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Last week, a delegation of nearly 30 U.S. Ag businesses, farm groups, and others were in Panama to explore export opportunities to the region.  USDA Under Secretary for trade Alexis Taylor led the mission, which wasn’t directed exclusively at Panama, but six other countries from the region as well.  As the trip w...

Earlier this week, the USDA announced new investments to provide healthy school meals to students.  The Department announced several actions to expand support and access to the school meal program including $50 million in grants to increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers.   ...

Formal educational attainment in rural America has grown, but still lags behind urban communities.  USDA’s Economic Research Service data shows the share of adults ages 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased in rural areas from 15% to 21%.  In the same time sp...

The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from eligible organizations for fiscal year 2024 funding for five export market development programs.  FAS recently published the FY 2024 Notices of Funding Opportunity for the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, the Quality Samples Program, and the Emerging Ma

Gresham, OR-based Scenic Fruit Company has recalled its frozen "Organic Strawberries” sold at Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood and PCC Community Markets, as well as frozen “Organic Tropical Fruit Blend” sold at Trader Joe’s, due to an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses.  Five outbreak-associa...

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association with $445,400 in funding to advance the Secure Beef Supply Plan.  The plan would go into effect in the event of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the U.S.   “NCBA is g...

“The outlook is bright, is hopeful," said Ag secretary Tom Vilsack at last week’s USDA Outlook Forum, telling those in attendance that agriculture is at a pivotal point of being able to make things much better for small and mid-sized producers and rural communities.   “The po...

USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation announced this week it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2022, which ends September of this year.  The CCC is required by law to quarterly announce estimates of sugar to be purchased and sold under the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption forecasts.   Fede ...

Last week, the USDA announced that eight companies nationwide were receiving grant dollars to beef up domestic fertilizer production.  Perfect Blend LCC, headquartered in Othello-WA, will receive part of the $29 million announced under the USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.   “Today...

Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry recently voiced concerns regarding the proposed voluntary “Product of USA” label effort.   Announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week, the label claim would be used on meat, poultry and egg products only when derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States.   Mexico's Agri...