More than agriculture at USDA, but not in its name It took little more than a shake of the head and a few reproachful words for House Agriculture chairman Kika de la Garza to sink a Clinton-era proposal to change the USDA’s name to the Department of Food and Agriculture…. Continue reading
(AGInsider) The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and what better time to sit back, reflect, and think about all we have to be thankful for. In our country, we are so lucky we have an abundance of safe, affordable food. What is your favorite Thanksgiving day dish? I like… Continue reading
We Americans should really be thankful for the great human beings, who make up our heritage, the people who built this great country we call home. 102 immigrants walked onto the Mayflower, a little ship of 113 feet and crossed the massive Atlantic Ocean. The Pilgrims sailed into Massachusetts on… Continue reading
Near-record U.S. ag exports seen with China back as top customer With expectations that the coronavirus will eventually recede, U.S. farm exports will catapult to a near-record $152 billion during the fiscal year that started on Oct. 1, said the USDA on Monday. China was forecast to import a record… Continue reading
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the official launch of the AskUSDA Contact Center program. The AskUSDA Contact Center will serve as the “one front door” for phone, chat, and web inquires, transforming how the public interacts with USDA and providing an enhanced experience for the… Continue reading
After decades of decline, food’s share of personal spending holds steady Since the turn of the century, Americans have spent roughly 10 percent of their disposable income on food each year, two decades of stability that may reflect a leveling-off of U.S. incomes, say two USDA economists. Their analysis provides… Continue reading
‘Justice’ bill would transfer up to 32 million acres to Black farmers Black-owned farmland could expand sevenfold under a bill filed by three Democratic senators on Thursday to reverse decades of discriminatory practices by the Agriculture Department, sometimes called “the last plantation.” The Justice for Black Farmers Act would enable… Continue reading
(AG Insider) Black-owned farmland could expand sevenfold under a bill filed by three Democratic senators on Thursday to reverse decades of discriminatory practices by the Agriculture Department, sometimes called “the last plantation.” The Justice for Black Farmers Act would enable Black farmers to acquire up to 160 acres apiece at no charge… Continue reading
USDA exempts family farms from limit on farm subsidy recipients In a reversal, the USDA said on Wednesday that family-run farms are not subject to a rule that tightens eligibility standards for crop subsidies — the opposite of what it announced three months ago. A small-farm advocate criticized the “correction,”… Continue reading
Alliance including farm groups seeks tax credits to fight climate change The government would create a range of tax credits to encourage carbon sequestration in the soil and forests, deploy “digesters” nationwide to convert manure into energy, and work more aggressively to reduce food waste if it follows the recommendations… Continue reading
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