Ben Nuelle

Key USDA watershed programs that fund agricultural waste management, water quality, and flood prevention projects would get $918 million through the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package awaiting a final House vote.

Food and farm workers who’ve suffered financially from the COVID-19 pandemic will now be able to get help from the Department of Agriculture through grant funds totaling $700 million.

House and Senate Ag Committee Republicans are urging the Food and Agricultural Climate Alliance to join them in calling on Democrats to hold public hearings ahead of considering ag spending in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Committee Chairman David Scott, D-Ga., has announced a business meeting for Friday to consider the reconciliation package.

Despite an expected increase in net cash farm income this year, median total farm household income is projected to drop to $80,314 for 2020 and $79,909 in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Farmers' financial earnings are expected to increase this year, but fewer government payments and increased production costs will likely offset higher cash receipts, USDA's Economic Research Service said Thursday in its Farm Sector Income forecast.

While work continues to find nominees for some vacant high-level positions, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says it’s just as important to fill “worker bee” positions throughout the entire department.

A top member of the House Ag Committee and one of the more moderate Democrats in the chamber says she doesn’t expect $3.5 trillion to be the final figure for a reconciliation bill currently under consideration.

It’s hard to walk in any store in America today without seeing a “help wanted” sign hanging in the window and companies that move grain are among them — trying to quickly fill positions as harvest approaches.