The USDA says there were more cattle placed into feedlots in November 2021 than November 2020.
Placements were 4% above a year ago at 1.971 million head, with a wide range of estimates heading into the report because of increased marketing rates due to drought conditions in some of the major U.S. feeding areas. Most of the cattle placed weighed less than 800 pounds, heading to market next spring and early next summer.
Spending on USDA's food and nutrition assistance programs jumped 30 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2020 to an inflation-adjusted record of $122.1 billion, abruptly reversing a six-year decline. This increase reflects the expanded need for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Federal response to meet that need.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting the 2021 Farm Producer Study to improve knowledge and understanding of agricultural producers and help USDA improve services to them. A brief questionnaire will mail this month to approximately 75,000 U.S. agricultural producers across the country.
Read MoreUSDA opened sign-up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program and expanded the program to allow dairy farmers to better protect their operations by enrolling supplemental milk production.
The sign-up period, which started Dec. 13, runs through Feb. 18. The sign-up allows farmers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year, as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC.
Read MoreLouisiana hatcheries set 3.09 million broiler-type eggs during the week ending December 18, 2021, down 11 percent from the comparable week in 2020 and down 7 percent from the previous week.
Read MoreAmerican rice and wheat producers are operating at a “clear disadvantage compared to their competitors, primarily from India,” where the government is subsidizing more than half of the value of production for rice and wheat, instead of the 10% allowable under World Trade Organization rules, according to a letter from 18 senators. As a result, the senators asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to pursue a WTO case against India’s domestic support for rice and wheat production.
Read MoreEveryone was glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror, as expectations were high coming into 2021. But it’s been a rollercoaster ride with some of the highs and lows on the ag policy front for the year. Here’s a closer look.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for streamlined, partner-driven conservation efforts.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts many studies and research projects to find out more information about our nation’s producers. This month, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the 2021 Farm Producer Study to improve knowledge and understanding of agricultural producers and help USDA improve services to them.
Read MoreStarting in late December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will measure sheep and goat inventories and wool and mohair production during a nationwide survey.
Read MoreIn January, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey about 41,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.
Read MoreIn December, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will reach out to United States bee and honey producers to collect information for its Quarterly Colony Loss survey. This survey measures colony losses to determine the stability of the regional bee population and helps monitor health of those hives.
Read MoreIn January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey catfish operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. catfish inventories, sales, and water acreage used for production.
Read MoreAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is deploying $100 million under the new Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program to make available nearly $1 billion in loan guarantees; these loan guarantees will back private investment in processing and food supply infrastructure that will strengthen the food supply chain for the American people.
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