The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs. A part of this initiative, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently opened job announcements for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort by NRCS to help producers develop conservation …
Legislation Seeks to Increase USDA Technical Service Providers
Legislation introduced in the U.S. House and Senate last week seeks to help address America’s shortage of Technical Service Providers at the Department of Agriculture. Technical Service Providers help producers deploy and manage conservation programs through one-on-one assistance. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby recently projected his agency would need to hire between 3,000 and 4,000 employees …
USDA Opens Full-Time, Entry-Level Soil Conservationist Positions across U.S. as Part of Broader Effort to Implement the Inflation Reduction Act
(USDA-NRCS/WASHINGTON/May 5, 2023) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is quickly ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. For example, NRCS opened job announcements this week for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort …
NMPF Submits Milk-Pricing Plan to USDA
This week, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) submitted a comprehensive proposal to USDA for modernizing the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system, the product of two years of examination and more than 150 meetings held to build consensus behind updates to a program that last saw significant changes in 2000. “Dairy farmers and their cooperatives need a modernized Federal Milk Marketing Order system …
USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Sign-up for Farmers Transitioning to Organic Production
State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, Terrance O. Rudolph, has announced a sign-up for the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This Georgia NRCS sign-up follows a recent national announcement detailing the USDA’s multi-agency approach to assist producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to achieve organic certification. Only those producers are eligible to apply for this …
USDA: Meat and Dairy Production Lead Food Sector Sales
New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows meat processing and dairy product manufacturing are the largest components of food sector sales. Food and beverage manufacturing plants transform raw food commodities into products for intermediate or final consumption by using labor, machinery, energy, and scientific knowledge. These plants accounted for nearly $267 billion or 16.8 percent of sales, shipment …
NCBA Files Comments on USDA Traceability Rule
Wednesday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” to emphasize the importance of electronic animal identification to protect the cattle industry from the threat of a foreign animal disease. USDA’s proposed rule would apply to cattle 18-months or older only when moving interstate. “An …
GCC Agrees with USDA Estimates on Predicted Cotton Acreage
By Clint Thompson It is planting season for Georgia’s cotton producers. The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) and executive director Taylor Sills believe the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) preseason estimates should be close to accurate on what the state’s acreage will look like this year. “The USDA came out with their planting intentions report (recently) and they have Georgia at …
USDA Seeking Applications to Expand Conservation Assistance to Underserved Producers
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds farmers and ranchers they are seeking applications for projects that will improve outreach to underserved producers. Specifically, USDA wants to improve outreach about conservation programs and services and opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. NRCS is offering up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for …
USDA Continues Efforts to Mitigate HPAI for 2023 Season
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues efforts on many fronts to mitigate the latest outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. The virus is carried in wild, migratory birds and typically peaks in the spring and summer months. USDA held a stakeholder roundtable last week with poultry industry leaders and state government officials to discuss the …