Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

Release: The Government of Ecuador has asked USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize the importation of fresh Soursop (Annona muricata L.) for consumption into the United States. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment that describes potential pests associated with the commodity.APHIS ...

USDA Reminds Stakeholders to Submit PPA-7721 Suggestions by July 23, 2021

Release: The open period to submit suggestions for fiscal year (FY) 2022 Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP) funding closes on July 23, 2021, at midnight Hawaii Standard Time. Through the PPDMDPP, APHIS provides funding to strengthen ...

APHIS Issues Notice of Final Environmental Assessment for a Biological Control Agent of Common Crupina

Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA) that addresses the environmental impacts of releasing leaf-spotting fungus (Ramularia crupinae) to manage common crupina (Crupina vulgaris). After careful ...

Chairman David Scott Announces Staff Additions

News Release: WASHINGTON - House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott announced the following additions to the Democratic staff of the House Agriculture Committee.

Deadline Fast Approaching for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding producers and landowners that the signup deadline for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) current general signup is fast approaching. Eligible producers must submit their offers by July 23, 2021.

APHIS Publishes Environmental Assessment on Release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for the Biological Control of Spotted-Wing Drosophila

Release: The proposed action is intended to reduce the severity of damage to small fruit crops from infestations of spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD) in the continental United States. SWD is native to East Asia and was first detected in the United States in California in 2008. It has since established in most fruit-growing regions in North America.

USDA Files Action Against Ringer & Son Brokerage Co. Inc. in Colorado for Alleged PACA Violations

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against Ringer & Son Brokerage Co. Inc. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The company, operating from Colorado, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to nine produce sellers in the amount of $278,943 from May 2019 through December 2019.

Proposal to Exempt Plants with Additional Modifications Produced Using Genetic Engineering That are Otherwise Achievable by Conventional Breeding

Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is soliciting feedback on a proposal to add three modifications that plants could contain and be exempt from USDA’s biotechnology regulations. These modifications are similar and functionally equivalent to modifications that could otherwise be achieved through conventional breeding.

USDA Reaches a Consent Decision against Pete Blayne Burkhalter, d/b/a/ 4B Cattle for Packers and Stockyards Act Violations

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Pete Blayne Burkhalter, doing business as 4B Cattle of Springtown, Texas, on June 14, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China

Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 134,000 metric tons of soft red winter wheat for delivery to China during the 2021/2022 marketing year.

USDA Lifts PACA Reparation Sanctions on New York Produce Business

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Family Fruit 2 Inc., satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $47,025 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

APHIS Publishes Environmental Assessment on Release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for the Biological Control of Spotted-Wing Drosophila

Release: APHIS has prepared an environmental assessment for permitting the release of the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis for the biological control of spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the continental United States. Based on the environmental assessment (EA) and other relevant data, the agency has reached a preliminary determination that the release of this control agent within the continental United States will not have a significant impact on the environment.

USDA Cites Southern Produce Distributors Inc. in North Carolina for PACA Violations

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Southern Produce Distributors Inc. (SPD), Faison, N.C., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California, Nevada, New York and Puerto Rico from Operating in the Produce Industry

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions...

USDA Issues a Complaint Against Tom Agler Livestock and Related Businesses for Alleged Violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Tom Agler Livestock LLC, doing business as Tom Agler Sr., Livestock LLC; Tom Agler Trucking LLC; Rocking A Cattle LLC; Tom Agler; Tom Agler Livestock; and Rockin A Cattle (Respondent LLC) and Tom Agler, Sr., (Respondent Agler) Spencerville, Ohio, on April 26, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

USDA Announces Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy, Initiates Action to Work with Tribes, Partners and Communities

News Release: WASHINGTON, July 15, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today a new Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy to help support a diverse economy, enhance community resilience, and conserve natural resources. Through this strategy, USDA will consult with Tribes and Alaska Native ...

USDA Awards $12 Million in Record-Breaking Farm to School Grants, Releases New Data Showing Expansion of Farm to School Efforts

News Release: WASHINGTON, July 15, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $12 million in Farm to School Grants this year, announcing awards to 176 grantees , the most projects funded since the program began in 2013. The department is also releasing new data demonstrating the recent growth of ...

Schedule Advisory: Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry

News Release: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - 10:00 AM EDT.

USDA Awards $12 Million in Record-Breaking Farm to School Grants, Releases New Data Showing Expansion of Farm to School Efforts

Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $12 million in Farm to School Grants this year, announcing awards to 176 grantees, the most projects funded since the program began in 2013. The department is also releasing new data demonstrating the recent growth of farm to school...

Chairwoman Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Nominee Jennifer Moffitt