How the USDA is helping small farms. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Testifying before the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack listed several ways the USDA is helping small and mid-sized farms. “Climate Amart Agriculture Commodity initiative helping smaller-sized producers get a value-added proposition. Having farmers qualify for ecosystem service markets and when they do …
Vilsack Focuses on Farming’s Future Despite Protester
A protester tried to interrupt Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Thursday, as he gave his keynote speech at the USDA’s 100th Agriculture Outlook Forum. The protestor shouted at Vilsack, “You stole billions of dollars to bail out the chicken industry,” and accused him of creating the bird flu pandemic. Secretary Vilsack attempted to ask the woman to stay and listen to …
Georgia Department of Agriculture Launches $7.1 Million Grant Program to Fortify Georgia’s Food Supply Chain
(GDA/Atlanta, GA/Feb 15, 2024) — Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program. This initiative aims to strengthen Georgia’s food supply chain by providing funding for projects that enhance infrastructure and resilience. The …
Over $4.5M Approved for Florida Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Idalia
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Feb 13, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that more than $4.5 million has been approved for farmers impacted by Hurricane Idalia through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program and the Silviculture Recovery Program. Launched less than one month ago, the two agricultural recovery programs aim to help Florida …
Record Income Drop Expected, What Can Farmers Do?
Farmers can expect the largest recorded year-to-year dollar drop in net farm income in 2024. How bad is it, and what can farmers do? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Income is estimated to be nearly $40 billion lower this year compared to 2023, down more than 25%. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the latest USDA data …
Market Prices, Input Costs, Pushing Expectations Lower
Farmer sentiment took a downturn at the start of 2024 as the January Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell to a reading of 106, eight points below a month earlier. Compared to year-end, producers had a more negative outlook of their farms’ current situation along with a weakened outlook for the future. The Current Conditions Index fell nine …
USDA Provides over $75 Million in State and National Projects Regarding Agriculture and Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its investment of more than $75 million to state and national projects regarding agriculture and natural resources. More than $5 million will be dedicated to the state of Florida and more than $70 million will be utilized towards protecting the United States from invasive plants and species. FLORIDA FUNDING The USDA’s Animal …
Industry Leader Bill Northey Passes
Bill Northey, a long-time agriculture industry figure, and former USDA official in the Trump administration, has died. The 64-year-old was serving as the CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. Northey grew up on an Iowa family farm. He has served as President of the National Corn Growers Association, three terms as the Iowa Agriculture Secretary, and as USDA Farm …
Vilsack on Food as Medicine
The ag secretary discusses food as medicine. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack provides his views on the subject of “Food is Medicine” during a Health and Human Services Department summit of the same name. “My point of view is, I think, somewhat couched by the fact that I lost my parents at a …
Farmers Can Now Pay Farm Loans Online
An easier way to make your farm loan payments. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online. It’s through the new Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov that goes live in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline …