The USDA announced plans to purchase approximately 11 million pounds of cheese from private inventories to assist food banks and pantries across the nation, while reducing a cheese surplus that is at its highest level in 30 years. USDA also announced that it will extend the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for Dairy … Read More
Vilsack Awards $17.8 Million in Grants
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has awarded a new investment of $17.8 million to 37 different projects that are helping to educate, mentor, and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The investment is made through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which has invested more than $126 million into projects targeting … Read More
NMPF Also Asks USDA to Aid to Dairy Farmers
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has also sent a letter to the USDA to provide a measure of relief by purchasing at least $100 million worth of cheese products for donation to the needy – a measure that would help both farmers, and food insecure Americans who patronize food banks. In a letter sent Friday to Agriculture Secretary Tom … Read More
Farm Bureau Asks USDA for Emergency Dairy Aid
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has asked the USDA to provide emergency assistance for the nation’s dairy farmers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said AFBF supported a recent request from 61 members of Congress asking USDA to provide emergency assistance. Duvall noted the U.S. all-milk price fell to $14.50 per hundredweight in … Read More
USDA Safety Net Assistance for Milk Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to American dairy producers enrolled in the 2016 Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). The payment rate for May/June 2016 will be the largest since the program began in 2014. The narrowing margin between milk prices and the cost of feed triggered the payments, as provided for by the … Read More
Congressional Coalition Sends Letter to USDA
U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02), along with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and a bipartisan coalition of 57 other members of the House and Senate sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack last week asking for assistance for dairy producers struggling with declining milk prices. The letter specifically … Read More
Brazilian Market Reopened to U.S. Beef Exports
The USDA has reached agreement with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply to allow access for U.S. beef and beef products to the Brazilian market for the first time since 2003. Brazil’s action reflects the United States’ negligible risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and aligns Brazil’s regulations to … Read More
FDA Releases FVM Program’s Strategic Plan
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released the Foods and Veterinary Medicine (FVM) Program’s Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2016-2025. The plan outlines the FVM Program’s goals and objectives for the next 10 years. The FVM program, which encompasses the Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the Center for … Read More
NCC Recommends Changes to Organic Rule
The National Chicken Council (NCC) released a statement recommending revision or clarification of several key aspects of the latest proposed rule from the National Organic Program (NOP) that intends to enhance bird health, protect food safety, and maintain a viable organic program. “NCC is concerned that the proposed rule imposes unreasonable costs and requirements of doubtful benefit on organic farmers, … Read More
NCBA Comments on Proposed Organic Marketing Rule
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently submitted comments on the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices proposed rule, with NCBA President Tracy Brunner stating that voluntary agency marketing programs are not the place to codify animal production practices. “Organic programs are marketing programs and therefore not the place to prescribe animal welfare … Read More