usda

Rodale Institute Applauds USDA Investments in Organic Farmers

Dan Organic, This Land of Ours, USDA, USDA-AMS, USDA-FSA

The USDA gets a pat on the back for its investments in organic farming. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding opportunities for organic farmers, a welcome investment, according to the Rodale Institute. USDA announced the expanded opportunities last week. Through the newly-established Organic Market Development Grant Program (OMDGP), USDA’s Agricultural Marketing …

supply chains

New Grant Programs for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion

Dan Beef, Cattle, Livestock, Poultry, USDA-AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of up to $125 million through two new grant programs. They will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain. As Rod Bain reports, applications for the programs …

American lamb

USDA Announces Plans for a Section 32 Purchase of American Lamb Products

Dan American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), Economy, Sheep-Goats, USDA-AMS

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans for a Section 32 purchase of American lamb products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. The purchase was a request by the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the National Lamb Feeders Association earlier this year. Support for the purchase also came from congressional delegations from several Western states in recent months. “We …

food

Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up 20% per Farm Bureau Survey

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Economy, Field Crops, Fruits, Pork, Poultry, Specialty Crops, USDA-AMS, Vegetables

(AFBF/WASHINGTON, November 16, 2022) — Spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving remains important for many Americans and this year the cost of the meal is also top of mind. American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than …

grain shipments

Mississippi River Grain Shipments Down 78 Percent

Dan Corn, Economy, Exports/Imports, This Land of Ours, USDA-AMS, Wheat

Drought continues to cause a major slowdown in shipping. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) says the number of grain barges being unloaded in New Orleans during September and October dropped significantly. An AMS report says the number of barges is 20-30 percent lower than in recent years. The slowdown coincides with …

Peanut Stocks

USDA to Conduct a Probe Study

Dan Peanuts, USDA-AMS

The use of high-capacity dump carts during harvest has resulted in thoroughly mixed farmers’ stock peanuts when dumped into the semi-drying trailers in the field. Therefore, variability of official farmers’ stock grade factors is reduced, and the number of probes required to obtain a representative sample can be reduced. Thus, USDA has noted a new study will be conducted in …

Local Food Purchase Assistance

USDA Announces Its Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement with Georgia?

Dan Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), USDA-AMS

(USDA-AMS/WASHINGTON/Sept. 14, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Georgia under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers. “USDA is excited to partner with …

employed

USDA Awards Grants to Further Strengthen Meat and Poultry Supply Chains

Dan Beef, Cattle, Livestock, Marketing, Pork, Poultry, USDA-AMS

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 31, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced an additional $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant projects through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing total funding to $54.6 million. This year’s awards will fund projects in 37 states. The funding will help strengthen and develop …

fapri

USDA Publishes Origin of Livestock Final Rule for Organic Dairy

Dan Dairy, Marketing, Organic, USDA-AMS

(Release No. 0069.22/USDA/AMS/WASHINGTON, Mar. 29, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture published the highly anticipated Origin of Livestock (OOL) final rule for organic dairy. This change to the USDA organic regulations will promote a fairer and more competitive market for all organic dairy producers, by making sure that certified USDA organic dairy products are produced to the same consistent standard. “This …

supply chains

Programs Announced by USDA to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, USDA-AMS

Technical Assistance Now Available to Processors; $23.6 Million Available for Meat, Poultry Readiness Grant program (USDA/WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022) — 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 …