USDA
Western Growers, USDA to host strawberry crop insurance meetings
Western Growers is working closely with USDA's Risk Management Agency to enhance and improve the current strawberry crop insurance program. In the latest effort to tailor the program, the two organizations have planned two informational... more »
USDA awards $14.5 million for plant resilience research
USDA has awarded more than $14.5 million in grants to support research into plant health, production and resilience. These grants were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational program, authorized by the... more »
USDA cites Old Fashion Honey Corp for PACA violations
USDA has cited Old Fashion Honey Corp., doing business as U.S. Food Logistics, Delray Beach, Florida, for failure to pay for produce. The company failed to pay $1,239,751 to five sellers for 30 lots of... more »
USDA extends deadline for recording farm structure
The USDA is providing farms a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level... more »
Secretary Vilsack releases statement on organic sector report
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has released a statement on the Organic Trade Association's report that the organic sector posted its largest-ever dollar gain in 2015. Total organic product sales grew by $4.2 billion, reaching $43.3... more »
Reuters: USDA to join panel reviewing ChemChina, Syngenta deal
The USDA will join the government panel reviewing ChemChina’s planned acquisition of Syngenta, according to Reuters. U.S. Senators wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew requesting that the U.S. Department of Treasury and USDA... more »
$130 million available for foundational agricultural research
The USDA is making $130 million in funding available for research, education, and extension projects to support sustainable, productive and economically viable plant and animal production systems, including certified organic production. This funding is available through the... more »
Spring climate trends changing in the Northeast
You might have noticed spring-like weather in the Northeast is arriving earlier than usual. There is reliable evidence from many studies that conditions in the Northeast and upper Midwest have become warmer and wetter in... more »
Agricultural Marketing Service updates user fees
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has published 2016 rates it will charge for voluntary grading, inspection, certification, auditing and laboratory services for a variety of agricultural commodities including meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy products,... more »
Funding available for antimicrobial resistance research
The USDA is making $6 million available to fund research to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This funding is available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, and administered... more »