agriculture commissioner

Voting Begins for 2017 FSA County Committee Elections

Dan Industry News Release

Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 6 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2017 Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. “County committee members play an indispensable role in our efforts to provide assistance to producers,” said FSA Acting Administrator …

usda

USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2018

Dan Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting Nov. 1,  farmers and ranchers with base acres in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net program may enroll for the 2018 crop year. The enrollment period will end on Aug. 1, 2018. “Since shares and ownership of a farm can change year-to-year, producers must enroll …

annual meeting

Dairy Producers Reminded to Enroll for 2018 Coverage

Dan Dairy

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind dairy producers that enrollment for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy) continues through Dec. 15, 2017. MPP-Dairy gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Participating farmers will remain in the program through Dec. 31, 2018, and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee …

grants

USDA Offering $5 Million in Farm to School Grants

Dan Education, Industry News Release

The Department of Agriculture is offering $5 million in grants to schools through the USDA Farm to School Program. The program has been awarding grants to schools and communities since 2013. Farm to School refers to efforts that bring locally or regionally produced foods into school cafeterias. USDA says that also includes hands-on learning activities such as school gardening, farm …

agricultural science

USDA Invests in a More Diverse Agricultural Science Workforce

Dan Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced grants to increase women and minority representation in the agricultural science workforce. Funding is made through NIFA’s Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS). “America’s human capital is our greatest resource,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA investments are helping …

new

New ARS Website Enhances Access to Scientific Information

Dan Industry News Release, Research, Technology

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) launched a newly designed website that improves access to information about ARS research. The new site features mobile responsiveness allowing users to better navigate and view information on both mobile and desktop devices. ARS maintains scientific information stemming from research conducted by nearly 2,000 Federal scientists researching animal and crop health, human nutrition, food safety, …

Georgia

EQIP Sign Up Continues in Florida

Dan Florida, USDA-NRCS

November 17 will be here before you know it, and thus Florida farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are urged to stop by their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to apply for financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

feedlot

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent

Dan Cattle

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service released their October Cattle on Feed Report, and the numbers show cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. totaled 10.8 million head on October 1, 2017, 5 percent above October 1, 2016. The inventory included 6.93 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year, and 64 …

concentration

NFU on USDA Farmer Fair Practices Rule Decision

Dan Beef, Industry News Release, Livestock

Earlier this week, the Department of Agriculture announced it would be terminating the Farmer Fair Practices Rule on Competitive Injury. A rule that, according to the National Farmers Unions, would have provided the most basic of protections to American family farmers and ranchers as they endure increasingly concentrated markets and unfair treatment from multinational meatpackers. NFU President Roger Johnson says …