(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Sept. 1, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the signing of a $24.8 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The program provides grant funds to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness (FNW) to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers. …
USDA Releases Updated Trade Projections for 2022-23
The Department of Agriculture released updated trade projections for the remainder of fiscal year 2022 and the first projections for fiscal year 2023. The outlook follows the federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Agriculture exports for 2023 are projected at $193.5 billion, with imports at $197 billion. The export forecast is $2.5 billion …
USDA Awards Grants to Further Strengthen Meat and Poultry Supply Chains
(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 31, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced an additional $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant projects through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing total funding to $54.6 million. This year’s awards will fund projects in 37 states. The funding will help strengthen and develop …
USDA Updates Forecast for U.S. Agriculture Exports
Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their updated agriculture exports projections for fiscal year 2023. The new projection is $193.5 billion, with imports at $197 billion. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says that forecast is $2.5 billion below the revised 2022 forecast. For the rest of 2022, the export estimate of $196.0 billion represents an increase of $5.0 billion from May’s projection. …
USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Local Work Group Meetings
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia join forces each year to host local work group meetings. During these meetings, local input is gathered from agricultural producers, private forestland managers, conservation organizations and natural resource agencies to help identify and prioritize the natural resource concerns most important for the area. The local …
USDA Investing in Innovative Projects for Climate-Smart Agriculture
Earlier this month, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it will invest $15 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic program. Through CIG, grantees work to address our nation’s water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while supporting agricultural production. This year’s funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, addressing invasive species and …
USDA to Measure Small Grain Production
Efforts are underway by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to take a comprehensive look into the 2022 production and supply of small grains, including wheat, oats, barley, and rye. A sample of producers from around the country received Agricultural Survey questionnaires from NASS. “The small grains industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture. It is crucial for all involved …
USDA Awards $7.85 Million to Florida Forest to Gulf Regional Conservation Partnership Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is awarding $197 million for 41 locally led conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This includes a project in Florida, the Alachua Conservation Trust’s (ACT) Forest to Gulf RCPP. It has been awarded $7.85 million to expand conservation programs in the North Central part of the state, and is the …
USDA Investing in the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program in Georgia
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this month it is investing up to $5 million in the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). This grant program supports the development of mitigation banks for use by agricultural producers seeking to maintain eligibility for USDA programs. Funds are available to Tribes, state and local government entities, nonprofits and other organizations. Since 2016, USDA’s Natural Resources …
USDA Boosting Conservation on Grazing Lands
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $12 million in partnerships that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) until September 22, 2022. NRCS Associate Chief Louis Aspey talks about the various partners, …