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
Category Archives: Agriculture News
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
Vacant Ag Trade Positions
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley called on President Biden to fill a couple of key USDA positions that deal with agricultural trade. He wants qualified officials appointed to the positions of Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “I write to…… MORE
USDA Creates Dairy Donation Program
Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh is announcing the establishment of a $400 million Dairy Donation Program. The program aims to facilitate timely dairy product donations while reducing food waste. The establishment of DDP is part of the $6 billion pandemic assistance USDA announced in March and follows last week’s announcement of the…… MORE
USDA Updates CFAP 2.0
The Department of Agriculture announced Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, or CFAP 2, funds for contract livestock producers and specialty crop growers. CFAP 2 assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19. USDA announced $1 billion is available through the program to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry for revenue…… MORE
