Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

News Release: WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2021 — USDA and the Department of Commerce decided in December 2020 to change the way they define “agricultural products” when reporting international trade data. Beginning with the release of the January 2021 monthly trade data on March 5, USDA will adopt the World Trade Organization’s ...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Leadership in Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area

News Release: WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today the appointment of Gloria Montaño Greene as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) and the appointment of Zach Ducheneaux as Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). They will begin their positions on Monday, Feb. 22.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Leadership in Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today the appointment of Gloria Montaño Greene as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) and the appointment of Zach Ducheneaux as Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). They will begin their positions on Monday, Feb. 22.

Join a Free Webinar on February 25 to Learn How Avian Influenza Affects Us All

Release: Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 2021 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites you to join poultry health experts for a webinar on Thursday, February 25. As part of Bird Health Awareness Week, several poultry experts from across ...

COVID-19 Update: USDA, FDA Underscore Current Epidemiologic and Scientific Information Indicating No Transmission of COVID-19 Through Food or Food Packaging

News Release: The following is attributed to Acting USDA Secretary Kevin Shea and Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D.

Parasite Hijacks Iron in Honey Bees

News Release: BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND, Feb. 18, 2021-An Agricultural Research Service entomologist has discovered the Nosema ceranae parasite that causes major problems and death in honey bees works by hijacking its host's iron for itself.

USDA Clarifies Rules for Buying and Selling Seeds and Plants Online From Other Countries

Release: Washington - Following a months-long investigation into thousands of reports from citizens who received unsolicited seed packages in the mail last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing additional guidance to help online buyers ...

APHIS Removes Zone G from the Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica, formally Achatina fulica) List of Regulated Areas

Release: FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION. DA-2021-01. Feb. 17, 2021To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory OfficialsEffective Sept. 24, 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) removed giant African land snail (GAS) regulated area, Zone G, from the list of quarantine areas in Miami-Dade ...

Updated Schedule Advisory

News Release: [UPDATED- PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE AND TIME].

FACT SHEET: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

News Release: USDA Deploys 301 Disaster, Public Health Specialists to Assist with Federal Response WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2021 — In January 2021, President Biden released the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The plan is driven by science, data, and public health to improve the effectiveness of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 and to restore trust, accountability and a sense of common purpose in our response to the pandemic.

USDA Ready to Assist Farmers, Ranchers and Communities Affected by Winter Storms

News Release: WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the recent winter storms that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities.

Costa Applauds Announcement of New Dealer Statutory Trust to Protect Livestock Sellers

News Release: Today, following a release from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jim Costa of California applauded the agency’s move to protect unpaid livestock sellers through a Dealer Statutory Trust...

APHIS Deploys Employees to Support President Biden’s Priority to Vaccinate Against COVID-19

Release: Dear Stakeholders:President Biden recently announced his goal of distributing 100 million COVID-19 vaccines to Americans in the first 100 days of his Administration. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is leading the vaccination effort, and APHIS has deployed 119 employees to assist in several ...

USDA Ready to Assist Farmers, Ranchers and Communities Affected by Winter Storms

Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the recent winter storms that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities.

FACT SHEET: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

Release: Washington - In January 2021, President Biden released the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The plan is driven by science, data, and public health to improve the effectiveness of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 and to restore trust, accountability and a sense of common purpose in our response to the pandemic.

Biden Administration Announces Another Foreclosure Moratorium and Mortgage Forbearance Deadline Extension That Will Bring Relief to Rural Residents

News Release: USDA Extends Evictions and Foreclosure Moratorium to June 30, 2021 and Provides Additional Guidance for Servicing Loans Impacted by COVID-19 WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an extension of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums on USDA Single Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed loans through June 30, 2021. The actions announced today will bring relief to residents in rural America who have housing loans through USDA.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Monica Rainge as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

News Release: WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2021 — Monica Armster Rainge was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture today. Rainge is an agricultural lawyer and mediator. She has worked in the public and private agricultural sectors for more than 25 years. Most recently, ...

USDA Designates Five North Carolina Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated five North Carolina counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Dare, Onslow, Tyrrell, Washington and Wilkes counties who suffered losses caused by excessive rains that occurred from April 1, 2020, through Nov. 14, 2020, may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

Biden Administration Announces Another Foreclosure Moratorium and Mortgage Forbearance Deadline Extension That Will Bring Relief to Rural Residents

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an extension of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums on USDA Single Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed loans through June 30, 2021. The actions announced today will bring relief to residents in rural America who have housing loans through USDA.

USDA Takes Action Against Brooklyn (NY) SNAP Retailers for Rules Violations