USDA

Blue Diamond Growers Launches Year Two of USDA Climate Smart Grant

May 14, 2024 Blue Diamond Growers

The grant is part of the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program aimed at equipping farmers with the resources and incentives needed to further their sustainable practices on-farm. Through this grant, Blue Diamond has provided almost $800,000 in funds for seeds, and incentive payments for 91 farmers in the first year. The total acres of almond orchards implementing pollinator habitat practices through the grant would be large enough to cover the island of Manhattan. …

Teton Waters Ranch Helps Schools Meet New USDA Requirements for School Nutrition Standards

May 7, 2024 Teton Waters Ranch

Teton Waters Ranch, a leading producer of humanely raised, 100% grass-fed beef products, with the introduction of their Teton Taste Buds Hot Dogs for foodservice, is poised to help schools meet new USDA requirements to reduce sodium and sugar in breakfast and lunch offerings. …

New School Meals Program Recognizes Importance of Dairy Products

May 1, 2024 Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative

Included in the updates was the continuation of allowing schools to offer flavored and unflavored milk to students. The new guidelines recognize the important role milk plays in providing the essential nutrients students need, such as calcium, vitamin D and potassium. The update did include a new limit on the amount of added sugar allowed in the milk, a requirement school milk processors have committed to meeting the limit on added sugar. …

USDA Sets Referendum Dates for Amendments to Pear Marketing Order

May 1, 2024 USDA Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will conduct a referendum, May 13 – 27, 2024, on a proposed amendment to the federal marketing order for Oregon and Washington pears. The amendment was recommended by the Fresh Pear Committee. …

USDA: Beyond the Salad Bowl

April 29, 2024 USDA, Tellus

Now, ARS researchers and their collaborators have developed a weather-based model that could help predict the contamination levels of EcO157 and other pathogens on lettuce. …