Tag: USDA
Here’s what the numbers say about systemic discrimination in the USDA
Alan Guebert digs into how the USDA sent almost $24 billion to farmers over two years, but socially disadvantaged farmers received next to nothing.
Truth in labeling is not ‘branding’
Alan Guebert explains why hundreds of other long-time organic farmers maintain that large portions of USDA-labeled "organic" products are not truly organic.
Cosby ready to continue conservation work as NRCS chief
Terry Cosby, the new NRCS chief, has worked with the USDA for more than 40 years. He's stayed with the department for the same reason he joined: to make sure NRCS services are available to everyone.
Cosby appointed to lead NRCS
Terry Cosby, Ohio state conservationist and acting chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service has been appointed to serve as chief of the NRCS.
Ohio, Pa. farms and businesses get USDA grants to install solar
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development is giving nearly $300,000 in grants to farm and businesses in Ohio and Pennsylvania to install solar, conduct energy assessments or make other energy efficiency upgrades.
Troubled USDA food box program canceled
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box program launched last spring at the height of the pandemic with the best of intentions, but things went awry almost as soon as the program began. The program will end in May, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week.
Markets, spring weather look promising for farmers
Grain farmers are cautiously optimistic about the outlook for 2021, following a strange 2020. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report, released March 31, said corn planted in 2021 is estimated to be about 91.1 million acres, up less than 1% from 2020. Soybean acreage is expected to be about 87.6 million acres, up about 5% from last year.
USDA announces more pandemic relief for farmers
The USDA will dedicate at least $6 billion to the new USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers, and will also distribute aid that was put on hold or newly allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
USDA offering disaster assistance for winter storms
Technical and financial assistance is available to help Ohio farmers and livestock producers recover from damages caused by winter storms Uri and Viola.
Vilsack confirmed as agriculture secretary
The U.S. Senate approved Tom Vilsack for another round as the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Feb. 23. Vilsack's supporters referenced his previous eight years as the Secretary of Agriculture under the Obama administration.
