Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says Sam Clovis doesn’t have credibility for the post-Clovis is nominated to serve at the Department of Agriculture. Clovis is the nominee for the undersecretary for research, education, and economics, commonly known as USDA’s chief scientist position. Vilsack said recently that Clovis’ positions on things like climate change “create a barrier for him that will …
USDA Restructuring Efforts Move Forward
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue last week announced further Department of Agriculture restructuring under his plan announced in May. Perdue says the work streamlines bureaucracy, improves efficiency and makes the federal agency more customer friendly. The actions involve innovation, consolidation and the rearrangement of certain offices into more “logical organizational reporting structures,” according to USDA. The most notable change is the …
Secretary Perdue Announces USDA Improvements
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the realignment of a number of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to improve customer service and maximize efficiency. The actions involve innovation, consolidation, and the rearrangement of certain offices into more logical organizational reporting structures. The changes build on the reorganization Perdue announced in May. As with the previous …
Agri View: Costly and Abused Help
Everett Griner talks about a government program that is costly and abused in today’s Agri View. I suppose every community in America has its own program to help feed the low income and other families that are nutritionally at risk. The USDA has WIC. That is Woman, Infants, and Children. It is one of the costliest programs administered by …
USDA Seeks Public Input on Updates to Animal Welfare Act Licensing Requirements
Announcement During Week of 51st Anniversary of Law Protecting Animals in Research & Exhibition Marking the 51st anniversary of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asked for input from the public to help determine potential updates to the law’s licensing requirements. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), …
Farm Computer Ownership Report Released by USDA
A report by the Department of Agriculture shows farm access to the internet is increasing. The 2017 USDA Farm Computer Usage and Ownership report show that nationally, 73 percent of farms have computer access. Of those farmers having computer access, 72 percent, up one percent from 2015, own or lease a computer. To connect to the internet, eight percent of …
USDA Rolls Out New APHIS Compliance Database and Search Tool
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is pleased to announce the rollout of the refined public search tool that provides access to Animal Welfare Act compliance records. The public search tool is a component of the Animal Care Information System (ACIS) and will allow APHIS to make animal welfare information publicly available and …
Two Year Effort to Restore Southeast Longleaf Pine Forests
This summer, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service released their two-year implementation strategy to help private landowners restore and protect 400,000 acres of longleaf pine forests across the Southeast. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education …
Funding to Encourage SNAP Participants to Purchase Healthy Foods
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced 32 grants totaling $16.8 million to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, authorized by the 2014 …
USDA and SCORE Launch Innovative Mentorship Effort to Support New Farmers and Ranchers
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed a Memorandum of Understanding with officials from SCORE, the nation’s largest volunteer network of expert business mentors, to support new and beginning farmers. This agreement provides new help resources for beginning ranchers, veterans, women, socially disadvantaged Americans and others, providing new tools to help them both grow and thrive in agri-business. “Shepherding one generation …