Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

News Release: A team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators has leveraged the power of machine-learning technology to speed the identification of health-promoting compounds in food.

USDA Posts the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Final Report  

Release: Washington - The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today posted the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s final scientific report,  an objective review of the latest available science on specific nutrition topics. The report’s evidence-based findings will inform USDA and the U.S. Department...

Trump Administration Invests $153 Million in Rural Community Facilities in 23 States

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C., July 15, 2020 - The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $153 million to build and improve critical community facilities (PDF, 224 KB) to benefit nearly two million rural residents in 23 states.

USDA Issues a Packers and Stockyards Complaint Against Amy Knight d/b/a Urbana Stockyards

News Release: Washington - As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on July 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Amy Knight, doing business as Urbana Stockyards (Urbana Stockyards) of Urbana, Mo., for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

APHIS Announces 2020 Open Period for Farm Bill Funding Opportunities Supporting Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Activities

Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking project proposals for fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). The 2018 ...

Trump Administration Invests More Than $16 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Mississippi

News Release: CARES Act ReConnect Funding to Connect 878 Rural Households to High-Speed Broadband WASHINGTON, July 14, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $16 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Mississippi. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.

USDA Cuts Red Tape to Increase Private Investment in Rural America

News Release: Department Invites Comment on Regulation Streamlining Through OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative WASHINGTON, July 14, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to increase private investment in rural communities across the country by making it easier for lenders to access four flagship loan programs.

APHIS Removes the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine Area in Devore, San Bernardino County, California

Release: FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION. DA-2020-14. 07/14/2020To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials Effective June 27, 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removed the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine ...

Torres Small Appointed to House Agriculture Subcommittees

News Release: WASHINGTON -Rep. Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico was appointed to the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management subcommittee and the Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee.

Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China

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

U.S., Japan Expand Organic Trade Opportunities, Livestock Added to Trade Arrangement

News Release: Washington - The United States and Japan announced the expansion of their organic equivalence arrangement to include livestock products. The arrangement goes into effect July 16, 2020 and reduces costs and streamlines the process for anyone involved in the organic livestock supply chain by requiring only one organic certification.

Trump Administration Invests More Than $16 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Mississippi

News Release: Washington - The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $16 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Mississippi. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.

USDA Files Action Against B & B Organics Inc. in Indiana for Alleged PACA Violations

News Release: Washington - As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against B & B Organics Inc. The company, operating from Indiana, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 23 produce sellers in the amount of $1,038,238 from June 2017 through April 2019.

USDA Announces New Members of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers

News Release: (Washington, D.C., July 13, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 15 members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers. The newly appointed members serve terms of up to two years through 2022.

USDA Cuts Red Tape to Increase Private Investment in Rural America

News Release: Washington - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to increase private investment in rural communities across the country by making it easier for lenders to access four flagship loan programs.

APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Will Continue To Accept Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates and Forms through September 30, 2020

Release: To help facilitate the clearance of imported plants and plant products during the COVID-19 pandemic, APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to accept electronically produced versions of phytosanitary certificates through Sept. 30, 2020.

APHIS Seeking Public Comment on a Request to Produce FMD Vaccine on U.S. Mainland