A new partnership has been formed between Taranis and Steward Link to help growers with program application and validation of implemented practices to better utilize USDA conservation programs. Taranis is a global leader in AI-powered crop intelligence, and Steward Link was created by a former USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services employee to match up farmers with federal program opportunities. The …
National Ag Day Celebrated in DC
The 51st National Ag Day celebration took place in Washington D.C. Tuesday with groups gathering at USDA headquarters to recognize the individuals who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation and the world. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke in particular to the young people in attendance. “Every person who wakes up in the morning and doesn’t have to grow or harvest …
Truterra Outreach to Under-served Producers
In an effort to make sure all farmers have the opportunity to adopt climate smart practices and be rewarded for it, Truterra is reaching out to historically under-served producers with information about USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities Partnership project. Truterra Outreach and Partnership Liaison John Porter says under-served producers include racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, beginning farmers, and limited resource farmers. …
Truterra Talks Climate Smart Programs at #Classic24
Land O’Lakes sustainability subsidiary Truterra recently announced its 2024 sustainability programs and they were at Commodity Classic last week to talk to farmers about what they have to offer. “The financial assistance program is one of the first we’re able to roll out under the climate smart funding,” said Amber Leusink, Senior Manager for Programs and Grants with Truterra. “What …
Administration Officials Address Commodity Classic
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan both addressed a record crowd Friday at the Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas. Secretary Vilsack disappointed many in the audience who expected an announcement on the revised GREET model necessary for agriculture to benefit from tax credits for Sustainable Aviation Fuel under the Inflation Reduction Act. “Obviously we’re not …
EPA Announces E15 Waiver Approval for 8 States in 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday approval of requests from state governors to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol in their states, but delays the effective date to April 28, 2025. “After review of the emissions modeling results presented by the governors in their requests, EPA is removing the 1-psi waiver in the following …
Secretary Vilsack Addresses Ethanol Producers
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego Tuesday addressing a number of critical issues facing the ethanol industry right now, including nationwide approval of year-round E15 sales and the use of the GREET model to determine the ability of ethanol to be used for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Following his remarks, the Renewable Fuels Association …
USDA Releases 2022 Census of Agriculture Data
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on Tuesday released results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which includes more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms. However, the data …
Agriculture Community Mourns Loss of Bill Northey
The tributes began pouring in as soon as the shock wore off Monday when the news broke that former Iowa Agriculture Secretary and USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey had died at the age of 64. The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) where Northey served as CEO shared the news of his passing. “The state of …
USDA Officials Visit CIRB Annual Meeting
Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, and USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Marcia Bunger visited the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Annual Meeting last week in Scottsdale, Arizona, ahead of this week’s National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) conference. Bonnie discussed USDA’s commitment to supporting farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. …