Latest News


2023 Outreach and Agriculture Expo.

From April 17 to the 22, members of the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) of North Carolina (N.C.) attended the 2023 Outreach and Agriculture Expo Conference co-hosted by the National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE) and Alcorn State University Policy Center.


USDA Kicks-off Effort to Expand Market Opportunities for Climate-Smart Commodities and Learn from Pilot Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the official kick-off of the implementation phase for projects funded through the $3.1 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities effort.


2023 Wisconsin NRCS Public Conservation Virtual Meeting Announced

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wisconsin has announced one statewide virtual Local Working Group (LWG) meeting to include a statewide presentation and four breakout sessions by NRCS administrative areas for further feedback to follow.


NRCS Texas to hold State Technical Committee meeting

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas will hold a meeting of the State Technical Committee on May 16, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Temple-Belton, 5247 S. General Bruce Drive, Temple, Texas.


NRCS Pacific Islands Area (PIA) Accepting Applications to Assist Producers Transitioning to Organic as Part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced details around its $75 million nationwide investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production.


NRCS California Allocates $2 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods

Beginning today, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California’s agricultural producers recover from recent flooding.


Virginia NRCS Announces Funding Available for New Partnerships, Conservation Innovations

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Virginia has issued two notices of funding for innovative proposals that would encourage expansion of conservation activities within the state.


USDA Offers Funding to Protect Agricultural Lands

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages groups wanting to protect agricultural land to consider enrolling in its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.


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.


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.


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 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 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’ 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).


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.


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’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 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-RBCS grant application closes on July 3

Delta Health Care Service Grant 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