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 …

Social Security

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 …

Special Envoy

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 …

sba

SBA Doubles Some Loan Limits to $10 Million Beginning July 4th

Administrator Kelly Loeffler of the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a new rule that would allow eligible borrowers the ability to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing. The new rule would increase the cumulative loan limit from $5 million to $10 million, expanding the available capital for small businesses. SBA Administrator …

Florida Cattle Enhancement Board

Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman Genetics

The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board provides funding to research projects that benefit the cattle industry in Florida. We sat down with Dr. Mario Binelli who shared some details on how the funding from the Enhancement Board has enhanced Brahman genetics. “That is a beautiful program and we have been supported to conduct that program for at least five years. And …