Arizona Department of Agriculture

As May winds down, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate National Beef Month! 🥩✨

This is a time to recognize the ranchers, cattle producers, and families who work year-round to help bring beef from pasture to your plate. Arizona’s beef industry is a vital part of our state’s agricultural heritage, and it continues to make a massive impact today by:

🤠 Supporting Rural Communities: Keeping our local economies strong and providing jobs across the state.
🌍 Practicing Land Stewardship: Carefully managing and protecting Arizona's wide-open spaces and natural resources.
🍽️ Feeding Families: Providing high-quality, nutritious beef to dinner tables across the country.

Thank you to the hardworking producers who help feed Arizona and beyond! 🚜🏜️

Big things are happening for Arizona agriculture! 🌾✨

We are incredibly excited to have all three of our state universities at the table, collaborating to drive the agriculture sector forward. The Arizona Department of Agriculture is thrilled to be shepherding this project and cultivating a brighter future ahead! 🚜☀️

The Arizona Hub for Agriculture Innovation leverages the expertise of Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and The University of Arizona researchers to solve the real-world challenges faced by the state's agriculture industry: ow.ly/hKwR50YNCFX

📢 Funding Opportunity! The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced up to $50 million available for the 2026 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Trials.

This program funds projects that help agricultural producers test and adopt innovative conservation methods in:
💧 Irrigation management
🐄 Grazing land management
🌱 Nutrient management
🌾 Soil health

🗓️ Deadline: July 27, 2026

📧 For questions regarding application content, please reach out to the USDA contact Jeffrey Jacobs at [email protected].

🔗 Drop a comment if you want us to send you the application link!

Recently, there has been a confirmed report of an active NWS case roughly 60 miles south of the U.S.-Texas border, involving a young calf in the Mexican state of Nuevo León. For those unfamiliar, the New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, which can affect livestock, pets, and wildlife.

The Arizona Department of Agriculture's Office of the State Veterinarian is closely monitoring the situation. We are actively coordinating with the USDA and our neighboring states to ensure our region is prepared. Together, we have developed comprehensive management playbooks, updated animal movement protocols, and established awareness initiatives so we can stay ahead of the issue.

While our state teams are prepared, your partnership is invaluable. We simply ask that veterinarians and animal owners routinely check their animals for unusual wounds or suspected larvae as a standard best practice.

If you suspect a potential NWS infestation, please let us know right away by emailing the Office of the State Veterinarian at [email protected]. This allows our teams to easily collect specimens for prompt identification and investigation.

You can view the unified government response and access additional information at Screwworm.gov.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us keep Arizona's livestock, wildlife, and pets healthy!

We heard during our Arizona Grown Listening Sessions that many saw infrastructure and equipment needs as a gap in the meat and poultry world. Here is an opportunity from the USDA! 🥩🚨

USDA MPPEP Phase 4 is OPEN!

The Details:
🐄 Who: Very Small, Small, and Intermediate independent processors

💰 What: * Equipment-Only Grants: $10k – $250k (25% match)

Expansion Grants: $50k – $2M (50% match)
🗓️ Deadline: August 7, 2026

Federal grants are complex, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Send us a DM or comment below if you need a connection for technical assistance to help you apply! 🤝

🔗 Visit rd.usda.gov/MPPEP to learn more and apply.

Congratulations to Brian McGrew on celebrating 20 exceptional years with us! Teressa Lopez (Division Director of Plants and Produce Services), Director Brierley, and the team thank you for two decades of invaluable contributions and steadfast commitment. We look forward to continued success together! 👏

At the Arizona Department of Agriculture, we take our role as the Primary Agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF)-11, Agriculture and Natural Resources, very seriously!

We support the Governor's focus on preparedness and readiness. Director Brierley recently participated in a tabletop exercise with Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and other state agencies in preparation for wildfire season, which hit with a vengeance over the weekend. Sadly, these days "wildfire season" is a year-round affair, but is up to the task!

Are you an experienced communicator with a passion for supporting Arizona's farming, ranching, and agribusiness communities? The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) is searching for a highly motivated Public Information Officer to serve as our lead spokesperson and public relations expert!

In this pivotal role, you will spearhead our communication strategies, manage media relations, craft compelling content across all platforms, and act as the voice of an agency dedicated to consumer safety and agricultural advancement. Enjoy excellent state benefits, including a robust retirement plan and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

🌟 Ready to help us tell the story of AZ agriculture? Visit the website below to learn more! (Job code: 540645) 🌵📢

https://www.azstatejobs.gov/jobs/public-information-officer-4-remote-options-arizona-united-states-apache-junction-avondale-buckeye-chandler-gilbert-glendale-goodyear-mesa-peoria-phoenix-queen-creek-san-tan-valley-scottsdale