racial justice

Last week, the National FFA Organization announced its participation in a new community of practice with other nonprofit organizations focused on advancing racial equity.  Over the next six months, leaders in the National FFA Organization will work with The Bridgespan Group to strengthen their approach to advancing racial equity internally and externally.  The Adv...

The USDA says it will establish an Equity Commission and is looking for nominations for membership on the Commission’s Advisory Committee and Subcommittee on Agriculture. “USDA is committed to advancing equity throughout the Department,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. The Equity Co ...

Farmers from Minnesota and North Dakota recently joined a discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture. The group behind the lawsuit alleges a USDA COVID-19 relief program for socially disadvantaged farmers discriminates based on race ...

USDA has published a Federal Register Notice, seeking public input regarding efforts to advance racial justice and equity. "We obviously are dealing with a circumstance where gaps have grown between socially disadvantaged producers and other producers in this country and also gaps that have grown in terms of communities," said Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack ...

Climate change, rural broadband and civil rights were among key topics as Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the House Appropriations Ag subcommittee earlier this week. While making sure upload and download speeds are increased in a way that makes sense with today’s broadband needs, Vilsack added climate change is also a priority at USDA. “ ...

There are many lessons that were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, but one of the most notable according to USDA: "The pandemic has made it clear that our current federal nutrition safety net  while strong, can do more to promote healthy diets and advance racial equity," said Sara Bleich, USDA' Senior COVID-19 Advisor. "S ...

COVID vaccine distribution, rural broadband, climate change, and racial equity were among the top issues House Ag leaders laid before USDA’s 97th Ag Outlook Forum last week. From his roots growing up on his grandfather’s farm, House Ag Chair David Scott described the plight of America’s black farmers through generations of discrimination and earlier slavery and are make up less than two percent o

With Democrats controlling the House and Senate, the priorities of the respective Ag committees have changed compared to sessions past. More of a focus are climate change, racial equality, and hunger programs in more urbanized areas. Dan Newhouse, chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, said while he plans to work with the majority party to address these issues and others, he said he will c

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture last week adopted a new diversity and inclusion policy during the 2020 NASDA Annual Meeting. According to the organization, the new policy formally incorporates NASDA's commitment to racial justice into its policymaking framework ...