USDA Accepting Applications for August Trade Mission to Colombia
WASHINGTON—U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead an agribusiness trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia, from Aug. 13 to 15, 2024. USDA is now accepting applications from current and potential U.S. exporters who have an interest in joining the delegation. “Colombia represents a top-tier food and...
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USDA Sets Dates for Pecan Research and Promotion Program Referendum
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will conduct a referendum May 10 through June 10, 2024, for eligible domestic producers and importers of pecans to decide whether to continue their research and promotion program. Current producers who have domestically produced 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans) and current importers...
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USDA Completes Laboratory Modernization to Advance Pecan Breeding and Research
SOMERVILLE, TEXAS—The Pecan Breeding and Genetics Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) recently completed a 2.5 million dollar laboratory modernization to accelerate pecan breeding through innovations in genetics and plant disease research. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on March 26 to commemorate the completion of the project. Pecan trees represent...
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USDA releases 2022 Census of Agriculture data
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers...
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USDA to Issue $306 Million in Final Payments to Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON—The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling approximately $306 million to eligible commodity and specialty crop producers who incurred losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin issuing these additional payments to eligible producers this week. “In the natural disaster...
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USDA to Provide More Than $3 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2022 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON—The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses...
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USDA Proposes Revising Pecan Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Pecans in the Shell and the U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans to reflect current industry descriptions and practices. The proposed changes would replace the current grades with U.S. Extra Fancy, U.S. Fancy, U.S....
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USDA Announces Appointments to the American Pecan Promotion Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the American Pecan Promotion Board. Six appointees will serve three-year terms, effective Oct. 1, 2023, through Sep. 30, 2026. One appointee will serve the remainder of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expires on Sep. 30, 2024. Appointed members serving three-year...
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USDA to host virtual Data Users’ Meeting to gather public input on statistical programs
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting virtually via Zoom for Government Oct. 17 and 18 from noon to 3 p.m. EDT. The Data Users’ Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on these...
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Biden-Harris Administration Invests $266 Million to Help Rural Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers Lower Energy Costs, Generate Income, and Expand Operations, as Part of Investing in America Agenda
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding $266 million in loans and grants to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will lower their energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of their operation….
USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2023—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today plans to roll out $3.7 billion in Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar year 2022. USDA is sharing early information to allow producers time to...
Read moreUSDA Seeks Nominees for American Pecan Promotion Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB). Nominees are needed to fill six seats for members whose terms end on Sep. 30, 2023, and one vacant seat with a term that ends on Sep. 30, 2024. The American Pecan Promotion Board seeks nominees for the following...
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2022 Census of Agriculture due next week Feb. 6
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Last month, NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires to every known ag producer in the...
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USDA to Issue First Pecan Forecast for 2022 Crop
ATHENS, GA – During the last week of September, pecan growers will receive a survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Information from this survey will be used to forecast pecan production for 2022. “The pecan industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture, especially in southern states, and it...
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USDA to Provide Approximately $6 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2020, 2021 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. “For...
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USDA announces details for the APPB, pecan research and promotion program
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reaching out to pecan producers, importers, and handlers to provide information regarding the Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order, 7 CFR 1223, (Order) and the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB), which administers the program. The Order became effective on February 12, 2021, which established a research and...
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USDA announces over $243 million in grants awarded to specialty crops
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Oct. 28 an investment of more than $243 million in grants to support specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops through two USDA programs—the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants program. USDA is investing $169.9 million through the...
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American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB) members appointed by USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Aug. 31 announced 17 appointees as members of the new American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB). The newly appointed members will serve two, three, and four-year terms. Ten producers and seven importers make up the 17-member board. The 10 producer members will be allocated between three regions within the United...
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USDA announces additional aid to ag producers and businesses in pandemic assistance for producers initiative
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2021—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced June 14 additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance funds to address a number of gaps and disparities in previous rounds of aid. As part...
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USDA begins payments for producers impacted by 2018/2019 natural disasters
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2021 – More than $1 billion in payments will be released over the next several weeks starting June 15 for agricultural producers with approved applications for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program and for producers who have already received payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). These U.S. Department...
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USDA Quality Loss Assistance Available for Producers Impacted by 2018, 2019 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced today that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due...
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USDA RMA Updates Pecan Revenue Policy
As a result of talks with the National Pecan Federation, the USDA Risk Management Agency announced last week some changes under the Pecan Revenue policy for calculating approved average revenue for insured pecan orchards, recovering from hurricane damage. These changes can help some growers impacted by Hurricane Michael and may provide support to pecan growers...
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CFAP 2 Brings More Relief to Pecan Growers
Expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Begins Sept. 21 WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2020 – President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Pecans are included in this second round...
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Pecans Included in USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details on May 19 on its Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Farmers and ranchers can also receive support through the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program, through which the...
Read moreUSDA Announces Second Round of 2019 MFP Payments
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin the week before Thanksgiving. Producers of MFP-eligible commodities will now be eligible to receive 25 percent of the...
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Pheromones Give Nematodes a Boost in Controlling Pests
BYRON, GEORGIA, July 25, 2019—Beneficial nematodes are used as biological control agents to fight a variety of insect pests that severely damage crops. However, in many cases the nematodes don’t measure up to other control methods such as certain chemical pesticides. A recent Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study, published in The Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, shows...
Read moreUSDA Details Trade Damage Estimate Calculations
(Washington, D.C., Aug. 23, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist has published a detailed accounting of how estimated damage from trade disruptions was calculated for its support package for farmers announced on July 25, 2019. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist...
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How to Enroll in the Market Facilitation Program
Pecans are an eligible specialty crop under the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency. MFP assists farmers who continue to suffer from damages because of trade retaliation from foreign nations. Pecan producers have until Dec. 6 to enroll in MFP. Pecan producers who have not participated in FSA programs should follow...
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USDA Announces Details of Support Package for Farmers
(Washington, D.C., July 25, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced further details of the $16 billion package aimed at supporting American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals. In May, President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a relief strategy in line with the estimated impacts of unjustified...
Read moreUSDA 2018 Noncitrus Fruits & Nuts Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its annual non-citrus fruits and nuts report today. Pecans are included in this report, and you can see the annual summaries of acreage, yield, production, use, price, and value by state for the 2017 crop. You can review the USDA 2018 report here. Below you can compare the...
Read moreUSDA Summarizes ’09 Pecan Crop; Average Grower Price Increases
Even though the 2009 pecan crop was 100 million pounds larger than the 2008 crop, according to USDA, the average price paid to the grower went up by three cents per in-shell pound. Most industry sources attribute this to the strong demand from the Chinese export market for pecans. The strong prices were limited to...
Read moreCold Storage Pecans Total 235 Million Pounds
USDA’s end of February report indicates that cold storage holdings of pecans grew during February from 224 to 235 million pounds, in-shell basis. That makes the end of February number this year (235 million) just slightly below the end-of-February total in 2009 (239 million). When broken down into shelled and in-shell categories, there were approximately...
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