The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) gave the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Pathfinders RC&D a grant totaling $227,400 to establish monarch habitat in their state. Privately owned land totaling 3,311 acres in Iowa will utilized for the monarch habitats. The Department and Pathfinders RC&D will provide $227,500 in matching funds to support the project. The … Read More
USDA To Invest $30mil To Protect Wetlands
Late last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will award $30 million to projects in six states to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on private and tribal agricultural lands. The projects are being funded under the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), a program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Through locally led partnerships like … Read More
Northey Responds to USDA Work in Iowa
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA will be investing $3 million in Iowa’s wetlands. The funds will be used to purchase and restore wetlands and associated tall grass prairie uplands, nearly doubling the protected wetlands in the state. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement at the Des Moines Botanical Garden as part of an event focusing on USDA conservation work … Read More
Fall 2015 Harvest Update – Oct 19
Corn harvest is slightly ahead of the five year average as of October 19, 2015. The USDA Crop Progress report released today puts 59% of the crop harvested as of Sunday, ranging from 93% of the Tennessee crop to 25% of Colorado. Dryer than normal conditions are aiding in a quicker harvest; last week alone the 18 leading corn-producing states … Read More
Fall 2015 Corn Harvest Progress – October
As of October 13, 2015, corn harvest is progressing nearly exactly on schedule according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With 42 percent of the crop harvested as of Sunday, total progress came with in one percentage point of the five-year average. Harvest totals ranged from 88 percent of the North Carolina crop to 15 percent of Colorado’s and North … Read More
Crop Forecast Projects Rise in Corn Prices
The latest WASDE report was released on Friday from the USDA. Although national average corn yield projections were raised by half a bushel/acre, the overall acres in non-production have effected supply outlooks. With steady demand projections, an overall increase in prices for the 2015/16 corn crop seems likely. Usage, which held steady, remains on track to set a record in … Read More
USDA Gives $3 Mil in Critical Ag Production Research Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving $3 million in grants to address critical issues affecting agriculturally-important plants and animals. This news release from the agency’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) says the science developed from these grants will provide timely assistance and have an immediate impact for the agriculture community. The awards were made under the … Read More
USDA Tries New Pest Control Method for Cotton
The USDA has created a YouTube video featuring new ways to control the pink bollworm. The pest has nearly been eliminated in the U.S., but flare-ups threaten the $100 billion dollar cotton industry. The solution? Moths. When outbreaks are detected sterile moths can be released to mate with the pink bollworm, preventing offspring. Watch the full video to see the … Read More
Biotech Included in TPP
The newly concluded Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) includes language related to biotechnology in agricultural products for the first time ever. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calls the biotech inclusion “historic” and says it discusses “acknowledgement by member countries that they’ll use science-based determinations relative to biotechnology and to promote greater transparency in the regulatory presence.” During a press conference about the … Read More
Corn Harvest is Underway
18 reporting states report that corn harvest in now underway. The USDA reports that 18 percent of the corn crop has been harvested as of Sunday. The crop condition reports remain the same– 68 percent of corn is rated at good or excellent while 22 percent is considered to be in fair condition. Predictably the southern states, including Kentucky, North … Read More