Record Number of Farmers and Ranchers Certified Under 2014 Farm Bill...
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that over 98.2 percent of producers have met the 2014 Farm Bill requirement to certify conservation compliance to qualify for crop insurance premium support payments....
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces the Selection of Dr. Robert Johansson as...
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of Dr. Robert Johansson as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Economist, effective July 12....
U.S. Organic Industry Praises U.S.-Switzerland Partnership in Organic Trade
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2015 – Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the United States and Switzerland formed a partnership that will recognize the two countries' organic programs as equivalent for organic products and streamline access to each other's markets. The organic equivalency arrangement between the...
USDA Names Seven Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellows in Five...
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2015 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the seven members of the 2015 class of the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship Program. The Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship, commonly known as USDA’s “Tribal Fellowship”, matches tribal land-grant faculty and staff with USDA program and research...
United States and Switzerland Streamline Organic Trade
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2015 – The United States and Switzerland announced today that beginning July 10, 2015, organic products certified in the United States or Switzerland may be sold as organic in either country. The organic equivalency arrangement between the two nations will streamline organic trade, strengthen organic agriculture and support j...
Obama Administration Assists Communities in Building Local Food Systems to Foster...
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2015 — Today, the Obama Administration invited communities to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing direct technical support to build strong local food systems as part of a community's emerging economic action plans. Under this effort, a team of agricultural, transportation, public h...
Members Named to Seven Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2015 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced the appointment of 129 private-sector members to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs)....
Enrollment for 2016 Dairy Margin Protection Program to Begin July 1
PORTLAND, June 29, 2015 — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that starting July 1, 2015, dairy farmers can enroll in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Margin Protection Program for coverage in 2016....
California-based Organizations Support Federal and State Investments to Support Water Quality...
SUNOL, Calif., June 25, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday joined Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor and California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird to announce a new partnership focused on conserving and restoring the Sierra-Cascade California Headwaters, as part of President Obama's Resilient Lands and Waters i...
SNAP Benefit Redemptions through Farmers and Farmers Markets Show Sharp Increase
PHILADELPHIA, June 25, 2015 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants are spending more of their benefits to make purchases at roadside farm stands, farmers markets and directly from local farmers than ever before. SNAP redemptions at those outlets in FY14 totaled $18.8 million, a nearly six-fold increase since 2008....
