U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the third installment in a series of regulatory reforms intended to level the playing field for farmers who raise chicken, turkeys, hogs, cattle, and sheep under contract or foUr sale to meat and poultry processing companies. Under the Packers and Stockyards Act, this new reform will give chicken farmers ..read more

USDA has published an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks that establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of corn, soy, and sorghum. USDA says these guidelines will facilitate the recognition of climate-smart agriculture within clean transportation fuel programs, creating ..read more

Quivira Coalition’s Soil to Supper project supports producers to get more meat and other livestock products into regional supply chains while reducing waste, increasing soil health, and building climate resilience. Soil to Supper Project funds will help 50 producers transform agricultural and wood waste, finish livestock on grass, and help enhance biodiversity and potential carbon ..read more

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and other organizations are inviting agricultural producers to sign onto an open letter to the incoming USDA administration. The letter, authored by eight farmers, encourages USDA Secretary Nominee Brooke Rollins to make diversification of agricultural production a priority initiative for the Department over the next four years. It notes numerous ..read more

The Fruit Guys Community Fund is seeking up to 20 volunteers to help evaluate 2025 farm-grantee applications. The annual volunteer review committee consists of 3.5 hours in group discussions of grantee recommendations, in addition to reading and scoring applicants’ grants on your own time. Participation is virtual. Volunteer reviewers must not be associated with a ..read more

Organic Farming Research Foundation has introduced a comprehensive Field Day Toolkit available in both English and Spanish. The downloadable resource provides a step-by-step roadmap and customizable materials to plan, host, and follow up on a successful event. The guide includes practical tips, checklists, and resources to streamline the process, and maximize the impact, of your ..read more

USDA announced that it is awarding $120 million in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants for 516 projects in 39 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This program helps farmers and small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy ..read more

USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production announced the availability of $2.5 million in Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants. According to USDA, recipients of UAIP competitive grants, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to ..read more

The Sandhills Ranch Internship Program is accepting applications for its summer program until January 15, 2025, reports Midwest Messenger. The program, facilitated by the Sandhills Task Force, plans to place 10 interns on Nebraska ranches this year, its third in operation. Interns receive a monthly stipend through the program, with housing and partial board provided ..read more

USDA named 36 members to serve on the newly formed Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, informally referred to as to the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council. The council will support the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program in facilitating the participation in voluntary environmental credit ..read more