News and reports from the Department of Agriculture.

News Release: President Biden’s pay initiatives will ensure frontline firefighters receive at least $15 per hour WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2021 – Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the implementation of President Biden’s pay initiatives to recognize and support federal ...

News Release: WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today an investment of $69 million to address critical food and nutrition security needs of low-income communities enduring the pandemic, enhance the resilience of food and healthcare systems impacted by the pandemic, and maximize ...

News Release: Penicillium rubens strain NRRL 1951 is better known as the mold behind large-scale production of the powerful antibiotic penicillin. Today, it became the official State Microbe of Illinois in a bill-signing ceremony that included representatives of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility where advances in deep-tank fermentation more than 77 years ago helped make the mold's life-saving drug available for use on the frontlines of World War II.

Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today an investment of $69 million to address critical food and nutrition security needs of low-income communities enduring the pandemic, enhance the resilience of food and healthcare systems impacted by the pandemic, and maximize funds reaching...

News Release: Washington - Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program  (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021.

Release: ATLANTA, Aug. 17, 2021 - Low-income Tennessee residents recovering from recent severe storms in three counties - Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson, could be eligible for a helping hand from USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) announced today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity.

News Release: WASHINGTON - House Agriculture Committee Releases mid-year highlights of activity completed thus far.

Release: SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 16, 2021 - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a 23% increase, or $1.86 million in annual nutrition assistance for American Samoa. In fiscal year 2022, which starts Oct. 1, 2021, the territory will receive $10.047 million grant for the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). In fiscal year 2021, American Samoa received $8.185 million for NAP.

News Release: First Update in More Than 45 Years Reflects Current Cost Realities WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan , used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief – will increase for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.

Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, the average SNAP benefit - excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief - will increase for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.

Release: Washington -Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 132,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to unknown destinations during the 2021/2022 marketing year.

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement on the release of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, as required under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Release: ROBBINSVILLE, N.J., Aug. 16, 2021 - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a 23% increase, or $463.8 million in annual funding for nutrition assistance in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In fiscal year 2022, which starts Oct. 1, 2021, the Commonwealth will receive $2.5 billion grant for the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). In fiscal year 2021, Puerto Rico received $2.038 billion for NAP.

News Release: WASHINGTON - House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Chair Sanford Bishop sent the following letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai in regard to European non-tariff trade barriers impacting peanuts. The full text of the letter is as follows...