usda

USDA FSA Highlights Expanded Payment Limitations and Eligibility Provisions

The USDA Farm Service Agency is highlighting the expanded payment limitations and eligibility provisions affecting their program payments. We caught up with Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, to learn more. “You know, the One Big Beautiful Bill, it’s now been almost a year since that was signed into law, but as you know, because we’ve talked about …

small

Additional Funding Opportunity For Small Meat and Poultry Plants Announced

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Small Processors Action Plan last week to “better support small and very small meat and poultry processing plants, improve customer service, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining strong food safety protections for consumers.”  Secretary Rollins said, “Today’s announcement marks another step toward rebuilding our domestic beef industry, the actions contained in …

Alabama Department of Agriculture

Alabama Department of Agriculture Encourages Meat Processor To Take Advantage of Funding Opportunity

The Alabama Department of Agriculture is encouraging meat processors that are eligible to apply for a new funding opportunity through the USDA Rural Development Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program – Phase 4. According to the Department, “The program provides $60 million in grant funding to support beef-focused processing facilities and strengthen local and regional supply chains. Funding is intended …

freeze

Florida Freeze Disaster Bill Introduced in the House and Senate

The Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act has been introduced which would provide $3.5 billion in disaster assistance to Florida growers after the freeze events in January. Congressman Scott Franklin and Congresswoman Kat Cammack sponsored the bill in the house with Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody introducing the companion bill in the senate. The funding would be provided through state-administered …

Disaster Relief

USDA Announces Modernization of Loan Systems

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the modernization of their loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Sam Berry, USDA Chief Information officer said, “At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we are leveraging innovative technology to deliver faster, more secure services in alignment with the Secretary’s vision for a modern and customer-focused USDA. In 2026, …

Conservation Innovation Grants

USDA Announces Funding Now Available For Conservation Innovation Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that funding is now available for Conservation Innovation Grants. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief, Colton Buckley, provides the details on these grants. “We have announced $65 million for this fiscal year, broken up $50 million for on-farm trials for that conservation implementation, and $15 million for CIG Classic,” said Buckley. “CIG on-farm trial …

base

Explanation of Base Acreage Addition and Allocation and important points landowners and operators should know

Through language in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, an increase in base acreage addition and allocation is set to be underway. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Richard Fordyce explains how the USDA works to determine additional base acreage for farm safety net programs. “30 million additional base acres will be allocated across the country, and right now, …

Specialty Crop

Opportunity for Specialty Crop Growers to apply for Payment Rates through the USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced payment rates and enrollment periods for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be assisting $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers. This comes as an effect of elevated input costs and market disruptions. Specialty crop producers who have a login.gov account can submit …

conservation innovation grant

NRCS Announces $65 Million Innovation Grant Fund for Farmers and Conservation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $65 Million in funding for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to incentivize natural resource conservation for private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Conservation Innovation Grants is supported through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act increases the …

BUILD America 250 Act

ARA Expresses Support for the BUILD America 250 Act

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) shared their support of the BUILD America 250 Act, H.R. 8870, which deals with long-term surface transportation and reauthorization legislation authored by Representative Sam Graves. Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO, submitted a letter of support to Committee Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chairman David Rouzer and Ranking …