News and reports from the Department of Agriculture.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently provided an increase to school meal reimbursements in response to ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic causing an increase in food costs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently released summary data for enforcement activity during in fiscal year 2021 to show the rate of overall compliance with its policies.

Release: Private exporters reported the following activity.

A livestock auction house in Arkansas recently agreed to pay a $2,500 penalty for violating the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act by allowing a shortage to occur in their custodial account, a Jan. 4 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) press release said.

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Stephen Smeal and Mendy Smeal, a Texas partnership, doing business as Fatted Calf Cattle Farms #6 (Fatted Calf Cattle), on Nov. 30, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Fresh Grapefruit for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Stephen Smeal and Mendy Smeal, a Texas partnership, doing business as Fatted Calf Cattle Farms #6 (Fatted Calf Cattle), on Nov. 30, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today a $9 million investment in new Cooperative Extension and USDA Climate Hubs partnerships to bolster climate research and connect and share climate-smart solutions directly with the agricultural community.

NIFA recently announced 17 Veterinary Service Grants Program (VSGP) Awards, seven Education, Extension, and Training (EET) grants and 10 Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) grants to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States.

Issued Jan. 13, 2022, by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S.

News Release: U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s first-year accomplishments to combat climate change and increase resiliency throughout rural America.

News Release: WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2022 – “Today, the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the United States has prevailed in the first dispute settlement panel proceeding under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The panel agreed with the United States that Canada is unfairly restricting access to its market for U.S. dairy products by breaching its USMCA commitments regarding allocation of dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs).

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, welcomed Secretary Vilsack’s statement on USDA’s work to combat climate change using the resources provided through the 2018 Farm Bill, the American Rescue Plan Act, and other ...

News Release: WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2022 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced additional regional positions, including three Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and two Rural Development (RD) State Directors.

President Biden recently supported an initiative providing $1 billion to independent meat processors through the American Rescue Plan in an effort to combat a perceived lack of competition in the meatpacking industry leading to price increases.