Department Will Make Available $215 Million for Projects That Will Promote Competition and Increase Resiliency and Create Economic Opportunity in Rural America (USDA/WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making available up to $215 million in grants and other support to expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply …
USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Commodities
Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will deliver on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, …
New Anti-Competition Reporting Tool
Last week, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Justice (DOJ) launched a new tool where farmers and ranchers can anonymously report potentially unfair and anticompetitive practices in the livestock and poultry sectors. This can be done online at farmerfairness.gov. “This new online tool will help USDA and the Justice Department address anticompetitive actions and create livestock and poultry markets that …
Application Deadlines Looming for Two USDA Farm Programs
Livestock producers have only a few more days to apply for two of USDA’s disaster-related assistance programs. Gary Crawford has more. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
USDA to Issue Final Pandemic Payments for Timber Harvesters and Haulers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will start issuing final pandemic assistance payments to timber harvesters and timber hauling businesses through the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program next week. Overall, $200 million will be provided to loggers and log trucking businesses who experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10% during the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. …
USDA Investing $32 Million to Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Monday they will be investing $32 million in grants through awards to 167 meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to support expanded capacity and efficiency through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Today’s investment supports local and regional meat and poultry processors as they recover from …
Vilsack: Nothing in Build Back Better Bill Threatens Farmers
While some in agriculture question the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Bill, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he respectfully disagrees with those who say that it will cause the loss of family farms. AFBF President Zippy Duval told farm reporters last week that the bill’s costs outweighed increases for farm programs. But Vilsack said the bill actually has provisions that …
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on House Passage of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act
(WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement following House Passage of President Biden’s Build Back Better bill. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration. “Now more than ever Americans need this important piece of legislation to build up the middle-class and American competitiveness, to ensure the people of rural communities have a …
Robert Bonnie Confirmed as Under Secretary of Agriculture for FPAC
Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As Under Secretary, Bonnie will oversee the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency and FPAC Business Center. He will also manage the USDA’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program. And various folks …
USDA Invests Millions in Partnerships to Restore Wetlands, Support Historically Underserved Producers
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced they will invest $11 million in five Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) projects to bring together partners and landowners to voluntarily return critical wetland functions to agricultural landscapes. NRCS is funding two new projects and providing additional funding to three existing ones that prioritize high-impact projects and provide assistance to historically underserved farmers …