News
USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or WildfireNews Release
New Emergency Livestock Relief benefits to be delivered through two-phased approach; compensation for 2021 forage losses WASHINGTON, March 31, 2022 – The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for forage losses due to severe…
USDA Encourages Producers to Enroll Grasslands into Special Conservation Reserve Program SignupNews Release
MANHATTAN, March 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13, 2022. Grassland CRP provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to keep land in agricultural production and…
Thank a Farmer for Food, Fiber, Fuel, and Our FutureNews Release
By Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency.March 22 is National Ag Day, a time for us to thank farmers and ranchers for feeding, sheltering and powering our nation. We also want to celebrate and recognize the pivotal role of producers in mitigating climate change through voluntary conservation efforts.Climate…
USDA Updates Eligibility for Spot Market Hog Pandemic ProgramNews Release
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2022— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified the definition of a spot market sale and hog eligibility under the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP), which assists producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020. Hog producers will also now be required to…
USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase EquityNews Release
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its farm loan programs to better support current borrowers, including historically underserved producers. These improvements are part of USDA’s commitment to increase equity in all programs, including farm loans that provide important access to capital for covering…
New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24News Release
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the first public meeting of the inaugural Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on March 23-24, 2022. The public – including urban producers– is encouraged to attend. “I look forward to working with this new urban…
USDA Extends Deadline for Spot Market Hog Pandemic ProgramNews Release
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 — Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP). SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers …
Biden Administration Appoints Dennis McKinney to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in KansasNews Release
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2022— The Biden Administration recently appointed Dennis McKinney as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA). McKinney joined the Kansas FSA team on Feb. 14, 2022.“Individuals selected to serve as FSA State Executive Directors are incredible public servants who have a proven track…
Deadline Extended to Enroll in 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage and Supplemental Dairy Margin CoverageNews Release
MANHATTAN, Kansas, Feb. 8, 2022 – USDA has extended the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) for program year 2022. The deadline to apply for 2022 coverage is now March 25, 2022. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural…
USDA Announces Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Urban AgricultureNews Release
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack selected 12 members to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inaugural Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to provide input on policy development and to help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic…