The Biden Administration’s requirement that all federal employees, including the employees of the Farm Service Agency, be vaccinated against COVID-19 will not cause FSA offices to close or farmers to receive a less-than-usual level of service. The Hagstrom Report says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made that statement last week during a House Agriculture Committee hearing. Representative Vicki Hartzler of Missouri …
Price Spread for Pork Products Increases as Processing Plant Labor Shortages Continue
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen longstanding labor shortages in the U.S. pork processing industry. Because the production of deboned products requires more labor, associated prices are higher than bone-in product prices, which have smaller labor requirements, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. When labor shortages are severe, as in the spring of 2020, when COVID-19-related infections of processing plant …
October USDA Deadlines Approaching
Covid-19 has impacted many agricultural and forestry operations across the country, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance for farmers and ranchers and even timber harvesters and haulers. But USDA reminds those interested the signup deadlines are coming up next week. The signup deadline for three pandemic assistance programs are: · Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 – October 12 …
Higher Loan Limit Now Available for USDA Guaranteed Farm Loans
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced higher loan limits will be available for borrowers seeking a guaranteed farm loan. The loan limit, as of October 1, 2021, went from $1.776 million to $1.825 million. FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said “Farm loans are critical for our customers’ annual operating and family living expenses, emergency needs, and cash flow.” …
ERS Study Shows Meatpackers Role in COVID Spread
A study from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the role meatpacking plants played in the spread of COVID-19. In what ERS describes as a working paper, the study outlined 49 U.S. non-metro counties in which 20 percent or more of employment is in meatpacking, defined as meatpacking-dependent counties. This represents 41 percent of all nonmetro counties with employment in …
GCC Encourages Enrollment in U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Webinars
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds producers about enrollment in upcoming webinars hosted by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. The webinars’ focus is helping growers understand how the program helps meet industry demands while documenting and verifying sustainability practices already implemented in farms. Taylor Sills, executive director of the GCC, discusses the importance of enrolling in …
USDA Initiative to Create More and Better Market Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as part of their efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic as well as those going back decades, has announced plans for another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding would leverage hundreds of millions more in lending through community and private sector lenders to expand …
Georgia NRCS Announces EQIP Sign Up Deadline
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced the statewide cutoff for fiscal year 2022 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding. All Georgia agricultural producers and landowners who wish to be considered for this year’s technical and financial assistance should apply by November 5, 2021. While customers can apply year round, this application cutoff announcement is for all general EQIP, …
Florida NRCS Reminds Landowners about Local Working Group Meetings
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind landowners about the Local Working Group Meetings. At these meetings, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, conservation partners and the public can discuss natural resource needs and priorities for their county. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez said these meetings are open to the public. NRCS and soil and water conservation districts host the meetings and provide …
Alabama Producers Encouraged to Learn More about EQIP
Farmers and ranchers face various challenges each year, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to help in many of those cases. One is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits. This includes improved water and air quality, conserved ground and …