With an Agriculture Secretary nominee and a new administration in place, President Donald Trump has sent policy adviser Sam Clovis to lead the transition at the Department of Agriculture.
Funding to Support Agriculture Programs at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced availability of $8.8 million in funding to support agricultural science education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program promotes and strengthens HSI programs that attract, retain, and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing the nation’s food, agricultural, natural resource, and human sciences work …
Make-up of Family Farms
Cathy Isom has the findings from the Ag Departments latest study on the make-up of family farms in the U-S. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Changes Aimed at Ending the Inhumane Practice of Horse Soring
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced a final rule that includes changes that will help to protect horses from the cruel and inhumane practice known as soring and eliminate the unfair competitive advantage that sore horses have over horses that are not sore. The practice of soring is intended to produce …
USDA Proposes Adjusted Membership on Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to adjust membership on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board to reflect shifts in cattle inventory levels since the last board reapportionment in 2014, as required by the rules governing the board. Under the proposal, total board membership would decrease by one member, from 100 to 99 …
USDA Announces Farm Service Agency Cooperative Agreements
Expands Education for Minority, Women, New, Military Veteran and Urban Producers The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced cooperative agreements with 46 partners to educate producers, including those who have been historically underserved by USDA programs, about Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs that provide financial, disaster or technical support. Nearly $2.5 million will go to nonprofits and universities that will …
Support for People with Disabilities in Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $540,000 in funding for state and regional projects that provide education, assistive technology and other support to current and prospective farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Since 1991, NIFA’s AgrAbility program has helped thousands of individuals with disabilities, including older farmers and veterans, achieve …
USDA Seeks National Mango Board Nominees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking membership nominations for six seats on the National Mango Board. Applications for the seats are due Feb. 22, 2017. Selected members will serve three-year terms of office. The board is seeking candidates for the following six seats to replace members whose terms expire Dec. 31, 2017:
$2.9 Million Available for Biorefinery Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $2.9 million in funding for research to improve biorefinery technologies. The Integrated Biorefinery Optimization program is coordinated and co-funded jointly between NIFA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office.
USDA Microloans for Farmers: Participation Patterns and Effects of Outreach
by Sarah Tulman, Nathaniel Higgins, Robert Williams, Michael Gerling, Charles Dodson, and Bruce McWilliams, Economic Research Service What is the Issue? USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) launched its Microloan program in January 2013 with the goal of better serving the needs of small farms, beginning farmers and ranchers, farmers and ranchers from historically socially disadvantaged groups (or SDA—women and racial …