News

At the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), farm-to-school specialist Natalie McHale has been gearing up for a busy season. “As soon as school starts again, it’s full steam ahead every year,” she says, taking a minute away from calls with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and various local food distributors. “You know, fall is harvest season

Funds available to local organizations to support events educating about practices that promote healthy soils The 2027 Local Soil Health Workshop Grant has opened for applications under the Utah Soil Health Partnership at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). The grant opens every other year to individuals, non-governmental organizations, public agencies, or other agents who want to host

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

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is announcing the release of a commissioned study on Utah’s local food production industries, as directed and funded by the Utah legislature under H.B. 510. The study reports on local food availability, economic conditions and opportunities, barriers to entering the agricultural workforce, and food supply chain gaps. Key takeaways include a comprehensive

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

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

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

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.

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

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,”