USDA is increasing its investments into the agriculture sector, with the latest funding measures designed to address challenges and costs due to drought, animal health, market disruptions and school food supply chain issues.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 29 that USDA would be investing $3 billion via the Commodity Credit Corporation.
“Through this comprehensive set of investments, USDA will take action to prevent the spread of African swine fever, assist producers grappling with drought and market disruptions, and help school nutrition professionals obtain nutritious food for students,” Vilsack said.
A total of $500 million will be allocated to support drought recovery, as well as encourage the use of water-smart management practices. USDA Farm Production and Conservation agencies will help deliver relief and design drought resilience programs.
Up to $500 million will be provided to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the U.S. The funding will be used to boost monitoring, surveillance, prevention, quarantine and eradication activities through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
“ASF outbreaks have proven devastating in other parts of the world due to lost production and trade,” a USDA statement read. “It is critical for all of us to work together to stop the spread of this disease.”
An additional $500 million will be invested in providing relief from market disruptions. USDA said this could include transportation challenges, the availability and cost of certain materials and other short-term obstacles.
Finally, up to $1.5 billion will be allocated to help schools respond to supply chain disruptions. The funds will procure ag commodities and ensure students have access to meals.
In other ASF-related news, USDA recently announced an ASF vaccine candidate was successful in protecting European and Asian swine against the Asian strain of the virus. Research published in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases shows that USDA scientists have developed a vaccine with the ability to be commercially produced while retaining its efficacy against Asian ASF strains.
Immunity was shown in around one-third of the swine by the second week after vaccination, while full protection in all swine was achieved by the fourth week.
“We are working carefully to see our vaccine candidate commercialized through the joint efforts of the U.S. government and our commercial partner, the Navetco National Veterinary Joint Stock Company,” said Agricultural Research Service researcher Manuel Borca.
Climate comments sought
USDA is also seeking comments regarding an initiative to finance climate-smart farming and forestry practices. The department will support a set of pilot projects that provide incentives for implementing climate-smart conservation practices on working lands, as well as quantify and monitor the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits of using such practices.
“The pilots will invest in the science, monitoring and verification to measure the benefits of these climate-smart practices,” Vilsack said. “Today, we ask for public input to inform our decision making and enhance the design of this initiative.”
USDA encourages farmers, ranchers and other stakeholders to submit comments on the design of the new Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative. Comments may be submitted by searching for docket number USDA-2021-0010 at federalregister.gov. The deadline for submitting comments is Nov. 1.
USDA specifically asks for input on the following:
• The current state of climate-smart commodity markets.
• Systems for quantification.
• Options and criteria for evaluation.
• Use of information collected.
• Potential protocols.
• Options for review and verification.
• Inclusion of historically underserved communities.
USDA plans to announce a notice of funding availability this fall, with project proposals accepted beginning early next year.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) praised the $3 billion in funding.
“Not only will USDA resources help farmers recover from droughts and prevent the spread of African swine fever disease, they will fund innovative climate solutions so farmers, ranchers and foresters can continue to tackle the climate crisis,” Stabenow said.
“And USDA is providing relief from agricultural market disruptions and shoring up the supply chain to make sure children have reliable access to the healthy meals they need.”
However, Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) expressed concern with the climate-smart farming initiative.
“The agriculture community has made great strides in adopting more sustainable production methods. Every farmer, rancher and forester I have spoken with wants to continue to build on those efforts,” Boozman said. “But what they don’t want is a heavy-handed approach that would place unbearable requirements on their ability to operate.”
Boozman added that he was unsure if it was appropriate to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds to implement the program. He also said he wanted to ensure that “producer-driven” was not just a talking point, but the standard.
“This new program must be informed by producers and foresters who actively work the land to produce the food, fuel and fiber our nation depends upon,” he said.
The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), a coalition made up of 80 industry groups, said it was encouraged by USDA taking an incentive-based approach. Vilsack said USDA drew inspiration from FACA’s recommendations released in May.
“FACA supports this ‘walk before you run’ approach by government to advance climate-smart practices,” an American Farm Bureau Federation statement read. “FACA has long stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and is pleased USDA is inviting proposals that would add value to and encourage new markets for the full range of farm, ranch and forestry products, grown and raised on farms, ranches and forests of all sizes.” — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
