Technical Assistance Now Available to Processors; $23.6 Million Available for Meat, Poultry Readiness Grant program (USDA/WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022)Â — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects. Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and …
NCBA Welcomes Announcement on Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement
Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. and Japan had reached an agreement that will help keep more American beef flowing into Japan. And this is news that pleases the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). As part of the terms of the Japan–U.S. Trade Agreement, both countries entered consultations after the volume-based safeguard was triggered in …
Conservation Trends Highlight New USDA Report
A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows use of no-till, crop rotations, more efficient irrigation methods and advanced technologies have climbed in recent years. The report, “Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP II Survey Data and Modeling”, is from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation over a …
Rep. Scott: Work on 2023 Farm Bill On Track
The 2018 Farm Bill faced months of delays that left the nation without farm bill programs from the expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill on September 30, 2018, until the bill was finally passed and signed by then-President Donald Trump in December 2018. The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire next year and work is getting underway on the …
Farmer Feedback on Fertilizer Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will support additional fertilizer production for American farmers to address the rising costs. $250 million will be made available through a new grant program to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production. As Rod Bain reports, the Agriculture Secretary noted producer input will be important before announcing application details on the grant program. …
USDA Designates 17 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of …
Thank a Farmer for Food, Fiber, Fuel, and Our Future
By Deborah Tannenbaum, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency; Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Davina Lee, Regional Office Director for USDA’s Risk Management Agency March 22 is National Ag Day, a time for us to thank farmers and ranchers for feeding, sheltering and powering our nation. We also want to celebrate and …
USDA in Georgia Seeks Proposals from Conservation Minded Partners
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is requesting proposals to assist with implementing key priorities in the state. Conservation minded organizations, who wish to apply, should demonstrate how they can ensure equity in the delivery and implementation of all NRCS programs and Services. This includes increasing assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry to support producers in building resiliency across …
USDA Preparing Support for Fire-Affected Counties in Florida
The USDA Florida Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Deborah Tannenbaum, has announced that Bay, Liberty, Franklin, Gulf and Calhoun counties have received preliminary authorization for the implementation of the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). “FSA stands ready to help wildfire-impacted producers get back on their feet,” said Tannenbaum. “Once you are able to safely evaluate the impact on your operation, be …
Alabama Signup for EQIP WLFW Eastern Hellbender Initiative Ending
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind landowners in certain parts of the state the deadline to submit applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Eastern Hellbender Initiative is this Friday, March 25th. Alabama is joining the WLFW Eastern Hellbender state level partnership along with Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. The Alabama initiative will include practices to …