During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …
USDA Improves Livestock Crop Insurance Policies with New Options
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are updating livestock insurance policies to improve options for producers and to create more opportunities for producers to participate. USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) has made updates to the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies. These updates will be effective for the 2022 and succeeding crop years. Updates to …
Financial Assistance Helps Ag Producers in Florida Improve Water Quality
Agricultural producers in select watersheds in Florida can apply for financial assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) until May 31 to improve water quality in coastal waters. The lower Suwannee watersheds are Long Pond and Long Pond Slough in Levy County and the North Old Town Hammock watershed in Gilchrist and Dixie counties. If landowners show interest, NRCS proposes funding …
America Grows Act Introduced in the Senate
The America Grows Act of 2021 was introduced on Monday in the Senate. It would significantly increase U.S. public investment in agricultural research and development. The bill would increase funding for agricultural research by 5% every year on an inflation-adjusted basis at four USDA agencies over the next decade. Those agencies are the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, …
USDA Awards New Partnership Project in Florida
USDA will be investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships, including the “Surface to Springs” project in Florida. Projects are awarded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The program’s goal is to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The U.S. …
USDA Awards New Partnership Project in Alabama
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a new partnership project in Alabama designed to help mitigate climate change and protect natural resources while supporting America’s producers. Overall, USDA will be investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships nationwide. This will include the “Regenerating Alabama’s Cropland” project. All projects are awarded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation …
U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s April Cattle on Feed Report indicates the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on April 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2020 and is the second highest April 1 inventory …
GCC Applauds Addition of New UGA Extension Cotton Agronomist
Camp Hand is the new University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Cotton Agronomist. After an extended period without an agronomist in place at UGA, the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is excited for the newest member of the UGA Cotton Team, says GCC Executive Director Taylor Sills. “The University of Georgia has hired Dr. Camp Hand who is a recent Ph.D. graduate …
USDA Offering New Incentives for CRP Enrollment
The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. This includes investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for …
USDA to Provide Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know the American Rescue Plan includes provisions for USDA to pay up to 120% of loan balances, as of January 1, 2021, for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans debt relief to any socially disadvantaged producer who has a qualifying loan with FSA. …