USDA $3 Billion Investment

The USDA has announced a $3 billion investment into Agriculture, Animal Health, and Nutrition. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is quoted saying, “American agriculture currently faces unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts. Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners increasingly experience the impacts of climate change as severe storms, floods, drought, and wildfire events damage their operations and impact their livelihoods. We know these challenges will continue into 2022, and others may emerge. [end quote]

Details of this comprehensive investment package are as follows. $500 million will go to support drought recovery and encourage adoption of water-smart management practices. $500 million will go to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever. $500 million to relief from agricultural market disruption such as increased transportation challenges and availability and cost of certain material.

Last $1.5 billion will go to providing assistance to help schools respond to supply chain disruptions. According to the USDA throughout the pandemic, school food professionals have met extraordinary challenges to ensure every child can get the food they need to learn, grown and thrive. As circumstances in local communities remain unpredictable supply chains for food and labor have been stressed and often times disrupted. These funds will support procurement of agricultural commodities with the end goal of providing students with reliable access to healthy meals.