The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) submitted comments supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposal on the Use of Radio Frequency Identification Tags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison. APHIS has proposed to require the use of official 840-RFID tags for all dairy cattle involved in interstate commerce starting Jan. 1, 2023. …
USDA Seeks New Partnerships to Safeguard, Restore Wetland Ecosystems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced up to $30 million is available in technical and financial assistance through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to help conservation partners protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands. “This partnership enhances the locally driven process to better address critical wetland functions that progress beyond localities,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief …
USDA Funding Conservation Innovation in Florida
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced last week it is awarding $25 million in grants designed to help partners implement and evaluate innovative conservation practices that have demonstrated benefits on farmland. The funding, provided through On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials), is a component of the Conservation Innovation Grants program first authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. Fourteen projects …
USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers, Livestock Producers in Alabama, Surrounding States Impacted by Hurricane Sally
MOBILE, Ala., Sept. 30, 2020 – Hurricane Sally’s flooding and high winds impacted agricultural operations in Alabama and surrounding states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report …
USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Ag Producers for Hurricane Sally
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 30, 2020–Hurricane Sally’s flooding and high winds impacted agricultural operations in Florida and surrounding states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and …
USDA Releases Quarterly Grain Stocks Report
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released its Quarterly Grain Stocks report, which indicates old crop corn stocks on hand as of Sept. 1, 2020, totaled 2.0 billion bushels, down 10% from 2019. Old crop soybeans stored in all positions were down 42%, and all wheat stocks were down 8% from a year earlier. Total corn stocks stored on …
USDA Funds Conservation Innovation in Florida and Nationally Through On-Farm Trials of Conservation Systems
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding $25 million in grants designed to help partners implement and evaluate innovative conservation practices that have demonstrated benefits on farmland. The funding is provided through On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials), a component of the Conservation Innovation Grants program first authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. “On-Farm …
New Feature Allows Entities to Conduct Online Business with USDA
An update to farmers.gov now provides access to farmers and ranchers who are members of an entity, as well as individuals and entities with powers of attorney to conduct online business with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additionally, online services once available through NRCS’s Conservation Client Gateway (CCG) will be moved to farmers.gov in the coming weeks. “Here at …
USDA Awards $5 Million to Support Wetland Mitigation Banking
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will award $5 million for eight new wetland mitigation banking projects through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program. This program helps conservation partners develop or establish mitigation banks to help agricultural producers maintain eligibility for USDA programs. “These wetlands will provide agriculture producers an affordable mitigation option …
USDA Announces Second Round of Funding for Feral Swine Program
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced this week it is accepting applications from non-federal, not-for-profit partners for projects to help agricultural producers and private landowners trap and control feral swine. This is all part of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP), where NRCS is making $12 million available. Applications for this second round of funding will …