For the second time this year, USDA’s Citrus Disease Subcommittee will meet in Florida today to discuss and make recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2015 research agenda, budget and annual priorities for the Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program.
Six government agencies joined together Wednesday to announce the selection of 26 communities across 19 states that were selected as part of the Local Foods, Local Places federal initiative to develop local food projects and encourage economic expansion.
USDA announced $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers in the country to support the production of advanced biofuels and awarded $4 million in additional grants to further the bioeconomy and reduce national dependence on foreign oil.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued its final rule that amends regulation on the importation of poultry and poultry products from regions where there is believed to be highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The Beef Checkoff Program, established in 1985, is a producer-funded marketing and research program designed to increase demand for beef. The Cattlemen's Beef Board and USDA jointly oversee the collection and spending of checkoff funds, but now the cattlemen say the government is trying to “hijack” the program.
The final total of US agricultural exports for the fiscal year 2014 reached a record $152.5 billion, up from the previous year’s record of $141 billion, according to USDA.
USDA has awarded $4 million in grants to establish four regional centers that will conduct research on nutrition education and obesity prevention in the US.