Agri/Washington

Secretary of Ag, Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday at the Farm Progress Show that USDA will invest $35 million to expand fertilizer capacity in seven states at the Iowa Farm Show.

USDA allocates $35 million to expand fertilizer capacity Vilsack talks fertilizer, bird flu and his future at the 2024 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

📰Policy proposal affecting agriculture...
Democrats propose net-zero ag emissions by 2050

Dems call for net-zero agriculture emissions by 2050 Policy quick hits: Another law targets Chinese ownership, Vilsack supports expanding sustainable aviation fuel credits

Fun Fact...

The USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced a new slate of economic development projects to lower costs, create jobs and upgrade critical infrastructure in rural and Tribal communities participating in the Rural Partners Network (RPN).

Biden-Harris Administration Aims to Lower Costs, Create Jobs With New Investments in Rural Partners Network Projects will Bring Clean Water and Energy to Underserved Rural Communities in 9 States and Puerto Rico FORT VALLEY, Ga., Aug. 15, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today announced a new slate of economic development projects to lower c...

📰The USDA announced it intends to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council (informally known as the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council) and is seeking nominations for Council membership. Read more...

USDA Announces Intent to Establish Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, Seeks Nominations WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it intends to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council (informally known as the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council) and is seeking nom...

Here’s how rising unemployment and an economic slowdown affect beef demand and prices in 2024.

Consumers turn to ground beef in lean economic times Beef Outlook: Here’s how rising unemployment and an economic slowdown affect beef demand and prices in 2024.

Another farm bill extension looks likely as Congress faces deadline, tough negotiations.

Another farm bill extension looks likely as Congress faces deadline, tough negotiations Getting a new farm bill across the finish line in 2024 is likely doomed against a ticking clock, hot-button issues and election year politics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable.

Changes coming to USDA’s FSA Farm Loan Programs USDA announced Wednesday that policy changes would be coming to its Farm Service Agency loan programs, effective Sept. 25. The changes will focus on helping eligible financially distressed borrowers and "removing lending barriers," FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said.

📰The Farm Credit Administration board received FCA’s 2023 Annual Report on the Farm Credit System’s Young, Beginning, and Small (YBS) Farmer Mission Performance at it's August 8th board meeting.
FCA strongly supports the System’s mission to serve YBS farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products. This year’s report showcases the initial results of a multiyear effort to improve both the quality and depth of information that the agency collects on how System institutions serve YBS borrowers.

www.fca.gov

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released a proposed rule and determination issuing that raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, comminuted chicken, and comminuted turkey products contaminated with any type of Salmonella at or above 10 colony forming units (CFU) per gram/ml and any detectable level of at least one of the Salmonella serotypes are adulterated from entering U.S. commerce.

Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products | Food Safety and Inspection Service The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Tens of thousands of farmers or would-be farmers who say they suffered discrimination when they applied for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will get one-time payments that total about $2 billion from the federal government

Federal government pays $2 billion for farmer discrimination Tens of thousands of farmers or would-be farmers who say they suffered discrimination when they applied for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will get one-time payments that total about $2 billion from the federal government.

The farm bill is already a year late. The American Farm Bureau released its Market Intel Analysis of the consequences of not finishing the legislation and adding another extension of the 2018 bill.

American Farm Bureau releases analysis of consequences of no new farm bill The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high, and time is running out. The American Farm Bureau r...

U.S. Wheat yields are up significantly since 2023. Read about how North Dakota's wheat production affects the total yield and what that means for wheat products in our food supply.

U.S. wheat yields up significantly over 2023 Record-high wheat yield projections in North Dakota for 2024 could mean expanded grain supplies and less food inflation on items like bagels, reports said following annual crop tours.

Advocates say agriculture and solar can coexist with agrivoltaics.

New twist on solar could help farmers Farmer Iron: Advocates say agriculture and solar can coexist with agrivoltaics.

Syngenta has submitted a proposed label for a new product containing dicamba and S-metolachlor. It is the third manufacturer to seek registration for a dicamba-based product since labels were vacated earlier this year.

Syngenta seeks EPA approval for dicamba product The public comment period closes August 22.

Rejecting arguments by a Missouri pork processor, U.S. District Judge William Young upheld the legality of a voter-approved Massachusetts state law that requires farmers to give breeding sows room to move around and bars the sale of pork cuts produced outside the state on farms that do not meet the Massachusetts standard.

