USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Conservation Innovation Grants Funding Opportunity

Sabrina Halvorson USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia recently announced the availability of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches in technologies in Georgia. Applications are accepted from eligible entities and shown in section C of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants State Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) announcement of …

USDA Awards CIG Projects in Florida

Sabrina Halvorson Conservation, USDA-NRCS

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 …

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Extends Signup for IRA-Funded Conservation Programs

Randall Weiseman USDA-NRCS

State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, Terrance O. Rudolph has extended the recently announced sign-ups for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program’s (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) that utilize funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These signups that utilize IRA funding to provide direct climate mitigation benefits and expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation …

USDA Cotton Prospective Plantings Report

Sabrina Halvorson Cotton

The USDA released its latest cotton prospective plantings report on March 31.  All cotton planted area for 2023 is estimated at 11.3 million acres, down 18 percent from last year. Upland area is estimated at 11.1 million acres, down 18 percent from 2022. American Pima area is estimated at 154,000 acres, down 16 percent from 2022. USDA’s Becky Sommer has …

USDA Announces Funding to Help Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Businesses Invest in Renewable Energy Systems and Energy-Efficiency Improvements

Dan Agri-Business, Biofuels/Energy, Funding, USDA-RD

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Energy Costs, Builds America’s Clean-Energy Economy in Rural America (USDA-RD/WASHINGTON, March 31, 2023) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications starting on April 1 for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. …

USDA Research: Increasing Vegetable Consumption May Better Mental Health

Dan Research, Specialty Crops, USDA-ARS, Vegetables

New research finds that increasing vegetable consumption has a positive effect on how happy a person feels. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says that holds true for adults who consume the daily amount of vegetable servings recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Researchers at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center conducted the eight-week study. The study divided healthy …

USDA Announces Additional Help for Distressed Farmers

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Funding, This Land of Ours

There’s additional help for some farmers who need it. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Starting in April, the USDA will provide approximately $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk, as part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section …

Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers Expanded by USDA

Dan Agri-Business, Corn, Funding, Soybeans, USDA-RMA

(USDA-RMA/WASHINGTON/March 30, 2023) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested …

USDA Central America-Dominican Republic Trade Mission

Dan Agri-Business, Exports/Imports, This Land of Ours, Trade

USDA leaders visit Panama for a trade mission. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor arrived in Panama City Monday to launch a regional agribusiness trade mission. Taylor and the trade delegation on the trip look to develop stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United …