The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its new corn forecast report and predicts that this year’s corn harvest will reach 15.057 bushels. Although this is down around 36 million bushels from last month’s estimates, it is still predicted to be another record crop. The World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates Report also lowered corn supplies for 2016/2017 from … Read More
Eco-detector to Hunt GMOs in the Environment
While the agriculture community generally lauds the efforts of biotechnology in feeding the world, many doubt the technology’s safety. That’s why Scott Egan with Rice University is leading an effort to detect GMOs in the environment. Egan’s team is building a tool that will allow them to quantify and track the dispersal of genetically engineered crops and animals. The developing … Read More
Downturn Markets Mean USDA Payments
Many of the 1.7 million farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will now be receiving safety-net payments, thanks to the down markets of 2015. “This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in payments under the ARC-County and PLC programs to assist participating producers, which will account for over 10 … Read More
USDA Report Shows Growing Biobased Industry
The USDA has released a report showing the biobased products industry contributed $393 billion and 4.2 million jobs to the American economy in 2014. That’s a growth of 220,000 jobs and $24 billion over 2013. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has found the biobased economy to be one of the four pillars that support the rural economy of the U.S. “When USDA released … Read More
USDA Implements Restoration Strategy for Gulf-area
Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for the USDA‘s Natural Resources and Environment, announced a new restoration strategy following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The program is a three-year, $328 million project that will focus on improving water quality and healing ecosystems in the lands around the Gulf of Mexico. This strategy will be the guide for the USDA’s efforts on private land. … Read More
USDA Designates $26 Million For Ag Innovation
The USDA is investing $26.6 million in 45 projects across the country. These projects were selected to encourage conservation initiatives in rural and urban areas. The investment will be matched by public and private entities, making the grand total $59 million. The investment will go through the USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. As of 2009 CIG has funded 414 national … Read More
USDA Announces Changes for Conservation Program
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is responding to customer and partner input. They are announcing an update to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation’s largest conservation program based on acres. During the new enrollment period later this year CSP will be offering producers more options for improving conditions on working lands. “After hearing from farmers, ranchers, and partners … Read More
Record Crop Forecasts Mean Lower Prices
USDA’s first crop production forecast based on actual field data is predicting some bin-busting crops this year, which in turn is causing lower prices. Corn production is forecast at a record 15.2 billion bushels, up 11 percent from last year with yields expected to average 175.1 bushels per acre, up 6.7 bushels from 2015. If realized, this will be the … Read More
Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Earns $55,000
The United States Department of Agriculture has granted the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator (GLATBI) $55,000 to further serve entrepreneurs, farmers and ag-tech businesses. GLATBI is located in Ottawa County, the third highest in the state for total farm receipts, making it a great location to encourage the development of new technologies. The grant is offered through the Rural Business … Read More
Program Changes Coming at @USDA_NRCS
The USDA National Resources Conservation Program (NRCS) took the opportunity to get the word out about the latest in the program services at the recent Ag Media Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. Jamie Johansen had the opportunity to speak with Mark Rose, Director of NRCS, about the upcoming changes for fiscal year 2017. Rose told AgWired the Conservation Stewardship program … Read More