USDA DETAILS MORE EQUITY EFFORTS: The department last week announced $75 million in funding for 20 organizations to offer technical assistance and help connect underserved producers with USDA programs and services. The organizations, which USDA said had "proven track records" working with underserved producers including military veterans, beginning farmers and those in high-poverty areas, will help those producers with business and tax planning, "farmer advocacy" and other areas. Follow the money: The funding comes from the latest Covid-19 relief package and will go to organizations such as the National Black Farmers Association, the Intertribal Agriculture Council and the Farmer Veteran Coalition. It's part of the $1 billion allocated by the package to fund equity initiatives at USDA, like addressing Heir's property, barriers to accessing programs and forming an Equity Commission. About that Equity Commission: The member nomination period has been extended to Nov. 30. USDA RECORDS LOWEST VACCINATION RATE: Data released last week by the Office of Management and Budget shows USDA had the lowest rate of vaccinated employees among all departments, with just over 86 percent of employees receiving at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, reports yours truly. "Implementation of the [federal vaccine] requirement will not result in any disruptions to critical services that the American people depend on," USDA Communications Director Michael Amato said in an email to your host, adding that they anticipate more employees will be vaccinated over time. (Last week marked the deadline for government workers to comply with the Biden administration's federal vaccine mandate.) By the numbers: While USDA is behind on vaccination numbers, it's closer to other agencies in general compliance, which includes both vaccinations and exception requests. The department had a 95.6 percent agency-wide compliance rate as of Nov. 23 — higher than a few other departments, including Homeland Security and Interior. The federal government as a whole has reached 96.5 percent compliance (meaning employees have had at least one vaccine dose or have an approved or pending exemption request), with 92 percent of workers having received at least one dose. ( More details on other agencies here.) What's next: White House officials have vowed that the requirements for federal workers and contractors will not cause disruptions to government services, and that agencies have flexibility to enforce the mandate without hampering their operations. They also say the federal deadlines are not a "cliff," and that for those who don't comply with the deadline, the first step is "education and counseling." For its part, USDA has held town halls, sent targeted emails and made phone calls to employees who haven't responded to the proof of vaccination survey. | 
