USDA

USDA: Protect your PACA rights

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reminding buyers and sellers of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables subject to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) how to preserve their rights when using electronic invoicing. Buyers... more »

$500 million grant program seeks to lower fertilizer cost

The Joe Biden administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the... more »

USDA seeks input on H-2A labor program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a new grant program it says will address labor shortages in agriculture, reduce irregular migration through increased use of legal pathways, and improve labor protections for farmworkers. USDA’s Farm... more »

USDA updates two crop insurance programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to producers. This includes doubling the maximum... more »

Florida to receive $25 million for local food programs

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service has signed an almost $25 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund local food purchases. The $24.8 million agreement under the Local Food... more »

USDA allocates $550 million for projects for underserved producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating up to $550 million to support projects that enable underserved producers to access land, capital, and markets, and train the next, diverse generation of agricultural professionals. These investments... more »

USDA awards $73 million in specialty crop grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding almost $73 million in fiscal year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding. The $72.9 million in grants, through the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, will be used for... more »

USDA program gives Minnesota schools $3.5 million to buy local food

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has signed a $3.46 million agreement with Minnesota to increase purchases of local foods for school lunch programs. The agreement, through the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is the first... more »

USDA devotes $300 million to ease transition to organic production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making a $300 million investment, the Organic Transition Initiative, to help new spur growth in the organic sector and fulfill consumer demand while opening revenue streams for growers. Agriculture... more »

USDA seeks drop in food losses, waste

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to feature the newest food loss and waste mitigation technologies at the second virtual Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair. The Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair is from... more »