Farmers who missed the deadline can still send in their Census of Agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers and ranchers still have time to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although the deadline for submitting the ag census just passed, NASS will continue to accept completed …
Biden to Nominate Xochitl Torres Small as USDA Deputy Secretary
President Joe Biden Wednesday announced his intent to nominate Xochitl Torres Small to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at the Department of Agriculture. The Senate confirmed Torres Small to serve as the Under Secretary for Rural Development on October 7, 2021. Before serving as Undersecretary, Torres Small was a Representative for New Mexico’s second congressional district, the fifth largest …
USDA Designates Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/Feb. 15,2023) — Last week USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a Secretarial natural disaster designation for 27 counties in Tennessee that also included four counties in Alabama that are contiguous to some of the Tennessee counties. This designation will extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from drought through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various …
USDA Expands Hurricane Insurance Protection
Farmers may now be eligible for further protection against damaging tropical storms. After hearing directly from agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement with a Tropical Storm Option. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will offer this option for the 2023 crop year. RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger says during the past …
Senators Urge USDA to Address Avian Flu Immediately
A group of Senators urges the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to take swift action to address the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. The lawmakers asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to quickly use funds provided by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Led by Senator Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, the lawmakers said, “it …
OTA on USDA Steps to Prevent Fraud in Organic Ag
The USDA is taking steps to prevent fraud in organic ag. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Organic Trade Association applauded the USDA and the National Organic Program for the new “Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule.” Tom Chapman, CEO of the Organic Trade Association, says the new regulation will do a lot to detect organic fraud and protect …
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $7.5 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The competitive Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern …
Traceability: What USDA’s New Rule Proposal Means for Producers
By: Southeast AgNet intern, Will Jordan Traceability is the word at this year’s Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Producers, experts, and industry affiliates are gathered to discuss policy and directives for NCBA’s staff to focus on in 2023. Among other issues discussed, a recurring theme is implementation of more effective disease traceability for the cattle industry. While disease …
USDA Investment in Rural Electric Infrastructure
Putting billions into rural electric infrastructure. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security. The announcement came from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Monday. He said the investments will benefit rural people and businesses in many ways for …
USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Dairy Farmers
Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the details of additional assistance for dairy producers. This includes a second round of payments through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). The programs will enable USDA to better support small- and medium-sized dairy operations who weathered the pandemic and now face …