Every year at this time many in agriculture question how many acres of what crops will farmers plant, and this season is no different. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently going through the huge effort to collect that data. NASS Chief of the Crops Branch, Lance Honig, says the accuracy of the upcoming USDA Acreage Report depends on …
Stabenow Urges USDA to Implement Food and Ag Supply Chain Provisions
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow is urging the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement American Rescue Plan provisions to protect food and farm workers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Stabenow states the American Rescue Plan “included resources so that the people who power our food and ag supply chain are protected and have the resources they …
USDA Announces New Initiative to Quantify Climate Benefits of CRP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week an initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Joins USDA Event on American Rescue Plan Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge, U.S. Representative Al Lawson, Jr. (FL-5), and others to highlight historic American Rescue Plan provisions that provide $4 billion in debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and growers. They were joined at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida by FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., …
USDA Forecasts Record Farm Exports in FY 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) just released its quarterly agricultural trade forecast, and it is projecting fiscal year 2021 U.S. farm exports at $164 billion – the highest total on record. This represents an increase of $28 billion, or 21%, from last fiscal year’s total, and a $7-billion increase from USDA’s previous FY 2021 forecast published in February. The …
USDA to Host Market Based Webinars for Livestock Producers
National Beef Month has been taking place through May, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using the month to roll out several market-based education tools for cattle and livestock producers. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Associate Deputy Administrator, Taylor Cox, says upcoming webinars will be held to help producers better understand and use AMS livestock mandatory reporting data. …
USDA to Invest $15 Million through CIG Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $15 million to support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. CIG partners use creative problem solving and innovation to address our nation’s water quality, air quality, soil health and …
USDA Announces Key Leadership in Natural Resources and Conservation Areas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the appointment of Meryl Harrell as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) and the appointment of Terry Cosby as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Meryl Harrell most recently served as the Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards. She has also served as a consultant, advising non-profits, …
USDA Announces Plan for Black Farmer Payments
The USDA says it plans to make debt relief available to Black farmers. The announcement came one day before Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a roundtable discussion with Black farmers in Georgia. A spokesman says Vilsack will be traveling to other states to discuss the plan in the weeks ahead. Late last week, the Farm Service Agency published the …
Purchasing Power: USDA to Buy $159.4 Million in Multiple Programs
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping multiple agricultural programs with a $159.4 million purchase. It announced on Thursday it will purchase $159.4 million domestically produced seafood, fruits, legumes, and nuts for distribution to a variety of domestic food assistance programs, including charitable institutions. This is one of many actions USDA is taking to …