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Agriculture

Right-to-repair laws are the leading edge of a pushback against growing corporate power

The Conversation As tractors became more sophisticated over the past two decades, the big manufacturers allowed farmers fewer options for repairs. Rather than hiring independent repair shops, farmers have increasingly had to wait for company-authorized dealers to arrive. Getting repairs could take days, often leading to lost time and high costs. A new memorandum of understanding between the country’s largest farm equipment maker, John Deere Corp., and the American Farm Bureau Federation is now raising hopes that U.S. farmers will finally regain the right to repair more of their own ...

US, Philippines’ collaboration highlighted at food dialogue

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently hosted a high-level Food Security Dialogue with the Philippines Department of Agriculture that showcased critical bilateral efforts to address global food security and climate change. USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor and Philippines Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla chaired an interagency meeting with representatives from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development ...

$130 million in assistance for farm loan program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). USDA is providing approximately $1.1 billion in immediate assistance to more than 20,000 distressed borrowers. “Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress directed USDA to deliver ...

Agriculture, food security go together

Metro The world faces many unique challenges in the decades to come, including a rapidly expanding global population. The United Nations estimates that the global population will reach 9.71 billion in 2050. That’s an increase of more than 1.7 billion people between 2023 and 2050. Food security is among the more significant challenges the world will face as the population increases. The United States Agency for International Development notes that food security means all individuals, regardless of their physical or economic circumstances, have access to sufficient food to meet the ...

USDA seeks feedback from crop producers

HARRISBURG — Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys: the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact more than 4,000 producers across the 11-state northeastern region to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1. Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area ...

$45 million opportunity to support farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced approximately $45 million available to organizations that help underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters own and operate successful farms. Funding is made through USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program. This program is administered by the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). “By supporting organizations that work with veterans and underserved groups, 2501 ...