USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting the 2021 Organic Survey to gather new data on certified organic crops and livestock commodities in the United States. USDA says the effort is critical to help determine the economic impact of certified organic agriculture production on the nation. NASS is mailing the survey to all known certified…… MORE
Richard Blum Dies, Husband of California Sen. Feinstein
WASHINGTON (AP) — Richard Blum, husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 86. Feinstein announced her husband’s death in a statement Monday morning that said her “heart is broken today.” She said her husband, a wealthy San Francisco investor, “left things better than he found them”…… MORE
California, Oregon, Washington to End School Mask Mandates
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — School children in California, Oregon and Washington will no longer be required to wear masks as part of new indoor mask policies the Democratic governors of all three states announced jointly on Monday. “With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update…… MORE
Vilsack says Ag Outlook is Strong
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack gave the keynote address last week at the USDA’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. The Hagstrom Report says that the secretary called the outlook for U.S. agriculture “bright, strong, and positive” despite the problems around the world. When asked about the impact of the battle in Ukraine, Vilsack said it’s too early…… MORE
CDC Relaxes Masking Guidelines – Most of California Still in Red Masking Zone
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The CDC relaxes guidelines for masks on Friday, however, not all areas are in the clear. The vast majority of Americans will no longer live in areas where indoor masking in public is recommended based on current data. According to the CDC map, however, there is still a high level of…… MORE
USDA Commits $215 Million for Food Supply Chain
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will make available $215 million in grants and other support to make America’s food supply chain more resilient. The financing will help expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply chain, and create jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association…… MORE
Newsom Awards $50 million in grants to 19 California Communities For Homeless Shelter or Housing-Fresno Gets $5 Million
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the award of $50 million in grants to 19 communities throughout California to provide shelter or housing for 1,401 individuals currently experiencing homelessness in encampments. In September 2021, Governor Newsom set a goal of cleaning 100 encampments – since then, the state has cleaned 431 encampments, working with…… MORE
Port Infrastructure Funding
The Biden Administration announces $450 million in grant funding for port-related projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program. The grants can help ports expand capacity and improve the movement of goods through U.S. supply chains. The Department of Transportation says the effort is the largest investment in the program ever, made possible by the Bipartisan…… MORE
Organic Dairy Farms See Slower Productivity Growth
Organic dairy farm production growth is slower than conventional operations, according to new data from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Productivity is measured as total factor productivity, the ratio of the total amount of goods produced relative to all the inputs such as labor, fertilizer, and other costs used to produce those goods. USDA researchers studied…… MORE
Organic Dairy Farms See Slower Productivity Growth
Organic dairy farm production growth is slower than conventional operations, according to new data from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Productivity is measured as total factor productivity, the ratio of the total amount of goods produced relative to all the inputs, such as labor, fertilizer, and other costs used to produce those goods. USDA researchers studied…… MORE
