On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of $26.6 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) into 45 projects that will spur innovative conservation initiatives on both rural and urban farms across the country. The investment is made through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, which fosters innovation in conservation tools and strategies …
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Winning Fight Against Destructive, Disease-Carrying Snail
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: MIAMI, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today that more than 164,000 giant African land snails (GALS) have been eliminated in Florida since the invasive snail was discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011. In addition to threatening more than 500 varieties of plants and agricultural commodities, GALS consume plaster …
USDA Awards Grant for Development of Citrus Harvesting Equipment
USDA announced that 76 small businesses around the country will receive $7.4 million in grants to conduct research related to food security, natural resources, and agricultural issues. The grants are made through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a competitive funding source that is coordinated by the Small Business Administration and administered by 11 federal agencies including the U.S. …
Georgia Department of Agriculture and University of Georgia Holds Fourth Annual Agriculture Tour
From the University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia and Georgia Department of Agriculture continue to make Georgia’s No. 1 industry a top priority. UGA President Jere W. Morehead and Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, along with UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Dean and Director Sam …
EQIP Signup Continues in Florida
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida reminds landowners that the signup for 2017 funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues. Al Oliver, NRCS District Conservationist out of the Lake City service center, has more details. Download Audio
Meeting Eligibility for NRCS Programs in Alabama
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama reminds landowners the signup period for 2017 programs continues through October 14th. But if you’ve never signed up before Steve Musser, assistant state conservationist for programs with Alabama NRCS, explains what needs to be done. Download Audio
Commodities Come Together on Phenotyping Initiative
From the National Corn Growers Association: The Multi-Commodity Phenotyping Initiative kicked off joint activities by hosting an educational webinar for representatives from member organizations on the current state of phenotyping science and current U.S. government phenotyping programs. This first step, which was organized by the National Corn Growers Association, provided a strong foundation for the coalition moving forward. The Initiative …
NRCS Provides Financial and Technical Assistance
If you would like to make improvements to land that you own or lease, then USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to make sure you know they offer voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers that provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources sustainably. This can be done with programs through the Environmental Quality Incentives …
USDA Designates 2 More Counties in Alabama as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: WASHINGTON, Sep. 2, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Clay and Colbert counties in Alabama as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Alabama also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. …
Two More Counties in Georgia Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: WASHINGTON, Sep. 2, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Jasper and Monroe counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties …