News from 2023


“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.


APHIS’ Commodity Treatment Information System Will Only Accept Extensible Markup Language (XML) Starting September 1, 2023

On August 30, 2023, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will retire text file formats (TXT) for uploading in-transit cold treatment temperature data into the Commodity Treatment Information System (CTIS).


APHIS Announces Finding of No Significant Impact to Control Spotted Lanternfly

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) completed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision for an environmental assessment (EA) to control spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Rhode Island, a potentially devastating invasive species to agriculture and other resources.


APHIS Seeks Comment on Draft Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Ginseng from the Republic of Korea into the United States

APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment (PRA) and risk management document (RMD) for the importation of fresh ginseng roots (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) from the Republic of Korea into the United States.


APHIS Posts New Pale Cyst Nematode (PCN) Eradication Program Report

APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Pale Cyst Nematode (PCN) Eradication Program in Idaho has posted its 2023 first quarter report (January 1 – March 31).


APHIS Partners With Greenville Zoo on Zoo and Aquarium Serology Study

Veterinarians with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently partnered with the Greenville Zoo in Greenville, South Carolina, to gather information for the Zoo and Aquarium Serology Study.


USDA Proposes Declaring Salmonella an Adulterant in Breaded Stuffed Raw Chicken Products

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.