U.S. Department of Agriculture Names Members to the National Watermelon Promotion Board

U.S. Department of Agriculture Names Members to the National Watermelon Promotion Board

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Washington, DC - - (November 14, 2018) - - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of sixteen members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2021.

Members appointed are:

• Mr. Dalton Willis Borders, Edinburg, Texas
• Mr. Cody Buckley, San Antonio, Texas
• Ms. Jordan Carter, Cordele, Ga.
• Mr. Richard Chastain, Alva,

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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Statement on Dept. of Labor Rulemaking on H-2A Visa Program

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Washington, DC - - (November 8, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today praised proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which could help farmers advertise job openings to domestic workers as required under the H-2A visa program. The DOL rulemaking would require that employers seeking to hire temporary workers post the employment opportunities online, rather than in expensive...

Statement of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Regarding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Decision on Dicamba

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Washington, DC - - (November 1, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the registration of dicamba for two years. The extension is for “over-the-top” use to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba. Perd...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Early Release of Select Commodity Tables for USDA's Agricultural Projections to 2028

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Washington, DC - - (October 29, 2018) - - On November 2, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. EDT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release selected tables prepared for the upcoming USDA Agricultural Projections to 2028 report. USDA will post online tables containing long-term supply, use, and price projections to 2028 for major U.S. crops and livestock products and will include supporting...

U.S. Department of Agriculture says Assistance is Available through NRCS for Ag Land Damaged by Hurricane Michael

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Gainesville, FL - - (October 26, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that Florida farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality due to Hurricane Michael are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Agricultural producers i...

U. S. Department of Agriculture Assistance Available to Restore Infrastructure Damaged by Hurricane Florence

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Assistance Request Deadline is Dec. 5, 2018


Washington, DC - - (October 26, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Carolina is accepting requests for assistance to help communities implement critical emergency measures and restore eligible infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, houses, and businesses as a result of damage caused by Hurricane Florence and associated flooding. R...

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Issues Statement on Department of Justice Filing in 9th Circuit Chlorpyrifos Ruling

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Washington, DC - - (September 24, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today praised the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to request a rehearing of a pesticide case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. DOJ has asked for a panel rehearing and a rehearing en banc in a case in which the court directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban chlorpyrifos, a common and useful...

What They are Saying: Ag Community Support for President Donald J. Trump's Successful Trade Negotiations with Mexico and Canada

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(October 3, 2018) - - Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the following information:

Government Officials:

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig: “This is the welcome news our farmers need as they bring in this year’s harvest and plan for 2019. Canada and Mexico are our first and second largest trading partners. This agreement brings much needed certainty to our producers and ensures access to these critical markets going forward.”

Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles: “Excited to hear about the new trade deal with Canada and Mexico. Our producers need the certainty that...

U.S. Department of Agriculture to Realign The Economic Research Service with Chief Economist, Relocate ERS and National Institute of Food and Agriculture Outside DC

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Washington, DC - - (August 9, 2018) - - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the following information: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Sonny Perdue today announced further reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), intended to improve customer service, strengthen offices and programs, and save taxpayer dollars. The Economic Research Service (ER...

U.S. Poultry Gains New Market Access in Morocco

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Washington, DC - - (August 7, 2018) - - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of U.S. poultry meat and products into Morocco for the first time. “The Trump Administration continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products. This new access to the Moroccan market is an important step in ensuring that Americ...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Invests $97 Million in Rural Broadband Infrastructure to Improve Service for 22,000 Subscribers in 11 States

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Projects Will Provide High-Speed Communications Technology to Support Economic and Educational Opportunities


Washington, DC - - (August 1, 2018) - - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $97 million in 12 projects to provide or improve rural broadband service in 11 states. “A person’s location should not determine whether he or she h...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Assists Farmers Impacted by Unjustified Retaliation

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Washington, DC - - (July 24, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets...

Secretary Perdue Announces New Budget Director at U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Washington, DC - - (June 19, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the selection of Erica Navarro to serve as Director of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OBPA administers the Department's budgetary functions and also develops and presents budget-related matters. The Director is responsible for providing leadership in carrying out Department-wide responsibilities...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Extends Application Deadline for Dairy Margin Protection Program to June 22

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Re-enrollment Continues Through June 22, Dairy producers urged to act now


Washington, DC - - (June 12, 2018) - - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the re-enrollment deadline for the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for Dairy will be extended until June 22, 2018. The new and improved program protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs –...

USDA’s Farmers.gov Receives $10 Million in Funding for Development

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Washington, DC - - (June 7, 2018) - - Today, the Technology Modernization Fund Board (Board) awarded funding to support the development of USDA’s Farmers.gov customer experience portal, which helps better connect America’s farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and private foresters with vital USDA resources and programs. The...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Pilot Program to Increase Homeownership Opportunities on Native Lands

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Department is Partnering with Native Community Development Financial Institutions



Washington, DC - - (May 31, 2018) - - Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a pilot program to increase homeownership opportunities on Tribal lands. “To thrive, rural America needs a creative and forward-thinking partner in USDA,” Hazlett said. “Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is har...

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says Trump Administration Stands Behind Ag Producers

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Secretary Sonny Perdue: “My message to rural America is always the same: President Trump hears you and is working to make your life better.”



