Cotton Program in USDA Partnership

Dan Cotton, This Land of Ours

A cotton program is one of the recipients of a USDA climate smart partnership. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is proud to be the lead and recipient of the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, which will receive funding as one of those selected as part of the USDA Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities …

USDA-NRCS in Florida Announces Local Work Group Meetings

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration, USDA-NRCS

Florida’s Local Working Group (LWG) meeting schedule for Fiscal Year 2023 has been announced by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts host the LWG meetings, where input and recommendations are discussed to develop solutions using Farm Bill programs. The LWGs provide recommendations to USDA on criteria for conservation activities and programs, and …

USDA Announces Its Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement with Georgia?

Dan Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), USDA-AMS

(USDA-AMS/WASHINGTON/Sept. 14, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Georgia under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers. “USDA is excited to partner with …

USDA Announces Climate-Smart Partnership Projects

Dan Climate Change, Environment, USDA

USDA is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement this week. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us to talk about farmers, ranchers, and producers who are on the frontlines of climate change, feeling the impacts on a daily basis,” …

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Signup for Conservation Easements

Dan Conservation, Environment, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced  sign-up is underway for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2023. To be considered for the upcoming fiscal year’s funding pool, applications must be submitted by October 7, 2022. The ACEP, created through the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a program that has two …

USDA NASS Reviewing Acreage Information

Dan Corn, Cotton, Field Crops, Peanuts, Soybeans, USDA-NASS, Wheat

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced this week the agency is reviewing all available acreage data for select crops. NASS will review planted and harvested acreage for chickpeas, corn, cotton, dry edible peas, lentils, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarbeets, in preparation for the September Crop Production report, which comes out Monday, September 12th. The reviewed information includes survey …

USDA Extends WIC-Related Formula Flexibilities

Dan This Land of Ours

An extension in the WIC program for baby formula. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA is extending a key funding flexibility in the WIC program that’s allowed state agencies and their infant formula manufacturers to work together to provide more options for needy families. Under this flexibility that’s now extended to the end of October, USDA …

USDA Program Feeds Children During Summer Months

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

States and territories issue $12.5 billion in USDA’s Summer Child Food Benefits program. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) partnered with 32 states and territories to provide summer food buying benefits to families with children. The states and territories provide an estimated $12.5 billion in temporary nutrition benefits to approximately 32 million children. …

USDA Says Farm Profits to Reach Near-Record High in 2022

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, USDA-ERS

USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income to increase by $13.5 billion or 8.7 percent from 2021. Net cash farm income is gross cash income minus cash expenses and will reach $168.5 billion in 2022, the highest level since 2012. In comparison, net farm income is forecast to drop by almost $1 billion from 2021 to …

USDA Updates Crop Insurance Plans to Broaden Access

Dan Crop Insurance, Economy

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs. USDA announced the improvements for the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to farmers. The improvements include doubling the maximum insurable revenue under Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, now $17 million, more than tripling the size of farm operations eligible for …