It’s the culmination of ten years of plans and $15 million in investments, as Syngenta’s new Global Vegetable Seeds Quality Control Lab debuted this month in Nampa, Idaho. The lab is an expansion of the $30 million Trait Conversion Accelerator that opened at the site in 2019. The new quality lab conducts seed health and quality testing for vegetable seeds …
Cattle Industry Holding Summer Business Meeting
Cattle producers from around the country are in Reno, Nevada this week for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. Various topics are being discussed including the importance of grassroots policy process. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO, Colin Woodall, explains the purpose of the Summer Business Meeting. Woodall talks about the issues they are discussing this week. During the event, cattle industry members have …
USDA Starts Issuing Payments for Spot Market Hog Pandemic
The USDA is increasing the amount of funding available for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program and expects to issue approximately $62.8 million in assistance payments to producers this week. SMHPP assists eligible producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale between April 16 and September 1 in 2020. “In order to provide more targeted support to hog producers …
Conservation Innovation Grants Available in Florida
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will invest up to $900,000 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for agricultural resource priorities in the state. Fiscal Year 2022 conservation resource priorities for the NRCS in Florida are: climate resilience, grazing, soil health, and urban agriculture. Grants from $25,000 to $250,000 will be awarded to applicants matching those funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis …
EPA Regional Administrator Visits Urban Agriculture Sites in Metro Atlanta
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman visited two urban agriculture sites, Metro-Atlanta Urban Farm and an urban backyard farm created by the youngest organic farmer of Georgia. This visit highlighted the importance of urban agriculture’s role with the environment and community and showcased successful impact and outreach at all levels. “The contributions of community leaders …
Apply Now for Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Trials
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest $25 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) implements the CIG program, where partners work to address our nation’s water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations. The On-Farm …
Cattle Industry to Meet for Summer Business Meeting
Cattle producers from across the country will be in Reno, Nevada this week for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. The event features meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc. and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The cattle industry comes together twice a year to discuss current issues as a group, to …
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Florida
(USDA-APHIS/WASHINGTON, July 22, 2022) — The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Seminole County, Florida. Samples from the flock were tested at the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, …
USDA-FSA Updates Livestock Indemnity Payments for Smaller Calves
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) made updates to their payment rates under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). The agency changed rates for calves under 250 pounds and will now value them at the same level as non-adult cattle weighing between 250 and 399 pounds. FSA also increased payment rates for calves under 400 pounds. The LIP payment rate is set at 75 percent …
EQIP Applications Accepted on a Continuous Basis
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers. The program is designed to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. And according to NRCS Chief Terry …