…$5.8 billion to the farm sector in 2020. The PPP was a non-USDA assistance program for small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. Total Federal Government payments to the farm…
Groundwater Recharge Legislation Takes Effect January 1, 2024
…Senator Angelique V. Ashby. It was co-sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). This bill empowers the Newsom Administration and future governors to implement long-term strategies, including regulations…
California Well-Represented in Southeast Asia Trade Mission
…Biden-Harris Administration, as evidenced by the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Under Secretary Taylor said in a press release. “Through this agribusiness trade mission, USDA is proud to support that partnership,…
Feds Feed Families Program Milestone
…campaign in which this past summer, thousands of federal employee volunteers across the country worked in all sorts of ways to encourage donations of food to food banks, pantries, and…
CIAO Standards Act to Streamline Revisions to Organic Standards
…of the most trusted consumer labels. However, the organic sector has outpaced the federal regulatory system in recent years, hindering innovation and continuous improvement. The CIAO Standards Act addresses this…
NCBA: OFF Act a ‘Narrow-minded’ View of Checkoffs
…with entities that employ a registered federal lobbyist. That is a pretty obvious attack on the National Cattle Beef Association, and other checkoffs as well, not just us,” he said….
A Pilot to Improve Ag Workforce
…to domestic ag employers meeting federal employment criteria with grant applications sue November 28. More details are available online at www.ams.usda.gov/FLSP. Ron Bain reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in…
Lawmakers Seek Fresh Produce Procurement Reform
The Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act of 2023 seeks to improve federal food distribution while also supporting farmers and ranchers. Introduced last month, the legislation would bolster the U.S. Department…
USDA Makes $3 Billion in Climate-Smart Investments Available to Producers
…federal investments in climate, clean energy, and related areas reach marginalized communities burdened by underinvestment and pollution. Following the recent record interest in USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) resources,…
New Crop Insurance Program for Controlled Environments
…on inventory values reported by the producer, and provides coverage against plant diseases when the plants must be destroyed under a federal or state destruction order. The Controlled Environment program adds to…
More Than $100 Million Available for California Conservation
…news release. “With the addition of the Inflation Reduction Act, we will be investing approximately 50 percent more federal funding to help producers address their unique resources concerns and help…
USDA Expands Access to School Breakfast and Lunch
…and federal support. Previously, at least 40 percent of students had to live in households participating in federal assistance programs for a school or school district to be eligible for…
New Grant Program Seeks to Address Workforce Challenges
A new pilot program that seeks to bolster the food and ag supply chain and tackle farm workforce challenges has been introduced by the Biden-Harris Administration. The Farm Labor Stabilization…
Colorado River Basin Survey Highlights Ag Concerns
…the Western Landowners Alliance (WLA) and the University of Wyoming, spotlight a substantial “trust gap” between ag water users and state and federal agencies. It appears most individuals in the…