USDA

USDA ag advisory committee members appointed

The USDA and U.S. Trade Representative’s Office have appointed 130 representatives to serve four-year terms on seven agricultural trade advisory committees, including the Agricultural Technical Advi... more »

Organic transition webinar scheduled

A series of webinars will tackle how growers can transition to organic production. The first one, scheduled for Aug. 29, Navigating the Transition to Organic: A Roadmap for Success, is scheduled fo... more »

USDA awards $72.9 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced $72.9 million awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). ... more »

Blue Diamond launches its USDA grant program

Blue Diamond Growers launched its USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant Program with its 3,000 grower-owners this week. The program is a major step in expanding the use of climate-smar... more »

USDA, WSU break ground on new agricultural research facility

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Plant Sciences Building that will house scientists from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and ... more »

Congressional ag funding delays criticized by Rural Voices

Rural Voices USA, an organization that promotes the interests of rural Americans, is expressing opposition to Republican efforts delaying passage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture FY24 funding bil... more »

USDA invests $33 million to support research, Extension and education projects

The USDA announced an investment of more than $33 million to support capacity-building efforts at 1890 Land-grant Universities. This investment, administered through USDA’s National Institute of Foo... more »

New agricultural officers sworn into foreign service

Alexis M. Taylor, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs for USDA, administered the oath of office to 11 employees of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service who will serve American ... more »

Georgia, Southeast counties named disaster areas after March freeze

The United States Department of Agriculture has declared 18 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas. The disaster declaration follows March freezes that damaged Georgia’s peach and pec... more »

USDA working group to battle spotted lanternflies

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced a strategic plan to battle spotted lanternflies, pest that harms many fruit, vegetable and nut crops. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection S... more »