Proposal to Transfer Agricultural Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework to USDA (Washington, D.C., December 21, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today a significant step in modernizing regulations of agricultural animals modified or produced by genetic engineering. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be moving forward with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public input and …
Trump Administration Sets Pace for Food Loss and Waste Reduction Efforts to Continue
USDA, EPA, and FDA renew formal agreement aimed at reducing food waste (USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the renewal of the joint agency formal agreement (PDF, 724 KB) including the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative. The agreement reaffirms the agencies’ commitment to improve coordination and …
USDA, NASA Sign Agreement to Improve Agricultural, Earth Science Research
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and NASA have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening their longstanding partnership on space-based assets benefitting life on Earth. The agreement brings together NASA’s experience with technology development and space-borne Earth science measurements and USDA’s scientific experience and knowledge of agricultural production, resource conservation, food security and safety, and forests and …
RFA Ready to Assist with New Round of USDA Infrastructure Grants
(RFA) — The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced another round of funding for its successful Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) once again offers itself as a technical resource to interested retailers. Approximately $22 million is being made available for fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, and fleet facilities to add …
Secretary Perdue Applauds USDA’s 2020 Accomplishments
(USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the accomplishments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the past year. “While this was a tough year with the coronavirus, historic wildfires, and weather damage, USDA met these challenges with a multitude of programs and services to support Americans and keep our agricultural sector running and responsive to the …
Farmer Certification Program Creates Healthier Landscapes for Bees
(USDA) — Bees are a lifeline for farms producing the world’s fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutrient-rich foods. Bees pollinate billions of dollars’ worth of crops and play an essential role in our food supply. Pollinators are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat and contribute more than $15 billion to our nation’s crop values each …
USDA Chief Economist Dr. Robert Johansson to Depart
Dr. Seth Meyer Picked as New Chief Economist (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Economist, Robert Johansson, will be leaving USDA to become Associate Director of Economics and Policy Analysis for the American Sugar Alliance at the end of January. Additionally, the Secretary announced Dr. Seth Meyer will return to …
Appointments to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board Announced
(CBB) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 28 members to serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB). All appointed members will serve three-year terms beginning February 2021 and ending February 2024, with the exception of one Importer Unit appointee who will serve a one-year term. Newly appointed members are: • Caleb Plyler, Hope, …
NPPC Supports Vilsack Nomination to Head USDA
(NPPC) — President-Elect Joe Biden today nominated Tom Vilsack to be the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an agency he led for eight years under the Obama administration. The following statement may be attributed to National Pork Producers Council President Howard “AV” Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. “We congratulate Tom Vilsack on his nomination. …
Treatment Introduced by Researchers to Prevent Parasites in Sheep
(USDA/ARS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) announced a groundbreaking treatment that prevents anemia, weight loss, poor wool and meat production, and even death in sheep. ARS researchers partnered with Virginia Tech and the University of Massachusetts’ Medical School to solve H. contortus parasite infection, which also happens to be the number one health problem in the U.S. sheep industry. …