Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

News Release: WASHINGTON - Citing impacts to farmers, ranchers, and consumers from delays in the transition process, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota wrote to General Services Administrator Emily Murphy Monday urging the agency to proceed with a collaborative transition with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Ranking Member Stabenow Raises Concerns that the General Service Administration’s Transition Delay is Hurting Farmers, Families

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today raised concerns that the General Service Administration’s unprecedented delay in starting the transition is harming farmers and families. In a letter, Ranking ...

Ranking Member Stabenow Congratulates Secretary Kerry on Climate Appointment

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden’s appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for Unknown Destinations

Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 334,000 metric tons of corn for delivery to unknown destinations during the 2020/2021 marketing year.

Compound from Soil Bacterium Gets Reboot as Antibiotics Super Booster

News Release: Peoria, Illinois, Nov. 23, 2020-USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators continue garnering success in their tests of a compound that could bolster the potency of beta-lactam antibiotics, potentially reducing the dosages required and helping stave off resistance in the germs they're meant to kill.

Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for Mexico and Unknown Destinations

By USDA Newswire | Nov 20, 2020

Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity.

APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Lasara, Willacy County, Texas

By USDA Newswire | Nov 20, 2020

Release: Effective November 5, 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Lasara, Willacy County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or ...

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in Florida and Texas from Operating in the Produce Industry

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three 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...

Amino Acid Helps Shore Up Defenses of Swine

News Release: West Lafayette, Indiana, Nov. 19, 2020-A third round of feeding trials conducted by a team of USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists has again shown that a dietary supplement called L-glutamine can naturally promote growth and wellness in pigs.

USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case Against Victoria Livestock & Poultry Market LLC

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Victoria Livestock & Poultry Market LLC (Victoria Livestock) of Newark, N.J., on November. 17, 2020, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Victoria Livestock waived its rights to a hearing and paid a penalty of $1,700.

USDA Reaches a Consent Decision and Suspension with Michael Austin Hand for Packers and Stockyards Act Violations

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Michael Austin Hand (Hand) of Ocilla, Ga., on November. 6, 2020, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California, Maryland and North Carolina 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 Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case Against Algona Livestock LLC

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Algona Livestock LLC (Algona), Algona, Iowa, on Oct. 21, 2020, for an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Algona waived its rights to a hearing and paid a penalty of $4,000.

USDA Designates Two Minnesota Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

News Release: Washington - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two Minnesota counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in who suffered losses caused by recent natural disasters may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

USDA Forest Service Announces Key Changes to NEPA Procedures

News Release: WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2020 – The USDA Forest Service today announced the publication of a final rule implementing key changes to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The changes include new tools and flexibilities to tackle critical land management challenges as part of a broader ...

USDA Opens Registration for the 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum

News Release: The 2021 Forum Will Be Virtual and Registration Is Free (Washington, D.C., Nov. 18, 2020) – Registration is now open for the 97th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF), the largest annual meeting and premiere event of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The two-day Forum will take place ...

USDA Designates Cheyenne County, Kansas, as a Primary Natural Disaster Area

News Release: Washington - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Cheyenne County, Kansas, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses caused by excessive rain, flash flooding and flooding that occurred from July 23 through July 24, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

USDA Designates Two Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

News Release: Washington - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Sally, high winds, excessive rains and flooding that occurred from Sept. 14 through Sept. 19, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

USDA Designates Nine Vermont Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

News Release: Washington - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated nine Vermont counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Orange, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties who suffered losses caused a drought that has occurred since June 1, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

USDA Designates Kauai County, Hawaii, as a Primary Natural Disaster Area