Vilsack Statement on Farm Income Forecast

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service released its annual Farm Sector Income Forecast report for 2024 last week. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement following the release: “After the three highest consecutive years on record in 2021-2023, the first farm income forecast of 2024 indicates net farm income this year will return to …

Vilsack Speaks on Possible Extension to Farm Bill

Web AdminFarm Bill

By Clint Thompson The chances of an extension to the 2018 Farm Bill increases every day that legislative leaders fail to pass a new one. That is the outlook shared by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, who spoke on the subject last Tuesday. “Each day that goes by without a speaker, without a budget and without a Farm Bill, the likelihood …

Secretary Vilsack Statement on Trip to Mexico

Web AdminTrade

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement on Monday after his meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on the U.S.- Mexico bilateral trade relationship and its importance for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers: “We appreciate the president welcoming us to Mexico and engaging in a productive dialogue. The meetings provided a venue to raise the …

Secretary Vilsack Urges Caution in Statements About Ukraine

Web AdminFlorida Grower

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined other G7 agriculture ministers Friday morning in a virtual meeting with Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Roman Leshchenko. Following that virtual meeting, Vilsack took the stage at Commodity Classic in New Orleans to give the keynote address, then met with a small group of agriculture journalists, where he shared more of what was discussed in that virtual …

Secretary Vilsack Comments on Mexico Supreme Court Potato Ruling

Web AdminExports/Imports, potato, Top Posts

WASHINGTON — Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack commented on Wednesday’s ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court involving U.S. potatoes. “Mexico’s Supreme Court released a final, unanimous ruling today on a case that puts U.S. fresh potatoes one step closer to finally gaining access to Mexico following nearly 20 years of negotiations. This decision is important for American agriculture and for positive bilateral …

Prompt Response: GFVGA Advises Growers to Complete Farm Labor Surveys

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Labor

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) encourages specialty crop producers to respond promptly and accurately to labor surveys inquiring about H-2A and the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). Chris Butts, GFVGA executive director, said farmers should expect the surveys to arrive via mail at any time. Growers’ response will help leaders with the U.S. Department …

USDA Announces Progress on Newly Authorized Climate Programs

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the report this week, Intent to Establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program (PDF, 248 KB), authorized under the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA). The GCSA was signed into law on December 29, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This report justifying the …

Investments to Strengthen Specialty Crops Sector

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments on Monday designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The launch of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative will provide $65 million for projects that will help the specialty crop sector increase global exports and expand to new markets. Additionally, the USDA announced $72.9 …

Biden Administration Invests $207 Million in Clean Energy, Domestic Fertilizer Projects

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the USDA is investing $207 million in renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for U.S. producers. The announcement was made by Secretary Vilsack at the 105th annual American Farm Bureau Federation …

Georgia Attorney General Pleads for Clarity Regarding AEWR

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is imploring the Department of Labor (DOL) to explain the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and pause the scheduled increases producers are saddled with this year. In a letter addressed to Julie Su, Deputy Secretary of Labor, and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, Carr stressed that the DOL’s updated rule would have …