Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack made an announcement in Washington on Oct. 14 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $272 million to improve rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for 270,000 people living in rural communities across 37 states and Puerto Rico. According to him, when government invests in developing rural infrastructure, fulfill the needs of rural communities and build opportunity and prosperity for people, it will really support the local economy by making rural communities attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work, therefore helping to create and save jobs by attracting and retaining employers and workers.

This investment is done as one of 114 projects under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program that USDA is financing. Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provide funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and stormwater drainage to improve and modernize people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.

A $495,000 loan and a $296,000 grant to upgrade its municipal sewer system in the city of Russell, Iowa which will improve the quality of life for 554 people and a $14.5 million loan and a $3.6 million grant to replace its wastewater treatment plant in the village of Baldwin, improving service for nearly 4,000 people as the current plant is too small to support essential community facilities can be identified as some investments under this project.

“Few groups are as resilient and as determined as American farm families. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to creating a fairer, more equitable system for farms of all sizes to compete and remain profitable. This investment in innovative research will give these family farms the tools they need to be more sustainable, profitable and productive as they face agricultural and economic challenges. When American farmers have a chance to compete, they have a greater chance at succeeding,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

On the occasion of National Ag Day, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) gave 24 grants to 20 universities and organizations under Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend several flexibilities through as late as December 31, allowing summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months.

This move will help ensure children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the first-ever recipients of $4.1 million of its Urban Agriculture grants and cooperative agreements through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP).

“The applicants showcased the breadth of creativity in urban agriculture projects from non-profits, tribal and local governments, and schools across the US,” Under Secretary for marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach said.

The UAIP Competitive Grants Program gives support to a wide range of activities through two grant types – Planning Projects and Implementation Projects.

Activities include providing job training and education, operating community gardens, boosting food production and access in economically distressed communities, and developing business plans.

In order to better support urban agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees focused exclusively on urban agriculture.

“County committees represent farmers and set priorities at the local level. Urban and suburban farmers are uniquely qualified to identify the needs of growers and their communities, especially when it comes to making fresh, healthy food accessible,” Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey said.

Nominations

Urban farmers who participate in an FSA program in the county selected may either be nominated or nominate themselves or others as a candidate.

On the other hand, organizations may also nominate candidates.

To strengthen oversight and enforcement of the production and sale of organic agricultural products, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has published a proposed rule that amend the organic regulations.

USDA intends for the proposed changes to:

(1) Strengthen organic control systems
(2) Improve organic import oversight
(3) Clarify organic certification standards
(4) Enhance Supply Chain Traceability

The proposed rule would require the creation and review of electronic NOP (National Organic Program) import certificates for all organic products entering the country, for each shipment.

Senate Republicans have introduced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act (HEALS). The bill is the fourth COVID-19 response package, and its one whole paragraph is dedicated to farm and food systems.

The bill provides for nearly $20 billion to continue USDA responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been learnt that Perdue would utilize the funds to replenish the coffers of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) which Perdue has used to pay for both direct aid to farmers and to create the Farmers to Families Food Box Programs, the two parts of USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

All 50 states of the United States have now issued warnings about mysterious packages of seeds that people across the country have received in the mail in recent weeks.

The packages appear to be coming from China, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified 14 different kinds of seeds in the mysterious packages, USAToday reported.

Photos shared by agriculture departments of the states show packages marked with labelling from China Post, which operates the official postal service of China.

People across the US are receiving unsolicited packages containing seeds, seemingly from China. Officials, however, have issued warnings and instructed recipients not to plant them.

#APHIS is working closely with @CBP and State Depts of Ag re: unrequested seeds. If received, pls contact State Dept of Ag https://t.co/g0WhR57Wv3 or the #APHIS State Plant Health Office https://t.co/CdHtWghDbC. Keep packaging and do not plant seeds from an unknown origin! pic.twitter.com/LORKeTh4Tc

— USDA APHIS (@USDA_APHIS) July 27, 2020

The United States Department of Agriculture is collecting seed packages and will test them to determine if they contain anything harmful to agriculture or environment.