The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a report completed by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) on the effectiveness of crop insurance. The report, titled How Do Time and Money Affect Agricultural Insurance Uptake? A New Approach to Farm Risk Management Analysis, analyzes the relationship between wealth, savings, and insurance over time to identify alternative approaches to managing … Read More
2nd Year for USDA Project to Quantify Conservation
Farmers and ranchers may be receiving a national survey from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to assist in measuring the environmental benefits associated with conservation. Researchers hope the results will allow them to further develop science-based solutions for improving the agricultural landscape and the environment. “The survey gives farmers and ranchers the power to provide a more complete … Read More
Record Production Leads to Lower Prices for U.S. Corn
According to new USDA forecasts, increases in corn acres, both planted and harvested in the U.S., led to higher production and lower prices. Despite a 30-million-bushel overall increase in demand, corn price forecasts for the 2016/2017 crop year fell ten cents to $3.40 per bushel. The 2016/17 season-average corn price received by farmers fell and is now projected to be … Read More
USDA Awards $44.6M For Wetland Projects
The USDA is awarding $44.6 million through its Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership to support 10 projects in 12 states on private tribal agricultural lands. Receipts are providing matching funds totaling more than $4.3 million. In total, the projects will help to protect, restore or enhance 15,000 wetland acres in critical watersheds across the United States. “USDA is committed to protecting … Read More
More #Soybeans and #Corn Planted This Year
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) planted acreage report for this year estimates record soybean plantings and increased corn acres over last year. The report estimates U.S. soybean planted area at a record high 83.7 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, while corn growers increased their acreage from last year by 7 percent to 94.1 million acres, making … Read More
Final Provisions In Place for Crop Insurance
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) of the USDA says the final safety net provisions from the 2014 Farm Bill are now in place. The new measures help protect farmers and ranchers agains weather disasters, market volatility and other risk factors. Currently the RMA has put interim rules into place to complete provisions for some programs and give them the authority to … Read More
USDA Announces Measures for Pollinator Health
What better time than during National Pollinator Week for the USDA to announce two new initiatives to support the President’s National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honeybees and Other Pollinators. To date the most popular conservation program has resulted in at least 15 million acres of healthy habitat for pollinators. The USDA is also beginning a new partnership with … Read More
USDA Begins 2016 Resource Management Survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be talking to more than 10,000 farmers and ranchers to obtain data for the annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). This survey covers all areas of agriculture productions; farm financial well-being, chemical use, and many other farm characteristics. This year the survey will focus on corn production and organic and conventional … Read More
USDA Unveils Streamline Crop Reporting
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that farmers and ranchers filing crop acreage reports will now be able to submit common information to be shared electronically with other Farm Service Agency locations or their insurance provider. This new process is part of the USDA Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI). This interagency collaboration also includes participating private crop insurance agents and … Read More
USDA Conducts Honeybee Health Survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) has released the results of its first ever Honey Bee Colony Loss survey, which queried the nation’s honey beekeepers about the number of colonies, colonies lost, colonies added, and colonies affected by certain stressors and gleans state-level estimates on key honey bee health topics. Survey results will help to … Read More