USDA
New Jersey farmer earns national honor
New Jersey’s 2024 Outstanding Young Farmer, vegetable grower Byron DuBois, is one of four national winners of the 2024 National Outstanding Young Farmers Award. DuBois, with the support of his wife Karen, co-owns and operates... more »
USDA sees slow growth in vegetable production
U.S. production of vegetables and pulse crops is projected to grow just 4% from 2022 to 2033, according to the USDA’s recently released long-term outlook report. The growth, slower than the past decade, reflects rising... more »
USDA NASS releases 2022 Census of Agriculture results
The 2022 Census of Agriculture results are now available from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This report offers more than six million data points about U.S. farmers and farming operations. The 2022 Census... more »
Maryland breeding program releases Lumina, a new strawberry cultivar
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) strawberry breeding program in Beltsville, Maryland, is releasing a new cultivar, Lumina, which produces lustrous bright red strawberries that are large and sweet. Early research results quickly showed that... more »
USDA launches Climate Corps training program
The USDA has launched the Working Lands Climate Corps initiative to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of the American Climate Corps initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps will provide... more »
MyPlate.gov names Brighter Bites strategic partner
Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly to families, has been named a National Strategic Partner of MyPlate.gov. Through this partnership, Brighter Bites joins a large variety of organizations and... more »
USDA releases report on pesticide residues
The USDA has released its Pesticide Data Program (PDP) report focused on 2022 sampling results, which shows that more than 99% of all foods sampled had residues well below Environmental Protection Agency safety standards, if... more »
Specialty crops sector investments touted
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing in programs designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry, including promoting exports and funding a maximum residue limits (MRL) database. The launch of the Assisting Specialty... more »
Fresh produce advisory committee meets in February
The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) is preparing for its next meeting. The committee will have a virtual meeting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern on March 4-5, 2024. The USDA... more »
UGA leads research into silverleaf whiteflies with USDA
In 2017, an outbreak of a small, white bug — about a millimeter in size — swept through south Georgia, causing widespread damage totaling more than $150 million to the vegetable industry that year. Now... more »