October 1, 2026

Utah Seeks Local Beef and Tree Fruit Vendors for School Meal Programs
New state solicitation creates opportunities for Utah producers to access school markets The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from Utah beef and fruit vendors, creating new opportunities for local producers to supply food for school meal programs across the state. Producers and other eligible vendors are invited to review the solicitation and

September 16, 2026
Utah Celebrates September as Utah’s Own Month
A new statewide declaration celebrates Utah-grown and Utah-made ag and food products and the people behind them. September is officially Utah’s Own Month, following a declaration by Governor Spencer Cox establishing an annual celebration beginning in 2026. The designation recognizes the farmers, ranchers, food producers, and local businesses that feed Utah and contribute to communities across the state, while encouraging Utahns

September 15, 2026
UDAF Announces Unprecedented Loan Relief for Agricultural Producers
All existing UDAF loans will receive 0% interest for one year, with optional payment deferrals of up to 12 months In response to an exceptionally difficult year for Utah agriculture, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is taking an unprecedented step to provide direct financial relief to agricultural producers with active UDAF loans. Beginning Nov. 1, 2026, interest

July 30, 2026
Illegal Kratom Product Sold in Utah County Linked to Death in Utah
The Utah Department of Agriculture & Food (UDAF) and the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) are issuing a warning regarding illegally sold kratom products mislabeled as cat’s claw products in Utah retailers. Investigations are ongoing regarding a recent death and several severe health incidents associated with Buzzers-brand Cat’s Claw tablets found to contain illegal kratom alkaloids. UDAF and UPCC warn

July 29, 2026
UDAF Opens Application to License New Independent Medical Cannabis Pharmacy
Taylorsville, UT —The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) will open the application period for the second of two independent medical cannabis pharmacies, as required by House Bill 54 (HB54) passed during the 2025 legislative session. The application will be open to receive submissions between August 3, 2026, and September 2, 2026. One of the goals of the bill

July 22, 2026
UDAF Launches Historic $11 Million Food Security Grant to Strengthen Utah’s Food System and Expand Access to Local Food
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is now accepting applications for the expanded Utah Food Security Grant (UFSG). This initiative will invest millions of dollars into projects designed to strengthen the state’s food supply chain and increase access to locally grown and raised food in rural communities. Through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health

July 17, 2026
UDAF Publishes Study with UOT on Surge in Agritourism Interest, Economy
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) and the Utah Office of Tourism (UOT) announced the release of the 2026 Utah Agritourism Study. The comprehensive report, funded by an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, quantifies the industry’s value and guides the long-term development of Utah’s rural and agricultural tourism sectors.

July 17, 2026
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Announces Streamlined Application Process and 2026 Funding Cycle for LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) today announced significant updates to the application process for the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund, designed to improve program clarity and better support the preservation of Utah’s most productive agricultural lands. Since its inception in 1999, the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund has been a cornerstone of agricultural

June 29, 2026
Wildfires Deepen Challenges Facing Utah Agriculture; UDAF Resources Available to Help
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is urging agricultural producers affected by recent widespread wildfires in Iron, Beaver, Piute, and Tooele Counties to seek available recovery assistance, while reminding all Utahns to take extra precautions to prevent additional wildfires. “Wildfires can change the course of a ranching operation in a matter of hours, but recovery often takes years,”

June 16, 2026
Consumer Alert: UDAF Audits Retailers Following Nara Organics Infant Formula Recall
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced a voluntary recall on Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. The formula has been implicated in three cases of infant botulism in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Investigations by the FDA and CDC are ongoing. Inspectors from the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food (UDAF) are conducting