(USDA/AMS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a series of four webinars with guest speakers from three regional USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (CCTCs), the CME Group, and USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). These free webinars begin Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, and are targeted to cattle producers, feeders, and others in the U.S. fed beef supply …
Florida Preps for Algae Blooms from Lake Releases
(NSF) — Measures are in place to offset potential blue-green algae blooms after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started Wednesday to schedule water releases from lower Lake Okeechobee, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. A news release late Wednesday said the department and the South Florida Water Management District are prepared to use “innovative technology” if needed …
USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to help …
Researchers are Juicing Alfalfa as a Next-Generation Aquafeed
Cows and horses aren’t the only fans of alfalfa. Yellow perch like it, too. That’s what Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators concluded when they fed the fish pellets made with a protein concentrate from the legume crop’s protein-rich leaves. They’re experimenting with alfalfa as part of a broader effort to find suitable alternatives to using fishmeal, a …
FSA Deputy Administrator: Sign up for Programs, Including WHIP Plus
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, Peggy Browne has been in the Southeast this week making stops to talk with producers. Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman caught up with her via phone during a stop in Florida, and she talked about signing up for various programs including the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+). USDA reminds producers that …
USDA Updates RCPP Announcement to Clarify Forestry Eligibility
Proposal deadline for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program extended to November 30 WASHINGTON, October 14, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today re-posted a revised Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding announcement, inviting potential conservation partners to submit project proposals for federal funding. NRCS will award up to $360 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the …
USDA Releases Final CSP Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including …
USDA Announces Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications
Final Opportunity for 2018 and 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced. “The physical and financial loss experienced …
Dairy Margin Coverage Program Enrollment for 2021 Opens Next Week
Enhancements to Online Dairy Decision Tool Now Available (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 for 2021 enrollment. “This year has been a market roller coaster for the dairy industry, and the Dairy Margin Coverage program is a valuable tool dairy producers can use to manage risk,” said …
Trump Administration Invests Up To $100 Million to Increase American Biofuel Sales
(USDA/RD) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales. These funds were made available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to recipients in 14 states. The initial $22 million in HBIIP investments are projected …