News from May 2023


Ranking Member Boozman, Arkansas Rice Farmer Highlight the Importance of Safety Net to Conservation Efforts at Subcommittee Hearing

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Jeff Rutledge, a rice farmer from Newport, Arkansas, highlighted how a strong farm safety net allows producers to enact the best conservation practices on their land.


USDA-NRCS offers new grant application process starting May 1

FY 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants State Program Notice of Funding Opportunity grant opened on May 1.


“INTRODUCTION OF THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES PROTECTION ACT” published by the Congressional Record in the Extensions of Remarks section on April 26

The Extensions of Remarks section of the Congressional Record published “INTRODUCTION OF THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES PROTECTION ACT” on April 26.


Integrating Nutrition into Healthcare in the Midwest

Release: By Sandra MacMartin, Public Affairs Specialist, FNS Midwest Region with Guest Author, Amanda Sweetman, Regional Director of Farming and Healthy Lifestyles for the Farm at Trinity Health.


Constituent Update - April 28, 2023

Release: On April 25, 2023, FSIS announced a proposed determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded stuffed raw chicken products when they exceed a very low level of Salmonella contamination.


Biden-Harris Administration Announces $36M to Improve Roads, Trails, Water Quality as part of Investing in America Agenda

News Release: WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 - Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing investments of more than $36 million in nearly 100 projects to improve water quality, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitat on national forests and grasslands nationwide.


“EXECUTIVE CALENDAR” published by the Congressional Record in the Senate section on April 27

“EXECUTIVE CALENDAR“ was published in the Senate section on pages S1408-S1409 on April 27


USDA-NIFA offers new grant application process starting May 2

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development grant opened on May 2.


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Notice of Public Meeting discussed on May 1 by Agriculture Department

The US Agriculture Department published a three page notice on May 1, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


USDA Announces May 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

News Release: Washington - 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.


USDA is Providing $130 Million in Assistance to Help Farmers Facing Financial Risk

News Release: Washington - 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).


Agriculture Department discusses Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request on May 1

The US Agriculture Department published a two page notice on May 1, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


USDA-NIFA grant application closes on June 30

Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program grant opened on May 2.


USDA-NIFA offers new grant application process starting May 2

Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program grant opened on May 2.


USDA is Providing $130 Million in Assistance to Help Farmers Facing Financial Risk

News Release: To date, over $1 billion in immediate assistance is providing relief to more than 20,000 distressed borrowers thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act


USDA-RBCS grant application closes on July 3

Delta Health Care Service Grant Program grant opened on May 2.


USDA Announces Modifications to the Annual Forage and Rainfall Index Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is modifying the Annual Forage Insurance Program to make it more sustainable and to allow producers more flexibility.


USDA’s CLEAR30 Offers Producers with Expiring Voluntary Conservation Contracts Rental Incentives and Longer Term Options

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.


USDA Announces May 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for May 2023, which are effective May 1, 2023.


USDA is Providing $130 Million in Assistance to Help Farmers Facing Financial Risk

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.