A new test developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists is now measuring the health-promoting compounds in fruits and vegetables. This story from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says the new analytical method is better for detecting and measuring concentrations of phytochemicals called “polyphenols” in plant materials. At the ARS Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, … Read More
USDA Works with Ranchers to Save Sage Grouse
A program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with ranchers in the Western United States to preserve habitat for sage grouse. This USDA news release says the agency, through the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI), has partnered with private landowners to restore 4.4 million acres of habitat for sage grouse while maintaining working landscapes across the West, and … Read More
USDA Scientists Develop Higher Yielding Sorghum
Researchers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed a new variety of sorghum that produces more seeds than conventional varieties. This article from USDA says ARS molecular biologist Zhanguo Xin and plant geneticist Gloria Burow at the Plant Stress and Germplasm Research Unit, along with lab director and research leader John Burke, at the … Read More
USDA to Strengthen 1890 Land-Grant Universities
More than $18 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is being made available to 19 historically black land-grant colleges and universities. This news release says the money will go to strengthen the research, teaching and extension capabilities at the schools. “This support for the 1890 land-grant universities is an example of the Obama Administration and Secretary … Read More
USDA Gives $30 Mil to Fight Citrus Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pledging $30 million to fight citrus disease. This news release from the agency says the funding will cover 22 projects to help citrus producers combat Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, a devastating citrus disease that threatens U.S. citrus production, getting money to near-term and long-term solutions. “Our HLB Multi-Agency Coordination Group has … Read More
Farm Bill is One Year Old
President Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill into law one year ago this week, calling it a “Swiss Army Knife.” “Despite its name, the farm bill is not just about helping farmers,” President Obama said at the signing. “Secretary Vilsack calls it a jobs bill, an innovation bill, an infrastructure bill, a research bill, a conservation bill. It’s like a … 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
USDA-NRCS at Soil Health Summit
The deputy chief for science and technology with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services is a strong believer in the value of partnerships, especially when it comes to improving the health of our nation’s soils. “When you look at all of the demands, the production, the breadth of the country, the climatic zones, the different types of cropping systems – it’s … Read More
USDA Kicks Off Nationwide Organic Survey
To get better information for organic producer programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started its Organic Survey. This news release says the survey is a complete inventory of all known organic producers who are certified, exempt from certification, and transitioning to certified organic production. “Total organic product sales by farms and ranches in the United States have continued … 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