Look here for the latest blogs and other news as well as updates about Grants, Loans & Other Support available to farmers, ranchers, food businesses and others interested in local and regional foods.

Announcements:

• 06/30/16: USDA Partnership with Philanthropies Continues to Strengthen Local, Regional Food Supply Chains; USDA Provides Funding to Increase the Impact of Food LINC
• 06/08/16: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $16.8 Million in Grants to Encourage Healthy Food Purchases for SNAP Participants
• 06/06/16: Obama Administration Names Final Round of Promise Zone Communities
• 06/06/16: USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Rural Businesses
• 04/29/16: USDA Unveils New 'Urban Agriculture Toolkit' for Urban Farmers and Agri-business Entrepreneurs
• 04/29/16: USDA Offers New Loans for Portable Farm Storage and Handling Equipment
• 04/28/16: USDA Offers New Resource to Help Food Hubs Improve Financial Performance
• 04/27/16: USDA Establishes New Partnerships to Link Underserved Farmers to FSA Programs
• 04/08/16: USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Agricultural Producers Increase the Value of Their Products
• 04/07/16: NASS Launches First Local Food Survey
• 04/07/16: USDA Issues Proposed Rule to Amend Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices, Including Poultry Living Conditions; Invites Comments
• 04/01/16: USDA Announces Over $90 Million Available to Support Local Food Systems, Specialty Crop Producers
• 03/31/16: Federal, Philanthropic Partners Join to Strengthen Local Food Supply Chains, "Food LINC" to Boost Farm Sales, Grow Local Foods Sector in Ten Selected Regions
• 03/28/16: USDA Seeks Grant Applications to Provide Development Support to Rural Cooperatives
• 03/24/16: USDA Offers New Toolkit to Assess Economic Impact of Local Foods, New Report from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service Helps Communities Measure the Economic Benefits of Local Food Investments With Real-World Examples and Measurement Tactics
• 03/14/16: Stakeholder Announcement USDA Seeks Reviewers for Grant Programs Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program and Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
• 01/25/16: Obama Administration to Partner with 27 Communities to Boost Neighborhood Revitalization through Local Food Enterprises
• 01/19/16: USDA Expands Microloans to Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property

Newsletters:

• May 2016

Videos and Webinars:

• Farm to School Videos and Webinars
• Farm Wisdom: Microdairy Production and Marketing - Wild Harvest Creamery
• Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food - Prairieland Dairy
• Value Added Producer Grant Program with Former Deputy Secretary Merrigan
• Farm Wisdom: Small-Scale USDA Inspected Meat Processing
• Partnering for Nutrition in School Meals
• Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food - Winston County Self-Help Cooperative
• USDA Job Corps Top Chef!
• USDA High Tunnel/Hoop Houses w/NRCS Chief White, Dep. Secretary Merrigan & Sam Kass
• Hoophouses in Michigan - The Fusiliers of Manchester, MI
• 2011 South Dakota Local Foods

Blogs: