Hassey Brooks

Trump Appoints Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness

President Donald Trump has appointed a new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. John Bellinger has been appointed in this role and according to USDA, “will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “I want to thank …

Small Processors Action Plan

Additional Funding Opportunity For Small Meat and Poultry Plants Announced

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Small Processors Action Plan last week to “better support small and very small meat and poultry processing plants, improve customer service, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining strong food safety protections for consumers.”  Secretary Rollins said, “Today’s announcement marks another step toward rebuilding our domestic beef industry, the actions contained in …

New World Screwworm

USDA Takes Action Against New World Screwworm

A confirmed detection of New World Screwworm was found recently in Zavala County, Texas. In a post on X, Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, said “The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas Animal Health officials are taking immediate action to contain and eradicate NWS from the area.” Secretary Rollins also spoke on the measures currently being implemented to exterminate NWS, …

New World Screwworm

Current Response Actions To Address New World Screwworm

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins provided an update on the New World Screwworm response on Tuesday where she discussed what would happen if a detection were to occur in the United States. “We are preparing to implement the very moment the fly makes it into our country. If we have a domestic detection USDA and relevant state animal health …

Specialty Crop

Opportunity for Specialty Crop Growers to apply for Payment Rates through the USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced payment rates and enrollment periods for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be assisting $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers. This comes as an effect of elevated input costs and market disruptions. Specialty crop producers who have a login.gov account can submit …

Great American Cotton Plan

Tyler Harper Reacts to the USDA’s Great American Cotton Plan

After Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, launched The Great American Cotton Plan last week, several agriculturalists and political leaders have voiced support on this movement. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper made a post on X speaking of the impact this will make for Georgia. “We are so excited and thankful to Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for rolling out …

One Farmer One File

USDA Announces One Farmer, One File Initiative

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that USDA is launching the “One Farmer, One File” initiative. The effort is meant to modernize the department’s efforts by making “sweeping technological improvements,” with a single record that follows the farmer no matter where they interact with the department.  â€śEvery single day at USDA, our focus is on making life easier, …

Social Security

Rollins Announces Farm Bridge Assistance Program Opening

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that USDA is opening the enrollment period for the new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. It’ll provide $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop production in response to temporary trade markets and temporary disruptions in trading and increased production costs. The enrollment period opens up February the 23rd and closes on April the 17th. These …

Florida Freeze Disaster

Florida Commissioner of Ag Announces $3 Billion in Losses Due To Recent Freezes

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that agricultural industry in Florida has sustained more than $3 Billion in total estimated damages due to recent freezes. Commissioner Simpson said, “Our preliminary estimate of over $3 billion in agricultural losses makes clear what we already knew: This was one of the most damaging freeze events for Florida agriculture in history. …