The USDA is awarding more than $40 million to improve local food financing partnerships and expand food access across the country.
Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small tells Brownfield the Healthy Food Financing Initiative will help more farmers bring products to market through additional funding and technical assistance.
“To studies or capacity evaluations to help identify what the specific solution is for the farmers on the ground or for the entity in the food supply chain that can answer those specific challenges, she says.
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A new program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is increasing access to fresh food to areas in need.
Jason Horwitz, senior economic advisor, says grants will be offered through the “New Stores in Food Deserts” initiative…
“To organizations, businesses, even local units of government, are eligible to apply to start a new grocery store in an area that’s been designated a food desert, both in rural areas and in urban areas,” he says.
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A new initiative in Kansas will help support health care in the state’s farming and rural communities.
Kansas State University recently announced a partnership with The University of Kansas Health System to work with the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to address healthcare challenges.
The initiative, called K-State 105, will focus on strategies to keep care local, caregiver support for patients with dementia, increasing access to digital and telehealth resources, programming focused on behavioral health needs, addressing OB-GYN/high-risk pregnancy provider shortages, and grant writing and facilitation resources.
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The Small Business Administration’s free nationwide mentorship program has the potential to support more agricultural entrepreneurs.
Iowa ag banker Don Frazer tells Brownfield he’s been volunteering with SCORE since retiring a few years ago.
“I was blessed in my banking career to have some great mentors,” he shares. “I just kind of realized that they truly were a mentor after the fact looking back at my relationships with them. To me, this is just a way to pay it forward.”
Frazer says he’s the only mentor in his region with agricultural experience and often is paired with beginning farmers or ag start-ups.
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The chair of the House Ways and Means Committee expressed disappointment in the performance of the U.S. Trade Representative during a hearing Tuesday morning.
Missouri Republican Jason Smith said the last time Ambassador Katherine Tai came before the committee, he was very optimistic about the work that could be accomplished to deliver results for American farmers, workers, and manufacturers.
“Unfortunately, today I’m less optimistic as the administration has continued to pursue a trade agenda that ignores Congress to the detriment of the American worker and American leadership on trade.”
Ambassador Tai defended the Biden administration’s trade approach, calling it open-minded and innovative.
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U.S. farmers were generally able to make solid planting progress last week, but there were delays in some areas and dry weather in the Plains is having some impact on winter wheat.
The USDA says 6% of U.S. corn is planted as of Sunday, compared to 3% a week ago and the five-year average of 5%.
3% of soybeans have been planted, compared to 1% on average.
55% of winter wheat is in good to excellent shape, 1% less than last week, but 28% more than this time last year, with 11% of the crop headed, compared to 7% normally in mid-April.
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