Funding is available in three focus areas, including grazing lands, organic systems and soil health USDA is offering grants for innovative ideas for conservation strategies and technologies. USDA’s Natural Resources…
FCA Reports on Agricultural Economic Conditions
The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) released a quarterly report on economic issues affecting agriculture and updated the financial condition of the Farm Credit System. The report says the USDA is…
Farmers Decline to Get Involved in USDA/GIPSA Suit
Many farmers were upset for months about a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to withdraw the interim final rule from the Grain Inspections, Packers, and Stockyards Act (GIPSA). Politico says…
USDA Highlights $40 Million in Infrastructure Investments in Rural Communities
Funding Helps Improve Streets, Transit Facilities and Other Structures to Spur Economic Growth and Create Jobs Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in Fiscal Year…
Tips to Keep Holiday Food Safe at Home or When Traveling
…food safety practices at foodsafety.gov and follow @USDAFoodSafety on Twitter. Consumers with questions about food safety can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live…
NRCS Invests 84.6 Million Through EQIP for 2017
…water conservation and water quality and forest-related conservation for both proactive and post-fire assistance. Farmers, ranchers and private non-industrial forest owners statewide voluntarily partnered with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service…
USDA Predicts Less Corn in Storage in Latest WASDE
…bushels. That prediction comes as USDA previously projected soybean planted acres to reach a record 91 million acres in 2018. USDA left the season average price for corn unchanged from…
Senate Ag Committee Approves Vaden as USDA General Counsel
…all Republican members of the committee to vote in favor of the nomination, according to the Hagstrom Report. Stabenow said she was voting to move the nomination forward because” USDA…
McKinney: Farmers Need NAFTA Backup Plan
Farmers need a backup plan if the U.S. exits the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), according to a top Department of Agriculture official. Ted McKinney, USDA undersecretary for trade…
USDA Ends Prevented Planting +10 Percent Option
…field offices, USDA eliminated the Prevented Planting +10 Percent Option for the 2018 crop year and future crop years. USDA kept the five percent option for farmers, though analysis shows…
Can Corn and Oil Live Together?
…nomination of Bill Northey to a USDA post. It’s a retaliatory move after corn-state senators killed an effort by the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken the Renewable Fuels Standard. After…
APHIS Wildlife Services to Begin Field Trials on Feral Swine Toxic Bait
In November, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) accomplished two key tasks as part of its efforts to evaluate an oral toxic bait for use with invasive feral…
USDA to Revisit Standard for Beef Carcass Grades
…Uden says the updates to the beef standards will improve accuracy by basing carcass quality grades on the most current scientific data available. Following a petition led by NCBA, USDA’s…
USDA to Allow States Flexibility for SNAP
…Report says USDA will allow states more flexibility in managing SNAP. Brandon Lipps, the acting undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumers services says the USDA will allow more flexibility in…