Articles Tagged with ''Tom Vilsack''

Lawmakers are going to be looking into concerns that meatpackers are using their market power to drive down prices paid to producers.

USDA is rolling out its debt relief program for socially disadvantaged farmers, sending out offer letters to producers eligible for direct loan relief, even as it grapples with how to pay off guaranteed loans in the face of concerns from banks worried about loss of income.

President Joe Biden this week releases his first full budget, detailing both his short-term and long-term spending priorities, while he remains far apart from Senate Republicans on a deal around infrastructure spending.

The Agriculture Department expects to start providing debt relief early next month for minority farmers who hold direct USDA loans.

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says she’s continuing to work on getting increased funding for conservation programs included in an upcoming climate infrastructure package. But the committee’s top Republican, John Boozman of Arkansas, is pushing back against including the funding in a reconciliation bill without GOP input.

The Agriculture Department issued a climate strategy Thursday that heavily focuses on measuring the impact of climate-friendly practices, taking steps to facilitate private carbon markets and ensuring all farmers can benefit financially from addressing climate change.

As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity resulting from the pandemic, USDA announced it will purchase up to $159.4 million in food products for food assistance programs.

The Senate Finance Committee is focusing today on how to fund a massive infrastructure package. The witnesses at today's hearing will include Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, who will be offering some options for structuring funding mechanisms.

The Organic Trade Association is both pleased and disappointed with USDA’s decision to reopen the comment period on a long-delayed proposed rule regulating when livestock can be considered organic.

Mexico has again postponed the deadline for the U.S. to comply with the country’s new law that would require a separate Mexican certification for U.S. organic products that enter the country.