The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers and ranchers about 10 programs being offered from the Agriculture Department. AFBF plans to use the results to create recommendations for the USDA to make its programs better serve growers. Any farmer or rancher is encouraged to take the survey. The process requires about 10 … Read More
USDA Announces $3.4 Million for Wheat Research
A new International Wheat Yield Partnership program means the USDA will be making $3.4 million available for research projects. The purpose of the program is to enhance research that could be of benefit to enhancing the genetic component of wheat. It will focus on breakthroughs for breeding with new technologies that lead to yield increases and adaptability. Awards are made through … Read More
USDA Begins Second Phase of Data Gathering
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be contacting farmers and ranchers now through February 2016 to collect information of the second phase of the National Resources Inventory-Conservation Effects Assessment Project (NRI-CEAP-2). CEAP is a multi-agency study of the environmental impacts of conservation practices and programs on cultivated and non-cultivated agricultural lands. The survey will gather field management data … Read More
USDA Puts $40 Million Into Sage Grouse Habitat
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the USDA is making $40 million available to ranchers and other partners in 11 western states restore and protect sagebrush habitat for greater sage-grouse on privately-owned land. This comes as par to their four-year Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 through Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership. “The decisions of agricultural producers have powerful impacts … Read More
USDA Announces $350 Million to Protect and Restore
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $350 million has been designated to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands. The funding comes from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was designed in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect water resources and wildlife habitat, as well as to encourage owners to maintain land for farming and ranching. “The … Read More
USDA Expands Water Conservation in Ogallala Aquifer
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has made an announcement that the USDA will be putting $8 million in the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative (OAI) in 2016. The purpose of the investment is to help farmers and ranchers conserve water annually while strengthening agricultural operations at the same time. The Ogallala Aquifer expands through eight states, including most all of Nebraska and a large part … Read More
Corn and Soybean Forecasts Higher
The November crop forecast from USDA has increased this year’s corn and soybean production expectations, but lowered cotton and citrus. Corn production remains lower than last year’s record but is up slightly in this month’s forecast at 13.7 billion bushels with yields expected to average 169.3 bushels per acre, up 1.3 bushels from the October forecast. If realized, this will … Read More
USDA Invests In Improving Water Quality
$30 million will be invested in Mississippi watersheds this year according to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. 33 new projects and 40 existing projects to improve water quality in high priority watersheds are included in the project; these projects affect waters that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. “By targeting small priority watersheds within the Mississippi River basin, we are … Read More
75 Years of Innovation for ARS Ag Utilization Centers
Four regional ARS ag utilization centers are celebrating 75 years of scientific excellence. The centers, spread throughout the country, are celebrating innovative achievements and improved methods of ensuring product quality, detecting foodborne pathogens, and creating bio-based fuels among other things. The centers, which celebrate their 75th anniversaries during the remainder of 2015 and start of 2016, are the: Eastern Regional … Read More
USDA Announces $210m Investment in Renewable Energy
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to American motorists. With the matching commitments by state and private entities, the BIP is investing a total of $210 million to strengthen … Read More