Ag Policy Blog

I'm a little late, but I'm now stuck at Dulles International Airport admiring the ability of a Midwest snowstorm in April to wreck Delta Airline's flight schedule.

I suspect I'll arrive in Minneapolis just in time for the Starbucks to reopen Friday morning, which will at least ensure I can grab a coffee and scone before heading to Omaha.

Earlier today, I saw a piece in the New York Times reporting the Obama administration's budget would again work to effectively ban meat inspectors for horse slaughter.

Packing plants in New Mexico, Wyoming and Oklahoma have been working to open processing plants. Oklahoma legislators passed a law last month signed by the governor to allow horse slaughter in the state.

The Times story quoted Human Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle praising the administration for again trying to block such meat processing facilities from opening.

Even as I write this blog, I get a news release from a group advocating for horse slaughter with the headline "USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is a Willing Accomplice for Anti Agriculture Extremist Groups." The press release argues Vilsack stalled on a rule that would allow meat inspectors in horse-slaughter facilities.

http://www.nytimes.com/…

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