~ Maximum grant for eligible producers raised from $50,000 to $150,000 ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 21,2023) — Today, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced a cost-share assistance program to support agricultural producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support …
Conservation Innovation Grant Opportunities Available
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made available $65 million through two funding opportunities to further natural resource conservation on private lands. It’s all through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, where NRCS is prioritizing CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate mitigation benefits. …
USDA Invests in Conservation Innovation Grants
The USDA has announced the availability of $65 million through two funding opportunities to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is being directed to prioritize CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate …
Alabama Peanut Referendum Continues with Strong Approval
Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on April 20, 2023, ninety-one percent of those who voted said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion, and research. For the continuance referendum to …
USDA Awards CIG Projects in Florida
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture. These projects, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions …
Environmental Groups Object to Florida Development Bills
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE,FL/March 3, 2023) — Environmental groups are raising concerns that legislative proposals would damage land-use planning and run counter to conservation efforts backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Representatives of 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades and VoteWater on Thursday targeted numerous bills filed for the upcoming legislative session that could do such things as redefine sprawl, deter citizens …
FDA Announces Draft Guidance for Plant-Based Dairy Imitators
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Wednesday announced draft recommendations on the naming of plant-based foods that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk. The guidance recommends that an alternative milk product that includes the term milk and has a nutrient composition different than milk, include a voluntary nutrient statement that conveys how the product compares with milk. Jim …
IRA Funding for Climate-Smart Agriculture
Investing in climate-smart agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced funding for agricultural producers and forest landowners to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices. The Inflation Reduction Act provided an additional $19.5 billion over five years for climate-smart agriculture through several USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. NRCS is …
NRCS Advanced Climate-Smart Agriculture, Broadened Reach of Conservation in Past Two Years
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants landowners to know that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work across the country amid an ongoing pandemic and numerous natural disasters. During that time, they helped agricultural producers and forest landowners, including urban and underserved producers, implement conservation practices on their working lands. These efforts by NRCS helped conserve natural resources …
New Year’s Resolutions for the Farm
It’s time to make those New Year’s resolutions, even for the farm. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging farmers to make New Year’s resolutions for conservation on the farm. Ciji Taylor, USDA Public Affairs Specialist, gives some suggestions in an online article, including: When it comes to any resolution, making them …