By Clint Thompson Count the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as one organization applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for investing nearly $3 billion in selected projects under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. “Secretary (Tom) Vilsack announced $2.8 billion in funding to help develop 70 projects that will advance climate smart agriculture practices,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall. …
USDA to Mail Additional Pre-Filled Applications to Producers Impacted by ’20, ’21 Disasters
WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced another installment (phase) in assistance to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021. More than 18,000 producers will soon receive new or updated pre-filled disaster applications to offset eligible crop losses. Approximately $6.4 billion has already been distributed to 165,000 producers through USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s …
USDA Announces Details for Census of Agriculture
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2022 – Southeast specialty crop farmers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to agriculture producers across the region this fall. The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed …
USDA Announces Disaster Area From January Freeze
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. …
USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funding Awarded to South Carolina
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded more than $591,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to South Carolina. This USDA grant will help the South Carolina Department of Agriculture fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and support growers through marketing, education, and research. …
USDA to Invest up to $300 million in New Organic Transition Initiative
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details this week of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of non-certified …
USDA Moves to Protect U.S. Grapefruit
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will enforce the juice content maturity requirements on imported grapefruit. USDA will also collect the necessary data to issue a new and lasting marketing order regarding the imported grapefruit. Last fall, the USDA suspended Section 8e grapefruit juice content standards for imported grapefruit without warning. As a result, low-quality grapefruit products from abroad flooded …
AFBF Asks for USDA Help with Fertilizer Supplies
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take steps to ensure America’s farmers continue to have access to fertilizer supplies. AFBF submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns.” AFBF outlined various factors that have combined to create shortages and increase fertilizer costs including …
USDA Proposes Changes to Florida Citrus Marketing Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced proposed amendments to the Florida citrus marketing order. As recommended by the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee, changes would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the committee and revising the nomination and selection processes of committee members. The requirement of allocating committee seats based on volume from each district would also …
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. USDA’s new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will …