…the need for food assistance permanently. To combat hunger, Babineaux-Fontenot encourages individuals to start locally by visiting FeedingAmerica.org. The site provides tools to locate nearby food banks and offers opportunities…
USDA to Gather 2024 Crop Data from California Producers
…phone, or by mail. Those who haven’t responded by November 29 may be contacted by NASS representatives for assistance. NASS Pacific Regional Director Gary R. Keough emphasized the importance of…
Sustainable Vineyards Expand in California
DepositPhotos image Courtesy Sustainability in Practice Certified® program Twelve vineyards in California have joined the Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified® program, bringing over 2,500 acres of environmentally responsible, socially equitable,…
USDA Announces Investment to Conserve Forestlands Nationwide
…President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, is part of the Forest Legacy Program and aims to protect working forests that contribute to rural economies. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that these…
Almond Update: California Almonds Address Market Access Challenges in Italy
…of the Pre-Export Check (PEC) program, industry training sessions, PEC webinars, and the annual handler audits—all designed to uphold high safety and quality standards. Kulkarni also emphasized the strong partnership…
Salton Sea Restoration Project Expands to Protect Air Quality and Wildlife
…Sea Management Program (SSMP) announced the expansion of its Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project at the south end of the Salton Sea, aimed at supporting regional air quality and wildlife….
USDA Invests $85 Million to Boost Organic Market Opportunities Nationwide
…Organic Market Development Grant Program, a key piece of its $300 million Organic Transition Initiative, aimed at expanding both market opportunities and infrastructure for organic producers. In one example of…
Deadline Approaching for California Farmers to Apply for Conservation Assistance
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has announced federal assistance opportunities for agricultural producers for Fiscal Year 2025. While applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)…
California Expands Program to Double Nutrition Benefits for Low-Income Shoppers at Farmers’ Markets
…Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) Expansion. This program offers matching funds to increase the amount clients in nutrition assistance programs, like WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs (SFMNP), can spend…
CDFW Now Accepting Applications for Wolf-Livestock Loss Compensation Program
DepositPhotos image The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for direct loss compensation under the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program (WLCP). Livestock producers who have experienced confirmed…
U.S. Census Bureau Finds Child Supplemental Poverty Rates Lower Than Official Rates in Most States
DepositPhotos image The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest report, Poverty in the United States: 2023, highlights a significant trend: in 46 states and the District of Columbia, the child Supplemental Poverty…
NRCS Announces $1.5 Billion for Conservation Projects Aimed at Climate Action and Resource Protection
Courtesy USDA/NRCS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a landmark $1.5 billion investment in 92 conservation projects under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)….
New Legislation Aims to Support Farmers’ Financial Needs for 2024
DepositPhotos The Farm Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act, introduced last month and supported by over 40 members of Congress, seeks to address immediate financial needs in the farming community….
USDA Awards $33.5 Million to Boost Local Food Systems Across 43 States
…This funding, provided through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), supports 113 projects in 43 states and territories through three grant programs: the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), the Local…