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Lawmakers Press USDA on Unreleased Urban Agriculture Grant Funds

Lawmakers Press USDA on Unreleased Urban Agriculture Grant Funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is facing pressure from lawmakers regarding its failure to disburse grant funds designated for urban and suburban farmers. Congress allocated these funds over the past two years, but the agency has not yet made them available. This inaction has prompted concerns among agricultural communities and their representatives. The delay in releasing these grants impacts the development and support of urban and suburban farming initiatives, which are often crucial for local food systems and community development. The issue highlights a disconnect between congressional appropriations and the agency's implementation, raising questions about the USDA's priorities and operational efficiency in supporting diverse agricultural sectors.

Does PA observe daylight saving time? Clocks fall back on this date

Does PA observe daylight saving time? Clocks fall back on this date

See when clocks fall back as daylight saving time ends in Pittsburgh this fall.

AFIA Members Advocate for Feed Innovation and Supply Chain Resilience on Capitol Hill

AFIA Members Advocate for Feed Innovation and Supply Chain Resilience on Capitol Hill

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recently brought 34 members from its Aquaculture, Pet Food, Equine, and Global Affairs committees to Washington, D.C. These members engaged with 45 congressional offices to discuss federal policies impacting animal food manufacturers, suppliers, and their customers. A primary focus of their discussions was advocating for the passage of the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act (S. 1906/H.R. 2203), which is currently part of the Senate farm bill. This legislation aims to modernize the Food and Drug Administration's review process for novel animal food ingredients, allowing the use of the existing Food Additive Petition process for ingredients offering non-nutritive benefits such as improved animal health, enhanced food safety, or reduced environmental impact. Additionally, AFIA members supported language from the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025, included in H.R. 8646, the fiscal year 2027 agriculture app...

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Do clocks fall back this weekend? When daylight saving time ends

Do clocks fall back this weekend? When daylight saving time ends

The end of daylight saving time is approaching. Here's when Americans will turn clocks back an hour and gain an extra hour of sleep.

USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Sugar Loan Rates and Marketing Allocations, Reallocates FY 2026 Quotas

USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Sugar Loan Rates and Marketing Allocations, Reallocates FY 2026 Quotas

USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Sugar Loan Rates and Marketing Allocations, Reallocates FY 2026 Quotas

Congressmen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Animal Welfare Enforcement

Congressmen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Animal Welfare Enforcement

Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) have reintroduced the bipartisan Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA). This legislation aims to strengthen the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by preventing animal dealers and exhibitors with prior violations of animal protection laws from receiving federal licenses. Currently, individuals or entities can retain federal licenses despite a history of violating animal welfare regulations. The proposed act seeks to close this loophole by prohibiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from issuing licenses to those found to have violated federal, state, or local animal protection laws. Additionally, the bill would enhance inspection protocols, veterinary care requirements, licensing procedures, and overall enforcement mechanisms under the Animal Welfare Act. The Animal Welfare Institute has endorsed this legislation, emphasizing the need for more robust tools to ensure improved treatment for animals and greater accountabil...

Veterinary Experts Criticize USDA's Response to H5N1 Outbreak at Utah Mink Farm

Veterinary Experts Criticize USDA's Response to H5N1 Outbreak at Utah Mink Farm

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy have publicly criticized federal and Utah authorities for their lack of transparency regarding the first recognized outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in farmed mink in the United States. The outbreak was confirmed in Utah in August, with reports indicating that 80% of the mink at the affected farm perished. Despite the confirmation of H5N1 in mink samples on August 17, more than a month later, agencies have not disclosed crucial information such as the county of the farm, its mink population, the number of illnesses or deaths, whether mink-to-mink transmission occurred, the fate of the herd, the suspected source, worker-exposure findings, or detailed viral sequence results. This lack of disclosure comes at a time when the Senate Agriculture Committee is considering a Farm Bill provision that would restore federal Market Access Program assistance to the mink industry, despite the industry's significant decline and the USDA terminati...

Senator John Hoeven Expresses Optimism for Farm Bill Passage During Lame Duck Session

Senator John Hoeven Expresses Optimism for Farm Bill Passage During Lame Duck Session

Senator John Hoeven has indicated his belief that the farm bill will be passed during the upcoming lame duck session of Congress. This statement suggests an expectation of legislative action on agricultural policy before the end of the current congressional term. The farm bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that is typically reauthorized every five years, covering a wide range of programs related to agriculture, food, and rural development. These programs include commodity price supports, conservation initiatives, crop insurance, and food assistance programs. Hoeven's optimism comes as various stakeholders in the agricultural sector await clarity on the future of these critical policies. The lame duck session refers to the period between the election and the new Congress taking office, during which outgoing legislators may still vote on significant bills.

USDA Purchases 28 Million Pounds of California Walnuts to Support Domestic Food Programs

USDA Purchases 28 Million Pounds of California Walnuts to Support Domestic Food Programs

USDA Purchases 28 Million Pounds of California Walnuts to Support Domestic Food Programs

Representatives Mike Levin and Ryan Mackenzie Introduce Federal Bill to Expand Free School Meal Access for Military Families

Representatives Mike Levin and Ryan Mackenzie Introduce Federal Bill to Expand Free School Meal Access for Military Families

Representatives Mike Levin and Ryan Mackenzie have introduced a federal bill in the House of Representatives aimed at expanding free school meal access for children of military families. This legislative effort mirrors a similar bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Kim and Heinrich. The proposed legislation, known as the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act, seeks to remove the basic allowance for housing (BAH) from income calculations when determining a family's eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals. Additionally, the bill mandates that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Defense submit a report to Congress. This report would outline the feasibility and cost associated with establishing a program to directly certify military children for free and reduced-price school meal programs, streamlining the process for eligible families.

USDA Designates Wyoming County as Primary Natural Disaster Area Due to Drought, Enabling Emergency Loans for Farmers

USDA Designates Wyoming County as Primary Natural Disaster Area Due to Drought, Enabling Emergency Loans for Farmers

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Sheridan County, Wyoming, as a primary natural disaster area. This designation is a direct response to severe drought conditions that have impacted the region. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the affected counties experienced either D2 Drought-Severe conditions for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional levels during the growing season. This declaration allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to agricultural producers in Sheridan County and contiguous counties, including Big Horn, Campbell, and Johnson in Wyoming, as well as Big Horn and Powder River in Montana. The emergency loans are designed to help farmers recover from losses, replace essential items like equipment or livestock, reorganize farming operations, or refinance certain debts. The application deadline for these emergency loans is May 17, 2027.

Representatives Tonko and Cammack Introduce Bipartisan TIME Act to Modernize Equine Movement Rules

Representatives Tonko and Cammack Introduce Bipartisan TIME Act to Modernize Equine Movement Rules

U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko and Kat Cammack have introduced the bipartisan TIME Act of 2026, a legislative proposal aimed at updating federal rules governing the temporary international movement of elite competition and racehorses. The bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a science-based, risk-based framework for these movements. The proposed measure seeks to align U.S. requirements with internationally recognized standards while maintaining existing health and biosecurity protections. Key provisions of the bill include expedited entry procedures, modified quarantine rules, and reduced duplicative oversight for lower-risk horses. This initiative is supported by organizations such as the American Horse Council, which believes the bill will help the U.S. remain a competitive destination for international horse competitions, particularly in anticipation of events like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.