specialty crops

USDA Announces Grant Funding to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Industry

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Fruits, Funding, Pecans, Specialty Crops, USDA, Vegetables

Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding $82.3 million to 65 recipients to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support the industry’s producers. This includes fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. The funding is through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program (SCMP). Jenny Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory …

Boozman

Senator J. Boozman Discusses Farm Bill Funds

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

A recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimated the House Ag Committee’s farm bill proposal is 33 billion dollars over budget. However, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) says CBO didn’t give enough consideration to the House bill’s use of USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds. “Well, what they’re trying to do in the House is use some …

rma

RMA Programs in Southeast

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding nearly$4.1 million to organizations and outreach efforts to educate underserved, small-scale, and organic producers on farm risk management and climate-smart farm practices. The funding from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides assistance through its Risk Management Education Partnerships (RMEP) for organizations, such as nonprofits and land grant universities, to develop training and …

hurricane debby

USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby

Dan Agri-Business, Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, Funding, Georgia, Hemp, Herbs, Livestock, Peanuts, Pecans, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA, USDA-FSA, Vegetables, Wheat

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …

FDACS Announces Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program to Open for Florida Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Debby

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Funding, Industry

~ Beginning next week, Florida farmers impacted by Hurricane Debby can apply for low-interest and interest-free loans ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Aug 6, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Debby will be able to apply for low-interest and interest-free loans beginning next week through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural …

csp

USDA-NRCS Offering Funding Opportunities through CSP

Dan Conservation, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environment, Funding, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers and private landowners about assistance opportunities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program can help strengthening your operation by building on existing conservation efforts. Whether you are looking to increase crop resiliency, improve grazing conditions or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help meet your goals. It starts …

farm bill

Consequences of No New Farm Bill

Dan Agri-Business, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high, and time is running out. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its Market Intel Analysis of the consequences of not finishing the legislation and adding another extension of the 2018 bill. While crop insurance is a permanent program, it does need improvements to make it more affordable …

Forest

USDA Offering Payment Programs to Help Private Forest Landowners Address Climate Change

Dan Agri-Business, Climate Change, Forestry, Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is making $190 million available to help private forest landowners adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and retain working forestlands.  Of the total, $140 million is available to support state-endorsed cost-share programs for landowners. Cost-share payments lower the financial barriers for landowners to adapt to climate change by making forests more resilient …

U.S. farmers

USDA Expands Funding Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Funding, Specialty Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is expanding funding opportunities for specialty crop growers. The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program will now include both medium-size and small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.  The program has also been expanded to include …