tfi

Farmer Feedback on Fertilizer Grant Program

Dan Fertilizer, USDA-AMS

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.

smart phone app

Smart Phone App Provides Farmers Instant Access to Market Data

Dan Technology, This Land of Ours, USDA-AMS

The new smart phone app providing farmers instant access to market data. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.  The USDA has launched USDA Market News, a free mobile app designed to give producers quick and easy access to recently published market information right at their fingers tips no matter where they are. Producers can search for markets based …

fertilizer

$250 Million Investment to Support Innovative American-made Fertilizer

Josh McGill Fertilizer, Industry News Release, USDA-AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing it will support additional fertilizer production for American farmers to address rising costs, including the impact of Putin’s price hike on farmers, and spur competition. USDA will make available $250 million through a new grant program this summer to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers. Additionally, …

packers

Updates on Packers and Stockyards Act Rule Amendments

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, Marketing, Regulation, USDA-AMS

Last June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they were beginning work on proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered the latest …

Food Workers

USDA Invests Millions in Grants to Provide Relief to Farm and Food Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Dan Coronavirus, Labor and Immigration, USDA, USDA-AMS

(WASHINGTON, September 7, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs. The announcement was made in press call with United Farm Workers Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres and …

baby formula

USDA Establishes Dairy Donation Program

Dan Dairy, USDA-AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the establishment of a $400 million Dairy Donation Program. The DDP, established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, aims to facilitate timely dairy product donations while reducing food waste. This is part of the $6 billion of pandemic assistance announced by USDA in March and …

poultry nspection

New USDA Grants to Benefit Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations

Dan Beef, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats, USDA-AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $55.2 million in competitive funding will be available through the new Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. The new program is being funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. “We are building capacity and increasing economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors and producers across the …

georgia

Georgia Ag Commissioner Concerned with Seed Coat Fragments in Cotton

Dan Cotton, Georgia, USDA-AMS

It was announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Agriculture in raising awareness and further examine the significant increase in seed coat fragments in cotton produced in the state. In a phone interview with Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said in …