New Administration Means New Ag Secretary

Clint ThompsonUSDA

By Clint Thompson President Donald Trump’s re-election last week means a new administration for the next four years. That includes a new Secretary of Agriculture with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tom Vilsack has served as ag secretary since 2021 under President Joe Biden. Trump’s first secretary of agriculture was Sonny Perdue. Now the question becomes, who will be …

USDA Announces $33.5 Million in Grant Awards to Expand Local and Regional Food Systems

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service has awarded more than $33.5 million for 113 grant projects in 43 states and territories to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems, while increasing the availability of locally grown agricultural products. The funding will be distributed through the Local Agriculture Market Program’s (LAMP) Farmers Market and Local …

USDA NASS Results: 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Data Now Available

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – There were 212,714 farms with 53.1 million irrigated acres, which included 81 million acre-feet of water applied in the United States, according to the 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey results. The statistics were published last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). In 2018, the irrigation survey results showed that there …

November 2024 Lending Rates for Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November, which became effective Nov. 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.     “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with …

USDA Under Secretary Moffitt Highlights Investments in Organic Agriculture

Clint ThompsonUSDA

Portland, Ore. — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt attended the National Organic Standards Board fall meeting to highlight USDA’s investment in and support of the nation’s organic agricultural industry. USDA’s programs are opening new market opportunities for farmers, expanding consumer access to organic foods and helping producers take home a …

USDA Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. Members of this Committee advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing and content of periodic agricultural censuses, as well as surveys of agriculture and other related industries. The committee also makes recommendations on the content of agricultural reports and represents …

USDA Announces October 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced loan interest rates for October 2024, which became effective Oct. 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help farmers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.            “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work …

Post-Helene: USDA Offers Resources, Adds Flexibilities to Disaster Assistance Programs

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated communities, homes, farms and businesses across parts of the Southeast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deployed staff to assist with response and recovery efforts. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux traveled to Florida and Georgia with President Biden on Thursday to assess damage …

USDA Invests $1.7 Billion to Support Farmers, Deliver Nutrition Assistance

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week an investment of $1.7 billion for purchase of locally and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance. These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access to local and regional markets as …

USDA Invests Nearly $121 Million in Specialty Crops Research, Organic Ag Production

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of nearly $121 million to advance research and Extension activities that aim to solve key challenges facing specialty crop and organic agriculture producers. The investment includes $70.4 million to support specialty crop production research across the United States and $50.5 million to support farmers and ranchers who grow and …