The Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday the expansion of the production areas in Australia authorized to import fresh citrus fruit into the United States. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service also revised the conditions under which citrus from Australia may be imported. Currently, imports of fresh citrus fruit are allowed into the United States from three Australian regions, but …
USDA Invests $167 Million in High-Speed Broadband in 12 States
Re-Connect Funding to Give 100,000 People Access to High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity (WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $167 million in 12 states to deploy broadband infrastructure (PDF, 360 KB) in rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed internet. “Generations ago, the federal government recognized that without affordable access to …
Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …
USDA Gathering Data on Feral Swine Damage to Livestock Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced they will be conducting a Feral Swine Livestock Damage survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to livestock operations. The survey is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services. Over 4,000 farms and ranches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and …
USDA Extends Beef Checkoff Petition Drive Deadline
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week granted an extension to organizers of the National Beef Checkoff Petition Drive until October 3, 2021. The extension grants extra time for organizers to collect the necessary signatures on the petition calling for a producer vote of the National Beef Checkoff Program. The South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association and Kansas-based Stratford Angus organized …
USDA Funding Risk Management Education for Underserved Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $1 million in funding for universities and nonprofits to develop risk management training and educational tools aimed to assist historically underserved farmers and ranchers. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Acting Administrator, Richard Flournoy, says they are funding nine projects to help producers effectively manage long-term risks and challenges. The nine projects …
USDA Invests Millions to Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of over $21.8 million to 1890 Land-grant Institutions to support research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded these dollars to 1890 Land-grant Institutions to support 58 projects at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation’s Land-grant University System and organizations as part …
USDA-RMA Extends Crop Insurance Deadlines
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA) announced they were authorizing Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) to extend crop insurance deadlines to help producers due to the widespread drought. RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy says this relief is nationwide. Producers now have additional time to pay premium and administrative fees, and interest will be waived for 60 days or …
USDA to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $67 million in competitive loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program. The program aims to help producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues. “While those affected are in all geographic and cultural areas, many Black farmers and other groups who have experienced historic discrimination have inherited heirs’ property,” Vilsack said. “USDA …
USDA Seeking Partnerships to Restore Wetland Ecosystems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind conservation partners that they will be investing up to $17 million to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prioritizing proposals that focus on assisting historically underserved producers conserving wetlands. But, the deadline for proposals from partners …