(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The rule updates USDA’s flagship program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others. “This final rule enables us to continue helping producers manage their land in the most beneficial ways possible,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief of USDA’s …
Trump Administration Invests in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Alabama
ReConnect Funding to Connect 11,163 Rural Households to High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity (USDA/RD) — The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $37 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Alabama. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. “Access to …
USDA Offers Secure New Options for Signing, Sharing Documents Online
Farmers and ranchers working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA) can now sign and share documents online in just a few clicks. By using Box or OneSpan, producers can digitally complete business transactions without leaving their homes or agricultural operations. Both services are free, secure, and available for multiple NRCS and FSA programs. Box is a secure, cloud-based site …
Foundation Applications Open For Hurricane Sally Assistance
The Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) is accepting applications through Nov. 30 from farmers who suffered losses related to Hurricane Sally. AFAF and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell said the Foundation established a Hurricane Sally Relief Fund last month in response to calls from farmers and businesses who wanted to help their south Alabama neighbors. “When disaster strikes, I am always …
UGA Closes Tifton Dairy Research Center
From the Georgia Milk Producers According to the Georgia Farm Bureau, after several years of battling low milk prices, changes in administrators and recent state budget cuts from COVID-19, the vacuum pumps at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Dairy Research Center were permanently turned off on Sept. 4, Georgia Milk Producers reported in its September Georgia Milk Review. Since …
USDA Updates RCPP Announcement to Clarify Forestry Eligibility
Proposal deadline for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program extended to November 30 WASHINGTON, October 14, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today re-posted a revised Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding announcement, inviting potential conservation partners to submit project proposals for federal funding. NRCS will award up to $360 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the …
NASDA CEO: Our Expectations for the Next Administration Are Clear
By Dr. Barb Glenn, CEO, NASDA As a non-partisan organization, you might ask yourself why the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) would wade into this very heated political time for Americans. The truth of the matter is that agriculture is not a red or blue issue. Rural communities matter now more than ever, and resiliency for rural …
Virtual Format Set for 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conferences
The National Cotton Council (NCC) will conduct the 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) virtually on Jan. 5-7 (Tuesday-Thursday) due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19’s spread. The BWCC, coordinated by the NCC, annually brings together university and USDA researchers, regulatory agencies, extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support personnel to exchange information about new products and production/processing systems that can be tailored …
EPA Administrator on Agency Moving Into 21st Century
Due to COVID-19, there have been few opportunities for in-person visits on Capitol Hill the past few months, but Texas farm broadcaster Tony St James spent all last week there as a part of the 4th Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour. He met with members of Congress and agricultural industry leaders to discuss various topics. One …
Perdue Tours South Alabama, Northwest Florida Hurricane Sally Damage
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made various stops in South Alabama and Northwest Florida to tour agricultural areas that were damaged by Hurricane Sally. He also hosted a roundtable discussion with local farmers who were impacted. In comments to the media, Perdue said he saw crops that have been cut in half. Perdue was joined by various state legislators …