USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) appoints Lance Honig as Chair of USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Board, as well as the Methodology Division Director. Honig has served in an acting capacity for both roles since November 2023. As the chair, he will lead the preparation and dissemination of market-sensitive agricultural forecasts and estimates. The American Farm Bureau Federation urged USDA to …

The Food and Agriculture – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) announced the launch of a new University Partnership Program to drive improved collaboration between the industry and leading universities on a range of security issues impacting America’s food and agriculture sector. The partnership program has launched with four founding collaborators: Iowa State University of Science and Technology, …

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of an historic $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals now through July 2, 2024, that will help farmers, ranchers, …

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will honor the late Cliff Becker and Dr. Scott Brown with the group’s prestigious Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence at a luncheon on May 16 in Kansas City’s historic Union Station. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Center for Risk Management Education and Research at Kansas State University …

Farm and ranch families from across the nation donated 31 million pounds of food and raised $425,879 to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach in 2023 through Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program. Combined, the monetary and food donations totaled the equivalent of 26 million meals. The winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & …

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) honored Representatives Jim Baird of Indiana and Jimmy Panetta of California with its 2023 Legislator of the Year awards. Each year, ARA recognizes top legislators who have championed the issues of importance to agriculture and agriculture suppliers. The American Soybean Association presented industry awards during the recent Commodity Classic. ASA recognized Steve Pitstick, Illinois, with …

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Basil Gooden as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development. Dr. Gooden has served as Director of State Operations for Rural Development since July 2021 and will fill the under secretary position left vacant by Xochitl Torres Small, who was confirmed in July 2023 as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. The Agribusiness Association of …

In an unprecedented opportunity for Commodity Classic attendees, both United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan will keynote the General Session of this year’s event, fast approaching Feb. 28-March 2 in Houston. The General Session is Friday, March 1, 8:30-10:30 a.m. (CST) at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Environmental Protection …

New agriculture census data released by USDA shows the number of farms operating in the United States and the number of farm acres have both fallen significantly. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports 141,733 fewer farms in 2022 than in 2017. The number of farm acres fell to 880,100,848, a loss of more than 20 million acres from just five …

At noon EST on Feb. 13, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release the much-anticipated 2022 Census of Agriculture data at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus and in their online searchable database, Quick Stats. The release event that will start at 12:30 p.m. EST will be livestreamed on USDA’s YouTube channel and website. U.S. consumers are paying more for chocolate products as confection …