Agriculture News
Agriculture
Sen. Ernst calls China “our nation’s number one pacing threat” after Senate votes to restrict Chinese purchases of US land
On July 25, the Senate voted to prohibit foreign adversaries from making future purchases of American agricultural land, prompting US Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to call China the primary threat to the US. Ernst tweeted on July 26 that China continues to buy farmland and encircle US military bases.
Agriculture
Torres Small: Rural healthcare grants 'are helping strengthen rural America’s health care infrastructure to build for the future'
More than five million people living in rural communities in 39 states and Puerto Rico are receiving better access to quality healthcare, thanks to a sizeable federal grant.
Agriculture
Gallagher: 'Why is the Chinese Communist Party after our seeds and our agricultural technology?'
The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held an "Iowa Roundtable on Chinese Communist Party Agricultural Technology Theft" and of U.S. lands, according to a press advisory. Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, and members Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ashley Hinson led the discussion with farmers and stakeholders on the issue’s impacts on American farming.
Agriculture
Vilsack: We are 'addressing the wildfire crisis, mitigating climate change and safeguarding the communities we serve'
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the USDA's Forest Service is accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.
Agriculture
Vilsack: USDA-WSU collaboration 'opens a new era in a long research partnership and pushes the boundaries of what is possible for agriculture'
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Plant Sciences Building at Washington State University (WSU), a collaboration with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Agriculture
Banks: 'Republicans must use the farm bill to undo the Biden administration’s downright evil decision to take away free school lunches'
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) criticized the Biden Administration for removing free school lunches at Church of Compassion Dayspring Learning Center in California because they protested against the USDA’s SOGI Title IX rule. On July 27, Banks told the Federal Newswire that Republicans in the House need to undo this act by using the Farm Bill.
Agriculture
Torres-Small: USDA investment in HBCUs will 'have ripple effects far beyond the walls of their laboratories and classrooms'
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 24 announced an investment of more than $33 million to support capacity-building efforts at 1890 Land-grant Universities. The investment will support 82 research, Extension, and education projects across the nation’s 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Agriculture
Peltola on sensitive sites bill: 'It’s critical that we protect our military sites from hostile surveillance or sabotage'
Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola has co-sponsored the Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act, saying she sees the need to increase security around sensitive U.S. sites such as military bases, such as those in Alaska.
Agriculture
Vilsack: 'We have to improve the scientific backbone of our programs'
The Biden-Harris administration plans to invest $300 million through President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda to improve climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
Agriculture
USDA’s Robert Bonnie: 'This competitive grant program has already had tremendous impacts for communities across the country'
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $7.4 million in 25 urban agriculture and innovative production grants to support community gardens and nonprofit farms.. The selected projects are part of USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and represent various states and territories across the United States.
Agriculture
Vilsack: 'We seek continuous improvement in our climate-smart agriculture and forestry efforts'
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced its plan to invest $300 million through President Joe Biden's Investing in America agenda to improve the measurement and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in agriculture and forestry.
Agriculture
USDA Secretary Vilsack: 'USDA will continue to work with our national vendor partners'
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the financial assistance application process for landowners who faced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs before January 2021.
Agriculture
Gallagher: Bill would restrict China 'and other adversaries purchasing land for malign purposes'
U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) have introduced a bill that would broaden the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' (CFIUS) jurisdiction over land purchases by foreign investors.
Agriculture
Vilsack: New USDA deputy secretary 'has dedicated her career to serving the agriculture industry and the American people'
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed the first Latino to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Xochitl Torres Small was confirmed by the Senate on July 11 in an 84-8 vote.
Agriculture
Vilsack: Working forests 'are critical to the health of our planet and the livelihoods of millions of Americans'
The federal government is investing $188 million to conserve thousands of acres of working forestland across the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last month. The funding will support 34 projects in 22 states and one territory to sustain more than 245,000 acres of working forests.
Agriculture
USDA's Vilsack: 'We have asked too much of our federal wildland firefighters for too long in return for too little'
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently called for Congress to take action and provide better pay and support for federal wildland firefighters, emphasizing the need for workforce reforms to address the growing wildfire crisis.
Agriculture
Vilsack on meat, poultry processing expansion: 'USDA is committed to championing meat and poultry processors'
In a June 29 press release, the USDA announced investments to enhance independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and support the rural workforce.
Agriculture
Congressional Western Caucus: 2023 Farm Bill should focus on 'programs that work well and are proven effective'
The Congressional Western Caucus said the 2023 Farm Bill should be focused on programs that work well and are proven effective – rather than siphoning funding and technical staff for unproven climate projects.
Agriculture
Vilsack: 'The Biden-Harris administration and USDA are standing up for America’s farmers and ranchers'
The Biden-Harris administration unveiled a novel deal with producers to strengthen markets and create Jobs for producers in 19 states. The ultimate goal of this is to strengthen the nation's food supply chain.
Agriculture
Vilsack: 'Our world's ecosystem and food supply greatly rely on pollinators'
The USDA publicly recognized National Pollinator Week, which took place in June 19-25. Their observance of this week has the aim of raising awareness in the public about pollinators, which are essential for the world's food supply.
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