Articles Tagged with ''usda''

In this opinion piece, Emily Skor and Dennis Slater discuss the need for biofuel plants to remain online to prevent shortages, price spikes, and long-term damage to manufacturing centers that provide good-paying jobs across the heartland.

Caydee Savinelli discusses how biodiversity is essential for plant breeding, pollination and diversity of food and why ensuring a sustainable food supply requires each of us to play our part in preserving our land.

Commodity groups are applauding USDA for moving forward with the new $16 billion coronavirus relief program. But many groups say the payments won’t be nearly as large as they need to be and are renewing their appeals to Congress for additional funding.

Cattle, dairy and hog producers as well as corn and soybean growers are expected to collect the largest shares of USDA’s $16 billion in coronavirus relief payments, which are designed to compensate for losses in sales or market value between January and April.

The “phase one” trade deal with China is paying off substantially for commodities like soybeans, corn, wheat and sorghum, but it’s hit or miss for specialty crop farmers, many of whom are still trying to find replacement markets.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill five open seats on the National Organic Standards Board.

Agency officials are testing new fertility drugs and adoption incentives in an effort to control the overpopulation of horses and wild burros that are damaging public lands.

Farmers can start enrolling next week for $16 billion in coronavirus relief payments, but the Agriculture Department has decided to prorate the aid to ensure there is enough money to go around, Agri-Pulse has learned.

The White House Office of Management and Budget on Friday completed its review of USDA’s plans to provide farmers with $16 billion in direct payments. That means USDA could announce signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program any day.

Farm groups are awaiting the release any day of USDA’s requirements for $16 billion in direct payments to compensate producers for the market losses caused by the coronavirus crisis. OMB completed its review of the planned program on Friday.