The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to promote wetlands and the importance they provide, including a suite of ecosystem services. This involves everything from fish and wildlife habitat, microclimate regulation, nutrient and sediment capture and storage, water storage to reduce flooding, and carbon storage with resulting benefits for climate change mitigation. The scope of these services may be significantly affected …
International Trade: Why It’s Important to U.S. Pork Producers
May is World Trade Month, and in honor of that, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is highlighting the important role international trade plays for U.S. pork farmers and the U.S. economy. “U.S. pork farmers have built a global reputation for providing domestic and foreign markets with high-quality, safe, and affordable pork products,” said Lori Stevermer, NPPC’s President-elect and pork producer from …
Federal Recommendations on Nutrients Differ from Consumer Intake
A look into the nutrients we’re taking in, and how they compare to federal recommendations. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U.S. consumers’ intakes of several key nutrients differ from Federal recommendations, and those differences are associated with where they obtain food. Researchers from USDA’s Economic Research Service examined diet patterns based on density—amounts of nutrients consumed per …
Strong Rebound in Demand for U.S. Beef in Mexico
U.S. beef exports to Mexico are off to a strong start in 2023, with shipments through February climbing 15% from a year ago in volume at just over 33,000 metric tons, and 13% higher in value at $186.3 million. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, says this is partly driven by the post-COVID recovery in Mexico’s restaurant and …
NMPF Submits Milk-Pricing Plan to USDA
This week, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) submitted a comprehensive proposal to USDA for modernizing the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system, the product of two years of examination and more than 150 meetings held to build consensus behind updates to a program that last saw significant changes in 2000. “Dairy farmers and their cooperatives need a modernized Federal Milk Marketing Order system …
Additional Assistance for Farm Loan Borrowers
There’s more assistance on the way for some farm loan borrowers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced, on May 1, 2023 (see below News Release), that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Preparing for Summer Meetings
Coming later this month, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) will kick off their summer Regional Meetings/Cookouts at various sites across the state. ACA Executive Vice President, Erin Beasley, said the meetings are for their members to get updates from the state office. Beasley said they are looking forward to getting out and talking with producers across the state. For more information about these summer …
Mark Your Calendar: GCC to Host Mid-Year Meeting
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) encourages producers to mark their calendars for its inaugural mid-year meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 26 at the Nesmith-Lane Conference Center in Statesboro, Georgia. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. Register online at https://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/georgia-cotton-commissions-mid-year-meeting/ or call the commission’s office at (478) 988-4235. Taylor Sills, …
Alabama Sign-Up Deadline for Urban Agriculture Initiative is May 15
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama recently extended the deadline to submit applications for the Urban Agriculture Initiative to Monday, May 15. Alabama is offering financial assistance to assist urban growers in areas such as: Soil Health, Erosion Control, Irrigation and Water Conservation, Weeds and Pests, Pollinator Habitat, and High Tunnels. Five Urbanized Areas within the State are a part of …
USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Sign-up for Farmers Transitioning to Organic Production
State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, Terrance O. Rudolph, has announced a sign-up for the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This Georgia NRCS sign-up follows a recent national announcement detailing the USDA’s multi-agency approach to assist producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to achieve organic certification. Only those producers are eligible to apply for this …