News and reports from the Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income New Mexico residents recovering from the impact of wildfires and flooding beginning June 17, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2024 – On July Fourth, the aroma of barbecue will fill the air as festivities bring together family and friends to celebrate with quintessential American cooking pastimes: grilling and smoking. Food is a significant staple when it comes to celebrating Independence Day, aside from the fireworks. Whether sizzling burgers on the grill or slow-cooking ribs in the smoker, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service is urging everyone to take food safety precautions during food preparations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from...

GENEVA, N.Y., June 26, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today for a new USDA grape research facility on the Cornell AgriTech campus.

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...

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,...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.