food waste

USDA Invests in Two Florida Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $7.5 million in 26 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) notes two Florida projects have been selected.  The Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreements are part of USDA’s …

grants

USDA Announces Grants and Technical Assistance Funding

Dan Economy, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested …

food supply

USDA Works to Strengthen Food Supply Chain

Dan Agri-Business, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to bolster the nation’s food supply chain in response to vulnerabilities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenny Lester Moffitt, Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, explains that the pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in our food supply chain created a need for change and a new approach to ensure the system is …

florida

USDA NRCS Florida Holding State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

Florida agricultural leaders will have the opportunity to discuss natural resource priorities, as the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) will host a State Technical Advisory Committee meeting on January 14th, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Eastern. The meeting is designed to provide a report for Florida natural resource and program priorities and USDA decisions and to seek recommendations.  The …

cattle

USDA Surveying Cattle Operations

Dan Cattle, USDA-NASS

For the next couple of weeks, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey about 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. This will include producers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as they will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle …

Census of Horticultural Specialties

USDA to Conduct the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties

Dan Specialty Crops, USDA-NASS

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties this winter to provide a comprehensive picture of the U.S. horticulture industry. Survey codes are being mailed to more than 40,000 horticulture producers to respond online. Collected just once every five years, this is the only source of detailed production and sales data for U.S. floriculture, nursery, …

farm loan

USDA to Provide Assistance for Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Funding, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced approximately $300 million in assistance to help distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist distressed borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations. This is expected to provide assistance to over 12,800 …

American Agriculture History

USDA Investing in Domestic Fertilizer Production

Dan Environment

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced investments in domestic fertilizer production in nine states to increase competition, lower fertilizer costs for American farmers, and lower food costs for U.S. consumers. As Tyron Spearman reports, one of those states is Georgia. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “When we invest in domestic supply chains, we drive down input costs and increase …

private

USDA Awards Grants to Support Private Forestland Management

Dan Agri-Business, Forestry, Funding, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced awards of nearly $335 million to help strengthen financial incentives for private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and to permanently conserve private forests in partnership with states. Of the total funding, nearly $210 million was awarded as competitive grants to state agencies, for-profit entities and a broad array of non-profit organizations. These …

Cotton Production Forecast from USDA/NASS

Dan Cotton, USDA-NASS

All cotton production is forecast at 14.3 million 480-pound bales, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 18 percent from 2023. Based on conditions as of December 1, yields are expected to average 792 pounds per harvested acre, up 3 pounds from the previous forecast but down 107 pounds from 2023. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 8.63 million acres, unchanged …