USDA Looking for More Funding Applications to Improve Broadband Access

Dan Industry News Release, Technology

Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, says the USDA is accepting applications for grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in unserved rural communities. She says e-connectivity is essential to the economic vitality and quality of life in rural communities. “Investing in broadband can strengthen rural economic growth and improve critical access to jobs, education, healthcare, and social …

USDA Announces Regionalization Agreement with South Korea

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Help Protect U.S. Trade During HPAI Detections The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an agreement with the government of South Korea that significantly reduces negative impacts on trade should another detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occur in the United States. The agreement will allow for trade restrictions at the state level instead of the country level …

USDA Under Secretary Remains Optimistic on Trade Despite Tariffs

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

While U.S. agriculture braces for possible retaliation against American tariffs on steel and aluminum, a USDA Under Secretary remains optimistic about the future of trade. AgriMarketing Dot Com says the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs, Ted McKinney, was in Japan when the tariffs were announced. McKinney told reporters that while talking with Japanese leaders, there was absolutely no …

USDA Decides Not to Impose Additional Regulatory Requirements for Organic Producers and Handlers

Dan Industry News Release, Organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the decision to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule published on Jan. 19, 2017. The rule would have increased federal regulation of livestock and poultry for certified organic producers and handlers. The withdrawal becomes effective May 13, 2018. Significant policy and legal issues were identified after the rule published …

USDA Announces More Local Control for School Meal Operations

Dan Education, Industry News Release

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Steve Censky announced two new efforts to provide states and school districts with additional flexibility and support to operate more efficient school meal programs. Censky made the announcement during a speech at the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Child Nutrition Hiring Flexibility Rule In 2015, USDA established education and …

USDA Helps Cotton Producers Maintain, Expand Domestic Market

Dan Cotton, Industry News Release

It was officially announced this past weekend that cotton producers will get a little bit of financial help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Gary Crawford has the story. Perdue Announces Renewal of Cotton Gin Cost Share Program-1 Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was in Memphis Saturday explaining why the Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) announcement was delayed. Perdue Announces …

Confirmation of Northey for USDA Applauded

Dan Industry News Release

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the Senate’s long-awaited confirmation of Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Northey will serve as Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service (FFAS)*. Perdue issued the following statement: “I applaud Bill Northey’s patience over these many months, which demonstrates what a strong leader he …

USDA Announces Program to Secure China Soybean Market

Dan Industry News Release, Soybeans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is busy preparing what it calls a “major initiative” regarding American shipments of soybeans to China. The USDA will ask soybean farmers to adopt new farming practices to minimize the amount of foreign material that gets harvested with their crops and can end up in exports to China. A program like this will depend …

USDA Talks to Grocers About the “Harvest Box”

Dan Industry News Release

The USDA public relations campaign surrounding the harvest box idea has gone before a group of the nation’s biggest grocery suppliers. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says they’re talking with grocers about their role in a proposal to replace some food stamp allocations with prepackaged boxes of groceries. Perdue told reporters last week that grocers are already adding the delivery service …