The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) made updates to their payment rates under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). The agency changed rates for calves under 250 pounds and will now value them at the same level as non-adult cattle weighing between 250 and 399 pounds. FSA also increased payment rates for calves under 400 pounds. The LIP payment rate is set at 75 percent …
USDA Investing in Historically Underserved Communities to Bolster Meat, Poultry Sector
Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional investment of more than $14 million to support agricultural workforce training in historically underserved communities that will increase the resilience of the U.S. meat and poultry processing sector. This investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts through the American Rescue Plan to strengthen the nation’s food supply chain by promoting …
USDA-NRCS Announces Urban Agriculture Investments
Last month, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced $43 million in grants and cooperative agreements to help deliver key USDA programs to urban producers. Specifically, USDA is investing $10.2 million in new cooperative agreements to expand compost and food waste reduction efforts and $14.2 million in new grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. Plus, …
USDA Helping Issue Child Food Benefits for Summer
Helping keep kids fed during summer. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA is partnering with states and territories across the country to work with urgency to provide food benefits for the summer months to eligible children. As of July 8, 27 states and territories, including Puerto Rico, are set up to provide these benefits to an …
USDA Accepts More than 3.1 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are accepting offers for more than 3.1 million through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program Grassland Signup, the highest in history. The program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and conservation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “This year’s record-breaking …
USDA: Adult Obesity Increased During Pandemic
An additional effect on our health from the pandemic. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports behavior changes during the pandemic exacerbated an already existing adult obesity epidemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020, studies using limited online surveys found evidence of weight gain among U.S. adults. However, because the pandemic surveys did not represent …
USDA to Resurvey Some Planted Acreage
The June 30 acreage report from USDA shows farmers planted slightly less acres than last year. However, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist Veronica Nigh says USDA will resurvey some planted acreage, which could change the data. “USDA’s June 30 acreage report indicates that for the ’22-23 crop year, farmers planted 237.8 million acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton,” …
USDA-Cost of a Home-Grilled Cheeseburger up from 2021
Grilling season is underway, and the cost of the homemade cheeseburger is going up. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. Home-grilled cheeseburgers, a summer cookout staple, will cost consumers more this summer. USDA’s Economic Research Service says the ingredients for a home-prepared 1/4-pound cheeseburger totaled $2.07 per burger, with ground beef making up the largest cost at $1.20. This represents …
USDA NRCS, Army Corps of Engineers Renew Partnership
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently announced the renewal of a critical partnership focused on infrastructure projects and natural resources planning. The partnership renewal continues joint efforts to combat ongoing threats to our natural resources and promotes interagency strategic planning, coordinating mission-driven assistance that best serves local resource concerns and communities. It …
Peanut Industry Learns about New USDA Programs
During the recent USA Peanut Congress, a USDA Farm Service Agency representative told those in attendance there are many new programs in response to the Covid Pandemic, as well as Natural Disasters. Tyron Spearman has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024