USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $6.1 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The grant will help support urban agriculture. Bozeman, Mont. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $6.1 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and […]

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USDA Celebrating Black History at Black Seeds Urban Farm

Posted by Suzanne Pender, USDA Strategic Communications Coordinator in FarmingFeb 14, 2024 Black History Month is a time of celebration, education, and reflection at Black Seeds Urban Farm, located in Memphis, Tennessee. Bobby and Derravia Rich started the community garden to provide local, organic fruits, vegetables, and nuts to neighbors with little or no access to fresh, […]

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USDA Launches New Working Lands Climate Corps to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders

USDA program will place at least 100 young people in jobs across the country SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of President Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps will provide […]

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USDA Encourages Producers Participating in Conservation Reserve Program to Consider Forest Management Incentive

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance to agricultural producers and private landowners enrolled in its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve the health of their forests. The Forest Management Incentive, available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), can help participants with forest management practices, such as brush management and prescribed […]

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 USDA Invests Approximately $11.5 Million in Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects in 23 States

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing approximately $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. The Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of USDA’s broad support for urban […]

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Are USDA’s Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm risk management resources right for you?

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) may have the coverage you need if you are running a smaller operation. The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm Program are great risk management options for urban, organic and innovative producers. Whole Farm Revenue Protection provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance […]

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Ask the Expert: Crop Insurance Options for Urban and Innovative Producers

From the USDA USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) connects agricultural producers with high-quality and affordable crop insurance sold by approved insurance providers. This includes the specific needs of urban and innovative producers, who may have smaller and more specialized operations. In this Ask the Expert, Economist Claire White answers questions about RMA programs and opportunities […]

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USDA Offers New Crop Insurance Program for Producers Using Controlled Environments

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a new crop insurance program designed for agricultural producers who use controlled environments in their operations. The new Controlled Environment program from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is specifically for plants grown in fully enclosed controlled environments and provides coverage against plant diseases […]

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USDA’s Stakeholder Call

The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement is hosting a Stakeholder Call for its Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program, also known as the “2501 Program”. The session will take place on Monday, January 25, from 1:00-3:00pm EST.  This is an opportunity for USDA to hear feedback from our […]

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Penn State Extension to host FSMA produce-safety grower webinar

The Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Grower Certification Training webinar is for fruit and vegetable growers, and other persons, interested in learning about product safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the […]

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U.S. Horticulture Operations Report $13.8 Billion in Sales

Press Release –  On December 8, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, the only source of detailed production and sales data for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crops for the entire United States. The data show that horticulture operations sold a total of $13.8 […]

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Update on lawsuit to revoke certification for organic producers

PRESS RELEASE – A friend of the court brief filed jointly by the Coalition for Sustainable Organics, the Western Growers Association, the Aquaponics Association and the Scotts Company was formally accepted this past week by the judge in the case seeking to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture to initiate the formal rule making process to revoke certification of […]

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USDA Voluntary G.A.P. Program

By Tawnya Sawyer The USDA recently recognized aquaponics under their voluntary Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program through the Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) division. This program is in its pilot phase for audits and certification of selected aquaponics farms through the end of 2020. Having a set of guidelines for aquaponics helps to better align with the specifics […]

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USDA Launches Innovative Ag Office – Announces $3M Grants

By Thomas Wheet and Brian Filipowich The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill charged the USDA with creating the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (“Urban Ag Office”). The Farm Bill noted that urban agriculture can “contribute to the revitalization of abandoned or underutilized urban land, [bring] social and economic benefits to urban communities, and [create] […]

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