USDA Forecasts Drop in Farm Income in 2021

Dan Education, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) just came out with its first farm income forecast for 2021. And according to a story from Gary Crawford, it could be an unusual income year.   USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer has more key numbers from the new farm income forecast. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, …

Vilsack Looks Ahead at Various Issues

Dan General, USDA

U.S. Agriculture Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack recently listed some of the top issues he’s concerned about, Tyron Spearman has the story. The Senate Agriculture Committee this week did approve Vilsack to return to the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The overall process is still waiting for confirmation by the full Senate. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata …

USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections on Farm Loans

Clint Thompson USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is temporarily suspending past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and International debt collection agency. USDA will also temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or …

Perdue: It Has Been a Privilege to Serve Farmers

Dan General, USDA

(NAFB) — Former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, via Twitter this week, stated, “It has been a privilege to serve America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers the past four years.” The former head of the Department of Agriculture promised to continue to fight for U.S. agriculture. Perdue highlighted his visits to farms in all 50 states, saying, “I have learned that while …

Biden Administration Announces Foreclosure Moratorium / Mortgage Forbearance Deadline Extension

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, USDA

USDA Extends Evictions and Foreclosure Moratorium to March 31, 2021, and Provides Additional Guidance for Servicing Loans Impacted by COVID-19 (USDA/RD) — In one of his first acts in office, President Joe Biden requested federal agencies to extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums for millions of Americans. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an extension of eviction and foreclosure …

USDA Announces Key Staff Appointments

Dan Industry News Release, USDA

(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the names of individuals who will hold senior staff positions in Washington, D.C. Katharine Ferguson was named Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary. Most recently, Ferguson served as Associate Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group. Before joining the Aspen Institute, Ferguson served in the Obama Administration …

Improvements Made to Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Program

Clint Thompson USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced further changes to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance plan. These changes take effect today, Jan. 20, for crop year 2021 and succeeding crop years. The improvements include: Increasing livestock head limits for feeder and fed cattle to 6,000 head per endorsement/12,000 head annually and swine to 40,000 …

Secretary Perdue Comments on MOU on Animal Biotechnology

Dan Biotechnology, Cattle, Industry News Release, Livestock, USDA

(USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the Public Health Service Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D., establishing a regulatory environment at the Department of Agriculture for agricultural animal biotechnology innovation: “Today’s Memorandum of Understanding clears a path to bring our regulatory framework into …

USDA Measuring Financial Well-Being of Southern Farmers, Ranchers

Clint Thompson USDA

Late last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) started gathering information about farm economics and production practices. NASS is reaching out to nearly 4,000 farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through March, as the agency conducts the final phase of the 2020 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). “ARMS is the …

Contract Swine, Poultry Producers Now Eligible for CFAP Assistance

Dan Coronavirus, Economy, Pork, Poultry, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last Friday they will be providing additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This includes expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Contract producers of broilers, laying hens, chicken eggs, turkeys, and swine who …