The 2012 Census of Agriculture released today by the USDA reveals there are now 3.28 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States. Those numbers are all lower than 2007 when the census reported 3.18 million farmers, 2.2 million farms and 922 million acres. Highlights of the new census include: – 474,028 … Read More
Budding Conservation Practice Helps Farmers
An up-and-coming conservation practice offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers and ranchers manage water on their land, keep water clean and better cope with extreme weather like drought. Drainage water management enables landowners to determine when and how much water leaves farms through underground tiles and drainage ditches. Underground tiles lay beneath fields removing excess water … Read More
USDA Announces New Conservation Initiatives
USDA is now accepting applications for new, landmark conservation initiatives created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The programs will provide up to $386 million to help farmers restore wetlands, protect working agriculture lands, support outdoor recreation activities and boost the economy. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the new initiatives today at Kuhn Orchards in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania. The farm’s owners participate … Read More
UGA, IBM Work with Farmers on Water Project
Researchers in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are teaming up with IBM to work with farmers in Georgia’s Lower Flint River Basin to enhance water efficiency by up to 20 percent. The college and IBM are collaborating with the Flint River Partnership—which includes the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, the U.S. Department of … Read More
5 Reasons to “Root” for Soil Health Farmers
To meet the growing sustainability challenges of the 21st Century, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is reminding people that many of the solutions are right at our feet — in the soil. Here are the top five reasons NRCS says why on Earth Day 2014 you should “root” for soil health farmers: 5. A lot of people are coming … Read More
GROWMARK on Board with ResponsibleAg
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) recently announced the selection of individuals to serve on the newly formed ResponsibleAg Board of Directors. The nine representatives include: – Alicia Duke, Director, Health and Safety, Simplot – Justin Gough, Director, Agricultural Products, LSB/El Dorado Chemical Company – Dave Ito, Manager, Human Resources & Regulatory Affairs, Lyman/Tremont Group – … Read More
NRCS New Web Pages Meet Modern Farmers Needs
For generations, children have been singing about the farmer, his wife and kids, and even the mouse and the cheese. But today, a modern farmer is more likely to be using the mouse on his computer (or more realistically, a smartphone or tablet) than dancing around a small wooded valley with his family and farm animals. The website of USDA’s … Read More
Ag Day Celebration in DC Features Policy
The National Agriculture Day celebration in Washington DC has events spread across three days – and really it should be more because it is officially National Agriculture Week. Official events to celebrate agriculture kicked off Monday with the Farm to Fork politics session sponsored by Agri-Pulse. With a live audience of nearly 400, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden … Read More
Expert Habitat Advice Provided to Land Managers
Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Bonnie, announced today a renewed and expanded partnership to provide expert habitat advice to farmers and ranchers managing land within lesser prairie-chicken range. “Our goal is to deliver a win-win for agricultural producers and wildlife,” said Bonnie. “We want to help farmers and ranchers succeed for the long term while also … Read More
Corn Growers Recognize Good Steward
The National Corn Growers Association recognized good stewardship during the recent 2014 Commodity Classic. Tim Smith from Eagle Grove, Iowa was honored as the inaugural honoree in NCGA’s Good Steward Recognition Program. The program and award funding was provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation as part of their Harvesting the Potential campaign to raise awareness among U.S. farmers of … Read More