Agricultural producers who have yet to enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year, are being reminded Tuesday, March 15, 2022 is the deadline to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in …
GPC Partnering with Front Row Motorsports
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) is once again in the driver’s seat of promoting peanuts to the world. Justin Odom, project coordinator for farm and field services, discusses the impact of GPC’s partnership with Front Row Motorsports again. “We’re very excited to be working with Front Row Motorsports again this year. We’re sponsoring the No. 38 Ford …
USDA NRCS in Florida Accepting Applications for EQIP Urban Agricultural Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced applications are now being accepted from Florida urban agricultural producers for Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) projects. These projects are under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers producers technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on their land. “Urban agriculture projects can help improve nutrition and food access and increase …
GCC, UGA Extension Invite Cotton Growers to Precision Ag Workshops
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) and University of Georgia (UGA) Extension remind cotton producers about two upcoming UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences precision ag workshops. The workshops are slated for the Kennedy Conference Center of Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro (March 29) and the Merry Acres Inn and Event Center in Albany (March 31). They …
Iowa Confirms Avian Flu in Poultry Flock
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) this week confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus was found in a non-commercial, backyard poultry flock in Southwest Iowa. The state’s Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says, “We are working with USDA and other partners to implement our plans and protect the …
Deadline to Enroll in 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage is March 25
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds dairy producers the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and the new Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) for 2022 is March 25, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC and SDMC signup in December 2021 to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities. Producers …
NRCS in Georgia Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Sign Up
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced they are accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Producers and landowners looking to build on conservation efforts while strengthening their operation can apply for technical and financial assistance through CSP. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased …
NRCS Offers Conservation Funding Opportunities
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants producers and landowners to know there are various fiscal year 2022 assistance opportunities available for key programs. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says while there are batching period signups that take place from time to time, they …
Updates on Packers and Stockyards Act Rule Amendments
Last June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they were beginning work on proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered the latest …
Food Insecurity Rates Vary Across States
USDA Economic Research Service data released Monday shows food insecurity rates vary across U.S. states. The estimated prevalence of food insecurity during 2018-2020 ranged from 5.7 percent in New Hampshire to 15.3 percent in Mississippi. The estimated national average was 10.7 percent. The prevalence of food insecurity was significantly higher than the national average in nine states, including Alabama, Kentucky, …