Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) seeks comments on the development, coordination, and implementation of a food purchase and distribution program intended to provide additional aid to nonprofits serving Americans in need of nutrition assistance.

USDA Takes Action Against Missouri and Illinois Retailers for Rules Violations

Release: DENVER, CO, March 16, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced it has taken action against 23 Missouri and Illinois retailers suspected of violating USDA rules for accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

USDA Invests $598 Million to Improve and Modernize Rural Electric Infrastructure After Severe Weather and Age Test the Grid

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today a $598 million rural electric loan package to build or improve electric infrastructure in 11 states (PDF, 119 KB).

Chairwoman Stabenow Applauds Significant Expansion in Regional Conservation Partnerships

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of $75 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Alternative Funding Arrangements. The arrangements, authored by Chairwoman Stabenow in the 2018 Farm Bill, improve flexibility for local partners to work closely with farmers on innovative projects.

APHIS Proposes to Revise Requirements for Importing Sand Pear Fruit from the Republic of Korea into the United States

Release: March 11, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) for imported sand pear fruit from the Republic of Korea. APHIS is proposing to authorize imports of non-precleared sand pear fruit from the ...

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Nomination of Janie Simms Hipp to Serve as USDA General Counsel

News Release: WASHINGTON, March 15, 2021 – “I am grateful to President Biden for nominating Janie Simms Hipp, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, to serve as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I have the utmost confidence and respect for Janie. I know that she will faithfully carry out her duties ...

USDA Invests $28 Million in New Projects to Help Restore Lost Wetland Functions, Benefits on Agricultural Landscapes

News Release: WASHINGTON, March 15, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $28 million in six new Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) projects and four ongoing ones, which enable conservation partners and producers to work together to return critical wetland functions to agricultural landscapes. Partners will contribute $2.82 million, bringing the total investments to $30.82 million.

USDA Requests Information on USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Strategy

News Release: USDA Publishes Federal Register Notice for Public Input on Climate Approach WASHINGTON, March 15, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published a Federal Register Notice requesting public input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. The Notice represents an important ...

Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Announce Subcommittee Assignments for 117th Congress

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ranking Member, today announced the new Subcommittee assignments for the 117th Congress.

APHIS Proposes to Revise Requirements for Importing Sand Pear Fruit from the Republic of Korea into the United States

Release: March 11, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) for imported sand pear fruit from the Republic of Korea. APHIS is proposing to authorize imports of non-precleared sand pear fruit from the ...

Chairwoman Stabenow Congratulates Janie Hipp on USDA General Counsel Nomination

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding President Joe Biden's intent to nominate Janie Hipp to serve as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

APHIS Fully Implements Core Message Set Today

Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announces full enforcement of the APHIS Core Message Set in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Users must submit message set data for regulated products like plants, plant products, animal products, ...

USDA Wildlife Services Shares Reports on Wildlife Hazards to Aviation

By USDA Newswire | Mar 12, 2021

Release: In February, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services released. Through an interagency agreement, Wildlife Services’ Airport Wildlife Hazards Program reviews and compiles all reported wildlife strikes to the FAA National Wildlife Strike ...

USDA Cites JLD Inc. d/b/a North Country Wholesale in New Hampshire for PACA Violations

By USDA Newswire | Mar 12, 2021

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on JLD Inc., doing business as North Country Wholesale (JLD), North Conway, N.H., 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.

APHIS Seeks Comment on Draft Pest Risk Assessment for the Importation of Pineapple from the Philippines

Release: The government of the Philippines has asked USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize the importation of pineapple (Ananas comosus) for consumption into the United States and Territories. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment that describes potential pests associated with ...

Chairman David Scott and Subcommittee Chair Jahana Hayes Issue Statement Following Hearing on Food Insecurity

News Release: WASHINGTON - House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee Chair Jahana Hayes issued the following statement after today’s hearing entitled: "A Look at Food Insecurity in America"...

Chairwoman Stabenow Opening Statement at Climate Change Hearing

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following opening statement at the hearing titled “Farmers and Foresters: Opportunities to Lead in Tackling Climate Change." Live video of the hearing is available here.

Chairman Scott Opening Statement: A Look at Food Insecurity in America

News Release: WASHINGTON- House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott delivered the following statement at today's hearing entitled: "A Look at Food Insecurity in America"...

USDA Partners with Puerto Rico Dept. of Agriculture to Eradicate Cattle Ticks

News Release: WASHINGTON, March 11, 2021-The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced that a vaccine used in combination with safer pesticides has eradicated a multi-pesticide resistant population of cattle ticks from a dairy and beef production farm in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.

At Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing, Farmers and Foresters Urge Solutions to the Climate Crisis