USDA

$1.5M awarded for Michigan specialty crops projects

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Oct. 18 announced 17 recipients in the state would receive more than $1.5 million from the U.S.... more »

US asparagus crop down slightly, but up in Michigan

The 2017 U.S. asparagus crop is down just 1 percent from last year, but up in Michigan according to numbers released this week by the USDA. In 2017, the national crop totaled 701,000 cwt, or... more »

Senate confirms Perdue as secretary of agriculture

Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U.S. secretary of agriculture by fellow Georgian and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas in a brief ceremony April 25 at the Supreme Court... more »

GAP Harmonized Food Safety Standards to be updated

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is updating the Produce Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Harmonized Food Safety Standards for field operations, harvesting and postharvest operations. The changes will align the USDA food safety audit checklists... more »

USDA announces $12.1M for pest management, crop protection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has made $12.1 in funding available through the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants Program. The CPPM program supports research... more »

ASTA welcomes USDA plant breeding policy

USDA released for pre-publication a proposed rule-making notice related to plant breeding innovation. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has been actively engaged in discussions with the agency throughout the rule-making process. The association is... more »

Update: Industry endorses Sonny Perdue for USDA

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue for USDA secretary of agriculture, Bloomberg reports. The nomination is welcome news to American Farm Bureau, according to a statement from the association. "Gov.... more »

Conservation Stewardship Program application deadline approaching

The agricultural non-profit Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) is urging farmers interested in receiving compensation for existing and additional conservation efforts to apply to USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) by Feb. 3 for consideration in... more »

AMS streamlines import process for certain vegetables

The Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) participation in the government-wide International Trade Data System (ITDS) is expanding from a three-port pilot program to a nationwide pilot, which is accepting filings at all U.S. ports of entry.... more »

USDA announces $3.8M for research in support of organic farmers

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has made up to $3.8 million in funding available to support research, education and Extension to support organic farmers and ranchers as well as those adopting organic... more »

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