Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking additional steps as part of its commitment to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods, and to support producers seeking organic certification. These funding opportunities are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Transition Initiative, launched in fall 2022, which is a suite of offerings to help existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production and processing. 

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According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, May 7, 2023. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus.

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The Forest Service making up to $1 billion available in Urban and Community Forestry competitive grants for investments that increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities.

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According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, April 30, 2023. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.

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Agriculture is a risky business. USDA is here to help you prepare for and recover from the impacts of natural disasters and market volatility. USDA provides a suite of disaster assistance programs to help offset losses as well as crop insurance and other coverage options to help manage risk and provide a safety net. USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency offers a number of options.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

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This program supports independently owned meat and poultry processing businesses with funds to provide more and better processing options for local livestock producers by modernizing, increasing, diversifying and decentralizing meat and poultry processing capacity, including support for rendering.

Processing Expansion Projects will fund grants from $100,000 up to $5 million to increase the processing and/or rendering capacity of privately, cooperatively, non-profit, or Tribally held processing facilities.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for May 2023, which are effective May 1, 2023. 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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Agricultural producers and landowners with certain expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts can receive additional rental incentives and extend that land’s role in conservation for another 30 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers enrollment (CLEAR30) now through July 31, 2023.

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Louisiana milk production during the January - March 2023 quarter was 30.0 million pounds, down 9 percent from the same period in 2022 but up 20 percent from the October - December 2022 quarter. The average number of milk cows on farms during the quarter was 8,000 head, down 1,000 head from the same period last year but unchanged from the previous quarter.

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The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (“Advisory Committee”). The Advisory Committee consists of 15 members who are expected to serve a 2-year term and may be reappointed for an additional two terms.

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According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, April 16, 2023. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus.

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