USDA Provides More Than $70M To Protect US Food Supply And Natural Resources From Invasive Pests & Diseases In '24
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing over $70 million in 374 projects through the Plant Protection Act’s Section 7721 program. The work will strengthen the country’s defenses against plant pests and diseases, safeguard the U.S. nursery system, and enhance pest detection and mitigation efforts. Universities, states, Tribal organizations, federal agencies, and others will manage these projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.
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USDA To Issue $306M In Final Payments To Producers Impacted By '20 & '21 Natural Disasters
The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling approximately $306 million to eligible commodity and specialty crop producers who incurred losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin issuing these additional payments to eligible producers this week.
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Commissioner Strain Asks USDA for "Urgent" Help for Crawfish Farmers
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to fund the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish program, or a similar program, to aid Louisiana crawfish farmers affected by drought and cold temperatures. Strain made the request in a letter dated February 2, 2024.
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USDA and LSU AgCenter Team Up for ASPIRE Internships
The LSU AgCenter is partnering with USDA to offer the ASPIRE [Agricultural Sciences Professional Internships in Research and Extension] Program during the summer of 2024. Undergraduate students (from any college or educational institution, including LSU) are encouraged to apply for various 10- week paid summer internships. There are internships focused in animal science, horticulture, 4-H, nutrition, entomology and aquaculture.
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USDA Announces February '24 Lending Rates for Ag Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2024, which are effective Feb. 1, 2024. 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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Louisiana Cattle, Goat And Sheep Inventory: January 2024
All cattle and calves in Louisiana as of January 1, 2024, totaled 720,000 head, were down 4 percent from January 1, 2023. The calf crop for the full year of 2023 was 330,000 head, down 3 percent from last year. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 435,000 head, were down 2 percent from January 1, 2023; beef cows, at 428,000 head, were down 2 percent; and milk cows, at 7,000 head, were down 12 percent from 2023.
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AFBF Urges USDA To Use Emergency Authority To Ensure Fair Pricing For Dairy Farmers
The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter today to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the agency to issue a final decision on an emergency basis to speed the implementation of the “higher-of” Class I mover formula to buffer dairy farmers from further losses during the forthcoming Federal Milk Marketing Order rulemaking process.
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Farmers, Ranchers Now Can Make USDA Farm Loan Payments Online
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Investments to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Sector
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The launch of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative will provide $65 million for projects that will help the specialty crop sector increase global exports and expand to new markets.
Additionally, today USDA is announcing $72.9 million in grant funding available to support the specialty crops industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
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USDA Encourages Producers Participating In CRP To Consider Forest Management Incentive
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance to agricultural producers and private landowners enrolled in its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve the health of their forests. The Forest Management Incentive, available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), can help participants with forest management practices, such as brush management and prescribed burning.
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Louisiana Milk Production
This report contains the results from the 2024 January Milk Production Report.
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USDA Seeks Applications To Help Farmers & Ranchers Venture Into New & Better Markets
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers maximize the value of their products and venture into new and better markets. USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program.
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USDA Helps Producers Prepare for and Recover from Severe Winter Weather
Winter storms create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers, especially for those raising livestock, row crops and vulnerable crops like citrus. Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. As you prepare for the potential impacts of upcoming winter weather, know that USDA offers several programs to help with recovery.
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Discrimination Financial Assistance Program Applications To Be Accepted Through Jan. 17, 2024
Due to a number of circumstances on Saturday, January 13, 2024, including severe winter weather in the Midwest that may have prevented some applicants from reaching local program offices as well as a brief outage of the e-filing platform in the evening, the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program will accept applications through Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
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USDA Reopens Signup For Continuous Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners in Louisiana who are interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners.
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