Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Commodity Classic for the 10th time last week, counting the virtual event in 2021. Vilsack took the opportunity to sign memorandums for two of USDA’s new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities programs – Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) and the Midwest Climate Smart Commodities Project. “It is the beginning of a process of a …
CattleCon Session on Pilot Cattle Contracts Library
Just as the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show was getting underway last week, USDA launched its pilot Cattle Contracts Library on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cattle Contract Library webpage. That provided a timely opportunity for USDA AMS Administrator Bruce Summers and Associate Deputy Administrator Taylor Cox to update the cattle industry during an early morning session at …
Outgoing USDA Deputy Secretary Visits #CattleCon23
Despite her imminent departure from USDA, Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh addressed the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show last week in New Orleans. Bronaugh announced on January 26 that she is leaving the Department in the weeks ahead to spend more time with her family. As a part of the third general session of the 2023 Cattle Industry …
Corn, Soybean and Cotton Production Down in 2022
Production for corn, soybeans and cotton all declined in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to the 2022 Crop Production Annual Summary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. U.S. corn growers produced 13.7 billion bushels, down 9% from 2021. Corn yield in the United States is estimated at 173.3 bushels per acre, 3.4 bushels below …
USDA Announces Value Added Producer Grants
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday announced the awarding of $9.6 million across the country and taking several other steps to help farmers, ranchers, processors and rural businesses diversify the nation’s meat supply. The Department is awarding 23 Value Added Producer Grant program grants totaling $3.9 million to help producer-owned companies process and market new products. USDA is also providing guarantees …
Corn and Soybean Crop Down from September
Corn and soybean production took another step down this month compared to September 2022, according to USDA’s latest Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, corn yields are now expected to average 171.9 bushels per harvested acre, down 0.6 bushel from the previous forecast and down 4.8 bushels from 2021. Area harvested for grain is forecast at …
Carbon A List and Partners Receive USDA Climate-Smart Grant
Carbon A List, partnering with Danone North America and others, has been awarded $70 million by the USDA Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities initiative. As one of the 14 high-investment projects, the partners will use the awarded funds to transform the farmer-to-consumer supply chain with implementation of climate-smart projects and infrastructure investments. The five-year collaborative program allows project partners to …
Some Climate-Smart Commodities Partnerships
There’s something for almost every commodity in the $2.8 billion dollars in Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities announced this week by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Of the 70 proposals, five involve timber and forests, 13 involve livestock, 12 corn and soybean projects, six cotton, peanut and nuts projects; nine dairy projects, 13 projects involving fruits, vegetables and specialty crops; three involving …
USDA Announces Climate Smart Commodities Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first wave of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, with more projects to be announced later this year. More than 450 proposals were submitted for the funding opportunity and the strength of the projects identified led USDA to increase its investment from …
Sec. Vilsack Visits Farm Progress Show
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited the Farm Progress Show in Iowa Tuesday, the first time he has visited the show since 2012. Vilsack used the occasion to talk about some recent accomplishments, including expanding rural broadband, conservation and biofuel provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, new opportunities to improve nutrient management, an organic transition initiative, and funding for higher …