USDA did announced their program to help farmers hurt by trade disruptions last month. Tyron Spearman has more information. USDA Funds Designed to Help Farmers
USDA Invests $345.5 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure to Improve Service
Projects Will Provide Improved Electric Reliability Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $345.5 million in 20 infrastructure projects (PDF, 121 KB) to improve rural electric service in 14 states. “Delivering reliable and affordable electricity to power rural America will help lay the groundwork for increased rural prosperity and economic opportunity,” Secretary Perdue said. “USDA …
USDA Invites Comments on the Implementation of the e-Connectivity Pilot Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced USDA is inviting comments on the implementation of the e-Connectivity Pilot Program established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 on March 23, 2018. USDA is developing this pilot program to catalyze private investment and bring broadband to unserved rural areas of the country. The new program provides a unique opportunity to develop …
USDA Preparing Alternative to WHO Antibiotic Guidelines
USDA officials are reportedly developing an alternative set of guidelines on antibiotic use in animal agriculture, rather than abide by those developed at the World Health Organization. The WHO recommendations first came out last November, proposing to end the use of medically important antibiotics in healthy animals to promote growth and prevent disease. The agency wanted the drugs only used …
Latest Pasture Condition Numbers
A drop in good pasture condition ratings this past week is equivalent to an increase in poor pasture ratings. USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey, has a detailed look at pasture conditions around the country. Latest Pasture Condition Numbers
Reports Show Beef Herd Expansion Slowing Down
Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released two reports concerning the cattle industry. The semi-annual Cattle Inventory report shows that as of July 1, all cattle and calves in the United States totaled 103 million head, 1 percent above the 102 million head on July 1, 2017. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41.9 million head, …
USDA Applauds Housing Eligibility for Temporary Farm Workers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released internal guidance on changes made to farm labor housing eligibility. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 amended a section of the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the Farm Labor Housing tenant eligibility to agricultural workers legally admitted to the United States and authorized to work in agriculture. Due to this rule change, …
Pork Industry Hit from All Sides
The pork industry is holding some of its highest inventory of hogs and pigs since the USDA began recording the data back in 1964. That’s according the to the Hogs and Pigs Report that came out Thursday. Politico says pork checkoff experts struggled to find a bright spot for hog producers in the months ahead. “We’re looking at an awful …
Soybeans Overtake Corn in USDA Acreage Report
Soybean planted acreage topped corn for the first time since 1983, the USDA reported in its Planted Acreage Report on Friday. Soybean acreage is 89.6 million acres. That’s actually 1 percent lower than last year as planted acres are either down or unchanged in 14 of the 31 biggest soybean states. Corn acres are also down 1 percent from last …
USDA Report Highlights Benefits of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for Farmers
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today highlighted a new report showing the positive impacts of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on American farms. Six months after the President signed the tax cuts and reforms into law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) has released a report, titled “Estimated Effects …