Farmers

Protects Families and Assists Farmers

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. –Today the Senate took another step closer to passing legislation that will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the resources it needs to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. The Senate Agriculture Committee released the chairman’s draft of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which includes Senator Jeff Merkley’s provisions to improve traceability of contaminated processed foods and protect the organic farming and sustainable agriculture industries.    » read more »

"Co-Sponsors the Growing Safe Food Act to Protect Families by Strengthening Food Safety Practices"

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he has co-sponsored legislation to increase food safety by assisting local farmers and processors with new food safety regulations. The Growing Safe Food Act will help educate and train farmers and food processors about the best safety practices to ensure that the nation’s food supply is safe for citizens.    » read more »

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 11, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA's intention to purchase $82.6 million worth of pork, cherry, plum and apple products for federal food nutrition assistance programs. Vilsack made this announcement today at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters annual convention.

"These purchases will assist pork, cherry, plum and apple producers, who are currently struggling due to depressed market conditions," said Vilsack. "Today's actions will help stabilize prices and markets, stimulate the economy, and provide high quality food to Americans in need of USDA's nutrition assistance programs."    » read more »

Permanently Extend Conservation Easement Tax Credit for Colorado Farmers and Ranchers

November 10, 2009 -- Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, announced today his support for bipartisan legislation that would protect Colorado's lands and rural heritage by permanently extending the enhanced tax incentive for farmers, ranchers and rural landowners to conserve their lands.

The legislation, the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act of 2009, would make permanent the enhanced tax incentive for conservation easements, which allows all taxpayers to deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI) for donations of conservation easements and carry forward the deduction up to 15 years.    » read more »

Report Released on Heels of Productive Discussion Between USDA, Tribal Leaders

WASHINGTON. Nov 4, 2009 - In celebration of American Indian Heritage Month the U.S. Department of Agriculture today reported that there are nearly 80,000 American Indian operators on 61,472 farms and ranches across the United States. This represents an 88-percent increase over the number of American Indian farmers USDA counted in 2002.

The report was released on the heels of a meeting held today with more than 100 tribal leaders and members and Senior USDA officials including Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference.    » read more »

ELGIN, Minn, Nov. 3, 2009 – The USDA today announced the award of more than $17 million in grants to 29 institutions to address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers and enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.

"Beginning farmers and ranchers face unique challenges and need educational and training programs to enhance their profitability and long term sustainability," Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said. "The training and education provided through these grants will help ensure the success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers as they work to feed people in their local communities and throughout the world."    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $1,230,431 to be used by 25 specialty crop projects throughout the state of Michigan.

The program improves competitiveness of the specialty crops industry through grants that support marketing, research, agri-tourism, food access, and sustainability. This program allows states to accept applications and determine their own specialty crop priorities. USDA approved projects based on their support for local and rural agriculture interests, the opportunity to increase the competitiveness of small producers, or to promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, October 15, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced the award of 55 grants totaling approximately $49 million for 745 projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

Upon reviewing states' plans for funding, USDA selected projects that support local and rural agriculture interests, increase the competitiveness of small producers, and promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers.    » read more »

Part of $49 Million in Grants Across the Nation

Glens Falls, NY, Oct 16 - Today, Congressman Scott Murphy applauded the announcement of more than $1 million in grants for New York State farms provided through the Department of Agricultures’ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

This week, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 55 grants totaling approximately $49 million for 745 projects throughout the country to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.    » read more »

Fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop growers will benefit from nearly $3 million federal grant to build marketing opportunities, increase competiveness of small farmers, and promote the consumption of specialty crops

October 15, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive $2,920,854 in federal funding to promote and market specialty crops produced by local farmers throughout the state. Washington state is the leading producer of several specialty crops including sweet cherries, apples, Concord grapes, and red raspberries.    » read more »

USDA Will Not Issue Final 2008-Crop Counter-Cyclical Payments for Peanuts, Corn, Grain Sorghum and Soybeans

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will not issue final 2008 counter-cyclical payments to farmers enrolled in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program for peanuts, corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and oats because average commodity prices remain above levels that trigger these payments.

USDA will issue payments for upland cotton beginning today. The final counter-cyclical payment rate for upland cotton is 12.58 cents per pound - the statutory maximum level. Producers who received a partial payment will receive 7.55 cents per pound, the final rate of 12.58 cents less the partial payment rate of 5.03 cents per pound.    » read more »

17 other members of Congress sign onto the Massa letter

10/14/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night Rep. Eric Massa, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, sent a letter which he wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging immediate MILC assistance for dairy farmers. The letter, which was signed by a bipartisan group of 17 other members of Congress, called for a November 15th release of $290 million in dairy farmer assistance payments recently approved in the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

America has never seen such a crisis in the dairy industry and without the immediate delivery of these critical funds, many dairy farmers will see their livelihood lost.    » read more »

Bill Will Extend County of Origin Labeling to Dairy Products

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food, Nutrition, and Family Farms, joined U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to introduce the Dairy Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act, which would extend mandatory country of origin labeling to dairy products.

“Ohioans and all Americans have a right to know where their food was produced,” Brown said. “This bill supports both families and farmers by requiring country of origin labeling on all dairy products. With increasing dairy imports, country of origin labeling provides critical information as households decide how to feed their families.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Bright recently voted for the Conference Report on the Agriculture Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill funds vital programs at the Department of Agriculture, including provisions included in the Farm Bill, which was passed last year. Additionally, this legislation contains two projects sponsored by Representative Bright to aid agricultural research in Alabama.

The conference report passed by a 263-162 margin, and passed by a similar margin when it was first considered in June. This is the final step before the President signs the bill into law.    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen applauded the passage of the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which included over $350 million in aid for dairy farmers who are struggling from historically low prices. Shaheen helped fight for an amendment in August to provide this funding for direct assistance to dairy farmers and to raise the amount they are paid for their milk.

"We must preserve the nation's small and mid-sized dairy farms, and to do that we must provide them with assistance and increase the price of milk paid to farmers," said Shaheen. "I'm glad Congress acted to offer these farmers relief, and we will continue to look for long-term ways to reduce volatility in the market so that our dairy farms can survive."    » read more »