Q&A: Yolanda Soto says Covid-19 helped boost the market for imperfect produce The Covid-19 pandemic upended the food supply chain in 2020, but massive quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico kept flowing into the border town of Nogales, Arizona. Not all of it made it to American tables,… Continue reading

Vilsack sets $700-million program to help farm and meatpacking workers Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday announced a new $700 million grant program to provide direct financial relief to U.S. farm and meatpacking workers hit hard by Covid-19. But it was unclear whether undocumented immigrants, who make up roughly half… Continue reading

Booker sees budget reconciliation advancing debt relief for farmers of color With a historic program to provide debt relief for farmers of color tied up in litigation, attorneys, advocates and policymakers say that Congress should use the budget reconciliation process to avoid further delay in providing essential relief to minority… Continue reading

Highest farm income in eight years, but one-third comes from government Higher prices for corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, and broiler chickens — top U.S. ag products — will boost net farm income to $113 billion this year, the highest since 2013, estimated the Agriculture Department on Thursday. Income would be… Continue reading

Ag leaders urge Covid-19 vaccinations in rural America While nearly half of urban Americans are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the rural rate is much lower — less than four in 10. “We still have so far to go,” said the leaders of 30 farm and agribusiness groups on Wednesday in… Continue reading

With $8.75 billion, USDA nears bottom of pandemic aid list Since it revamped its pandemic relief programs in March to “reach a broader set of producers,” the Agriculture Department has committed $8.75 billion in assistance to farmers and ranchers, including $750 million for the dairy sector and up to $1… Continue reading

U.S. hunger rate is lowest since start of pandemic After cresting at 13.7 percent at the end of 2020, the U.S. hunger rate is now the lowest, 7.8 percent, since the pandemic began in early 2020. Analysts say the expanded child tax credit, coronavirus relief programs and rebound from recession… Continue reading

Arguments over Prop 12 sizzle as implementation nears After years of fighting California’s voters-approved Proposition 12 in court, meatpackers and the pork industry are asking for more time to comply with its animal welfare requirements. Estimates of the impact on consumers when Prop 12 takes effect on Jan. 1 vary… Continue reading

High prices, strong demand mean back-to-back records for U.S. ag exports Propelled by the global economic recovery from the pandemic, U.S. farm exports will set back-to-back sales records this fiscal year and in the new year beginning on Oct. 1, the government forecast on Thursday. China would account for $1… Continue reading