Massachusetts animal welfare law is legal, says federal judge Rejecting arguments by a Missouri pork processor, U.S. District Judge William Young upheld the legality of a voter-approved Massachusetts state law that requires farmers to give breeding sows room to move around and bars the sale of pork cuts produced outside the state on farms that do not meet the....

The American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 500 other groups representing agriculture, nutrition, conservation, the environment, rural development and several other sectors united to send the message that programs that benefit every family in America are too important to put off any longer. Letters were sent to leaders in both chambers, and leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees to call for a new Farm Bill.

More Than 500 Organizations Unite to Call for New Farm Bill Programs that benefit every family in America are too important to put off any longer. That’s the message from the American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 500 other groups representing agriculture, nutrition, conservation, the environment, rural development and several other sectors who unit...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a forecast survey for 2024 fruit production inquiry (apples and peaches) during August 2024.

USDA to forecast fruit production HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a forecast survey for 2024 fruit production inquiry (apples and peaches) during August 2024. The survey will collect information about acreage and projected production from more than 35...

Farmers took time to meet with congressional staff and members of Congress to tell their story and express how policy impacts farming practices.

Advocating for agriculture: Farmers visit Washington to stress need for trade, insurance programs As soon as the large mahogany door in the congressional building was opened, the farmers were greeted with hellos and handshakes. “Do you want some Indiana popcorn?” the staff in Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Pence’s office proudly asked.

Grain market analyst Bryan Doherty says weather can affect supply more than anything else and is the most dominant factor in determining price.

Analyst: It’s all about weather

USDA announced an investment of nearly $110 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) and the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $110 Million in Meat and Poultry Processing to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Increase Competition, and Lower Food Costs WASHINGTON, July 11, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration is making investments that will strengthen American food supply chains, increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, create more, new and bette...

USDA's 17th crop condition report of the year was released July 22nd. Here's what it says about corn, soy, wheat and oat numbers.

Corn crop condition down week-over-week USDA released its 17th Crop Progress report of the 2024 growing season on July 22. Here's a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.

An entry point for Avian Influenza into cattle has been identified through research at Iowa State University.

ISU research identifies possible point of entry for avian flu in cattle As avian influenza is being detected in more and more dairy herds across the U.S., Iowa State University researchers have found a possible “why” connection to the virus being found in raw milk. A study published this month by a team in ISU’s College of Veterinary Medicine found that bovine mam...

The USDA is making a $14.3 billion investment in farm to school grants that will increase local foods in school meals and improve nutrition security for children.

USDA Makes Record-Breaking $14.3 Million Investment in Farm to School Grants WASHINGTON, July 15, 2024 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. These investments will help 1.9 million children ...

With Maryland and North Carolina in drought, farmers are facing catastrophic crop losses.

East Coast farmers face catastrophic crop loss due to unprecedented drought XtremeAg farmers in Maryland and North Carolina manage impact of drought on early planted corn and soybeans.

Hopes for a farm bill by the end of 2024 are dwindling.

Farm bill hopes continue to dwindle for 2024 There’s growing consensus that a farm bill is not going to happen in 2024. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association head lobbyist Ethan Lane recently said, “I still think we’re spring of next year before we really are having an honest conversation about passing a farm bill.”

House Ag Committee Chair Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-PA) pointed out the environmental stewardship of farmers in his opening statement at the committees hearing to examine the consequences of Environmental Protection Agency’s actions on American agriculture.

House Agriculture Meets to Examine Consequences of EPA Actions - Southeast AgNET The House Agriculture Committee met this week for a hearing to examine the consequences of Environmental Protection Agency’s actions on .....

USDA announced an investment of $4.5 million in funding to establish three additional USDA Nutrition Hubs in communities across the U.S.

USDA Invests $4.5 Million to Build Nutrition Hub Network WASHINGTON, July 11, 2024 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $4.5 million in funding to establish three additional USDA Nutrition Hubs in communities across the country. The new Nutrition Hubs will provide tailored and scalable approaches to eq...

One-third of American adults have never heard of the Farm Bill...

One-third of American adults have never heard of the farm bill Majority of liberal consumers believe eating less meat is better for the environment.