Agriculture News
Agriculture
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the USDA is partnering with rural Americans on numerous clean energy projects aimed at reducing energy costs, expanding access to clean energy, and creating jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Many of these initiatives are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which represents the largest investment in combating the climate crisis in U.S. history. Additionally, USDA unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” to help rural...
Agriculture
USDA seeks public input on standards for climate-smart biofuel feedstocks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather public input on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the impact of climate-smart farming practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. This initiative aims to establish voluntary standards for biofuel feedstocks cultivated with practices that mitigate GHG emissions or sequester soil carbon. These standards, authorized by section 2709 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, could be considered in international,...
Agriculture
USDA emphasizes biosecurity measures amid rising cases of H5N1 in U.S. dairy herds
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2024 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of biosecurity in mitigating the spread of H5N1 among dairy cattle. "The more we learn about H5N1, the more we understand that good biosecurity is a critically important path to containing the virus," he stated.
Agriculture
USDA proposes new rule targeting unfair practices in meat industry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a proposed rule aimed at addressing unfair practices and competitive injury within the livestock, meat, and poultry industries. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader strategy to foster a fairer, more competitive, and resilient supply chain in these sectors.
Agriculture
USDA outlines steps taken towards competitive food markets
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2024 – The pandemic revealed how bottlenecks in the food and agriculture supply chain threatened consumers with higher costs and reduced access to key products, while producers faced collapsed markets and unfair prices. Meanwhile, marketplace abuses in concentrated markets have been longstanding concerns in key sectors such as meat and poultry.
Agriculture
USDA announces new fund under HFFI initiative at National Rural Grocer's Summit
MONTGOMERY, Ala., June 24, 2024 – At the National Rural Grocer’s Summit today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. Funding for the new Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund (FARE Fund) is made possible by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.
Agriculture
USDA announces enhanced support for business procurement opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced enhancements to resources aimed at simplifying and streamlining access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to the USDA. These updates include new targeted contracting information on USDA.gov, improved functionality for accessing procurement opportunities, and a portal for businesses to share their capabilities with the USDA.
Agriculture
USDA announces approval of D-SNAP for Iowa disaster areas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Iowa residents recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes beginning April 26, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture
USDA approves disaster nutrition assistance for storm-hit areas in Arkansas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Arkansas residents recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes beginning May 24, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture
USDA releases updated plan for enhancing climate adaptation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its updated Climate Adaptation Plan, joining over 20 federal agencies in expanding the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to enhance federal operations' resilience to climate change impacts. The updated plans advance the National Climate Resilience Framework, aligning climate resilience investments across public and private sectors through common principles and opportunities for action.
Agriculture
USDA seeks public input on draft guidance for managing national forest old growth
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 — Tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will publish a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed national old growth forest plan amendment. The document will be available in the Federal Register and open for public comment for 90 days.
Agriculture
USDA celebrates National Pollinator Week from June 17-23
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2024 – During the week of June 17-23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing and celebrating National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species such as bees, other insects, birds, and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States.
Agriculture
Biden-Harris administration announces new clean energy investments for rural Colorado
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the USDA is making new clean energy investments in Colorado through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. The selected applications amount to more than $81 million in partially forgivable loans from the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at partnering with rural communities to deliver clean, affordable energy to rural Coloradans.
Agriculture
USDA allocates $50 million to support farmworkers through new pilot program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the allocation of $50 million to 141 awardees across 40 states and Puerto Rico through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). This initiative aims to support 177 agricultural operations and over 11,000 workers, enhancing the resilience of the U.S. food supply chain by addressing labor challenges and instability, strengthening protections for farmworkers, and expanding legal pathways for labor migration.
Agriculture
Biden-Harris administration unveils national strategy to cut food loss by half by 2030
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the White House have announced the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. This initiative is part of President Biden’s comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, food security, environmental justice, and promoting a circular economy.
Agriculture
USDA launches innovation challenge targeting agrifood breakthroughs
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) today launched a global challenge aimed at advancing scientific research to address nutrition security, climate change impacts, and equity for underserved communities. The “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” Innovation Challenge will fund transdisciplinary teams led by early-career scientists to catalyze new discoveries and transformative research addressing critical societal challenges.
Agriculture
Biden-Harris administration announces nearly $66M investment in national conservation efforts
During a meeting of the Western Governors' Association today, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced that the USDA is investing nearly $66 million for projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, protecting water quality, and improving forest health across the nation. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Agriculture
Biden-Harris administration announces initiatives strengthening tribal food sovereignty
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a series of initiatives by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Biden-Harris Administration aimed at enhancing Tribal sovereignty and fulfilling long-standing requests from Tribal Nations for better partnership with the USDA. These measures also seek to bolster the overall resilience of the food system.
Agriculture
Agriculture & Interior Departments propose $2.8 billion investment for public lands conservation
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2024 — The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior have announced a proposed investment of $2.8 billion for fiscal year 2025 through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to protect public lands and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools. Projects are planned across all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and multiple U.S. territories.
Agriculture
USDA proposes new rule targeting fairness in poultry markets
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced proposed steps to address competition issues in agricultural markets and create a fairer playing field for poultry growers and farmers. USDA is proposing the rule "Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems" to tackle abuses related to grower ranking payment systems and additional capital investment requirements commonly imposed on contract growers for broiler chicken.
Your news, delivered.
Subscribe and personalize your weekly Newswire round-up.