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Last week, USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is partnering with farmers and small businesses to expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program.  The USDA announced $104 million in loans and grants to support over 300 clean energy projects in 34 states.  That in...

The U.S. winter wheat crop planting passed the halfway mark over the past week to reach 51% complete by Sunday October 6th, one point behind the five-year average.   “One thing we have noticed is that planting has been delayed in a few areas due to dryness," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "And so ...

Lawmakers want to know why the Department of Agriculture and Boar’s Head did not take action to avoid a Listeria outbreak.  A group of U.S. legislators are demanding answers from officials regarding egregious food safety violations at a production plant that has led to dozens of hospitalizations and at least 10 deaths.   “What ...

According to NASS, the amount of wheat held in storage increased across the three Northwest states this year.   In Oregon, wheat stored in all positions totaled 49 million bushels, up from 38.3 million bushels a year ago. Off-farm stocks were up 26%, while on-farm stocks were up 35% compared to the previous year.  ...

This is the first week of October, which means we’re well into fall panting for winter wheat across the country.   “As we start October, 44% of the winter wheat production area in the United States is in drought," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "That's actual...

After the summer the Northwest has experienced, it should come as no surprise that pasture conditions in the area don’t look great to start the month of October.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey noted some of the driest lands are in the Great Plains, and out here in the West.   “Leadi...

It wasn’t just the Northwest that saw large grain numbers in the latest USDA grain stock report.  The markets expected some big grain numbers in the most recent USDA grain stock report, and that's what they got.  For corn USDA put stocks at 1.76 billion bushels, ...

The USDA is investing $1.7 billion for purchasing local and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance.  These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation, will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access to local and regional markets as well as the financial benefits that come with selling directly to instit

With no new Farm Bill in place after the 2018 Farm Bill deadline passed on September 30th, there are already impacts on U.S. farmers and ranchers.   “Most of the impacts won't be felt until the new crop year, or for dairy producers, the impact will be felt beginning January 1," said Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation.  "But imm... Read Mo

Late last week, USDA announced $58 million available for marketing assistance to eligible organic dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024 to help expand the market for organic dairy and increase the consumption of organic dairy.  ...