November 28, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to purchase more than 800,000 pounds of catfish products, according to a new solicitation.
The department is planning to buy 342,000 pounds of unbreaded, raw catfish fillets and 462,000 pounds of oven-ready, breaded catfish strips for domestic food distribution programs.
November 3, 2023 — The U.S. Senate passed a package of appropriations bills in late October that included funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The legislation includes key provisions for the domestic seafood industry and brings Congress one step closer to providing funding for fiscal-year 2024 and avoiding a government shutdown. Congress agreed to a last-minute deal in September to avert a partial shutdown, but that agreement expires 17 November.
October 19, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a USD 776,210 (EUR 733,970) cooperative agreement with the U.S. state of Maine to fund school-issued meal programs.
Funds for the programs will go toward purchasing nutritious, local foods to boost student health and build new relationships between schools and local farmers, the USDA stated in a release on 26 September.
September 27, 2023 — Industry groups representing the commercial seafood sector are rallying support for several provisions to the Farm Bill that would elevate seafood’s profile within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Trade groups, including the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA), the Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), and the At-Sea Processors Association (APA), as well as seafood processors Pacific Seafoods and Trident Seafoods, circulated a sign-on letter earlier in September encouraging Congress to adopt the legislation.
September 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested in four seafood innovation projects as part of USD 13 million (EUR 12 million) in small business research and technology grants announced last month.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to investing, growing and supporting small businesses through increased market opportunities that also strengthen the food system nationally and locally,” USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young said. “Science-based innovations from federally funded research, often developed through public-private partnerships, create products and services that increase productivity and enhance global competitiveness for the U.S. agriculture sector.”
August 4, 2023 — A group of U.S. lawmakers are continuing their campaign to ensure the aquaculture industry is getting adequate support and fair treatment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Last week, U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) introduced the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, which would require the USDA to ensure it provides “fair funding levels” to aquaculture producers in its program. The USDA, Pallone claimed, devotes a disproportionate percentage of its program funding to animal agriculture.
July 25, 2023 — U.S. catfish production is down year-on-year in terms of fish numbers, but up in terms of weight, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The report, released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, indicates the water surface acres used for catfish production and the foodsize inventory of catfish in the three major producing states – Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi – are both down. However, live-weight statistics indicate that despite having fewer fish in the water, the overall weight of the fish is up.
July 3, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is continuing its seafood spending spree this week, after awarding nearly USD 90 million (EUR 82 million) in contracts last week.
The latest awards, which were announced on 29 June, are for the federal government’s domestic food assistance programs.
Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based OBI Seafoods was awarded a contract to supply 47,120 cases of canned pink salmon worth USD 2.6 million (EUR 2.4 million).
June 20, 2023 — U.S. representatives in Congress have introduced legislation to create an office of aquaculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers play an essential role in our food supply, but historically they haven’t received the support they need to reach their full potential,” U.S.Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) said, adding that a USDA aquaculture program office “will help shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers grow their small businesses while expanding blue carbon ecosystems that help address the climate crisis.”
May 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to purchase up to 470,000 pounds of catfish and 1.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock for use in domestic food distribution programs.
The Alaska pollock will be used for the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. The department is looking for both frozen Alaska pollock fillets and fish sticks, with bids due 17 May. The USDA will announce the contract awards by midnight on 23 May.