The USDA is taking steps to make it easier for students to keep getting free meals through next school year. Officials announced this week that a number of COVID-19-related flexibilities have been extended through June 30, 2022.
Continue reading
The USDA is taking steps to make it easier for kids to keep getting free meals throughout the summer. Officials announced this week that a number of COVID-19-related waivers that were in place until the end of June have now been extended through September.
Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday afternoon that officials are extending flexibilities to allow free meals to be available to all children throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The previous waiver extension ended in December, but USDA officials say they are committed to ensuring all children have access to nutritious food as the United States recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to extend the waiver through June.
Continue readingA number of farmers and rural businesses will be able to lower their energy costs, thanks to funding from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program. Locally, Treat’s Squire Shop in Plymouth is getting $1,500 to buy and install LED lighting. The USDA says that will save enough energy to power four homes a year and should lower the business’s annual energy costs by more than $4,000.
Continue reading
The Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District is offering help to residents who need to get rid of invasive species.
Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that the entity is investing $398.5 million to improve rural electric service in 13 states and Marshall County REMC will receive a portion of that funding.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it’s stepping up its efforts to modernize rural America’s water infrastructure. USDA Rural Development says it has more than $4 billion in loans available for rural communities with up to 10,000 residents. That’s a significant funding increase from last year.
Grants are available to help fund projects that encourage the production of specialty crops. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is now accepting grant proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Continue reading
Specialty crop producers who applied for enhanced crop insurance this year have a deadline approaching to turn in necessary paperwork. Conservation compliance forms must be filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture by June 1. Farmers who do not complete the form will not be eligible for federal crop insurance payments. The 2014 farm bill gave specialty crop producers the option to apply for enhanced crop coverage through the federal Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, commonly known as NAP. In order to receive payments, farmers must certify they will not plant crops on erodible land unless previously approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Applicants must also agree not to drain, dredge, level or fill any wetlands on their property. Continue reading
