USDA

Organic growing web seminar scheduled

Organic growers or those transitioning to organic looking for help from the USDA can learn more about the process in a June 6 USDA web seminar. The Growing Organic with USDA web seminar is designed... more »

California fruit association calls for more pest agency funding

The California Fresh Fruit Association joined dozens of other agricultural organizations in requesting increased funding for the USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy. The office coordinates with the producer and user communities to ensure the... more »

GOP USDA budget cuts criticized by Rural Voices USA

Rural Voices USA, an organization that promotes the interests of rural Americans, is criticizing a House GOP proposal to cut USDA FY24 funding. The organization warns the zeroing-out of USDA rural funding would harm rural... more »

Pear marketing order to have election for two seats

The Washington and Oregon pear marketing order’s Fresh Pear Committee is seeking two grower member alternates from the Wenatchee, Washington, district. The election for the two alternates from the Wenatchee district (Chelan and Douglas counties)... more »

USDA-ARS research entomologist honored for insect studies

A U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) research entomologist is being honored for her work with insects as biological controls. Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, a USDA-ARS research entomologist, has been named a finalist for a... more »

Full Harvest expands online to all Grade 1 produce

Full Harvest, a leader in the battle against food waste, is expanding beyond surplus to all U.S. Department of Agriculture Grade 1 produce on its online marketplace for commercial buyers and sellers. Solving the food... more »

USDA funds $75 million in organic transition assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details on how farmers can apply for $75 million in conservation assistance to transition to organic production. As part of the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resources... more »

USDA funds invest in renewable energy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today is accepting applications for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. USDA is making $1... more »

USDA names chief diversity and inclusion officer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed L’Tonya Davis as its first permanent chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO). The CDIO will lead USDA in its ongoing efforts to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)... more »

USDA awards grants to boost U.S. fertilizer production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has received $3 billion in applications from more than 350 independent businesses for the first two rounds of a new grant program to add innovative domestic fertilizer production capacity. The... more »