The 2018 Farm Bill continues financial support of multiple programs and initiatives including the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). The new farm bill includes $185 million in funding…
Perdue Applauds USDA’s 2018 Accomplishments
…closing a total of 23 data centers as part of the Data Center Optimization Initiative. Strengthened Cybersecurity: USDA decreased the number of critical vulnerabilities per endpoint by 62 percent and…
EPA Recognizes Reducing Food Waste
…on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, a partnership among EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, to reduce food loss and waste through combined federal action….
Dollar Stores Putting Pressure on Local Grocers
…there are more dollar stores in the U.S. than there are Starbucks and Walmart stores combined. The Rural Grocery Initiative established large chain stores to be the single greatest challenge…
USDA Launches New Program to Create High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity in Rural America
…through this initiative must serve communities with fewer than 20,000 people with no broadband service or where service is slower than 10 megabits per second (mbps) download and 1 mbps…
Dollar General to Increase Fresh Produce Offerings in 2019
…the Better-For-You initiative, which includes the company’s private label, Good & Smart. Following consumer health trends, the retailer has responded by offering more than 130 products that are more health-conscious…
CCM: Farm Bill Deal Good for Citrus Future
…plant disease Huanglongbing (HLB). The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund will build upon the program created in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) title in the 2014…
New Cotton Trust Protocol Initiative
The National Cotton Council (NCC) recently introduced a new initiative intended to meet the industry’s 2025 sustainability goals. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will collect data for the purpose of…
USDA Actively Addressing Rural Veterinary Shortages
…Congressional help to address the shortage of veterinarians by encouraging the passing of the VMLRP Enhancement Act. The legislation would remove a 39 percent income withholding tax on awards received…
California Economic Summit Looks to Elevate Rural California
…initiatives aimed at spurring economic growth of communities, ensuring environmental quality, and enhancing overall opportunities for Californians. “One of the things we really started digging into these last few years…
The Economic Impact of Proposition 12
…as much as $10 million a year to enforce. The new requirements will also likely end up costing the state several million dollars a year in lost tax revenues from…
A Quick Recap of California Propositions and Their Standing
…Currently pending PROP 2 Shift in Tax Revenue: Passed PROP 3 Water System Enhancements: Currently pending PROP 4 Children’s Hospital Bond: Passed PROP 5 Property Tax Assessment Transfer: Did not…
Input Sought for Voluntary Organic Checkoff Program
…community on the most efficient way to implement a “checkoff like” program in the organic sector. The private-sector initiative dubbed GRO Organic, which is short for Generate Results and Opportunity…
Climate-Smart Agriculture Endorsed by CDFA and UC ANR in New Partnership
…that will be highly involved with the initiative are the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, Healthy Soils Program, Alternative Manure Management Program. Three UC Cooperative Extension advisors will be…