USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $3.6 million in financial assistance for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota farmers and ranchers to help conserve wetlands and improve habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, control flooding and strengthen rural economies. The finding is available through the Water Bank Program (WBP). NRCS will accept applications from now until April … Read More
CTIC at Commodity Classic
This year at the Commodity Classic, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) was present to talk with farmers about cover crops for conservation. CTIC has a grant to promote cover crops in seven states and they held a learning center session at Classic to educate farmers about their cover crop options, according to CTIC Project Director Chad Watts. “At this … Read More
Mosaic Sponsors World Conservation Ag Conference
The Mosaic Company is joining several other agribusiness giants, including Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto and Seed Hawk, Inc., as a platinum sponsor of this summer’s 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA). The conference runs June 22-25, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. “At Mosaic, we work hard to help farmers sustainably produce more food per acre,” said Rick McLellan, Mosaic Senior Vice … Read More
Grant Applications for Conservation Innovation Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for competitive grants to develop and accelerate conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest lands. “Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) have contributed to some of the most pioneering conservation work on America’s agricultural and forest lands,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It’s an excellent investment in new conservation technologies and … Read More
Farm Bill Signed
President Obama traveled to Michigan State University to sign the Agricultural Act of 2014 on Friday, calling it a bill that has “a lot of tools – it multi-tasks.” “Despite its name, the farm bill is not just about helping farmers,” President Obama told the small crowd invited for the signing. “Secretary Vilsack calls it a jobs bill, an innovation … Read More
NRCS and Forest Service Partner for Forest Health
USDA has announced a multi-year partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health forest ecosystems across the nation. Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie made the announcement this week in Helena, Montana, near the site of the Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir, one of the first areas to be … Read More
Ag Leader’s Luke Bunkers on Water Management
Water management. An ongoing issue for growers across the country and around the world. To learn more about some of the big water management issues in agriculture, I turned to Luke Bunkers with Ag Leader who spent some time with me during the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show. Today with input costs and costs of fertilizer and seed being as … Read More
Partnership to Enhance Soil Health
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), with support from the Walton Family Foundation and Monsanto, is highlighting the importance of soil health for farmers and the environment with a new Science Advisory Council and formation of the Soil Health Partnership. “The health of a farm depends on the health of its soil, and that’s what makes this new program an … Read More
Conservation Measures to Help California
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA is making $20 million available for agricultural water conservation efforts throughout California to combat the effects of drought. “This $20 million will be directed to drought mitigation, focused on improving irrigation efficiency, providing producers resources to stabilize fallow ground and to assist with watering facilities and grazing distribution,” said Vilsack during a press … Read More
Senate Approves Farm Bill
The U.S. Senate today voted 68-32 to approve the Agricultural Act of 2014 – what was supposed to be the 2012 Farm Bill. “This is not your father’s Farm Bill. It’s a new direction for American agriculture policy,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, who notes that the legislation includes “one of the largest … Read More