The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering new conservation incentives for working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland. This news release says the areas will still be able to be maintained as livestock grazing lands. The CRP-Grasslands initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land. … Read More
House Ag Committee Passes Labeling Bill
The House Agriculture Committee today approved the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 with bipartisan support. First introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), the legislation has evolved through bipartisan discussions between the Agriculture Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. “I appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Energy and Commerce Committee in getting this … Read More
Corn Growers Join Lawsuit to Overturn WOTUS
The National Corn Growers Association is the latest group to join a lawsuit to overturn the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. Chip Bowling, president of NCGA and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are overstepping their limits with the rule. “Farmers need clarity and certainty about their … Read More
Iowa Gov Signs $9.6 Mil Support for Water Quality
Iowa’s Gov. Terry Branstad has signed into law $9.6 million in support for water quality. The Iowa Department of Agriculture says the measure to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative also officially adds “Water Quality” to the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation. “Iowans in both rural and urban areas continue to be engaged in efforts to improve water quality. These … Read More
New FAPRI Report Shows ARC, PLC Picks
A new report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri (FAPRI-MU) shows how many farmers are using Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) plans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Highlights from the report, titled, “U.S. crop program fiscal costs: Revised estimates with updated participation information,” include: · The FAPRI-MU baseline … Read More
Lower Corn Acres This Year
Wet weather in the corn belt and plenty of carry over has pushed down the number of acres of corn planted this year. But the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says there’s plenty of the crop for all uses from the grain. Citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Acreage report, NCGA says total corn planting in the United States … Read More
EPA Rejects Glyphosate Limits, Seeks Butterfly Comments
After more than a year of review, the Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a petition to limit the use of the herbicide glyphosate claiming that it causes harm to monarch butterflies. EPA responded to the petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council saying the agency “has not determined that glyphosate causes unreasonable adverse effects to the monarch butterfly.” At … Read More
Hearing Shows Support for Labeling Bill
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing Thursday that demonstrated an urgent need to pass the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act this year to create a uniform national food labeling standard for products made with genetically modified organisms. Among those testifying at the hearing in support of the bill for agriculture was GROWMARK president … Read More
The Buzz About Pollinators
June 15-21 has been declared Pollinator Week by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). In conjunction with the USDA–NRCS, US Forest Service, the Pollinator Partnership, and others the group is celebrating what may seem like annoying insects. “Pollinators play a critical role in our everyday lives, and it’s important that we work to protect their habitat,” says NACD President Lee … Read More
Hearing on Food Labeling This Week
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health has scheduled a hearing this week on “A National Framework for the Review and Labeling of Biotechnology in Food.” Subcommittee members will discuss the role biotechnology plays on our nation’s farms, food supply, and economy. They will hear from experts about the safety of foods derived from genetically engineered crops and the … Read More