Apples, Grapes, Oranges, Pork, Fluid Milk and more Earlier, a new USDA Foods vendor delivered 2,000 gallons of fresh milk to the D.C. Capital Area Food Bank. The delivery was one of many taking place at food banks across the country resulting from purchases made by the USDA to provide market support to the dairy industry. USDA Foods are a …
Market Facilitation Program Payments Stuck at OMB
Farmers thought they’d have more details on the second round of USDA trade-aid payments by now. However, Farm Journal says the payments are still under negotiations. USDA is negotiating with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for that second round of payments under the Market Facilitation Program. USDA had originally intended to release the information today, Monday, December 10, …
U.S. Beef Gains New Market Access in Morocco
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow imports of U.S. beef and beef products into Morocco. 2018 is the first year that U.S. beef and poultry exporters have access to Morocco’s market under the terms of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Morocco opened its …
NMPF Applauds USDA Support for More Milk Options in School Meals
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for returning low-fat (1%) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The final rule implementing regulatory changes needed to add low-fat flavored milk to more school menus and other nutrition programs serving children was announced by the USDA and will be published later this month …
USDA Predicts 12 Percent Drop in Farm Income
Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to decrease $9.1 billion, or 12.1 percent from 2017 to $66.3 billion in 2018, after increasing $13.8 billion in 2017. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service recently announced the forecast. USDA says, meanwhile, net cash farm income is forecast to decrease $8.5 billion, 8.4 percent, to $93.4 billion. Net …
Secretary Perdue announces new OneUSDA Internship Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for Summer 2019. As part of the Federal Pathways Program, the OneUSDA Internship will provide students a way to explore serving their country through a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and other career fields. “The improvements we’re making to internships at …
USDA Announces Peanut Standards Board Appointments
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of three producers and three industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. The appointments will fill member seats that became vacant when the current terms expired on June 30, 2018. All appointees will serve the remainder of three-year terms ending June 30, 2021. Appointed are: Southeast Region (Alabama, Georgia and Florida) …
GDA Commends USDA’s New Biosecurity Campaign
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new outreach campaign focused on preventing the spread of infectious poultry diseases in both commercial and backyard poultry. Poultry is Georgia’s top agricultural sector, contributing more than $25 billion to Georgia’s economy annually. Georgia also leads in the industry as one of the top five broiler producing …
Beagle Brigade Part of Animal Disease Prevention Plans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the livestock industry are among partners in efforts to keep foreign animal disease threats out of our borders. And according to a story from Rod Bain, that includes using strategies like detector dogs at U.S. airports and port facilities. Beagle Brigade Part of Animal Disease Prevention Plans Image credit: A member of the …
WHIP Signup Ends Friday
Efforts continue to help Southeast producers affected by Hurricane Michael. But at the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to remind producers affected by hurricanes and wildfires last year, signup for assistance through the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program ends this Friday, Nov. 16. Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce says producers need to sign up now if …