Annual CRP Payments From USDA “In The Mail”
USDA is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
USDA
USDA Outlines New Interim Rules for Conservation Program
USDA recently released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program, making updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.
USDA Raising Projected Crop Prices Across the Board
USDA released their monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimates on Friday.
Enrollment Begins This Week for Dairy Margin Program
USDA will begin accepting enrollment applications for the 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage program this week.
USDA Releases Newly Updated 2020 Crop Production Estimates
United States upland cotton production is expected to total 16.5 million bales, down 14 percent from last year according to the latest USDA Crop Production Report released on Friday.
Namibia’s Newest Beef Customer May Ban Their Imports
After two decades of haggling, Namibia shipped 25 tons of beef to Philadelphia after successfully overcoming U.S. safety regulations and logistics.
Comment Period Closes on Animal Disease Traceability Project
The official comment period for a national Animal Disease Traceability framework closed at midnight on Monday, but not before many industry groups submitted ideas to USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service.
Winter Wheat and Barley Production Falls in 2020
According to USDA’s Annual Small Grain Agricultural Survey, yields this past growing season averaged just a tick under 51 bushels per acre.
Rural Members Revolt Forcing Return of USDA Funding
Last week, as the House of Representatives was preparing to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through October, members from farming regions – on both sides of the aisle – were up in arms over a plan to exclude funding for USDA through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
USDA Still Projecting Tough Season for Cotton Industry
USDA lowered their production estimates for the U.S. cotton crop last week by one million bales from the August projection.
USDA Projecting Record Corn, Cotton and Soybean Yields
Corn and soybean production is up from 2019, according to the Crop Production report issued Friday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
U.S Pork Exports on Pace to Shatter Record
July exports of U.S. pork, which are on a record pace in 2020, were down from a year ago but increased compared to June according to statistics released by USDA.
Beef Exports Rebound From Recent Lows, Below 2019
July exports of U.S. beef rebounded from recent lows but remained below 2019 levels, according to data released by USDA.
USDA May Have Additional Resources for CFAP 2.0
As Friday’s deadline to enroll in USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program nears, one ag policy expert believes the cost of the program will not equal the expected budget.
Low Prices Causing Drop in Brazilian Cotton Plantings
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service projects 2021 Brazilian cotton plantings at 3.7 million acres, down 10 percent from the current harvest.
USDA to Extend Summer Meal Program Through December
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA will allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children through December 31, 2020 or until all funding is exhausted.
Another Round of Food Boxes Coming from USDA
Following the President’s announcement of additional funding up to $1 billion, USDA is planning to extend current contracts to deliver food boxes through September 18.
USDA Supplying RFID Ear Tags for Voluntary Traceability
More than 10 years ago, USDA proposed a mandatory national animal identification program to protect the cattle industry from long-term injury in the event of a disease outbreak. That proposal, however, fell as cattlemen across the country balked at a government-mandate that would increase costs at a local level and could expose personal producer information to others.
Looking to Improve: USDA Asking Farmers for Advice
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners.
FSA Establishes Call Center to Assist New Customers
With so many different programs and deadlines facing producers this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency has set up a call center to provide answers and assistance.
USDA Extending Crop Insurance Deadlines Due to COVID-19
The USDA is providing policyholders additional time to pay premium and administrative fees and to waive accrual of interest.
USDA Weekly Export Sales Routine Other Than Soybeans
USDA released their latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday. Traders were greeted by lower sales for U.S. wheat, corn and cotton, but the light was brightest for sorghum and soybeans.
Midwest Crop Conditions Remain Good, Southern Crops Struggling
Plains Cotton Growers is reporting more than 75 percent of the dryland crop on the High Plains has been abandoned, mainly due to drought.
Weekly Beef Export Sales Hit Marketing Year High
According to the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), for the week ending July 30, 2020 wheat sales increased 10 percent from the previous week on the heels of big purchases from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Brazil while exports fell 4 percent from last week.
USDA and Secretary Perdue Announce Streamlined H-2A Website
The agriculture industry has long relied on the availability of foreign ag workers to tend fields, maintain livestock operations, and harvest crops and animals.
Unsolicited Packages Arriving From China With Unknown Seeds
WASHINGTON, DC – Unsuspecting and unsolicited packages have been arriving nationwide from China, in many […]
Federal Assistance for Livestock Producers Dealing With Drought
With more than half of the Southwest dealing with drought conditions, USDA’s Farm Service Agency reminds producers about the Livestock Forage Disaster Program.
July Cattle on Feed Report Suggests Herd Contraction
The U.S. cattle herd is slightly smaller this year than at the same time last year, according to the latest July Cattle on Feed Report from USDA.
House Approves USDA’s 2021 Fiscal Year Spending Bill
Funding for USDA and the FDA was approved by the House of Representatives on Friday.
Export Sales Report Reveals Increasing Exports, Decreasing Sales
According to USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service, export sales for wheat, corn, cotton, beef, and pork were lower last week, while sales for sorghum and soybeans were higher.
USDA Announces Third Round of Food Box Program
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says USDA will launch a third round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program with distributions to begin by September 1.
USDA Releases Report Surrounding Recent Cattle Market Disruptions
USDA released a report on its ongoing boxed beef and fed cattle price spread investigation on Wednesday.
Changes Announced for Livestock Gross Margin Insurance Program
USDA’s Risk Management Agency has announced changes to the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program for cattle and swine beginning with the 2021 crop year.
Updated 2020 Dietary Guidelines Report One Step Closer
USDA posted the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s final report on Wednesday.
Wheat Export Sales Hit 2020 Marketing-Year High
It was a big week for agricultural exports according to USDA’s latest Weekly Export Sales Report.
As Nation Watches Coronavirus, USDA Prepares for FMD
USDA recently announced the first purchase of a vaccine for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, with an investment for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.
R-CALF Leads Charge Requesting Termination of Beef Checkoff
A group of cattle producers, led by R-CALF USA, are asking USDA for a nationwide referendum on the Beef Promotion and Research Order, commonly known as the Beef Checkoff Program.
NRCS Lifts Virtual Vail, Conservation Tools Now Online
Recent developments to USDA websites will allow farmers and ranchers to begin managing their conservation activities online
Legislation Introduced for Direct to Consumer Meat Sales
If approved and signed into law, the DIRECT Act would amend the retail exemption and allow processors, butchers or other retailers to sell normal retail quantities online to consumers across state lines.
Quarterly Stocks Report Shows Massive Decline for Soybeans
USDA released their Quarterly Grain Stocks Report on Tuesday and caught some traders flat-footed
More Corn and Soybean Acres Planted, Fewer Cotton
USDA released their latest estimates for 2020 crop plantings in the United States with their annual Acreage Report released Tuesday.
Markets React Favorably to USDA’s December Estimates
(WASHINGTON, DC) Markets rallied on the heels of USDA’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand […]