California Ag Network

Tag: food security

  • USDA NIFA Launches Grants Opportunity to Combat Emerging Ag Threats

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces the launch of a new competitive grants program aimed at rapidly addressing emerging and re-emerging pest and disease threats across the nation’s food and agricultural systems.

    The grants program, Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems, is designed to deploy timely, science-based solutions to protect agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and food security.

    “Invasive and emerging pests and diseases can devastate crops, livestock, and ecosystems, disrupt supply chains and threaten food security,” said NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby. “This program empowers researchers and Extension professionals to act quickly, delivering practical solutions that safeguard our agricultural communities and the nation’s food supply.”

    This program is part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability, and human and environmental health. AFRI is the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities, and other research organizations.   

    With a maximum award of $500,000 and a grant duration of 12 to 24 months, the program supports grants for research, Extension, or integrated projects. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, within 180 days of a qualifying pest or disease event, ensuring swift mobilization of resources when threats arise.

    Applications must directly address the effects associated with the emergence or re-emergence within the last 180 days of pests and/or disease in animal and/or plant production systems or within the food supply, and one or more of the following emphasis areas: One Health, plant and animal health, and ecosystem health.

    Funded projects will focus on applied research and Extension and outreach activities that generate actionable knowledge and tools. These may include:

    • Rapid understanding of pest/pathogen ecology, epidemiology, and immunology.
    • Development and validation of diagnostics, vaccines, and control methods.
    • Communication strategies, training programs, and best practices for mitigation.
    • Technologies and protocols for detection, management, and prevention.

    To ensure impact, projects must implement or develop at least one deliverable within six months of award receipt, with all activities completed within the grant period. Proposals are encouraged to integrate biological and social sciences, engage public-private partnerships, and support small- and medium-sized farms and ranches.

    “This program reflects USDA’s commitment to proactive, science-driven responses to agricultural threats,” Hamby said. “By supporting rapid innovation and collaboration, we’re helping communities stay resilient in the face of evolving challenges.”

    The program also welcomes proposals that address ecosystem health, including strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of pests and diseases affecting plants, animals, and pollinators. Projects that incorporate community development, youth development, and 4-H are also eligible, provided they align with the program’s emphasis areas.

    Applicants are encouraged to coordinate efforts across institutions and regions, and to contact program staff at afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov with questions regarding project fit. While this program is designed for short-term, rapid response efforts, longer-term projects may be better suited for other AFRI program area priorities such as Agricultural Biosecurity, Diseases of Agricultural Animals, or Food Safety and Defense.

    For more information, visit nifa.usda.gov or email afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov. — By the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

  • Fertilizer Additives Market Expected to Generate $3.82 Billion by 2031

    The Global Fertilizer Additives Market Size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.54% from 2024 to 2031, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research®. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 2.89 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.82 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

    Global Fertilizer Additives Market Overview

    Sustainable Agriculture Practices Driving Demand: With the global agricultural sector increasingly prioritizing sustainability, the utilization of fertilizer additives to reduce nutrient loss and environmental repercussions is growing. These additives augment fertilizer efficacy, resulting in enhanced crop yields and a less environmental impact. This transition is prompting governments and agribusinesses to invest in novel additions, hence expediting the expansion of the Fertilizer Additives Market.

    Rising Population and Food Demand: The burgeoning worldwide population is driving an increased demand for food production. Fertilizer additions are essential for optimizing agricultural productivity by enhancing nutrient uptake and inhibiting fertilizer breakdown. This market driver is anticipated to enhance investments in agricultural technologies, establishing a robust growth trajectory for the Fertilizer Additives Market as farmer’s endeavor to address food security challenges.

    Technological Advancements in Additive Formulations: Innovations in additive formulations are transforming the Fertilizer Additives Market by providing sophisticated solutions that enhance fertilizer stability, nutrient accessibility, and application efficacy. These technical innovations are drawing industry leaders aiming to maintain competitiveness in a progressively demanding market. Companies engaging in research and development to create next-generation additives are strategically positioned to exploit this increasing demand.

    To Purchase a Comprehensive Report Analysis: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/select-licence?rid=22886

    High Production Costs of Fertilizer Additives: The sophisticated technologies and specific components utilized in the production of fertilizer additives frequently result in elevated manufacturing expenses. This may restrict market penetration, especially in developing areas where cost-effectiveness is paramount. Although major agribusinesses may implement these advances, smaller farms may struggle to justify the costs, thus hindering the overall expansion of the Fertilizer Additives Market.

    Stringent Regulatory Frameworks: The worldwide initiative for environmental sustainability has resulted in more stringent rules regarding chemical fertilizers and their additives. This fosters environmentally sustainable practices; nonetheless, managing intricate regulatory obligations may hinder product development and elevate compliance expenses for enterprises. This constraint can impede market growth, particularly for firms functioning in areas with stringent regulatory environments in the Fertilizer Additives Market.

    Limited Awareness in Developing Regions: Despite the advantages of fertilizer additions, insufficient understanding among farmers in underdeveloped nations serves as a market constraint. Numerous small-scale farmers persist in utilizing conventional fertilizers, oblivious to the efficiency enhancements that additives can provide. The deficiency of information, combined with limited access to advanced agricultural inputs, may impede the growth potential of the Fertilizer Additives Market, particularly in rural regions with restricted access to current farming methods.

    Geographical Dominance

    The Asia-Pacific region occupies a preeminent position in the Fertilizer Additives Market owing to its extensive agricultural sector and increasing food demand driven by a burgeoning population. China and India are significant providers, bolstered by enhanced governmental measures promoting sustainable agricultural techniques. This dominance stimulates market expansion as the region invests in sophisticated agricultural technologies, increasing demand for effective fertilizer additives and providing possibilities for global firms to enhance their presence.

    Key Players

    The “Global Fertilizer Additives Market” study report will provide a valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are KAO Corporation, BASF SE, Filtra Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd.¸Arrmaz, Forbon Technology, Olsa Group, Clariant, Novochem Group, Amit Trading Ltd, Chemipol, Michelman, Corteva Agriscience, Lignostar.

    Fertilizer Additives Market Segment Analysis

    Based on the research, Verified Market Research has segmented the global Fertilizer Additives Market into Function, Application and Geography.

    • Fertilizer Additives Market, by Function:
      • Anticaking Agents
      • Antifoaming Agent
      • Corrosion Inhibitors
      • Dedusting Agent
      • Hydrophobic Agent
    • Fertilizer Additives Market, by Application:
      • Ammonium Nitrate
      • Urea
      • Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP)
      • Bio-based Fertilizer
      • Diammonium Phosphate
      • Triple Super Phosphate
      • Ammonium Sulfate
    • Fertilizer Additives Market, by Geography
      • North America
        • U.S
        • Canada
        • Mexico
      • Europe
        • Germany
        • France
        • U.K
        • Rest of Europe
      • Asia Pacific
        • China
        • Japan
        • India
        • Rest of Asia Pacific
      • ROW
        • Middle East & Africa
        • Latin America

  • SNAP-Ed-Supported Program Energizes Older Adults Through Gardening

    “I not only live here, I garden here,” said Karen Smulevitz, a resident of Palo Vista Gardens, a public housing complex for older adults in East Oakland. She was wearing sunglasses and sporting a white bucket hat, a red leather jacket over a red t-shirt and white pants as she roamed the community garden.

    “This is my plot behind the mesh,” Smulevitz said, gesturing to the tall plants growing behind a chicken-wire screen in a raised bed. “I grow tomatoes, Italian parsley, rosemary. My doctor told me to eat more leafy greens.”

    She’s growing vegetables and herbs with help from a “garden club” organized by CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California Cooperative Extension in Alameda County. Growing her own leafy greens makes it easy for Smulevitz to add them to her daily meals.

    “I can come out here every other day and pick some chard and some kale, throw it in some soup or stir-fry or whatever it is I’m cooking,” Smulevitz said. “I add kale to almost everything. I’m trying to get my leafy greens in.”

    CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE provides free nutrition and wellness information to help people eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) develop healthier habits.

    Palo Vista Gardens is one of a few Alameda County partners enlisted by Mary Blackburn, UC Cooperative Extension nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor emeritus, to reach older Californians. “It was really her pioneering efforts that inspired UCCE to work with seniors,” Tuline Baykal, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE supervisor for Alameda County, said of Blackburn, who recently retired from her 35-year UCCE career.

    Growing greens and a sense of community

    For the past 20 years, the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE team has provided nutrition classes and gardening classes for Palo Vista Gardens residents, according to Araceli Tellez, resident services portfolio manager at Oakland Housing Authority.

    “In my role for the past eight years, I’ve seen how the partnership we’ve had has provided our residents the knowledge to eat healthier, to save money, to socialize with their community while gardening, and it has allowed them to grow as individuals so they can be healthier and live a longer, healthy life,” said Tellez.

    Max Fairbee, a CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE community nutrition educator for Alameda County, launched the garden club with Palo Vista Gardens residents. He specializes in serving older adults who live in public housing and adults living in transitional housing. In addition to providing them with nutrition advice, Fairbee shares tips to stretch their food dollars and meet goals for physical activity.

    “I love working with these residents,” said Fairbee. “Over the past 8-9 years, I’ve connected with each of them through this garden.”

    “When I first came to Palo Vista, it was as a nutrition educator and a few of the residents who garden came to my classes but not all,” he said. “You see, the residents speak at least six languages in the garden – English, Chinese, Spanish, Khmer, Vietnamese and Lao – and gardening is a way to communicate without words. Whenever I stop to see the garden, the residents take me to their plot to show me the produce they’ve grown or if there is a pest. Gardening is a common thread. They feel connected to each other even though they are from different cultures. I see how they light up and smile.”

    SNAP-Ed funding to end Sept. 30

    The federal reconciliation spending bill, signed into law on July 4, eliminates funding for SNAP-Ed beyond Sept. 30, 2025. CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California is one of the organizations implementing SNAP-Ed in California.

    Over his eight years of connecting with Palo Vista Gardens residents, CalFresh Healthy Living UCCE community educator Fairbee has left a positive impression.

    “Max is a part of our community,” said Olympia Vizcaino, assistant property manager at Palo Vista Gardens. “He has a wealth of information not only for our residents, but our staff as well. He always conducts nutrition classes, gardening classes, cooking classes. He’s constantly bringing supplies to our site, like Sluggo to keep the bugs away so that our plants can thrive. He brings us soil, he brings us calendars and he brings us baby plants, too, to plant in there.”

    The Harvest of the Month calendar contains images of colorful, seasonal fruits and vegetables highlighted each month with suggested recipes.

    According to Vizcaino, older people may forget to spend time outdoors, but gardening with Fairbee can be a powerful motivator.

    “He brings people out into the sun,” Vizcaino said. “Some people forget and don’t go outside. They’re elderly so when they have something to do, to come out into the garden to be with other people, to be in the sun, it makes them happy.”

    ‘I depend on Max’

    Recently participants who have worked with Fairbee reflected on how they have benefited from the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE program.

    “I depend on Max and his knowledge of gardening and food,” said Geneva Moore, who has lived at Palo Vista Gardens for eight years. She said Fairbee is a tremendous resource for the community.

    When she goes to the grocery story, Moore takes time to carefully read ingredient labels on food packages before buying a product – a skill she learned from Fairbee. Her awareness of nutritious fruits and vegetables has also expanded over the years.

    “I got mustard greens, tomatoes and all kinds of things going on right now,” said Moore, pointing to the raised garden plot behind her while steadying herself with a walking stick.

    Nutrition lessons learned in the garden follow participants into the kitchen. To encourage Moore to make use of her abundant, home-grown vegetables, Fairbee suggested a vegetable soup, a simple recipe that’s easy to digest.  “One good way for seniors to eat their vegetables is to make a soup,” Moore said. “You’re always going to drink that soup. And, whoo, you got vegetables!”

    Besides rewarding seniors with delicious meals, gardening pays off in terms of their physical health and mental health.

    “I always loved to garden. I used to garden when I owned my own house. I missed it, then I come to Palo Vista and Max,” Moore said. “He brings all these good things for me. He helps me. He helps us all the time.”

