News from 2023
Plant Materials on Display in the Northwest
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
While Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) may be best known for their plant releases and technical documents, a major part of their job is education.
Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Watershed Infrastructure in Colorado to Help Communities Recover from Natural Disasters
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making investments, including from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in watershed infrastructure to help communities recover from and prepare for natural disasters.
Healthy Soil for the Farm’s Future
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Nestled in the foot of the picturesque “Blue Hills” of western Rusk County, Wisconsin, sprawls the 500-acre farm of Laurie and Larry Fortuna.
NRCS Invests in Watershed Infrastructure in Indiana
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making investments in watershed infrastructure to help communities recover from and prepare for natural disasters.
Indiana Grazing Bites June 2023
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
It’s June. Well, at least the calendar says it’s June. The temperatures have felt like they were about a month behind schedule while the forages have appeared to be at least a couple weeks ahead of schedule and I’m just trying to maintain some type of schedule!
Agriculture Department discusses General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan on May 30
By USDA Newswire | May 31, 2023
The US Agriculture Department published a one page notice on May 30, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
Last chance to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture, One week left to return the questionnaire
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will end data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture on May 31. Producers who have not yet returned their completed questionnaires have just one week left to respond.
SNAP Quality Control: How FNS Helps Protect Taxpayer Dollars
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutrition support to millions of American families in need.
A1103 AFRI Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products FY23
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The AFRI Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products (A1103) program supports projects to study the synthesis of plant-derived, high-value chemicals and ingredients for use in foods, pharmaceuticals, and other natural products.
Commodity Board Co-funding Topics (AFRI A1811)
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
USDA NIFA and various commodity boards seek to co-fund research projects that will improve crop production efficiency and advance solutions to critically important problems in U.S. agriculture to increase farmer profitability and sustainability.
USDA NIFA Invests $26.7M to Further Research into Pests and Beneficial Species (AFRI A1112)
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative aims to advance knowledge of invasive or established plant pests and associated beneficial species leading to innovative and biologically-based strategies to manage pests.
State of Success: National Wyoming Day
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Wyoming remains the least populated state in the nation—in terms of human residents, at least. With a population of less than 600,000 spread out across more than 97,000 square miles, the state is home to far more cattle than people.
Growing Hawaii’s New Farmers
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The University of Hawaii (UH) recognized the need to develop new farmers focused on commercial production and aid existing farms to increase yield and profitability.
NIFA Honors Veterans and Military Service Members on Memorial Day and Every Day
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
In May, NIFA honors Memorial Day and Mental Health Awareness Month by offering several webinars and through veteran-centric grant programs.
Chase City Community Gardens Flourish
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The following is reprinted by permission from Virginia State University and first appeared on the VSU Extension website.
USDA to Conduct Vote on Cranberry Marketing Order
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will conduct a referendum among cranberry producers June 9-30, 2023, to determine their level of support for continuing the federal marketing order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island, New York.
USDA Seeks Information to Expand Kosher and Halal Food Options for Its Nutrition Assistance Programs
By USDA Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is conducting market research to expand its Kosher and Halal food options in USDA nutrition assistance programs.
USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California and Texas from Operating in the Produce Industry
By USDA Newswire Report | Jun 1, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case with Mark Colgan
By USDA Newswire Report | Jun 1, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Mark Colgan (Colgan) of Laura, Ill., on May 13, 2023, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case with Derek W. Crites, dba DC Farms
By USDA Newswire Report | Jun 1, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Derek W. Crites (Crites), doing business as DC Farms, Moorefield, W. Va., on April 16, 2023, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Crites waived his rights to a hearing and paid a civil penalty of $2,220.