USDA

USDA Announces More Resources to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

March 25, 2022 USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects. Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) can access this technical assistance. USDA also announced it is now accepting applications for $23.6 million in competitive grant funding available through the MPIRG program. …

USDA Seeks Nominees for the Hass Avocado Board

March 18, 2022 USDA AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking six nominees for the Hass Avocado Board. Seats open for nominees are two producer and one importer seat for members and two producer and one importer seat for alternates. USDA will appoint members and alternates to serve three-year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2022. …

USDA Seeks Organizations to Nominate Members to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board

March 17, 2022 USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications from state cattle associations or state general farm organizations interested in nominating beef, dairy or veal producers or importers to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Applications are due by April 18, 2022. …

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and MDAC to Manage $1.6M Grant from USDA for Seafood Processors, Facilities and Vessels

March 17, 2022 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) will manage a $1,606,446 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support seafood processors, processing facilities and processing vessels through the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program. …

WCMA Applauds Historic USDA Investment of $80M in Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives

March 4, 2022 Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association cheered U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s direction of $80 million in American Rescue Plan funds to Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) first championed by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) in the 2018 Farm Bill.  …