USDA will be investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships, including the “Surface to Springs” project in Florida. Projects are awarded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The program’s goal is to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The U.S. …
USDA Awards New Partnership Project in Alabama
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a new partnership project in Alabama designed to help mitigate climate change and protect natural resources while supporting America’s producers. Overall, USDA will be investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships nationwide. This will include the “Regenerating Alabama’s Cropland” project. All projects are awarded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation …
USDA Offering New Incentives for CRP Enrollment
The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. This includes investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for …
USDA to Provide Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know the American Rescue Plan includes provisions for USDA to pay up to 120% of loan balances, as of January 1, 2021, for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans debt relief to any socially disadvantaged producer who has a qualifying loan with FSA. …
Produce Union Unhappy with USDA’s Cancellation of Food Box Program
A trade group in the fruit and vegetable industry is unhappy with the USDA’s decision to cancel the Farmers to Families Food Box Distribution Program. United Fresh says millions of Americans gained access to healthy, fresh produce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, calling the decision by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack “shortsighted.” The group says comments disparaging the program were a slap …
USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22. NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They …
USDA Invests Millions in Specialty Crops Grants, Incentives to Purchase Fruits and Vegetables, and Help for Cotton Producers
USDA Also Informs Dairy Producers and Processors about New Dairy Donation Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of more than $330 million to help agricultural producers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding announced today is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative launched …
USDA Grant Program Needed for Local Meat Processors
The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) recently submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to open applications for a grant program to help local meat processors. The legislation, authorized by Congress in December, set funding aside to improve capacity at local meat lockers, but CFRA says the agency has been slow to respond. In a letter to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, …
GCC: USDA Plantings Report Comparable to National Cotton Council’s Projections
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report estimates Georgia cotton acreage at around 1.2 million acres for the upcoming season. It would be comparable to what the National Cotton Council projected earlier this year, says Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC). “Earlier this year, the National Cotton Council projected Georgia to plant around 1.1 million …
USDA Providing Outreach Funding
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Tyron Spearman has more information. Visit farmers.gov/cfap for details on all eligible commodities, producer eligibility, payment limitations and structure and additional program resources. Sponsored ContentCIR …