Robert Bonnie

Ag lawmakers on Capitol Hill say it’s time for USDA to end COVID staffing restrictions at FSA offices. House Ag Ranking Member, Glenn Thompson, told USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie this week that it’s time for USDA employees to return to work. “USDA i ...

While it was just announced Monday, USDA’s $1 billion “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities” is already generating lots of heat on Capitol Hill. Republican lawmakers told Undersecretary Robert Bonnie this week the USDA may be exceeding its authority in spending $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation money for climate-smart pilot projects. “The NRCS ...

The 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show takes place this week in Houston, TX. The speaker lineup includes people ranging from sports heroes to global leaders. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will appear virtually. Robert Bonnie, the Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, will appear live, and so will Dame Karen Pierce, the British Ambassador to the United States ... Read Mo

Carbon credit markets are showing potential as a possible revenue stream for farmers, thanks to carbon sequestration practices they can implement on their operations. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently came out in favor of the USDA operating as a potential “carbon bank” for American producers that want to participate in carbon markets. Robert Bo ...

Back in January President Biden signed an Executive Order on how the federal government planned to address climate change concerns. The Agriculture Department's role include the recent notice in the Federal Register related to climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices and systems ...

The USDA's top climate official, Robert Bonnie, recently said interest in the topic of the farming industry's role when it comes to climate change comes directly from President Biden. "He tasked the Department of Agriculture with doing some outreach to agriculture to think about our toolbox of voluntary incentive-based approaches ...

Sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program was scheduled to end February 12th, but the USDA has decided to extend that deadline. USDA said it will continue to accept offers as it takes the opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment ...

What could the USDA look like under the Biden administration? A one-time member of the Obama Administration recently offered some insight into what the Department of Ag may look like in 2021 and beyond. Phillip Karsting, is the former Administrator of the USDA’s Foreign Ag Service under President Obama, as well as the former Interim President of the World Food Program. He ...