USDA Announces More than $2 Billion to Strengthen Specialty Crops Sector, Expand Crop Storage 

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their products, and help producers access necessary pre-market storage for their crops following severe weather events, including recent hurricanes. Specifically, the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative will provide $2 billion to assist specialty crop growers in maintaining a strong domestic supply and expanding market opportunities for their crops...

USDA Announces $12 Million in Grant Funding Available to Support Dairy Initiatives

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $12 million in grant funding is available to support processing capacity expansion, on-farm improvements, and technical assistance services to producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI). The funds will be awarded noncompetitively to the DBI Initiatives at the California State University Fresno; the University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and the University of Wisconsin. Through the Request for Applications (RFA), the initiatives will have an opportunity to submit proposals for this year’s funding...

USDA Announces Up to $12 Million in Grant Funding Available to Promote U.S. Agricultural Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced up to $12 million in funding available to strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products and increase access to locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity. The funding is available through three grant programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): the Acer Access and Development Program, the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program, and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program...

USDA Partners with Minnesota to Award Over $9.5 Mln to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Minnesota under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Minnesota are working together to offer over $9.5 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Minnesota is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through April 3, 2024.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420...