interest

Sorghum Interest is Growing

Dan Specialty Crops, Sugar

Believe it or not, but interest in sorghum is growing, as the cereal grain holds a lot of potential.  “We see sorghum as so much more than just another crop,” says Nate Blum, CEO of Sorghum United, dedicated to advancing sorghum cultivation globally.  The rising interest in sorghum is being driven largely by its suitability to hotter, drier growing conditions, …

specialty crops

USDA Announces Grant Funding to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Industry

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Fruits, Funding, Pecans, Specialty Crops, Tree Nuts, USDA, Vegetables

Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding $82.3 million to 65 recipients to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support the industry’s producers. This includes fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. The funding is through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program (SCMP). Jenny Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory …

harvest

Harvest Expectations for Apples and Cranberries

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

How is harvest looking for two fall favorites? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Does this year’s harvest indicate plenty of fruit from two fall-time favorites … apples and cranberries?  Rod Bain looks into it. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

Expo

Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Kicks Off Today

Dan Citrus, Citrus Expo News, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The 2024 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo kicks off today, August 21st, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.  The two-day event, hosted by AgNet Media, provides vital information for both the citrus and specialty crop industries, while also allowing attendees to interact with tradeshow vendors that will be in attendance.  The Expo’s trade show will include a large variety of exhibitors …

Expo

Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Starts Wednesday

Dan Citrus, Citrus Expo News, Specialty Crops

The 2024 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo kicks off this Wednesday, August 21st at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.  This is the second year for the Expo at this location, as many in the industry were pleased with how the overall event went last year. This includes the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), as their citrus extension booth was …

hurricane debby

USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby

Dan Agri-Business, Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Cover Crops, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, Funding, Georgia, Hemp, Herbs, Hydroponics, Livestock, Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Peanuts, Pecans, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA, USDA-FSA, USDA-RMA, Vegetables, Wheat

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …

rma

RMA Continues Making Improvements for Specialty Crops

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Specialty Crops, USDA-RMA

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) continues making improvements for specialty crops. RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger says recent crop insurance changes give specialty crops some of the benefits that other crops have enjoyed for years. “There’s a number of crops that we have existing policies on, but never before have they been allowed to utilize Enterprise Units, which is something …

insurance options

USDA Expands Insurance Options for Specialty and Organic Growers

Dan Crop Insurance, Economy, Organic, Specialty Crops, USDA-RMA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options by allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice, adding enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, and making additional policy updates. This is the first of …

specialty crop

USDA Expands Funding Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Funding, Specialty Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is expanding funding opportunities for specialty crop growers. The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program will now include both medium-size and small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.  The program has also been expanded to include …

michigan

Michigan Cherry Production Keeps National Totals Up

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, USDA-NASS

It’s cherry pie season, and Michigan is the nation’s top grower of tart cherries – the favorite pick for those pies. Nationally, the outlook for production this year is 222,000,000 pounds. Lance Honing of USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) says much of that is thanks to Michigan. “Out of those 222,000,000 pounds, they account for 182 million pounds of …