Many in agriculture announced their pleasure with the U.S. Senate passed this morning of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bill includes investments of importance to many areas agriculture. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (WASHINGTON, August 10, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement following Senate passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs …
Grant Application Deadline Nearing for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering up to $4 million in grants for the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture. But, the deadline to apply on Grants.gov is 11:59 …
Pate Speaks at Alabama Agribusiness Council Meeting
Folks in the agriculture industry across Alabama have been in Orange Beach this week attending the Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) Annual Meeting. One of the guest speakers was Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate. In an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, Pate noted he was pleased with how the Alabama Legislature funded the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries for the …
Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture. USDA will accept …
Commissioner Nikki Fried & FDACS Submit Public Comment on USDA Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services submitted formal public comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the President’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. As part of the Executive Order, the USDA was directed to collect stakeholder input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. Commissioner Fried …
Farm Credit System Reviews Ag Economy
Record agricultural exports are contributing to favorable economic conditions for the U.S. farm sector. Exports to China have risen to record levels, with increases in soybeans, corn, wheat and cotton. High crop prices and strong producer margins are expected to bring more acreage into production, but continuing drought in much of the western United States is a concern. The Farm …
Florida Water Policies for Agriculture
Water is the lifeblood of any farming operation. Many involved in the agriculture sector are working to do all they can to help Florida conserve water and make the most of this essential natural resource. Tatiana Borisova, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) water resource economist, gave an overview of the water-quality policies and programs in …
Department of Labor Targeting Southeast Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is engaged in an education and enforcement initiative to increase compliance with federal labor laws in the Southeast’s agricultural industry. In addition to enforcement activity, the initiative provides compliance assistance to employers and educates workers and other stakeholders. The division is working with industry stakeholders in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, …
USDA Seeks Innovative Partner-led Projects Delivering Sustainable Agricultural Solutions
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking proposals to fund up to $75 million in new, unique projects under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). Proposals need to take innovative and non-traditional approaches to conservation solutions at the local, regional, and landscape scales. 15 projects will be funded this year through AFA, where partners have more flexibility …
Agriculture Makes Gains in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
American farmers and ranchers are producing more food, fibers, and renewable fuels while using fewer resources and more efficient management tactics. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s latest Market Intel reviews trends in U.S. carbon sequestration as climate-smart farming practices increase. It reveals that U.S. carbon sinks offset 12% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sequester 764 million metric tons during …