USDA Announces Contracts for Round 3 of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Clint Thompson USDA

Washington, D.C., September 17, 2020 – Following President Donald Trump’s approval to include up to an additional $1 billion in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved up to $1 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to …

USDA Seeking Input for Agriculture Innovation Agenda

Clint Thompson USDA, USDA-NRCS

To further the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) work on the Agriculture Innovation Agenda (AIA), USDA has announced it is seeking public and private-sector input on the most innovative technologies and practices that can be readily deployed across U.S. agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting Chief, Kevin Norton, says USDA is taking public comments on ready-to-go technologies and practices. …

USDA Seeks Nominations for the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research

Clint Thompson USDA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. Sept. 8, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the invitation for nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for a two-year term on USDA’s Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research. The Task Force advises the Secretary on air quality and its relationship to agriculture based on sound scientific findings and review of …

USDA Supports U.S. Seafood Industry Impacted by Retaliatory Tariffs

Clint Thompson Aquaculture, USDA

(Washington, D.C., September 9, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide approximately $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), …

USDA Reminds Farmers of Sept. 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields

Clint Thompson USDA

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is September 30, 2020, to update yields, which are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who elected Agriculture Risk …

CFAP Part Two Announcement Coming This Week

Clint Thompson USDA

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said USDA is finished writing the rules for the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Late last week at a stop in Iowa, the secretary said the rules have been written and they’ll be announced this week. The Bismarck Tribune says the first $16 billion in funding during the first round of the program …

USDA Updates Conservation Provisions for Highly Erodible Land and Wetlands

Clint Thompson USDA, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published its final rule on determining whether land is considered highly erodible or a wetland. This final rule follows a focused effort by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve consistency and use of science in making determinations. This follows an interim final rule that was published Dec. 7, 2018, after which …

The Online Build-up of the Census of Agriculture

Clint Thompson USDA

USDA’s most prominent online producer survey has grown. According to a story from Rod Bain, it is expected to continue to do so, thanks to innovation. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

USDA Forecasting More Net Cash Farm Income for 2020

Clint Thompson Economy, USDA

A new forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes farm income across the country this year will be higher than it was in 2019. USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson has the new numbers. Johansson says USDA lowered its estimate of 2019 farm income. USDA notes direct government farm payments, including federal aid, are forecast at $37.2 billion, a …

More CFAP Funding Possible After Labor Day

Clint Thompson USDA

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week hinted at more Coronavirus Food Assistance Program aid for farmers could be on the horizon. Perdue confirmed that the Department of Agriculture is considering “shortly after Labor Day” offering a second wave of CFAP relief during a press call. Funding for the next round of payments would come from the additional $14 billion Congress …