    Smulevitz listed many ways that the garden club enhances the quality of life for residents.

    “I just love gardening; we get so much aid from UC and from Max,” she explained. “He supplies us with soil and compost and all kinds of things. Gardening lifts one’s spirits a lot. Our particular garden helps to enhance our sense of community because we often work together. We share our crops with each other, like I’ll give some kale away or somebody will give me something else that they grew and it just strengthens those bonds we have as neighbors here.”

    “Max is the face of CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE to them,” said Baykal, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE supervisor.

    Fairbee said, “It’s obvious to me, by the way they light up, that being here in the garden is good for their well-being. And it’s good for me too! It feels really rewarding to help them grow their own food.”

    Leaders at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, which oversees CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE in 34 counties in the state, are reimagining the future of nutrition education and how the work of Fairbee and his colleagues can continue helping older Californians.

    “I can’t even put a price on what Max does,” Vizcaino said. “It’s so invaluable to our community. To watch our residents thrive in that manner makes us happy as well.”

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

    To read more UC ANR news, visit our newsroom at  http://ucanr.edu/News.

  • Wheat That Makes Its Own Fertilizer

    Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have developed wheat plants that stimulate the production of their own fertilizer, opening the path toward less air and water pollution worldwide and lower costs for farmers.

    The technology was pioneered by a team led by Eduardo Blumwald, a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. The team used the gene-editing tool CRIPSR to get wheat plants to produce more of one of their own naturally occurring chemicals. When the plant releases the excess chemical into the soil, the chemical helps certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen from the air into a form the nearby plants can use to grow. That conversion process is called nitrogen fixation.

    The study was published online in Plant Biotechnology Journal.

    In developing countries, the breakthrough could be a boon for food security.

    “In Africa, people don’t use fertilizers because they don’t have money, and farms are small, not larger than six to eight acres,” Blumwald said. “Imagine, you are planting crops that stimulate bacteria in the soil to create the fertilizer that the crops need, naturally. Wow! That’s a big difference!”

    The breakthrough in wheat builds on the team’s earlier work in rice. Research also is underway to extend this technology to other cereals.

    Worldwide, wheat is the No. 2 cereal crop by yield and takes the biggest share of nitrogen fertilizer, using about 18% of the total. Globally, more than 800 million tons of fertilizer were produced in 2020 alone, according to figures from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

    But plants take up only about 30 to 50% of the nitrogen in fertilizer. Much of what they don’t use flows into waterways, which can create “dead zones” that lack oxygen, suffocating fish and other aquatic life. Some excess nitrogen in the soil produces nitrous oxide, a potent climate-warming gas.

    The work-around: Protect the fixer

    Nitrogen-fixing bacteria produce an enzyme called nitrogenase, the “fixer” in nitrogen fixation. Nitrogenase is only located in the bacteria, and it can only work in environments with very little oxygen.

    Legumes such as beans and peas have root structures, called nodules, that provide a cozy, low-oxygen home for nitrogen-fixing bacteria to live.

    Unlike legumes, wheat and most other plants don’t have root nodules. This is why farmers use nitrogen-containing fertilizer.

    “For decades, scientists have been trying to develop cereal crops that produce active root nodules, or trying to colonize cereals with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, without much success. We used a different approach,” Blumwald said. “We said the location of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria is not important, so long as the fixed nitrogen can reach the plant, and the plant can use it.”

    To find a work-around, the team first looked at 2,800 chemicals the plants produce naturally. They found 20 that, among other jobs useful to the plant, also stimulate bacteria to produce biofilms. Biofilms are a sticky layer that surround the bacteria and create a low-oxygen environment, allowing nitrogenase to work. The scientists determined how the plant makes those chemicals and which genes control that process.

    Then, the team used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to modify wheat plants to produce more of one of those chemicals, a flavone called apigenin. The wheat, now with more apigenin than it needs, releases the excess through its roots into the soil. In experiments they conducted, apigenin from the wheat stimulated bacteria in the soil to create the protective biofilms, allowing nitrogenase to fix nitrogen and the wheat plants to assimilate it.

    The wheat also showed a higher yield than control plants when grown in a very low concentration of nitrogen fertilizer.

    Farmers could save billions

    Farmers in the United States spent nearly $36 billion on fertilizers in 2023, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates. Blumwald calculates that nearly 500 million acres in the U.S. are planted with cereals.

    “Imagine, if you could save 10% of the amount of fertilizer being used on that land,” he pondered. “I’m calculating conservatively: That should be a savings of more than a billion dollars every year.”

    Other authors include Hiromi Tajima, Akhilesh Yadav, Javier Hidalgo Castellanos, Dawei Yan, Benjamin P. Brookbank and Eiji Nambara.

    A patent application has been filed by the University of California and is pending. Bayer Crop Science and the UC Davis Will Lester Endowment have supported the research.

    Read about the earlier work of the Blumwald team to develop rice that can stimulate its own nitrogen fertilizer here. — By Trina Kleist, UC Davis

  • Delegation Asserts U.S. Agricultural Interests in the Asia-Pacific Region

    U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering led the U.S. delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM). APEC is the premier platform for the United States to advance economic policies in the Asia-Pacific region, demonstrate American economic leadership, and shape the policy environment for trade and investment and strong economic growth, benefiting American farmers, ranchers, and businesses.

    “I am honored to represent our hardworking American farmers, ranchers, and producers who depend on sound global food and agricultural policies,” said Bekkering. “Our mission is clear: improve nutrition, make agriculture more efficient, and grow the American and world economy. We do that through sound science, strong markets, and fair trade. When farmers and ranchers can produce more, move their goods more efficiently, and compete fairly, everyone benefits – from farm to table to globe. President Donald Trump has consistently voiced his support for farmers and rural communities and their role as the ‘bedrock of our economy.’ We have a responsibility to drive a focused agenda that prioritizes practical solutions to empower agricultural producers.”

    The United States exported more than $126 billion in agricultural products to fellow APEC members in 2024, accounting for 72 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the world. Eight of the top 10 U.S. agricultural export destinations are APEC members. While at the Ministerial Meeting, Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from some of the United States’ top trading partners, including Japan and the Republic of Korea. Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering also met with U.S. agriculture commodity groups, including the U.S. Grains Council, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, and U.S. Wheat Associates to understand their experiences and challenges in the Korean market and the broader region.

    Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering met with the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to address non-tariff barriers that U.S. agricultural exports currently face in the Korean market.

    All 21 APEC economies were represented at the Ministerial and adopted the Joint Statement – which supports broadband access and digital tools, including the application of artificial intelligence, and stressed the need for research and investments to foster agricultural productivity growth.

  • Secretary Rollins Blocks Taxpayer Dollars for Solar Panels on Prime Farmland

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Bill Hagerty, Representative John Rose, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden, recently announced USDA will no longer fund taxpayer dollars for solar panels on productive farmland or allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in USDA projects. Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available. Within the last 30 years, Tennessee alone has lost over 1.2 million acres of farmland and is expected to lose 2 million acres by 2027. This problem is not just in Tennessee, since 2012, solar panels on farmland nationwide have increased by nearly 50%. That is why the Department is taking action.

    “Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with green new deal subsidized solar panels. It has been disheartening to see our beautiful farmland displaced by solar projects, especially in rural areas that have strong agricultural heritage. One of the largest barriers of entry for new and young farmers is access to land. Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We are no longer allowing businesses to use your taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on prime American farmland, and we will no longer allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in our USDA-funded projects.”

    “Tennesseans know that our farmland is our national security, our economic future, and our children’s heritage. We were honored to welcome Secretary Rollins to Tennessee this week, and I’m grateful for her leadership to defend America’s farmland from foreign adversaries and protect our food supply,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

    “Tennessee farmland should be used to grow the crops that feed our state and country, not to house solar panels made by foreign countries like Communist China,” said Senator Blackburn. “Secretary Rollins and President Trump are right to put an end to these Green New Deal subsidies that waste taxpayer dollars while threatening America’s food security. I applaud this administration for investing in rural communities across Tennessee and empowering them to prosper for years to come.”

