Articles tagged under: USDA
USDA Net Farm Income Forecast Shows Decline for 2021
Published February 8, 2021
USDA’s early projection for net farm income is $111.4 billion for 2021, a decline of $9.8 billion from 2020. American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist John Newton isn’t surprised with the expected decline. "Most folks anticipated we'd see a decline,…Vilsack Addresses Cattle Market Fairness in Confirmation Hearing
Published February 8, 2021
South Dakota Senator John Thune was the final Senate Agriculture Committee member to ask questions during Tuesday’s hearing for Ag Secretary Nominee Tom Vilsack. Thune asked about cattle market investigations. "We are going to look at every vehicle we have…Vilsack Faces Senate Ag Committee
Published February 2, 2021
On Groundhog Day, Tom Vilsack ironically found himself back in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee for a confirmation hearing. Vilsack is returning to the job he held for eight years during the Obama Administration. The former Iowa governor kicked…Vilsack’s Confirmation Hearing Scheduled for February
Published January 27, 2021
Ag Secretary Nominee Tom Vilsack has a confirmation hearing scheduled with the Senate Agriculture Committee next week. The hearing will be Tuesday, February 2 starting at 9:30 a.m. central time. This will be one of the first steps in the…Biden Issues Executive Order for SNAP Benefit Increase
Published January 25, 2021
Within 48-hours of being sworn in as president, Joe Biden signed an executive order to have the USDA increase SNAP benefits by as much as 20 percent. There will also be assistance provided for families for school lunches that are…USDA Working Through Wool Pricing Challenges
Published January 22, 2021
The lack of transparency in the wool market has created problems determining wool prices for USDA loan prepayment rates and subsequent Loan Deficiency Payment rates. Montevideo, Minnesota sheep producer Bob Padula says confidentiality rules are one of the issues. "If…U.S. Grain Shipments Higher Than One Year Ago
Published January 22, 2021
USDA’s Grain Transportation report for the week ending January 14 shows rail and barge shipments at 3.3 million metric tons. That's down six percent from the previous week, but 51 percent more than one year ago. U.S. Class 1 Railroads…USDA Names Three Deputy Under Secretaries for Biden Administration
Published January 21, 2021
The USDA announced three Deputy Under Secretary positions on Thursday. The Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services is Stacy Dean. Dean previously worked at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Office of Management and…Biden Priorities
Published January 20, 2021
When one political party controls the White House, House and Senate, big policy changes can be expected. Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer says President Biden's first priority is the distribution of the COVID vaccine "We haven't had a successful…