Tag Archives: USDA

California among states selected by USDA for participation in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables

December 8, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

Pilot will support schools’ efforts to procure more fruits and vegetables; Offers new opportunity that supports local producers and local economies WASHINGTON, December 8, 2014 – Today USDA announced the selection of eight states to participate in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables, as directed by the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm …

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USDA to provide $4 million for honey bee habitat

October 29, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

News Release from USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that  more than $4 million in technical and financial assistance will be provided to help farmers and ranchers in the Midwest improve the health of honey bees, which play an important role in crop production. “The future of America’s food supply depends …

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Posted in Pollinators | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

From USDA: Livestock Producers Urged to Enroll in Disaster Assistance Program by Oct. 1

September 3, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

Congressionally Mandated Payment Reductions to Take Effect at Beginning of New Fiscal Year Ranchers Applying for LFP Support Who Have Scheduled Appointments by Sept. 30th Will not be Impacted WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30, 2014, as congressionally mandated payment reductions …

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USDA Announces New Farm Bill Funds Available for Research to Fight Huanglongbing (HLB) / Citrus Greening

June 13, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

$31.5 Million Being Allocated to Test Various Ways to Combat Disease Threatening U.S. Citrus Industry WASHINGTON, June 12, 2014 – United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the availability of $25 million in funding for research and Cooperative Extension Service projects to combat huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening disease. The funding comes from the 2014 Farm Bill. …

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Posted in Asian Citrus Psyllid, HLB | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

USDA launches new “Healthy Eating on a Budget” section of ChooseMyPlate.gov site

May 28, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled Healthy Eating on a Budget – the newest addition to ChooseMyPlate.gov. Consumers continue to want more information about how to make better eating decisions with limited resources. To meet this need, the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) developed the new resource to include easy-to-use and insightful information about planning meals, …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , | 3 Comments

CDFA Press Release – Leading the Way on Specialty Crops: California Garners More Than $19 Million from Federal Block Grant Program

April 17, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

SACRAMENTO, April 17, 2014 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that California has been allocated $19.76 million in funding for the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The agency awarded approximately $66 million nationwide for projects that help support growers of specialty crops through research, market development, environmental stewardship and more.  The Specialty Crop Block …

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Sign-up begins for USDA disaster assistance programs restored by Farm Bill

April 16, 2014   Office of Public Affairs

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that eligible farmers and ranchers can now sign up for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs restored by passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. “We implemented these programs in record time and kept our commitment to begin sign-up today,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack in a release issued April 15. “To ensure enrollment …

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California agriculture leads the nation in funding for specialty crops

October 1, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-035 The United States Department of Agriculture announced funding today for the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received more than $18 million out of the total $55 million awarded nationwide. The SCBGP provides grants to states to enhance the competitiveness of Specialty Crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Specialty Crops | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

From USDA: Update from APHIS Regarding a Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States

May 21, 2012   CDFA Staff

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/bse_update_statement.shtml On  April 24, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed  the nation’s 4th case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal  that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California.  This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no  time presented a risk to the food supply, or …

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