USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds landowners that a contract renewal sign-up continues for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), NRCS did make several updates to the popular program last fall to help producers better evaluate conservation options that benefit their operations. Participants with existing CSP contracts that expire on December 31st can access the benefits of the recent program …
A Better Way to Pasteurize Eggs
An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist and his colleagues have developed a technology that rapidly pasteurizes eggs and could sharply reduce the number of illnesses caused each year by egg-borne Salmonella bacteria. The device invented by David Geveke, a chemical engineer at the ARS Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research Unit in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, uses radio frequency (RF) waves to …
Cotton Incorporated Launches New Consumer Campaign
Leave Comfort to Clothes Cotton Incorporated’s Consumer Marketing Division has announced the launch of a new consumer-directed advertising campaign, Leave Comfort to Clothes. “The ‘Leave Comfort to Clothes’ campaign leverages consumers’ strong connection between cotton and comfort and inspires them to rethink the way they view comfort,” says Jill Orsini, Cotton Incorporated’s Director of Advertising. “The comfort doesn’t come from …
RFA to EPA: Keep the RFS on Track in 2018
In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) encouraged the agency to ensure the 2018 RFS renewable volume obligation (RVO) rulemaking stays on schedule and maintains the conventional renewable fuel requirement at the statutory level of 15 billion gallons. Along with the letter, RFA submitted a new analysis to EPA showing that gasoline contained …
Salad Shortage Because of California Rains
Over the last several years, California farmers have been plagued by drought. However, the problem in 2017 is too much rain, which may be putting a squeeze on the nation’s salad supplies. A Bloomberg report says it may take until sometime in May before the nation’s grocery store shelves are fully stocked with salads again. Unusually warm weather meant an …
Another Farm Credit System Merger Takes Place
Two Farm Credit organizations serving the upper midwest will join together after both received stockholder approval. AgCountry Farm Credit Services and United FCS serve farmers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, but now become AgCountry Farm Credit Services beginning on July first. The headquarters will be in Fargo, North Dakota, with the Association serving 18,000 customer-members and have nearly $7.2 …
Buffet Foundation/Drovers to Raise $2 Million for Wildfire Relief
Drovers, a Farm Journal Media franchise, and the Drovers Foundation have accepted a challenge from philanthropist and American farmer-rancher Howard G. Buffet to raise $2 million for wildfire relief. Last month saw devastating wildfires burn 1.6 million acres in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Starting now, all monetary donations to the Drovers/Farm Journal Million Dollar Wildfire Relief Challenge will be …
Farm Lending Continues to Moderate
Lending activity at agricultural banks across the country continued to decline in the first quarter of 2017. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says economic conditions in the farm sector are still weak, so borrowers and lenders have worked together to make adjustments in financing agricultural production across America. Ag lenders are making more adjustments to …
Renewable Fuels Standard Heads to Court
The Environmental Protection Agency will be in Washington D.C. Circuit court starting Monday (April 24) as the court hears oral challenges to the 2014-2016 Renewable Fuels Standard Volumes. Politico’s Morning Energy Report says the RFS has supporters and detractors in both major political parties, so this case represents a rare nonpartisan issue for the EPA. The agency will have to …
NAFTA Talks Not Happening Soon
President Donald Trump says the White House will offer some preliminary plans on the possible renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) sometime within the next two weeks. While he didn’t get more specific than that, Politico’s Morning Agriculture report adds that a White House spokesman says the Administration is currently working on negotiating text with Congress. The …