(May 20, 2018) - - In an Op-Ed published in the Omaha World-Herald, U.S. Secretary of Education Sonny Perdue reaffirms the Trump administration's support of farmers. In the article, Secretary Perdue says: Throughout my travels, I’ve heard from the people living in rural America about what they want out of this administration: a boost in the economy, a...

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Applauds Red Tape Reduction for Farmers

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Washington, DC - - (May 17, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded the removal of a burdensome regulation that has long plagued family farms. The rule requiring producers to obtain Data Universal Number System (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM) numbers to participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs has been eliminated. Congress included this repeal...

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Appoints New Members to National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

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Washington, DC - - (May 14, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 18 new members and 12 returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). “Food safety and ensuring public health continue to be at the forefront of USDA’s mission,” said Perdue. “The committee members represent a diverse group from academ...

Secretary Sonny Perdue Commemorates First Year at U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Washington, DC - - (April 25, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue commemorated his first year at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today by releasing a new interactive website and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue: Year One video . In his first year, Secretary Perdue and the USDA team made breakthroughs in agricultural trade, moved to reduce burdensome regulations, responded to natural disasters, and battled through the worst fire season on record, among other notable achievements. The website and video capture some of those achievements and more. To explore the website, you may view the U.S. Agriculture Secretary...

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Statement Regarding Chinese Duties on U.S. Sorghum

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Washington, DC - - (April 18, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding China’s announcement of duties of almost 179 percent on U.S. sorghum imports: “The international grain market is about the freest market there is, and it is ludicrous to even mention ‘dumping,’ because China can buy product from anywhere they choose...

Agriculture Secretary Perdue Statement on Release of 2018 Farm Bill

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Washington, DC - - (April 12, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement on the release of the 2018 Farm Bill: “I applaud Chairman Conaway and the House Agriculture Committee for their diligence and hard work in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill. The trend of low commodity prices over recent years and headlines about trade disputes have caused anxiety among agric...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue issues Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order on Reducing Poverty Promotes Economic Independence

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Washington, DC - - (April 10, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order (EO), titled “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility,” which calls for lifting American citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity. ...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Expands Focus on Program Integrity Across All Nutrition Programs

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April 4, 2018


Washington, DC - - (March 29, 2018) - - As part of Agriculture Secretary Perdue’s strategic goal of ensuring that our programs are delivered efficiently, effectively and with integrity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced an enhanced focus on program integrity today, that will include renewed attention on transparency, payment accuracy, fraud and waste prevention, and...

Secretary Perdue Issues USDA Statement on Plant Breeding Innovation

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March 29, 2018


Washington, DC - - (March 28, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued a statement providing clarification on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of plants produced through innovative new breeding techniques which include techniques called genome editing. Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through tra...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Authorizes Emergency Grazing in Response to President Trump’s Directive



Washington, DC - - (April 4, 2017) - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), acting in response to a directive from President Donald J. Trump, today authorized emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas – the three states which were most heavily impacted by ongoing wildfires which began on March 6, 2017....

U.S. Department of Agriculture Offers Renewal Options for Expiring Conservation Stewardship Program Contracts


USDA’s Largest Conservation Program Helps Producers Improve Health, Productivity of Working Lands




Washington, DC - - (March 30, 2017) - - Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young today announced that a contract renewal sign-up is underway for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), USDA’s largest working lands conservation...

Statement from Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young on National Agriculture Day




Washington, DC - - (March 21, 2017) - - Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young today released the following statement: "Today is National Agriculture Day, set aside to pay tribute to the farmers and ranchers of our nation. The work of American producers and growers ensures consumers in our country have plenty of safe food and a wide variety at a cost lower than much of the world. “Through their efficiency, they are able to produce more food an...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Funding to Improve Rural Electric Infrastructure in Nine States


Projects are being financed in Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas





Washington, DC - - (February 28, 2017) - - Rural Development Acting Deputy Under Secretary Roger Glendenning today announced that USDA is making loans to electric cooperatives that will help continue to deliver...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Helps Expand Broadband Service in Rural Illinois and Oklahoma




February 28, 2017


Washington, DC - - (February 27, 2017) - - Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Roger Glendenning today announced that USDA is awarding $19.3 million in loans to provide broadband in rural portions of Illinois and Oklahoma.

"These loans will help bring high-speed internet service to rural communities...

U. S. Department of Agriculture Invests $103 Million to Protect Lives, Property After Natural Disasters




February 27, 2017



Washington, DC - - (February 22, 2017) - - Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young today announced U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $103 million in fiscal year 2017 for disaster recovery efforts to help state, local and tribal units of government protect lives and property in disaster-affected areas following natural disasters. Local units of government, or sponsors, will use financial and technical assistance from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP Progra...

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Visits Workers Impacted By Louisiana Tornado and Tours Storm Damage







February 16, 2017


Washington, DC - - (February 15, 2017) - - Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Mike Young visited the displaced workers of the USDA Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) National Finance Center (NFC) Monday after an EF-3 tornado hit the New Orleans-based NFC building last week, causing severe damage. No one was seriously hurt as a result of the storm, which struck at approximately 11:20 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Following the tornado, the NFC immediately implemented its Continuity of Operatio...