News and reports from the Department of Agriculture.

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that COOQ Merchants & Consulting Inc., satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $11,305 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

News Release: Washington - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance funds to address a number...

News Release: Washington -Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance funds to address a number of...

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with USA Beef Packing LLC (USA Beef) of Roswell, N.M., on April 29, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, USA Beef waived its rights to a hearing and was fined a civil penalty of $1,250.

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Jerald Hale, doing business as H&H Calf Company (Hale) of Filer, Idaho, on April 12, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Hale waived its rights to a hearing and was fined a civil penalty of $1,300.

News Release: WASHINGTON - Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Chair Antonio Delgado delivered the following statement at today's hearing titled “Examining Opportunity for Growth and Investment in Rural America"...

News Release: Washington - Landowners and agricultural producers currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) now have a wider opportunity to enroll in a 30-year contract through the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative, called CLEAR30. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding CLEAR30 - a water-quality focused option available through CRP - to be nationwide now.

News Release: Washington - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal today unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields.

News Release: WASHINGTON-The Republican leaders of the agriculture committees in Congress are highlighting a new study that confirms Democrats' proposed changes to taxes on inherited property will have a devastating impact on the next generation of family farmers and ranchers.

The US Agriculture Department published a two page notice on June 14, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

The US Agriculture Department published a one page notice on June 14, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

News Release: C & D Distributors Inc. violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award in the amount of $7,457 in March 2021. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

Release: Washington - Today in his remarks to the 42nd Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the U.S. commitment to climate smart agriculture and forestry practices, science-based rulemaking, and collaboration on addressing global food insecurity. The Secretary’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Martinez Fresh Produce LLC satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $47,803 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

News Release: 11:00 a.m. This hearing will be streamed live via YouTube. WITNESS LIST. Dr. Phanesh Koneru, President and CEO, Exela Pharma Sciences, Lenoir, NC. Ms. Ines Polonius, CEO, Communities Unlimited, on behalf of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Fayetteville, AR. Mr. Bob Fox, County Commissioner,...