Opportunities coming for land stewardship, says Vilsack – April 16, 2021

Opportunities coming for land stewardship, says Vilsack The USDA is days away from announcing “greater opportunities” for landowners to take fragile farmland out of production in exchange for an annual payment, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday. Since early February, the Biden administration has been mulling how to stop… Continue reading

USDA donations of produce and dairy to replace Trump food box – April 15, 2021

USDA donations of produce and dairy to replace Trump food box The Trump administration’s much-criticized food box will be replaced for the moment by a $400 million dairy donation initiative and fresh produce distributed through a longstanding USDA program, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday. Loan guarantees proposed to… Continue reading

Big increases for rural power, WIC, ag research in Biden proposal – April 12, 2021

Big increases for rural power, WIC, ag research in Biden proposal Most of the increased spending proposed by President Biden for USDA’s so-called discretionary accounts would go to three things: Rural electricity, WIC and agricultural research. If approved by Congress, the money would accelerate the shift to cleaner electricity, help… Continue reading