The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh as the new Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. The Bronaugh confirmation is receiving significant support from the agricultural industry. There is optimism that her previous experience will provide even greater expertise to the leadership within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bronaugh has served in a variety of capacities within the …
USMEF on Beef Trade to China
Back in January of 2020, we talked about how many in agriculture were pleased with the signing of the first phase of the China trade deal. Those in the beef industry were hoping the trade deal would bring a significant boost in U.S. beef exports to China. Last month, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of …
First CFAP Payments Issued by USDA
The first payments for farmers and ranchers have been issued through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that CFAP payments totaling more than $545 million have been approved by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). A total of $16 billion in financial assistance is being made available through CFAP, which was one of …
Perdue Signals Aid Plan Announcement Possible Around Labor Day
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Chicago this week says he is hopeful his aid program for farmers will be released by Labor Day and the harvest season. Perdue spoke at the United Fresh event Tuesday and told the Chicago Tribune that while farmers want “trade, not aid,” the Department of Agriculture is following the trade war on a “weekly basis,” …
USDA Assisting Cotton Growers with Safety Net Changes
The Department of Agriculture is helping cotton farmers prepare for new safety net coverage. The Farm Service Agency is sending acreage history and yield reports to agricultural producers with generic base acres covered by the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. USDA says the data will help producers decide the best options for how to allocate generic base …
OTA Files Lawsuit Against USDA Over Organic Livestock Standards
The Organic Trade Association announced a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture over its failure to advance new organic livestock standards. The suit alleges USDA violated the Organic Foods Production Act, and unlawfully delayed the effective date of the final livestock standards. The trade association further contends that the Trump Administration’s regulatory freeze order issued to federal agencies in January …
Censky, McKinney, Nomination Hearing Scheduled
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on nominees to the Department of Agriculture next week. Committee leaders, Chairman Pat Roberts, and ranking minority member Debbie Stabenow announced plans to hold the hearing for Ted McKinney and Stephen Censky Tuesday, September 19th. Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, was nominated by President Trump to serve as Deputy Secretary …
Head of USDA Organic Program Stepping Down
The leader of the Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program will step down at the end of the month. Miles McEvoy will vacate the position overseeing the program and return to his home state of Washington. McEvoy led the program that oversees organic regulations and the USDA organic seal for eight years. McEvoy told Fern’s Ag Insider that his original …
USDA Providing Recovery Efforts after Hurricane Irma
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers and those who reside in rural communities impacted Hurricane Irma, they have programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “In recent weeks, millions of Americans have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.” He said, “USDA employees have been working tirelessly …
Florida NRCS Holding State Technical Meeting Next Week
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, August 15 at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium in Gainesville. Florida State Conservationist, Russell Morgan, says the meeting is being held to assist agricultural producers in meeting their land management goals while protecting our natural resources. …