USDA’s Farm Service Agency News

South Dakota Rancher Indicted for False Cattle Death Claims

The indictment of a South Dakota man for falsely claiming he lost more than a hundred cattle during the autumn blizzard of 2013 could be the first such case from the storm, which devastated ranchers in the western part of …

What States Are Doing to Battle Bird Flu Threat

Indiana is training 300 prisoners to kill infected chickens and banning bird shows at county fairs. Mississippi is considering road barricades and planning biosecurity measures. Iowa is trying to figure out how to deal with a mountain of dead – …

Drought Designation Given to 5 Idaho Counties

Federal officials have designated five Idaho counties as natural disaster areas due to recent drought conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday declared that Butte, Clark, Custer, Jefferson and Washington counties qualified for federal assistance. The designation means farmers …

Lea County in New Mexico Declared Disaster Area Due To Drought

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Lea County a natural disaster area, making drought-stricken farmers and ranchers in the area eligible for assistance. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the designation on Tuesday, saying he and President Obama are committed …