Tag: USDA
USDA suspends foreclosures and debt collections on some farm loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is temporarily suspending foreclosures and past-due debt collections for distressed borrowers under two FSA loan programs
Family farms still rule US but non-family farms growing
Family farms still make up 96% of all U.S. farms, but the number of non-family farms is climbing. The number of non-family farms grew 18% from 2012 to 2017.
US releases new dietary guidelines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans Dec. 29. These guidelines will be the basis for national health objectives, food assistance and meal programs and nutrition education efforts until the next edition of the guidelines comes out in 2025.
Biden expected to pick Vilsack as ag secretary
Tom Vilsack, who served as agriculture secretary for eight years during the Obama Administration, will be nominated to return during President-elect Joe Biden’s upcoming administration, the Associated Press and several other media outlets reported Dec. 8.
Government payments drive possible highest net farm income since 2013
The pandemic has turned the farm economy on its head this year. With direct government payments up drastically, net farm income for 2020 is projected to be the highest it’s been since 2013, according to a Dec. 2 Farm Income Forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
CFAP 2 application period closes Dec. 11
The deadline to apply for direct payments available through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 is Dec. 11. More than $9 billion of the available $14 billion has already been paid out.
Meat processors face uphill battle to meet demand
While it may not be pretty, meat processing is arguably the most important part of the whole local food system.
Types of inspection for meat processors
Here are the four basic types of inspection a meat or poultry plant can operate under and what that means to you.
USDA food boxes fall short in southern Ohio
The Farmers to Families Food Box program was supposed to fill gaps in the food supply chain. Instead, in some areas, it's created more headaches.
CFAP pays out $1.4 billion to U.S. farmers
More than $22.1 million went to Ohio farmers, $32.5 million to Pennsylvania farmers and $1.5 million to West Virginia in direct payments through CFAP.
