The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is encouraging Alabama farmers to take part in a Farm Bill Listening Session on Tuesday, April 4. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts on the 2023 Farm Bill. Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate and U.S. House Committee on Agriculture member Rep. Barry Moore. ADAI encourages attendees to bring a hard …
USDA Announces Updated Conservation Practice Standards
(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has completed and published updates to its set of National Conservation Practice Standards, which include 58 standards that have been updated or revised since August. The 2018 Farm Bill required USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to review all 169 of its national conservation practices to seek opportunities …
NRCS Implementing EQIP through 2018 Farm Bill
Since the 2018 Farm Bill was enacted back in December, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been working to implement programs that offers strong support for conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers. They offer financial and technical assistance through conservation practices, activities and enhancements to help producers make and maintain improvements on their land. One of the most …
Plan to Use Farm Bill Funding to Support Animal Disease Prevention and Management
(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing initial plans to carry out new animal health activities using resources provided by the 2018 Farm Bill. Section 12101 of the 2018 Farm Bill established a three-part program to comprehensively support animal disease prevention and management. The bill included funding to create two …
Peterson: Farmers Don’t Want to Get Their Revenue from the Government
(NAFB) — Its clear farmers are frustrated with the many forces beyond their control, following a listening session in Minnesota. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue didn’t receive a warm welcome during Minnesota’s Farmfest this week. Hosted by House Ag Committee Chair and Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson, Perdue got an earful from farmers questioning farm bill programs and trade. Peterson says one …
NAP Buy-Up Coverage Now Available
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind producers that higher levels of coverage are available through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans interested in obtaining NAP coverage. NAP provides financial assistance to producers of commercial …
Advanced Dairy Margin Coverage Producer Info
Although dairy producers can sign up for a new Farm Bill dairy margin coverage program in June, the application of coverage through all of 2019 gives growers valuable information in making their sign-up decision. Rod Bain reports.
Farm Bill Status Update: Dairy Programs to Open Soon
In an update on the 2019 Farm Bill, the Department of Agriculture has provided target dates for dairy programs. In the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue stated, “we still have a lot of work ahead of us,” but added USDA is diligently working on completing the process. Specifically relating to dairy in Title One of the farm bill, USDA says …
Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Protect Farm Bill Program Funding
As farmers, ranchers and rural communities grapple with a devastatingly weak farm economy, nearly 200 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and several state Farm Bureaus, are urging congressional budget writers to reject calls for additional cuts to farm bill programs. The bipartisan, budget-neutral 2018 farm bill was built upon the previous farm bill, which made a significant contribution …
More Details on the New Farm Bill
While implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill is being delayed by the government shutdown, Tyron Spearman looks at some of the programs that will be available once funding is restored and USDA offices have reopened.