Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, called on President Biden to fill a couple of key USDA positions that deal with agricultural trade. He wants qualified officials appointed to the…
California Plums Gain Market Access to Japan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that Japan has granted market access for California plums. The announcement comes after several rounds of negotiations between the U.S. and Japan,…
Contract Producers Eligible for Assistance Under Recent CFAP 2 Update
…of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities will now be eligible for assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has established October 12 as the deadline…
Dairy Donation Program Provides Funding Support to Address Food Insecurity
A new Dairy Donation Program (DDP) has been announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new $400 million program is being established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)….
USDA Announces Proposed Framework for Advancing Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2
…animals includes building an early warning system to alert public health partners to potential threats so they can take steps sooner to prevent or limit the next global pandemic. USDA’s…
First Giant Hornet Nest of 2021 Found in Washington State
…giant hornet spotting this year on August 11. A Washington state tracking team, along with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, located the…
CRP Acreage Falls Short of Goal at Just Under Three Million Acres
…enrolling four million new acres in the program. Despite not meeting USDA’s goal for enrollment, the figures demonstrate positive movement in increasing the overall acreage enrolled in the program. USDA’s…
Study Finds Genetics Rather Than Environment Are Source of THC Levels in Hemp
A recent study from Cornell University has found no link between increases in the THC content in hemp with environmental or biological stresses. Guidelines from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service note…
USDA Reports on Farm Computer Usage and Ownership
…67 percent of farms had a desktop or laptop computer, while 77 percent of farms had a smartphone. USDA collected the data as part of the June Agricultural Survey. The…
USDA Announces Improvements to the Dairy Safety Net and New Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program
…– December 2020 payments were made to their dairy farmer suppliers and a formula set by USDA. USDA will reimburse handlers and cooperatives for allowed administrative costs. USDA will contact…
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
…your local USDA Service Center. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for…
FSA Programs Offer Assistance to Drought-Impacted Producers
…of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. Information on California’s FSA opportunities can be found by visiting https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/California/index USDA reporter Rod Bain shares comments from FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux in the report…
Infrastructure Bill to Improve Broadband Access with $65 Billion in Support
…Representatives where it is expected to be taken up sometime in the Fall. The legislation specifically allocates $2 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build out broadband…
Fennel Has a Long Growing History, a Multitude of Uses
…much smaller bulbs, if any at all, and have leafier top growth. Those who live in USDA Growing Zones 6-10 can grow common fennel as a perennial or biennial. It’s…