Articles Tagged with ''rural development''

Robert Bonnie, President Joe Biden’s pick to oversee USDA’s farm and conservation programs, insisted Thursday that the administration has the legal authority to use the Commodity Credit Corp. to incentivize climate-friendly farming practices.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators Tuesday that his department is working on measures that will “significantly” increase U.S. meatpacking capacity, a top priority of producers who believe industry concentration is depressing livestock prices.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget calls for millions of dollars to support new farmers and ranchers. Specifically, it proposes $10 million for beginning farmer and rancher training and farm management apprenticeship programs, which is a new budget proposal but still less than some farm advocates were hoping.

President Joe Biden's $2.7 trillion infrastructure plan would address some long-standing needs in rural America with substantial new funding for roads, bridges, waterways and broadband, but the plan doesn't provide the major boost in farm conservation spending that many ag groups say is needed to get more farmers to adopt climate-smart practices.

The Department of Agriculture is extending its moratorium on evictions and foreclosures on home loans that might be lagging in payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

USDA is getting three new deputy undersecretaries, including a strong proponent of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to help lead the department in the Biden administration.

USDA will provide $1.6 billion in loans and loan guarantees to rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 21 states, the Trump administration announced Monday.

Democratic congressmembers are advocating for more attention to rural areas in the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.