Biden-Harris Administration Outlines “America the Beautiful” Initiative

Dan Environment, Forestry, USDA, Water

Initial report details vision for 10-year, locally led and voluntary nationwide effort to restore and conserve America’s lands, waters, and wildlife WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 – The Biden-Harris administration outlined a vision for how the United States can work collaboratively to conserve and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife that support and sustain the nation. The recommendations are contained in a report …

USDA Announces Listening Session on Impacts

Dan USDA

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a virtual listening session for beginning farmers and ranchers to learn how COVID-19 impacted their farming operations and to get their feedback on USDA assistance. The listening session will take place on May 6, 2021, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Eastern time. “We invite beginning farmers and ranchers to …

Commissioner Nikki Fried & FDACS Submit Public Comment on USDA Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy

Dan Environment, Florida, USDA, Weather

Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services submitted formal public comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the President’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. As part of the Executive Order, the USDA was directed to collect stakeholder input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. Commissioner Fried …

Vilsack Discusses History of Discrimination by the USDA

Dan Labor and Immigration, USDA, USDA-FSA

During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …

USDA Improves Livestock Crop Insurance Policies with New Options

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Livestock, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are updating livestock insurance policies to improve options for producers and to create more opportunities for producers to participate. USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) has made updates to the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies. These updates will be effective for the 2022 and succeeding crop years. Updates to …

America Grows Act Introduced in the Senate

Clint Thompson USDA

The America Grows Act of 2021 was introduced on Monday in the Senate. It would significantly increase U.S. public investment in agricultural research and development. The bill would increase funding for agricultural research by 5% every year on an inflation-adjusted basis at four USDA agencies over the next decade. Those agencies are the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, …

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent

Dan Cattle, Economy, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s April Cattle on Feed Report indicates the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on April 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2020 and is the second highest April 1 inventory …

USDA Offering New Incentives for CRP Enrollment

Clint Thompson USDA

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. This includes investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for …

USDA to Provide Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Producers

Clint Thompson USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know the American Rescue Plan includes provisions for USDA to pay up to 120% of loan balances, as of January 1, 2021, for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans debt relief to any socially disadvantaged producer who has a qualifying loan with FSA. …

Farmers to Families Food Box Program Will End Soon

Dan Field Crops, Fruits, Herbs, Pecans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA, Vegetables

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told House lawmakers Wednesday the Department of Agriculture is ending the Farmers to Families Food Box program. According to a story from Gary Crawford, it will end later this month. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024