A post-pandemic surge in federal support gave urban agriculture a moment in the sun. Under the revamped USDA, the outlook is clouded.


The Urban Farming Comedown

A flesh-eating parasite, virtually eradicated from U.S. soil for 60 years, is ready for a comeback. What’ll it take to keep it at bay?

Turn of the Screw(worm)

Midway through reporting on a $3.1 billion program for farmers and researchers, the trail went cold.

Everything I Never Learned About USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities Program

A USDA lab devised a way to ID toxins from common poisonous plants using “non-traditional” bodily excretions.

Sick Sheep? Let Us Inspect Their Earwax.

A D.C. insider argues BIPOC farmers may never see benefits from the Justice40 Initiative, a sweeping historical program for disadvantaged communities.

USDA Misses Another Chance to Help Farmers of Color

The USDA has thrown $300 million at organic agriculture. Is that enough to save our soil?

Soiled Again: The Organic Transition Is Underfoot

Hundreds of school districts have started offering plant-based alternatives in recent months — what’s behind the shift, and what do these meals look like?

The Vegan School Lunch

It’s part of a larger agency push to promote more traditional foods and help with Native food sovereignty.

USDA Is Buying Bison From Small Native Producers

The grocery aisle makes a lot of promises, but are industrial meat farms living up to their claims?

The Illusion of Antibiotic-Free Meat

On Long Island, a snail farmer explores the limits of niche agriculture.

Slow Food

Small producers rarely manage to access USDA grants and loans. Independent consultants may boost their odds of “winning.”

A New Class of Consultants Helps Farmers Navigate USDA’s Cumbersome Funding Applications

A group of 150 USDA canines is tasked with sniffing out potentially dangerous meat and produce before it enters our borders. Their funding is far from secure.

Meet the Elite Squad of Beagles Keeping U.S. Agriculture Safe

Should meat from cattle raised in, say, Brazil, be allowed to carry a sticker that says “Made in USA?” The USDA wants your thoughts.

“They’re Doing Fraud”: Meat Producers Weigh in on USA Labels

The program hopes to support underserved farming communities throughout the state, while offering schools an affordable way to provide local food.

Oklahoma’s New Lunch Program Puts a Twist on the Farm-to-School Model

A reintroduced bill in Congress might help with a shortage of meat processing plants. Experts say there’s a lot more to the problem.

Will More Money for Small Meat Processors Fix the Supply Chain?

The real threat to our food security, according to researchers, is broader corporate ownership and consolidation of American farmland — including by domestic investors.

Congress Wants to Block Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland. Is This a Red Herring?

The 2018 Farm Bill strengthened future organic protections, after some high-profile, unsavory incidents. Now they’ve arrived and stakeholders seem (mostly) pleased.

USDA Is Cracking Down on Organic Fraud. Will It Rebuild Public Trust?

Once every five years, farmers are invited to complete an updated USDA survey. Participation isn’t simply encouraged, however: It’s a legal requirement.

Time Is Running Out to Complete the Census of Agriculture

Since 9/11, an enormous amount of money and resources have been devoted to protecting our food and farms from terrorist attacks. It’s unclear how worried we should actually be.

Are the Threats of “Agroterrorism” Overblown?

After years of inaction — and outside pressure — the agency is proposing sweeping new changes to how it handles the foodborne bacteria. It starts on the farm.

Poultry Farmers Are on the Front Lines of USDA’s New War on Salmonella

Raising two crops on one field in one year can have ecological benefits — if you’re doing it right.

The USDA Wants Farmers to Double-Crop. It’s Not Just About Profits.

The highest median income for U.S. farmers in the last decade was a meager $296.

Most Farmers Need Second Jobs to Survive

A USDA partnership with the Port struggles to help American farmers export products.

Ag Exports Bottlenecked at Oakland Port Despite USDA Efforts

Producers ditch certification despite rising organic sales to maintain more sustainable practices.

When Organic Farming Doesn’t Pay Off

Jisang Yu, PhD

Brittney Goodrich, PhD

A natural experiment allows us to compare the participation rates of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance product. We find that the two offerings are competing with each other.

The Conservation Reserve Program is Competing with Pasture Insurance for Farmer Participation

We explore how farm aid funding is distributed and how different application channels can affect accessibility. 

All “USDA” Posts