USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service reminds landowners their signup period for National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) continues. USDA is investing up to $12.5 million to help support the adoption of innovative conservation approaches on agricultural lands. CIG are competitive grants driving public and private sector innovation in resource conservation, with projects inspiring creative problem-solving that boosts production on farms, ranches, and private …
July 4th Cookouts Costing About the Same
(AFBF) — A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for July 4th, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and watermelon, will cost just a few cents more this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a summer cookout …
USDA Will Defend Trade Aid at WTO
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been receiving complaints about the aid money that U.S. farmers are getting from the government. However, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says he’s not concerned that the payments will be a problem. “We had to design a program very carefully to make sure we do not violate the WTO limit,” he said to reporters in …
Over Five Thousand Producers are Signed Up for DMC
USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey says more than 5,000 dairy operations have signed up for the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program. The exact number was 5,364 as of last Thursday afternoon. Northey says about 40,000 dairy operations are eligible to enroll, but overall he’s pleased with the number of producers who’ve signed up since June …
USDA Adds Flexibility for Cover Crop Management in Crop Year 2020
WASHINGTON DC (USDA/FSA) – The 2018 Farm Bill mandated changes to the treatment of cover crops for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, which add more flexibility to when cover crops must be terminated while remaining eligible for crop insurance. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) developed new guidelines and policy provisions …
Members of Georgia Delegation Urge Timely, Effective Implementation of Disaster Relief Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to encourage the Trump administration to work with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to ensure that farmers affected by Hurricane Michael receive needed aid as soon as possible. They applauded Secretary Perdue for his support of disaster aid legislation signed into …
House Passes Ag Appropriations in Minibus Spending Bill
(NAFB) — The U.S. House passed H.R. 3055, a minibus of appropriations that does include the fiscal year 2020 Ag Appropriations Bill. The Hagstrom Report says the final vote was split mostly along party lines. The Ag section of the bill covers the Agriculture Department, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the …
Perdue Says Farmers Are “A Casualty” in Trade War
(NAFB) — Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue acknowledged in an interview earlier this week that farmers are “casualties” in President Trump’s trade war with China. Perdue told CNN he didn’t think a trade deal was likely this weekend when Trump and Chinese President Xi meet in Japan. He’s now hoping a deal can be reached by the end of this …
USDA Farm Bill Implementation Progress Update
Washington, D.C., – (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced an update on the implementation status of the 2018 Farm Bill. President Trump signed this Farm Bill into law on December 20, 2018, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promptly began implementing key programs. In addition, USDA held several listening sessions with stakeholders and the public specific to …
Alabama Ag Commissioner Discusses Disaster Aid
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spent time in the Southeast earlier this month to discuss disaster aid. Congress passed the disaster-relief bill, and the President has signed it. So the question for many is, when will it be implemented? This is something Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate discussed during this week’s Alabama Agribusiness Council meeting in Orange Beach. …