USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice standards. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by March 4, 2024. NRCS regularly reviews all national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private …
Ag Groups Respond to Dicamba Decision
Agriculture groups around the nation responded to the EPA’s decision to allow farmers to use existing stocks of dicamba for the upcoming planting season. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to EPA that read, “We are grateful to EPA for hearing farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns and addressing them quickly to ensure we have access to the critical tools …
USDA Helping Small Farms
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 …
USDA to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of the American Climate Corps (ACC) initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC) will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the …
Record Investment in Private Lands Conservation
It was announced Tuesday that the Biden Administration made record investments in private lands conservation in fiscal year 2023. This was all through resources made available by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with the largest investment in climate action. In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources …
USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC), an initiative designed to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. Xochitl Torres Small, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, revealed the program at the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) yearly gathering in San Diego. According to Will McIntee, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement at …
Back to the Basics: UGA Extension Reminds Cotton Growers About Importance of Soil Fertility
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia Cotton Team encourage growers to get back to the basics with regards to soil fertility. Glen Harris, UGA Extension soil specialist, discussed that topic with AgNet Media’s Randall Weiseman during the recent GCC annual meeting in Tifton, Georgia. “There are a lot of new things we’re looking at; biologicals, …
Commissioner Simpson Announces Preservation of Three Florida Family Farms Through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of three family farms in the Florida Wildlife Corridor through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The K-Rocker Ranch, a 707-acre ranch in Polk County, the Los Niños Farm, a 998-acre timber and cattle operation in Putnam County, and the Kuder …
NCFC President Responds to Decision to Revoke Approval of Dicamba Products
By C.J. Miller Earlier this week, a federal judge with the U.S. District Court of Arizona has revoked the approval that allows the use of dicamba herbicide products on soybeans. The judge’s decision immediately halts the use of over-the-top applications of Xtendimax® from Bayer, Engenia® from BASF, and Tavium® from Syngenta. “I suspect we are going to be encouraging all …
TFI: Tightening of Air Standards will Hamper Fertilizer Production
This week, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) expressed alarm with the Environmental Protection Agency’s lowering of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter. According to TFI, the change will lead to permitting gridlock across much of the country, negatively impacting economic growth and fertilizer production. TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch says, “At a time when the need …