Stories by USDA Newswire on Federal Newswire

News Release: (Washington, D.C., June 8, 2018) - Following the release of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Stop Youth Opioid Abuse public service announcement campaign, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett issued the following statement...

As Promised, Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Find Common Ground in Bipartisan Farm Bill

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today released the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Committee will meet to consider the legislation at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on June 13.

As Promised, Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Find Common Ground in Bipartisan Farm Bill

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today released the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Committee will meet to consider the legislation at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on June 13.

Under Secretary McKinney to Lead Japan Trade Mission

News Release: Washington - U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney will lead a trade mission to Japan June 11-15, joined by numerous U.S. business and state government leaders seeking to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.

USDA Announces $309 Million Investment in Rural Electric Utilities

News Release: Loans Will Improve System Efficiency and Resiliency in 12 States CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, June 7, 2018 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is investing $309 million in 16 projects to improve rural electric infrastructure in 12 states.

USDA Announces Producer Approval of California Federal Milk Marketing Order

News Release: WASHINGTON, June 7, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that California dairy producers have voted to approve a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) for the entire State of California. As a result of this favorable vote, USDA today published a final rule in the Federal Register ...

USDA’s Farmers.gov Receives $10 Million in Funding for Development

News Release: WASHINGTON, June 7, 2018 – Today, the Technology Modernization Fund Board (Board) awarded funding to support the development of USDA’s Farmers.gov customer experience portal, which helps better connect America’s farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and private foresters with vital USDA resources and programs. The Board is chaired by the Federal Chief Information Officer for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

USDA Recognizes Japan as Free of Two Swine Diseases

Release: Summary:USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is recognizing Japan as being free of classical swine fever and swine vesicular disease. APHIS made a risk evaluation available for public review and comment through a previous notice. No comments were received. View the final determination here.

USDA Announces $309 Million Investment in Rural Electric Utilities

News Release: CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, June 7, 2018 - Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is investing $309 million in 16 projects (PDF, 107 KB) to improve rural electric infrastructure in 12 states.

Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Announce Farm Bill Consideration

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Committee will hold a business meeting to consider the 2018 Senate Farm Bill. Legislative text and summaries will be available at ag.senate.gov prior to the meeting.

USDA Announces National Pork Board Appointments

By USDA Newswire | Jun 6, 2018

News Release: WASHINGTON, June 6, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of six members to serve on the National Pork Board. Five appointees will serve three-year terms and one appointee will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position.

USDA and FDA Announce Key Step to Advance Collaborative Efforts to Streamline Produce Safety Requirements for Farmers

News Release: WASHINGTON, June 5, 2018 - As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing effort to make the oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient, USDA and FDA today announced the alignment of the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA’s) Produce Safety Rule.

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

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California 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 failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California, Illinois, Texas and Virginia from Operating in the Produce Industry