The Department of Agriculture is providing additional time for livestock and poultry producers to apply for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program, or PLIP. Producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing may now apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Chicken Industry Inaugural Sustainability Report
The National Chicken Council has released its inaugural sustainability report. The report provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. chickens raised for meat, known as “broilers,” and the industry’s collective progress in its environmental, broiler welfare and social impact journey, as well as efforts to build a more sustainable food system. The 2020 U.S. Broiler…… MORE
2.5 million Acres Accepted in Grassland CRP Signup
The USDA accepted offers for more than 2.5 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup. This is double last year’s enrollment and brings the total acres enrolled across all CRP signups in 2021 to more than 5.3 million acres, surpassing USDA’s goal of…… MORE
USDA Expands Help For Feed Hauling Costs
In response to the severe drought conditions in the Western U.S. and Great Plains, USDA says it plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA will update the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought-impacted…… MORE
USDA Has Pandemic Relief for Farmworkers
The Department of Agriculture announced $700 million in competitive grant funding to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program funding this week. Additionally, $20 million of the funding was set aside for at least one pilot…… MORE
USDA Seeking Labeling Meat Comments
The Department of Agriculture is seeking comments regarding the labeling of meat and poultry products made using cultured cells derived from animals. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments. FSIS will use the comments to create future regulatory requirements for labeling the food products. In…… MORE
Ag Leaders Urge Farmers to Get Vaccinated
More than 30 state and national agricultural organizations recently joined to promote vaccination among farmers and rural Americans. In an open letter to association members, the organizations added another voice to the call to get vaccinated. In addition, the groups utilized an opinion editorial published in the Des Moines Register to share a message…… MORE
Exemption Extended for Livestock Haulers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the exemption from hours-of-service requirements for livestock haulers. Advocated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the organization says livestock haulers continue to need the flexibility for the well-being of livestock during hauls, and to keep grocery stores stocked with beef during the continued disruption of COVID-19.…… MORE
Ag Secretary On Trade Forecast
The Department of Agriculture’s quarterly trade forecast shows that U.S. agricultural exports not only continue at a record-setting pace for fiscal year 2021, but they will eclipse the 2021 total in fiscal year 2022. The August forecast is USDA’s first look at expected exports for 2022. Following the report, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says…… MORE
Western House Members Ask for FEMA Disaster Declaration
More than two dozen members of Congress are asking President Biden to declare a drought disaster in the western United States as record temperatures and wildfires hit several states hard. Democrats Joe Neguse of Colorado and Jared Huffman of northern California, whose districts have been hit hard by drought and wildfires, joined 31 other…… MORE
