be similar to this year’s. Although the overall budget has been cut by $3 billion since 2010, funding for several programs that have helped boost agriculture production and export in Colorado and across the country will likely continue or increase.

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new rules that will change how almost 200 million acres of National Forest lands are managed across the country and in Colorado.

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The federal government has come out with its new standards for school meals - less fat, less salt, less sugar and more fruits, grains and vegetables. Devin Katayama from member station WFPL reports on how the Louisville, Kentucky school district is trying to comply with the guidelines and satisfy student tastes.

DEVIN KATAYAMA, BYLINE: Meet fourth grade food critic Jackson Schleff.