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Ranking Member Stabenow: President Trump Signs Bipartisan Farm Bill

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow applauded the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill after President Trump signed the bill into law. Stabenow co-authored the bill as Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


Peterson Statement on the Signing of the 2018 Farm Bill

News Release: Following President Donald Trump’s signing of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson released the following statement...


Chairman Roberts: USDA Rule Reflects Congressional Intent to Protect and Preserve Agricultural Biotechnology

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final rule on his landmark legislation - the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard - to protect the use of agriculture biotechnology, provide certainty to farmers and the supply chain, and ensure consumers have greater access to food information.


News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) proposed rule, which would increase obstacles for families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)...


Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China, Colombia, Mexico and Unknown Destinations

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


Chairman Roberts’ Statement on USDA SNAP Work Requirements Proposed Rule

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a proposed rule to update Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) requirements for states to qualify for waivers from work time-limits for able-bodied adults without dependents.


Chairman Roberts:  President Signs Farm Bill Into Law

News Release: WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today joined Ranking Member Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), President Trump and others at the White House for a signing ceremony of their historic, bipartisan Farm Bill.


Genome Published of the Small Hive Beetle, a Major Honey Bee Parasite

News Release: BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND, Dec. 19, 2018-Beekeepers and researchers will welcome the unveiling of the small hive beetle's genome by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues. The small hive beetle (SHB) is a major parasite problem of honey bees for which there are few effective treatments.


Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 1,199,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to China during the 2018/2019 marketing year.


Release: Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2018 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today commends the United Nations’ decision to designate 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. The United States, along with 90 other countries, co-sponsored this resolution to raise awareness of plant health issues ...


USDA Traveler Website Helps Santa and His Elves Know What Agricultural Items Can Safely Be Brought into the U.S. as Christmas Presents

News Release: APHIS Website Can Help All Gift Givers This Holiday Season Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2018 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that representatives from the North Pole were among the visitors checking out the Agency’s new ...


News Release: BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND, Dec. 18, 2018-Perhaps you know of a few quirky relatives who enjoy starting a ruckus or family debate during holiday feasts? Rather than cringe, embrace the diversity they bring to the table. In fact, extend that same appreciation to some of the food on your table, for there's an untamed relative of those plated potatoes and cranberries that's key to keeping our crops healthy, productive and available for purchase.


Release: Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2018 - The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that representatives from the North Pole were among the visitors checking out the Agency’s new traveler information web page. The site, launched in September ...


USDA Launches Second Round of Trade Mitigation Payments

News Release: (Washington, D.C., Dec. 17, 2018) – At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today launched the second and final round of trade mitigation payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of certain commodities will now be eligible to receive Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments for the second half of their 2018 production.


USDA Highlights Benefits of Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool

News Release: WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2018 — More than 21,400 dairy producers opted for coverage through the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) in 2018, up by more than 2,000 producers from the previous year. This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program was significantly updated in February by the ...


USDA Releases 2017 Annual Pesticide Data Program Summary, U.S. Food Supply is Among the Safest in the World

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published the 2017 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary. The Summary shows more than 99 percent of the samples tested had pesticide residues well below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).


USDA Confirms Virulent Newcastle Disease in a Commercial Chicken Flock in California

Release: WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2018 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a commercial chicken flock in Riverside County, California. This finding is part of an outbreak in southern California that began in May 2018 in backyard exhibition birds. This is the first case in commercial poultry since 2003.


Secretary Perdue Hosts Former Secretaries of Agriculture at USDA

News Release: (Washington, D.C., Dec. 14, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue met with four former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture today at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those in attendance included former Secretaries John Block, Dan Glickman, Ann Veneman, and Mike Johanns. The Secretaries discussed several issues including trade, wildfires, agriculture research, infrastructure, cell-based meat, and rural prosperity.


USDA Highlights Opportunities for Producers and Vendors

News Release: Apples, Grapes, Oranges, Pork, Fluid Milk and more WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 -- Earlier this week, a new USDA Foods vendor delivered 2,000 gallons of fresh milk to the D.C. Capital Area Food Bank. The delivery was one of many taking place at food banks across the country resulting from purchases made by the USDA to provide market support to the dairy industry.


USDA Updates National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards

Release: APHIS published a Federal Register notice in July 2016 notifying the public of the intended updates. During the 30 day comment period, APHIS received six comments and all were in favor of these changes. The NPIP is a cooperative Federal-State-industry program for controlling certain poultry diseases. The document can be viewed here.