The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. This significant step continues USDA’s commitment to keeping farmers and ranchers financially viable and support for agricultural communities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor announced that USDA has awarded more than $25 million to support eight projects under the new Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative. USDA launched ASCE in January 2024 as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to create more, new and better markets for U.S. producers and agribusinesses both at home and abroad. The innovative partnership between USDA and the specialty crops sector focuses on projects to address the non-tariff trade barriers that hinder U.S. exports of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, horticultural crops and related products.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting on October 15-16 starting at 12 p.m. ET virtually via Zoom. This meeting is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The Data Users’ Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on these and other programs important to agriculture. The event is organized by NASS in cooperation with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, Farm Service Agency, Economic Research Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the Crop Production report issued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up less than one percent from the previous forecast, but down one percent from last year; soybean growers are expected to increase their production 10 percent from 2023, forecast at 4.58 billion bushels.
Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, is pleased to announce that Timothy Brennan has been selected as their vice president of programs and strategic impact, a new role reflecting the increased emphasis on prioritizing work with clearly defined impact.
The Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation has revised its primary logo to incorporate the great seal of the United States. The revised logo better reflects FCSIC’s role as a U.S. government entity and includes the date (1988) of its creation by Congress. FCSIC has also made major revisions to the content on its website (FCSIC.gov).
FFA members and supporters from across the country will celebrate agriculture and agricultural education during the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. This time-honored tradition will be held Oct. 23-26.
U.S. food and farm facts are featured in a new ag literacy resource available from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. How and where food in America is grown and who purchases it are at your fingertips in the new Food and Farm Facts book and pocket guide.
Harley Janssen, a farmer and leader with over 20 years of experience in agriculture, construction and off-road technology, has joined the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). He will serve as the director of outputs and measurements, a newly created position at the organization.
Bushel, an independently-owned software technology company focused on developing digital tools for the agricultural supply chain, has released a special report based on its 2024 State of the Farm survey data, highlighting significant changes in payment trends within agriculture. Bushel’s 2024 State of the Farm Special Report: Payments in Agriculture reveals a notable 12 percent decrease in paper check payments to farmers over the past year, reflecting a broader industry shift towards digital solutions. Despite this shift, over 70 percent of grain settlements are still processed via paper checks, even as the USPS warns of increasing fraud risks. However, the use of digital payment platforms has surged, with adoption rates climbing from 39 percent last year to 76 percent this year. The report identifies key demographics driving this change, including younger farmers and those with aggressive growth plans. Nearly 50 percent of those respondents are now using or planning to use digital payment options.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in a partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and in support by the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), has launched the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund to aid farmers and ranchers facing devastating losses from Hurricane Helene. The fund aims to raise $1 million by December to provide direct financial aid to those impacted by the storm. Visit www.SupportGeorgiaFarmers.org to donate online or download the forms for check contributions.
