USDA Latest

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made significant advancements in food purchasing efforts through new programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) fund purchasing programs that aim to strengthen local and regional food systems, improve agricultural supply-chain resiliency, and support underserved producers.

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department has provided $700 million to help lower costs and support biofuel producers who faced unexpected market losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are being made available through the Biofuel Producer Program, which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month. As part of this nationwide celebration, USDA is highlighting programs that help people in rural, Tribal and underserved areas buy, build and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities.

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers. Today’s announcement builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 – The Biden-Harris Administration today released the Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group’s (IWG) Summary Report outlining the actions taken to date to improve drought-stricken communities' longer-term resilience to drought through financial and technical assistance. Last month marked one year since the establishment of the Drought Resilience IWG as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to confronting climate change.

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 27, 2022 – Today during a visit to the Junction Development Catalyst project site in West Des Moines, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $32 million to fund 2022 wood innovations and community wood grants.

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more support, resources, and new rules that will strengthen the American food supply chain, promote fair and competitive agricultural markets, prevent abuse of farmers by poultry processors and make prices fairer for farmers and American consumers.

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 – “Another massacre in America. A statement that is all too common and one we all wish to never speak again. Last week it was a church in California and a grocery store in Buffalo. Yesterday, it was an elementary school in Texas. It’s enough. We cannot and should not be willing to live with this carnage.

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 – In its continued efforts to get formula to families in need, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging state agencies and their infant formula manufacturers to consider seeking temporary flexibility in their infant formula contracts to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula during the current shortage.