USDA Announces School and Summer Meals Reforms

(San Antonio, TX, January 17, 2020) – Delivering on his promise to act on feedback from dietary professionals, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced two proposals today that will put local school and summer food service operators back in the driver’s seat of their programs, because they know their children best. Under the school meals proposed rule, school nutrition professionals have more flexibility to serve appetizing and healthy meals that appeal to…

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USDA Invests $7.1 Million in Broadband for Rural Arkansas Communities

YELLVILLE, Ark., Jan. 21, 2020 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arkansas State Director David Branscum announced USDA has invested $7.1 million in two, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 1,250 rural households in north central Arkansas. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments. “Through USDA’s ReConnect Program, more than 1,250 Arkansans living in…

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USDA Seeks Input on New Ethanol Sales Infrastructure Incentive Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public input to help with the creation of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), a new program that will expand the availability of domestic ethanol and biodiesel by incentivizing the expansion of sales of renewable fuels. “Feedback from farmers, retailers and biofuels producers is critical to the success of this future program,” Agriculture Secretary Perdue said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA remains…

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Secretary Perdue Statement on House Passage of USMCA

(Washington, D.C., December 19, 2019) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a bipartisan vote of 385-41.   “I’ve long said that support for USMCA crosses political parties, the bipartisan passage of the agreement today is proof of that,” Secretary Perdue said. “I am pleased the House finally brought this agreement to a vote and encourage quick passage…

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With record low unemployment, USDA finalizes rule to promote work

(Washington, D.C., December 6, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement regarding the latest jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The jobs report shows the economy added 266,000 new jobs in November with an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which remains at a record 50 year low. Earlier this week, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)…

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USDA Invests $41.6 Million in Rural Broadband for Missouri and Southern Iowa Families

BETHANY, Mo., Nov. 15, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce today announced USDA has invested $41.6 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for rural households and farms in Missouri and Southern Iowa. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s Reconnect Pilot Program investments. “In Missouri and across the country, technology and innovation are…

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USDA Issues Second Tranche of Market Facilitation Program

(Washington, D.C., November 15, 2019) – 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% of the total payment expected, in addition to the 50% they have already received from…

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Brazil’s Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota for Wheat a Win for American Farmers

Washington, D.C., November 14, 2019 – U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue welcome Brazil’s implementation of an annual duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 750,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat imports. For many years, Brazil failed to implement its obligation under the WTO to establish a TRQ for wheat. Brazil’s implementation of this TRQ fulfills a commitment made to President Trump by President Bolsonaro earlier this year…

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USDA Invests $4.2 Million in Rural Broadband for Oklahoma Families

(Muse, Oklahoma, Nov. 5, 2019) – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey today announced USDA has invested over $4.2 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for rural households and farms in Oklahoma. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments. “Broadband is pivotal for access to services and information, whether…

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