Late Friday U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure …
Agriculture Secretary Addresses U.S. Food Supply Issues
The White House Coronavirus Task Force Update on Wednesday included comments from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on the U.S. food supply. Secretary Perdue discussed the health and safety of essential food processing workers, praised those working in the food industry, and stressed that the food supply is “strong, resilient, and safe.” He also stated that there is plenty …
USDA Releases COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a new tool to help rural communities address the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic. “This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or …
USDA Forecasts Increased Corn and Bean Acres
USDA’s 2020 Prospective Plantings report released Tuesday forecasts eight percent more corn acres this year compared to 2019 and ten percent more soybean acres. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97.0 million acres, up 8 percent or 7.29 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or …
Ethanol Issues Top of Mind at #Classic20
Ethanol stakeholders were hopeful that an announcement would be made on Friday about how EPA will deal with the recent court ruling on small refinery exemptions, but Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says they are anxiously awaiting that decision. “We don’t know what exactly what EPA is going to do, but we know what they should …
#Classic20 Gives Secretary Sonny a Warm Welcome
Thousands of farmers from across the country welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue with open arms Friday during the general session of the 2020 Commodity Classic as he was introduced by a video message from President Donald Trump. “That’s the real deal,” Perdue said about the president’s message. “I can assure you, that wasn’t political speak, that’s him true and …
Friday is Deadline to Schedule CRP Signup Appointment
Tomorrow is the deadline for agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to make an offer of acres or schedule an appointment to do so with their local USDA service center. The general signup is available to producers and private landowners who are either offering for the first time or re-offering acres …
Secretary Perdue Announces New Innovation Initiative
At the start of USDA’s 2020 Agriculture Outlook Forum on Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, a new initiative to stimulate innovation so American agriculture can achieve the goal of increasing production by 40 percent while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half by 2050. Secretary Perdue outlined the four components of the …
Crop Insurance Update from USDA RMA at CIRB
USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Martin Barbre gave an update to Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) members during their annual meeting last week. One of the big topics of discussion was the recently announced availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. “We’re trying to get to a level where we can insure producers’ …
USDA’s McKinney Optimistic About Ethanol Exports
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney says he will leave “no stone unturned” in his quest to increase U.S. agricultural exports, including ethanol. McKinney spoke to the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference Wednesday about the markets where he sees the most potential for ethanol, including China, Mexico, Brazil, and India. Listen to his remarks: …