Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “USDA”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the voting period for a referendum among eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor continuance of a marketing order. The voting period that was originally set to close Nov. 9 has been extended through Dec. 1. The marketing order regulates the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos produced in Florida. …
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS). The subcommittee advises USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) on the agenda, budget and priorities of its Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program. The USDA is looking for nominees who understand the opportunities and barriers facing the nation’s citrus industry, especially …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase $10 million each of American-grown fresh oranges and grapefruit as part of up to $472.5 million in purchases of American agricultural commodities. The commodities will be distributed to the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs. This purchase announcement was made on Oct. 29. “The USDA’s purchase of fresh citrus …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and NASA are joining forces to improve the accuracy of crop production estimates, monitor agricultural conditions and strengthen disaster assessments using satellite technology and advanced data analysis. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman signed a new agreement to modernize USDA’s agricultural data systems. The partnership will combine NASA’s Earth observation satellites, …
A Florida fertilizer manufacturing project will be one of eight to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program. The selected projects represent more than $1.34 billion in total proposed investment, including approximately $573 million in proposed USDA funding. The FIELDS Program is intended to strengthen domestic fertilizer manufacturing, …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Oct. 19 that it will make one-time payments to farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. The $8 billion available for payments provided through the Harvest Fuel Relief program is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by USDA’s Farm …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 13 it is awarding $86.6 million in grant funding to support the specialty crop industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding includes citrus-specific projects in Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. ARIZONA University of Arizona Yuma Agricultural Center has funding of $94,506 to deploy two real-time flux tower systems in …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its intent to purchase $25 million in fresh mandarins from American farmers to distribute to schools and food banks across the country. The mandarin purchase was part of a planned purchase of $156 million in multiple agricultural commodities, including canned peaches, concord grape juice, pork products, prunes, raisins, walnuts and wild-caught shrimp. …
Although huanglongbing (HLB) disease was highlighted in the citrus section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (USDA APHIS) recent PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) 2025 Annual Report, the report also noted efforts against other citrus diseases. Those diseases include citrus canker, citrus yellow vein clearing virus, sweet orange scab and citrus black spot. The …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for farmers to apply for Stages 1 and 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to Sept. 30. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing greater flexibility for farmers who experienced quality losses on eligible crops. When applying for this program, farmers who experienced quality-related discounts can use verifiable and reliable documentation to …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) highlighted huanglongbing (HLB) disease in the citrus section of its recent Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 2025 Annual Report. It recognized HLB as the most serious disease of citrus, currently impacting Florida and Texas and threatening citrus in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The report …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 23 announced its intent to purchase $32.5 million of fresh citrus from American growers. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, will make the purchases. The fresh citrus will be distributed to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. The fresh citrus purchases will …
Nominations are being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 3. Election ballots will be mailed to …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (USDA APHIS) Medfly Program turned 50 years old in 2025. The pioneering international partnership has provided a critical line of defense against the destructive Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly). Launched in 1975 in collaboration with Mexico and Guatemala, the Medfly Program has evolved into a global model for pest management. …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the priorities, motto, mission and vision for its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). USDA stated that the update reaffirms its commitment to putting farmers first. “These updates complement NRCS’s historic role in providing practical, voluntary and locally led conservation solutions for producers,” USDA stated. The new NRCS motto is Keeping Working Lands …
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the American Farm Legacy 250 Program. The new program will recognize farms with 250 years of continuous operation. The program will also provide opportunities to recognize other qualifying multigenerational farms through participating state programs. Building upon existing …
A new report by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Prospect Partners LLC declared there has been “an unprecedented staffing crisis” within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the past 16 months. Becky Schewe with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Bernie Kluger with Prospect Partners LLC authored the report. They obtained information for the report through a Freedom …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on May 29 announced payment rates and the enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. The USDA will issue $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers in response to elevated input costs and market disruptions resulting from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impeded specialty crop …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently suggested preparations growers can make for hurricane season, which starts June 1. It also provided information about recovery resources. PREPARATIONS RECOVERY ASSISTANCE USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) offer a number of options to offset losses and help get you back on your feet. Contact your local USDA Service Center to …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $90 million under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act to support 441 projects that will: Of the 441 projects, 421 fall under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and 20 support the National Clean Plant Network. USDA will reserve approximately $17.2 million to support rapid …
