As ag producers are getting into the field, proper soil moisture is a key factor in their planting decisions. With the recent rains across the country, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey provides an update on the amount of acres in drought and the impacts on certain agricultural commodities. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst …
Corn and Bean Planting Update and a Look at Drought Conditions
Drought conditions are easing for producers to plant both corn and soybeans across the country. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey provided an update on the changes in drought status and how that’s affecting planting these two crops. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
American Agriculture History Minute: Crop Insurance, Conservation Techniques Revive Great Plains Agriculture
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Early settlers discovered that the Great Plains were not all that great. They found very harsh climate with tornadoes, blizzards, drought, hailstorms, floods and grasshoppers. It made for high risks and ruined many crops and many settlers that became financially ruined and either protested through the populist movement or went back …
Alabama Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/April 1, 2025) — Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has designated 20 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. Eighteen additional counties were listed as contiguous disaster counties. “The drought affected over half of the counties in Alabama,” said Commissioner Pate. “We encourage farmers to …
Florida Governor and Cabinet Approve Protection of Agricultural Lands
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/03-05-25) – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of nearly 6,500 acres of working Florida farms and ranches through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent …
Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-up Ends Friday in Georgia
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) wants to remind agricultural producers and forest landowners in the state looking to build on previous conservation efforts to apply by Friday, March 7th for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to be included in this funding batch. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP …
Protect Your Ag Land with a Conservation Easement in Florida
Agricultural landowners in Florida that may interested in protecting the integrity of your property are urged to consider safeguarding your land with a conservation easement through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL). While they do accept agricultural conservation easement applications year-round Friday, March 7th is the cutoff date to get applications in for Fiscal Year 2025 funding. The Agricultural Conservation Easement …
Washington County, Florida Farmland Preserved through RFLPP
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Hard Labor Creek, a 2,336-acre property located in Washington County, is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement for $4,995,000. Hard Labor Creek is 2,336 acres of rolling pinelands and forested wetlands in Washington County that includes …
Farmers Still Caught in Trump’s Funding Freeze
The Trump administration is withholding funds from farmers participating in conservation programs, despite the White House’s assurance last week that funding to individuals would not be frozen. Contractors supporting these programs have also been affected. The Iowa Soybean Association, in a letter to lawmakers, warned that $11 million owed to farmers is at risk. Many farmers are only now learning …
American Agriculture History Minute: Conservation to Control Flood Waters Begins
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. In 1885, Harriet Strong made a study about the shortage of water in Nevada, including control of floodwaters and water storage. She advocated conservation as a flood remedy, proposing a succession of dams to conserve the water for irrigation purposes and the generation of electricity. In 1887, she was granted a …