USDA Announces Partnership With NW Seaport To East Port Congestion
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for prepositioning containers of agricultural goods near port terminals to help improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) to enhance access to a 49-acre “pop up” site to accept either dry agricultural or refrigerated containers for temporary storage at NWSA in Seattle to reduce operational hurdles and costs, making it so they can more quickly be loaded on ships at the export terminals. The NWSA includes the marine cargo operations of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and is the fourth-largest container gateway in the United States.
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Five Things To Know About The 2023 Farm Bill
The 2023 Farm Bill may seem it is a long way off but work on the bill is beginning to significantly pick up as farmer groups develop their own policies to take to Congress. The House Agriculture Committee has already started a deep dive into oversight of the 2018 Farm Bill, while the Senate remains silent so far on the direction it will go.
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Deidre Deculus Robert Appointed Rural Development State Director for Louisiana
A lifelong Louisianan, Deidre Deculus Robert resides on her family’s ranch in Glynn, Louisiana. Most recently, she served as the executive counsel for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
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USDA Leaders Say Opening Up CRP Unlikely
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack as well as USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie both confirmed the agency is not looking to delay sign-ups or lower acres accepted for the Conservation Reserve Program due to the Ukraine-Russia situation.
Senate Agriculture ranking member John Boozman, R-Ark., previously sent a letter asking Vilsack to consider changes to CRP based on food shortage threats.
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USDA To Extend Application Deadline For Partnerships For Climate Smart Commodities Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadlines to apply for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity after requests from many stakeholders.
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Graves Secures $10 Million to Modernize the Sugarcane Research Unit in Schriever
U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) has secured $10 million in federal funding for the Louisiana-based U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Service Sugarcane Program. The funding will support the agricultural workforce and modernize sugarcane research to create efficiencies – yielding even greater results for one of Louisiana’s top agriculture products.
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USDA Announces American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment to Benefit Underserved Farmers, Ranchers and Forest Landowners
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is accepting grant applications for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Technical Assistance Investment Program to provide historically underserved farmers, ranchers and forest landowners technical support in accessing USDA programs and services.
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New Federal Advisory Committee For Urban Ag To Meet March 23-24
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the first public meeting of the inaugural Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on March 23-24, 2022. The public – including urban producers– is encouraged to attend.
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USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs To Increase Equity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its farm loan programs to better support current borrowers, including historically underserved producers. These improvements are part of USDA’s commitment to increase equity in all programs, including farm loans that provide important access to capital for covering operating expenses and purchasing land and equipment.
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Vilsack to Travel to Louisiana, Highlight Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Expand Opportunities for U.S. Ag Exports
On Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana for a series of events underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.
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USDA Announces March 2022 Lending Rates For Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2022, which are effective March 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
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USDA Optimistic On Ag Trade Growth
The U.S. agricultural sector experienced record ag exports in 2021, 23% above the previous year and 10% over the previous record set in 2014. USDA leaders expect 2022 to be even better, according to insight shared at the USDA Ag Outlook virtual conference held Feb. 24-25.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the outlook for agriculture is “bright, strong and positive.”
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USDA Updates the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Situation
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens. In the beginning of February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the first case of HPAI in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana.
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USDA Cuts Corn, Raises Soy And Wheat Acreage For 2022
USDA released its first look at 2022 row crop production and usage early this morning, ahead of the opening sessions for the 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum, which is held virtually this year. The preliminary forecasts offered early insights as to how USDA sees long-term production forecasts playing out in the 2022/23 marketing year.
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2021 Louisiana Total Value Of Production For Field Crops Up 12 Percent
The value of production for field crops in Louisiana during 2021 totaled $2.49 billion, up 12 percent from 2020
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