This week, USRPA signed onto a letter led by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) addressed to the White House that emphasizes the dire state of the farm economy and current economic pressures facing farmers and ranchers across the country.

In particular, the letter highlights increasing inputs costs especially fertilizer as a direct result of the Strait of Hormuz closure. USRPA signed onto the letter alongside 50+ other agricultural related trade associations and organizations. You can read the full letter here.

USDA awards $26.8 million to Local Agriculture Market Program

On Tuesday, March 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed $26.8 million to grant projects through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in an effort to support the connection between farmers and regional markets.

The funding for LAMP includes $11.1 million for 43 projects in the Farmers Market Promotion Program, $11.1 million for 37 projects in the Local Food Promotion Program, and $4.7 million for seven partnerships in the Regional Food System Partnerships. LAMP’s grant programs, funded by the 2018 Farm Bill, are administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and require a 25% cost share of federal funds. The official press release is available here.