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Agriculture

New steps to put farmers first

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced several steps that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking to support America’s farmers in response to ongoing challenges across the agricultural sector. These actions include a series of data modernization, payment flexibility, and enhanced crop insurance options to benefit farmers. “When I travel across farm country, I hear the same message over and over: producers want a USDA that works for them. The Trump USDA is focused on making changes that improve the livelihood of our great farmers. I am ...

Shapiro Administration celebrates opening of Keystone Animal Diagnostic Center

MONACA, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Dr. Troy Ott marked a milestone for Pennsylvania farmers earlier this year, cutting the ribbon to open the Keystone Animal Diagnostic Center at Penn State University’s Beaver Campus. Funded by a $6 million investment from Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget, the lab expands Pennsylvania’s capacity to respond to animal disease outbreaks, speeding diagnoses for farmers in the western part of the state, lowering their business costs, and helping ...

Rollins announces creation of USDA Office of Seafood

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins alongside Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, and Maine Senator Susan Collins recently announced the creation of the new U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Seafood. This first of its kind office will prioritize customer service and ease of navigation for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to access USDA programs. “President Trump is the first President to recognize ...

AgSci Launchpad broadens perspectives and pathways in ag sciences

AgSci Launchpad broadens perspectives and pathways in ag sciences UNIVERSITY PARK — A new program in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is enriching the summer research experience of undergraduate students through shared learning experiences aimed at preparing them for ...

FFA officers excited to call Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences home

UNIVERSITY PARK — Six Pennsylvania State FFA officer team members for 2025-2026 will call Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences home beginning this fall as first-year students. Sarah Firestone, president; Alexis Butler, treasurer; Jaylene Everhart, chaplain; Jonathan Bradshaw, ...

NASS completes data collection for the Agricultural Yield Survey

WASHINGTON — The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has completed data collection for the Agricultural Yield Survey, which supports the August Crop Production report. The August Crop Production report provides timely information used by producers to make marketing, production, and risk management decisions throughout the growing season. It also supports grain handlers, processors, exporters, input suppliers, lenders, crop insurers, commodity organizations, researchers, and policymakers. “Producer participation in the Agricultural Yield Survey makes a ...