    “Competition is the American way. As a business owner, I know well the importance of fighting for your spot in the free market. It sparks innovation and often drives down costs for consumers. By leveling the playing field, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is ensuring an abundant energy future for Tennessee and beyond,” said Representative John Rose (TN-06).

    “Secretary Rollins understands that food security is national security, and preserving prime farmland for agricultural production is a key component of protecting our food supply. I look forward to working with her and this Administration to ensure any incentives for renewable energy projects have commonsense safeguards in place that provide options for producers while protecting our most productive farmland,” said House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15).

    “I strongly support Secretary Rollins’ action today implementing President Trump’s executive order de-prioritizing undependable energy sources, and protecting our prime farmland for much/needed food production. Ending wasteful taxpayer Green New Scam subsidies that have driven up energy costs and taken farmland out of production are long overdue. This action protects farmland so important to our Eastern Shore economy, strengthens American agriculture, and puts our energy independence first,” said Representative Andy Harris (MD-01).

    “The land that feeds America should never be sacrificed for unreliable green energy experiments subsidized by taxpayer dollars. With this action, the USDA is making it clear that agriculture, not foreign-made solar panels, belongs on America’s farmland. This step ensures our land, food supply, and rural traditions are protected for generations to come,” said Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-7).

    “We shouldn’t be subsidizing solar projects on prime farmland, that land is too valuable for producing the food and fuel our nation depends on. Secretary Rollins is right to step in and make sure taxpayer dollars aren’t used to take our best farmland out of production, and I strongly support stopping the use of solar panels made by foreign adversaries like China. I’m proud to see that the Trump Administration continues to be committed to protecting American agriculture and standing up to China,” said Representative Mike Bost (IL-12).

    “There is no such thing as a solar farm. It is a waste of one of our most precious resources, our land. The extortion of the American taxpayers through solar subsidies, and the destruction of our farm and forest resources, has gone on for far too long. I commend Secretary Rollins for taking action to keep taxpayer dollars from being wasted on solar panels, purchased from our adversaries like China, and to no longer allow these unaffordable “green” projects to waste space on our American farmland and destroy our forest and wildlife habitat,” said Representative Austin Scott (GA-08).

    “For too long, Washington bureaucrats and foreign adversaries have tried to dictate how we use our land and our resources. Taxpayers should never be forced to bankroll green new deal scams that destroy our farmland and undermine our food security. I applaud President Trump and Secretary Rollins for standing up for America’s farmers and ranchers by ensuring our prime farmland is protected from foreign adversaries and our taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Our agricultural heritage is the backbone of this nation, and these commonsense reforms put food security, national security, and American sovereignty first,” said Representative Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).

    “The Trump Administration is continuing to listen to those at home who were struggling under the previous administration’s Green New Scam. It’s been proven time and time again that subsidies negatively impact market pricing, passing the cost directly to consumers. I applaud the work of the USDA protecting national security, prioritizing American products first, and amplifying an all-of-the-above energy approach,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05).

    “Green New Deal subsidies have distorted the energy market and supplanted American farmland. USDA is taking decisive action which complements policies I supported in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ending the misuse of taxpayer dollars and upholding our national security interests in energy infrastructure. I appreciate Secretary Rollins’ leadership in restoring common sense to these USDA programs,” said Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03).

    Protecting American Farmland:

    This action will rapidly eliminate the market distortions and costs imposed on taxpayers by reducing energy subsidies and builds upon the repeal of and modifications to wind, solar, and other “green” energy tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It will further USDA’s determination to end taxpayer support for unaffordable and unreliable “green” energy sources and ensure the supply chain consists of American products and manufacturing.

    Effective immediately, USDA will implement the following programmatic actions:

    • For the USDA Rural Development Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program wind and solar projects are not eligible.
    • For the USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan Program (REAP Guaranteed Loan Program), USDA will ensure that American farmers, ranchers and producers utilizing wind and solar energy sources will install units that are right-sized for their facilities. If project applications include ground mount solar photovoltaic systems larger than 50kW or ground mount solar photovoltaic systems that cannot document historical energy usage, they will no longer be eligible for the REAP Guaranteed Loan Program, and priority points will no longer be given for REAP grants.

    USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs to promote rural prosperity. The commitment and resources we bring to rural communities help drive economic security and prosperity. Our programs expand access to high-speed internet, electric, and transportation infrastructure, and support business growth, healthcare, education, housing, and other community essentials. Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov.

  • USDA Advances Trump Administration’s Farmer-First Agenda at UN FAO Conference

    U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering led the delegation — on behalf of Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins — to the 44th Session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference in Rome, delivering a clear message: international organizations supported by American taxpayers must deliver results that align with U.S. interests and directly benefit American farmers, ranchers, and producers.

    During the Conference, the U.S. national statement was firmly delivered, echoing President Trump’s vision and Secretary Rollins’ commitment to prioritizing American farmers and ranchers.

    “Today, the U.S. sees FAO at a crossroads,” said Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering during the U.S. national statement to the FAO plenary. “One path is business as usual—more mandates, more meetings, more process, slow progress. The other path brings us back to basics and results—focusing on FAO’s core mission and making a real and sustainable difference on the ground. When farmers and ranchers can produce more, move their goods more efficiently, and compete fairly, everyone benefits—from farm to table to globe.”

    In meetings with FAO leadership and international counterparts, Bekkering emphasized U.S. reform priorities and the need for results-based, science-driven leadership.

    Alongside Chargé d’Affaires Scott Turner of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Bekkering discussed with FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol how to better align FAO’s efforts with the priorities of its largest contributor. In a focused meeting with FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, she stressed that FAO credibility depends on its use of the best available science, data and evidence.

    The United States also met with Codex Secretary Sarah Cahill and underscored the importance of Codex Alimentarius to supporting American agriculture and fostering trade and encouraged more consistent communication on how international food safety standards benefit U.S. producers. The delegation also engaged the International Fund for Agricultural Development, meeting with Ronald Hartman, Director of Global Engagement, to push for increased collaboration with the American private sector in its global investments.

    In bilateral talks with Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister Tom Rosser, Bekkering discussed joint efforts to defend transparent, evidence-based agricultural policy across multilateral settings. She welcomed Canada’s alignment on key issues related to trade facilitation and regulatory coherence, reinforcing the importance of North American leadership on the world stage. Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering also met with Sweden’s Vice Minister for Rural Affairs Daniel Liljeberg to strengthen relations while sharing concerns about EU trade-barriers including the EU Deforestation Regulation, and underscored that American farmers produce the safest, highest-quality food in the world and deserve full access to global markets.

    Looking ahead, USDA will continue engaging with the FAO and U.S. interagency partners to advance reform priorities. This includes supporting the State Department’s review of U.S. engagement with international organizations to ensure alignment with American strategic and economic interests.

  • Increased Focus On Food Security At UC Merced

    Merced, Calif., (February 6, 2017) – This month the Planting Seeds blog is featuring stories on food security and nutrition. CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork is committed to helping all Californians access healthy and nutritious California-grown food by connecting consumers, school districts, and others directly with California’s farmers and ranchers.

    UC Merced is relaunching its branch of the Blum Center for Developing Economies with a focus on food security, with a hope to make it a hub for food-security-related research and outreach.

    Economics Professor Kurt Schnier, with the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, and Karina Diaz Rios, a nutrition specialist in the UC Cooperative Extension, will lead the rejuvenated Blum Center, with administrative help from the Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI).

    “We want to create a community on campus to address issues of food security,” Schnier said. “We want to help engage students, faculty members and the community to have a direct effect on people’s lives.”

    Merced County’s economy is largely based around agriculture, yet many people there do not have food security. The food insecurity rate in the area is 15.5 percent, according to the Merced County Food Bank, compared to a statewide average of 13.9 percent. Nearly 30 percent of those considered food insecure in Merced County are children. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

    The Blum Center at UC Merced started in 2013 and is affiliated with the Blum Center at UC Berkeley, which was founded by a gift from investment banker and UC Regent Richard C. Blum.  There are Blum Centers on several other UC campuses, including UCLA, UC Davis and UC Berkeley, the school from which Blum graduated. Each center has a slightly different focus, though all work toward the betterment of the global society.

    Link to UC Merced blog post