By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) and Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) remind producers about the upcoming University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day on the UGA Tifton Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Both commission groups sponsor the event. It is held every year to provide growers timely information and about research being conducted on campus, …
Florida NRCS Extends EQIP 2022 Funding Signup
We told you before that Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners had until the first of September to apply for financial and technical assistance through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Well, that date has been extended as you now have until October 1, 2021 to apply. While applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections …
USDA Investing in Cooperative Agreements for Racial Justice and Equity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they will be investing up to $50 million in cooperative agreements to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers with climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements are available to entities for two year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are beginning, limited …
USDA Establishes Dairy Donation Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the establishment of a $400 million Dairy Donation Program. The DDP, established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, aims to facilitate timely dairy product donations while reducing food waste. This is part of the $6 billion of pandemic assistance announced by USDA in March and …
Data Dashboards Bringing Together Pollinator Data
Efforts are ongoing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build a data dashboard for those involved in pollinator health improvement efforts. USDA Honey Bee and Pollinator Research Coordinator, Elizabeth Hill, explains the concept of data dashboards and how one developed specifically for pollinators can aid researchers and stakeholders in pollinator health efforts. Hill discusses how a developing data …
USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the CRP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they’ve accepted 2.8 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) this year. That brings the total accepted this year to almost 1.9 million acres through the General CRP Signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says they have also accepted over …
GCC Encourages Producers to Attend Remaining Field Days
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) encourages producers to attend any of the remaining three field days to be held over the next month. Growers can interact with researchers and ask questions about issues pertinent to their farming operations. Topics typically center on variety selection, pest management, irrigation and precision agriculture. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia …
Federal Program Helps Public after Hurricanes, Natural Disasters
With Tropical Storm Fred affecting areas of Florida, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida wants to remind landowners the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) may be able to help if your area suffers damage from this or any other storms during this hurricane season. The program can relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and hurricanes. Aid may include …
Georgia Longleaf Pine Groundcover Restoration Program
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia invites producers interested in learning more about longleaf pine to take part in a groundcover restoration program. The Virtual Longleaf Groundcover 201 Academy, which starts August 30, is being sponsored by the Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership and hosted by the Longleaf Alliance. The program will focus on restoration, as expert instruction will be provided …
Georgia Cotton Producers Encouraged to Scout for Corn Earworms
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension remind producers about the need to scout for corn earworms (CEW). UGA Extension cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts stresses the importance of protecting against increased infestations. “We don’t have any widespread problems on the farm at this time, but we’re seeing an increase in activity. We need …