WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced on Aug. 23 it has signed a $3,458,752.00 cooperative agreement with Minnesota to increase their purchase of nutritious, local foods for school meal programs. Minnesota is the first state to enter into a cooperative agreement under the program. Through the Local Food […]

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Farmers in Minnesota looking to enter or exit farming have two new resources available, through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI). Both can work with farmers to put together “kitchen table” on-farm teams to help farmers […]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding […]

WASHINGTON — The Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC), which includes the American Farm Bureau Federation as a member, released a report today highlighting initiatives and progress being made by farmers to reduce nutrient loss across the Mississippi River Basin. The report includes information from 16 states and the results will be presented at the Mississippi […]

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Agricultural producers in Michigan can now signup to receive free email and text messages directly from their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center for information related to loans, farm disaster assistance, conservation programs, crop insurance and other USDA programs. USDA is expanding the service that the Farm Service Agency […]