News from April 2023


Keeping Corn from Frequenting the Phosphorus Buffet Line

When it comes to food, plants can "eat" more than they need—just like the diner who can't resist another stop at the buffet line despite already feeling full.


Award-winning Film Highlights Rutgers Efforts to Protect Basil from Blight

The following story originally was published by Rutgers University and is reprinted here with permission.


Ways to Get Involved with the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

Release: By HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, USDA Food and Nutrition Service.


Variety Trials Improving Gardens

Gardening has always been popular in the United States, but the last few years have brought millions of new people to gardening.


USDA Takes Steps to Support Food Sovereignty with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).


Keeping Corn from Frequenting the Phosphorus Buffet Line

News Release: When it comes to food, plants can "eat" more than they need-just like the diner who can't resist another stop at the buffet line despite already feeling full. Indeed, with respect to phosphorus, corn plants will keep taking up the nutrient 25 to 80 percent beyond what's needed to reach their full grain yield, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in West Lafayette, Indiana, have found.


USDA Expands Local Foods in School Meals through Cooperative Agreement with Illinois

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Illinois for more than $7.3 million to increase their purchase of nutritious, local foods for school meal programs.


Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Purchase of Processed Apricots

Solicitations will be issued in the near future and will be available electronically through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system.


Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Purchase of Fresh and Frozen Peaches

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Fresh and Frozen Peaches for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.


Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Section 32 Purchase of Pistachios

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Pistachios for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.


Pre-Solicitation Announcement for the Purchase of Dried Fruit (Section 32)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Dried Date Products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.


USDA-NRCS offers new grant application process starting April 26

NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 - South Carolina grant opened on April 26.


Agriculture Department discusses Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request on April 25

The US Agriculture Department published a two page notice on April 25, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today and running through May 26, 2023. Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique...


School Breakfast: A Jump Start to a Great Day

Release: By Tony Craddock, Jr., Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service.


USDA-OPPE offers new grant application process starting April 26

Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers grant opened on April 26.


Agriculture Department discusses National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection on April 25

The US Agriculture Department published a three page notice on April 25, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


USDA Announces 2023 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2023 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton which are applied to the crop loan rate to determine the per bale actual loan rate.


Senators Stabenow, Boozman, Smith, Hyde-Smith Announce Subcommittee Hearings on Commodity Programs, Credit, and Crop Insurance

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ranking Member, today announced that the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade will hold two hearings titled “Commodity Programs, ...


Canada: Livestock and Products Semi-Annual

The Canadian cattle herd will continue to contract in 2023.