U.S. Department of Agriculture
The RAPP focuses on growing export markets for American farm and food products around the world.
USDA has distributed $2.2 billion to 43,000 individuals who experienced discrimination in receiving USDA farm program services before January 2021. More than 23,000 individuals currently or previously involved in farming or ranching received between $10,000 and $500,000.
From increasing difficulty in accessing households due to new telephone technologies to concerns about data privacy and time constraints from farmers, the number of farmers participating in USDA surveys is on the decline.
Rancher Gayel Alexander is following the climate-smart money, partnering with Farm Journal’s Connected Ag Project, to maximize forage and profitability.
Jim Conlan contends Swampbuster regulation is compelled conservation—all government stick and no carrot.
Paul Neiffer reviews the important updates to the new Farm Bill proposals from the House Ag Committee.
USDA is Discontinuing A Major Cattle Report, And it Could Now Spur More Volatility For Cattle Prices
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it’s canceling the July Cattle Inventory Report. In the announcement, NASS blamed budget cuts from the most recent appropriations bills.
USDA says genetic sequencing revealed the mystery illness impacting Texas dairies is the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that’s been in the U.S. The virus is carried by wild waterfowl.
USDA NASS has released the 2022 Census of Agriculture data, which revealed important information about the current state of agriculture.
On Monday, February 5 the news of Bill Northey’s passing quickly spread through the agriculture industry, of which he dedicated his professional life to serving.
AgWeb and Trust In Food’s beta Climate-Smart Opportunity Navigator is matching producers with Climate-Smart Commodities grants tailored to their operation.
COP28’s decision to not include food and agriculture as a way to meet climate goals was influenced by a request from the G77 group of developing countries for additional review related to agriculture and food.
Some Republican House and Senate members have expressed their concerns to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, particularly regarding the new payment formula used for ERP in 2022.
As USDA prepares to release the July beef cattle inventory report, the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor forecasts only a small reduction year-over-year. If the forecast holds true, it could put a damper on cattle prices.
USDA looks to improve the future measure, monitoring, reporting and verification of ag climate emissions via a $300 million investment announced on Wednesday.
Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.
According to USDA, Russian-speaking hackers are the likely suspects. The Office of Personnel Management and two organizations within the Department of Energy also were apparently targeted or breached.
Lenders In the hearing seemed to agree on a boost to lending limits in USDA guaranteed loans as lawmakers ready for the next farm bill.
According to USDA, this funding was made available to help struggling rural communities “recover economically” and offer more market opportunities, improve infrastructure and protect farmland.
This round is for those who were delinquent on a direct loan as of Sept. 2020, restricted a loan after Feb. 2020 through FSA, or those who owe more interest on a direct loan than the level of the principal.
Sixty projects have been awarded $15.8 million by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to focus on the nation’s response and control to animal disease outbreaks.
The comment period on a proposal to amend the animal disease traceability regulations and require EID for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison has been extended 30 days, USDA APHIS announced.
To put cover crop investments in motion, NRCS would draw on federal, state and private conservationists to hire “thousands” of employees for rural America.
Closing the meat labeling “loophole,” Justin Tupper with the United States Cattlemen’s Association shares his thoughts on the recent USDA update to voluntary labeling standards and what it means for cattle producers.
“The prioritization of resource concerns must be left to the local level where producers decide how they can best address their unique and varied landscapes and needs,” said Sen. John Boozman.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Alexis Taylor for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. According to Taylor, her priorities include addressing export markets and food insecurity.
“It’s a mystery as to why the USDA began to hide the names of many recipients,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs for the Environmental Working Group.
Vilsack said USDA believes there are more options for farmers other than “get big or get out. There’s got to be a system in which the many and most have a fair shot.”
Farm Bureau’s Duvall says the rule puts farmers and ranchers in a position where they will have to hire lawyers and consultants to establish the boundaries of farming.
!["There's no cure for any of it [HPAI, FMD and ASF]," Bacus says. "The best thing we could hope to do is track and vaccinate our way out of it."](https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/048af1e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x428+0+26/resize/250x167!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffj-corp-pub.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fs3fs-public%2Flivestock_trucks-trailer_%283%29.JPG)
Under the rule, APHIS would require tags that are both visually and electronically readable for interstate movement of cattle and bison six months after a final rule is published in the Federal Register.