Appearing at the National Farmers Union convention in Wichita Monday, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy admitted that her agency was “in the hot seat” over the Waters of the United States rule released last year and still under review. “I really wish we had done a better job of rolling out the clean water rule,” she said and “I’m really concerned … Read More
Census Bureau ICT Survey
The agriculture industry is included in the 2013 United States Census Bureau Information and Communication Technology Survey. No release or summary has been posted but you can find more information if you’re interested on their website. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey provides data on both noncapitalized and capitalized spending for information and communication technology equipment and computer software … Read More
USDA Finds Cover Crops Can be Grazed
A new study shows that allowing cattle to graze on cover crops does no damage to the soil. This article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Agricultural Research Service study could encourage more producers to put down the crops that help reduce soil erosion, boost organic matter, keep more moisture in soil and sequester carbon in the soil. … Read More
Soybean Growers Ask EU to Approve Biotech Traits
Soybean growers in the U.S. are calling on the European Union to approve 13 new biotechnology products for importation. This news release from the American Soybean Association (ASA) says the group, along with other U.S. farm organizations, sent a letter to European Health & Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, urging the EU to approve the products, including soybeans, corn, canola … Read More
FAA Posts Proposed Drone Rules
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released proposed regulations for the commercial use of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones by industries including agriculture. Technically called “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), the rules apply to small aircraft under 55 pounds and would limit their use to daylight and to visual line-of-sight operations, which could be a problem for agricultural operations. … Read More
Farm Incomes Continue Slide in Midwest, Midsouth
Farm incomes continue their declines in the Midwest and Midsouth. A new survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis says that agricultural bankers in the regions reported farm incomes dropped during the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the previous year. At the same time, the lenders reported a slight increase in quality farmland and a modest decline … Read More
USDA Share of Proposed 2016 Budget
On Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined USDA’s $156 billion share of the $4 trillion Obama budget proposal, which is three percent more than last year but includes a $1.6 billion cut in the crop insurance program and some cuts to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). While the CSP cut would reduce enrollment by three million acres to 7 million, … Read More
WOTUS Interpretive Rule Pulled
The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have at least ditched part of the WOTUS rule. The Interpretive Rule Regarding the Applicability of Clean Water Act Section related to the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) was officially withdrawn by EPA and the Corps in a memo last Thursday, January 29. Congress requested asked for … Read More
USDA Offers Conservation Innovation Grants
The federal government is offering up to $20 million in grants to help develop new, innovative markets for carbon credits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it wants applications for the grant money through the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) program that will provide new, additional revenue sources for producers, while addressing natural resource conservation challenges. “USDA has been a … Read More
FAA Grants Ag Drone Exemption
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week granted a regulatory exemption for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations for agricultural applications. The agency awarded the exemption to Advanced Aviation Solutions in Star, Idaho to use a fixed-wing eBee Ag UAS to make photographic measurements and perform crop scouting for precision agriculture. At the same tim, the agency gave an exemptions to … Read More