If your waistline increased during the pandemic, you’re not alone. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows that U.S. adults ages 20 and older reported a three percent higher prevalence of obesity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and …
USDA Signup for Covid-19 Assistance Program Ends Friday
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a couple of months ago 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 is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, and includes $169.9 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) …
Vilsack Provides an Update on CFAP
While no specific dates have been released yet, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack did give an indication this week of when some of the details involving the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) may be available. Rod Bain has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in …
Vilsack’s First Priority Is Containing the Pandemic
The newly-confirmed Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is already busy trying to help rural areas of the country get through the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a story from Stephanie Ho, Vilsack said his first priority is working to contain the pandemic. Vilsack announced the $42 million will go towards grants to help rural communities, healthcare centers, and schools through their …
South African Farm Labor Exempt from Travel Ban
(AFBF) — The U.S. State Department clarified its ban on non-citizens entering the United States from South Africa. A Biden administration proclamation suspended travel from several countries due to COVID-19 concerns. The State Department clarified that agriculture workers entering the U.S. qualify for national interest exceptions on a case-by-case basis. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to Secretary …
COVID-19 Taking Heavy Toll on Farmers’ Mental Health
(AFBF) — A strong majority of farmers/farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a new American Farm Bureau poll. The survey of rural adults and farmers/farmworkers explores how the pandemic has affected their mental health personally and …
Georgia Ag Forecast to be Held Online Jan. 29
(CAES) — Economists from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will discuss the effects of COVID-19 on farming, highlight agritourism impacts in the state, and give a forecast of top commodities for the next year during the annual Georgia Ag Forecast. The live seminar will take place via Zoom webinar Friday, Jan. 29, beginning at …
Pandemic Fuels some of 2020’s Most-Searched UF/IFAS Extension Information
(UF/IFAS) — The coronavirus pandemic occupied space in everyone’s minds this year, prompting online searches about any variety of topics related to it. The year’s most popular UF/IFAS Extension EDIS publications were no exception, with two of the top 10 being brand-new documents related to food safety and the coronavirus. In all, the Electronic Data Information Source, which hosts peer-reviewed …
FDACS Update: Additional County Farmworker COVID-19 Testing Availability
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are announcing additional COVID-19 testing sites and dates in Miami-Dade, Hendry, Collier, Hillsborough, and Glades County for farmworkers. The ongoing efforts to provide access to testing for farmworkers is in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and local county governments. “As the pandemic remains a major health threat, we’re continuing our work to provide …
GFVGA Announces COVID-19 Handbook for Georgia Ag Laborers
(GFVGA) — The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, GFVGA, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Department of Agriculture and the University of Georgia Extension, has developed a practical and comprehensive COVID-19 handbook for growers and farm labor contractors in the specialty crop industry. Written specifically for Georgia growers, Protecting Yourself Against the Coronavirus, focuses on maintaining a safe and healthy …