Despite the surge in COVID cases and the complications it brings, the U.S. economy continues to thrive. Workers are steadily returning to the labor force; the unemployment rate is currently under 4% and consumers are still spending confidently. Until the omicron surge subsides, the biggest economic risk will be the millions of workers who report sick and hamper already beleaguered …

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Egg Regulatory Officials (NERO) are announcing a new program for state egg and egg product regulators entitled the Egg Regulatory Program Standards (ERPS). The standards are designed to integrate the regulatory activities of partner agencies into an efficient and effective process for improving egg and egg product safety in the …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced up to $225 million in available funding for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This year’s funding announcements include opportunities for projects that address climate change, benefit historically underserved producers …

The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) will hold a nomination teleconference on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 at 8:00 A.M. (PT) for district 4 and Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. (PT) for district 5 to nominate qualified watermelon producers and watermelon handlers to fill open positions as directors of the Board. District 4 — The States of: Connecticut, Delaware,Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, …

The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) selected Bogle Vineyards as the 2022 Grower of the Year and Dr. Anita Oberholster as the 2022 Leader the Year. The recipients will be honored at an awards reception on Jan. 25 during the 2022 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento. “We applaud the outstanding leadership and exceptional efforts of the Bogle …

The GROWMARK Foundation is once again offering a $1,500 scholarship program for students in the United States and Ontario, Canada, pursing two- or four-year degrees or trade school certification in an agriculture-related field.“As our business has grown and evolved, we saw a need toprovide a scholarship to students throughout the United States and Ontario, in addition to the scholarship programs …

In California, 2021 was a year that climate change hit home. The increasingly frequent, warmer droughts that climate scientists have been predicting have arrived. Although this past December brought some welcome storms, California remains in the grips of an historic, fast-moving drought that has followed close on the heels of the last one. The non-partisan PPIC Water Policy Center tackled the thorny …

Checkoff foodservice partners continued to grow sales of U.S. dairy foods and more domestic dairy headed into the international marketplace. There also were increased efforts to connect with the valued Gen Z consumer and dairy’s sustainability journey reached new levels. These and other results are some of Dairy Management Inc.’s top checkoff highlights from 2021. Despite a year with continued …

The California Beef Council (CBC), the marketing order representing California’s cattle ranchers and beef producers, has hired Makenzie Neves as Manager of Producer Education and Engagement. This position coordinates producer education, engagement, and communication efforts for the CBC. A California native, Neves grew up on a dairy in the Central Valley. She is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, …