The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a couple of months ago the availability of more than $330 million to help agricultural producers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, and includes $169.9 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) …
Vilsack on New Initiative Helping Small Meat Processing Facilities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through their Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. During a call …
ELAP Now Includes Farm-Raised Catfish
Aquaculture producers in Alabama now have access to disaster relief funding in the event of a federal disaster declaration. June 1 is when USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began a policy change to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), the update makes fish raised for food and other aquatic species …
USDA to Invest More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food System
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the “Build Back Better” initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. The announcement supports …
USDA Offering Compost and Food Waste Reduction Agreements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $2 million for local governments to host Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2021. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans and they are part of …
USDA Investing in the Nation’s Emergency Food System
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced late last week an investment of up to $1 billion, including $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding, in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The new program will support and expand the emergency food network so states, food banks and local organizations can reliably serve their communities. That’s USDA Deputy Under Secretary …
Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture. USDA will accept …
Hurricane Season Begins
Federal Program Protects Public Safety Hurricane season officially begins today and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) may be able to help if your area suffers damage from a natural disaster. The program can relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and hurricanes. Aid may include financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, …
Conservation Finance Can Mean Cleaner Air and Water and Healthier Soil
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the largest funder of conservation on private land in the U.S., supports producers’ transitions to beneficial farming and ranching practices. While these transitions can require an upfront cost, they also often lead to financial rewards. Healthy and resilient soils may lead to more productive crops requiring less fertilizer. And watersheds protected by forests and riverbanks with …
Florida Natural Resource Meeting Web Conference is June 23
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting June 23 from 10 a.m.- 12 noon by web conference. NRCS will seek recommendations and provide a report for fiscal year 2022 natural resource and program priority decisions. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez, who will chair the meeting, says he seeks advice from the farmers, ranchers and …