House Agriculture Committee Hears About Food Insecurity in America

Written Testimony for the House of Representatives Committee on AgricultureA Look at Food Insecurity in AmericaMarch 11th, 2021Presented By:Zippy DuvallPresidentAmerican Farm Bureau Federation Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Zippy Duvall. I am a third-generation farmer and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. I am pleased to offer this testimony on behalf of Farm Bureau …

Agriculture Included in New COVID-19 Relief Package

The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, known as “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” is now official as President Biden signed the bill late last week. We’ve all heard how the package will include $1,400 stimulus checks for qualifying individuals, extends unemployment benefits, and more. But it also increases assistance through USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And according …

USDA to Investigate COVID-19 Spread in Meat Processing Facilities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is initiating an audit of USDA actions that may have contributed to the spread of the COVID-19 in meat processing facilities. The USDA OIG initiated the audit in response to Colorado Senator Michael Bennet’s request last August for an investigation. Bennet says high infection rates early in the …

Perfect Time for Safe-Guard Feed and Mineral Products

Internal parasite control is the cornerstone of an effective animal health program. That’s why Dr. John Hutcheson, director of cattle technical services with Merck Animal Health, says Safe-Guard works different than other de-wormers. He told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman the active ingredient in this product goes straight to the gut, killing the parasites where they live. Click here to check …

Soil Sampling: Management Tactic Helps Farmers Determine Nutrient Needs

The 2021 planting season is just around the corner for Southeast producers. It is the ideal time for farmers to sample their soils and determine what nutrients need to be applied, said Mike Riffle, Senior Manager, Field Development at Valent U.S.A. LLC. “I think any grower, no matter what they’re growing, should be doing soil testing, probably yearly. Now is …

Vilsack’s First Priority Is Containing the Pandemic

The newly-confirmed Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is already busy trying to help rural areas of the country get through the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a story from Stephanie Ho, Vilsack said his first priority is working to contain the pandemic. Vilsack announced the $42 million will go towards grants to help rural communities, healthcare centers, and schools through their …

CFAP Application Deadline Extended

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has extended the deadline to apply for the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The original deadline was today, Feb. 26. But according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the new deadline will extend 30 days after USDA completes a review of the program. USDA had suspended processing and payments …

AFBF: Farmers Need More Time to Apply for CFAP

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is asking the USDA to extend the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Last month, an additional $13 billion in assistance was made available to help farmers and ranchers who are suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current deadline is Friday, Feb. 26, recent severe weather and …

Senate Confirms Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture

The U.S. Senate finally approved Tom Vilsack to be the next Secretary of Agriculture in a 92-7 vote. A former governor of Iowa, Vilsack also served two terms as Ag Secretary in the Obama Administration. He was the 30th Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama and is now the 32nd after Tuesday’s Senate confirmation. Before the vote, the Senate allowed …