The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release the 2022 Census of Agriculture data on February 13, 2024. NASS concluded the data collection during the summer with a preliminary national return rate of 61 percent. NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer said, “On behalf of everyone at USDA, I’d like to thank the millions of producers who gave their time and effort to …
USDA Releases Farm Sector Income Report
USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released its annual Farm Sector Income Forecast Report for 2023 which shows lower net farm income this year. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says while net farm income will drop below the record high in 2022, it’s one of the best years on record for the overall farm sector at $151.1 billion. “In fact, net cash …
USDA Works to Expand Asian Export Markets
by Will Jordan It’s no secret that U.S. Beef is the preferred protein domestically and abroad. Asia is ever expanding as a major market for U.S red meat exports. As market access expands export trade adds more value to cattle on the hoof. I visited with Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, to learn more …
USDA Makes Change to 2023 Notice of Loss Requirements for Two Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has waived certain?notice of loss requirements for 2023 for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish?(ELAP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). This move is an effort to streamline assistance to support access to critical 2023 natural disaster recovery assistance. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is waiving the requirement to submit ELAP or LIP notices of loss within …
USDA Expands Drought Recovery Assistance to Livestock Producers in Additional Georgia Counties
The USDA Farm Service Agency in Georgia (FSA-GA) is now accepting applications in four additional eligible counties for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide financial assistance to eligible livestock producers for 2023 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought. This expands upon a previous announcement of eligibility for twenty Georgia counties. The deadline to apply for LFP assistance is January …
Vilsack Discusses New USDA AMS Position
by Will Jordan The USDA announced in early November the addition of a new permanent senior-level career position in the Agricultural Marketing Service. The AMS Chief Competition Officer position was established to enhance the implementation of market competition priorities set by AMS. This position will focus on improving communication between USDA and the Department of Justice to enforce the Packers …
USDA Seeking Specialty Crop Industry Feedback
Last week, USDA announced a new initiative designed to address challenges for our country’s specialty crop industry regarding market competitiveness. Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small discusses outreach for specialty crop industry input through the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative. Deputy Secretary Torres Small says they are seeking specialty crop industry feedback. USDA encourages U.S. specialty crops stakeholders to submit comments on …
Alabama Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Conservation Programs
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS-AL) is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners in the state to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which help a wide variety of producers, including urban and organic producers. Alabama State Conservationist Ben Malone …
New USDA Investment in Specialty Crop Research
USDA is investing $70.2 million in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to support nearly two dozen research and Extension projects. USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced the funding on a call with reporters and described the kinds of projects that will be funded. “The awarded projects addressed key challenges of national, regional and multi state importance to the food …
USDA Clarifies “Domestic Origin”
USDA is clearing up some requirements in the meat industry. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Last year, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchased $800 million worth of meat products for use in nutrition assistance programs such as free school meals. That meat must fall under the requirements of domestic origin verification (DOV). However, those requirements are …