As we prepare for our annual Independence Day celebration this story struck a chord with me. We may not have had the type of military we have today back in 1776 but we had courageous and committed men and women who fought for and won our independence from a tyrannical government. To this day we still have the finest military …
Record #Soybean, Higher #Corn Acres Planted
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) planted acreage report for this year estimates record soybean plantings and increased corn acres over last year. The report estimates U.S. soybean planted area at a record high 83.7 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, while corn growers increased their acreage from last year by 7 percent to 94.1 million acres, making …
USDA Finalizes Crop Insurance Provisions
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) of the USDA says the final safety net provisions from the 2014 Farm Bill are now in place. The new measures help protect farmers and ranchers agains weather disasters, market volatility and other risk factors. Currently the RMA has put interim rules into place to complete provisions for some programs and give them the authority to …
USDA Provides Assistance to Cotton Producers
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering $300 million in cost-share assistance payments to cotton growers to help with the cost of ginning as well as continuing expand and maintain the U.S.’s domestic cotton market. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the announcement shows USDA continues to stand with America’s cotton producers and rural communities. “The Cotton Ginning Cost Share program …
USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA will be offering a one-time, 30-day extension on the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. Operations now have until July 1 to finalize changes or complete their restructuring. This comes as a response to farmers and ranchers who needed more time to provide information …
Promoting Ag Careers With Glycine Max
In a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), jobs that require degrees related to food, agriculture, renewable natural resources or the environment will see an average of 57,900 openings annually over the next five years, which is far more than the anticipated 35,400 graduates in those fields. The Maryland Soybean Board is stepping up to encourage students …
USDA Announces $21M for Bioeconomy R&D
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made $21 million available to support the development of regional systems in sustainable bioenergy and biobased products. The funds can also be allocated to train the next generation of bio-scientists. The funding is offered through the AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts challenge area designed to create or sustain jobs by improving existing food …
ITC Study Predicts #TPP Benefits for Farmers
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) this week released a report on the expected impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on various industries and agriculture fares especially well. The report finds that, “Among broad sectors of the U.S. economy, agriculture and food would see the greatest percentage gain relative to the baseline projections, output would be $10.0 billion, or 0.5 …
USDA Announces $130 K for Research, Education, Extension
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has made $130 million available for research, education, and extension projects to support sustainable, productive and economically viable plant and animal production systems, including organic production. Funding comes through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “Investing in agricultural research ensures that our …
Workshop Explores Changing Dynamics of Ag Finance
Farm Foundation, NFP, along with USDA’s Economic Research Service and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has organized a workshop that intends to explore the implications of the evolving trends regarding non-farmer investor interest in agricultural resources and the use of more diverse business organization tools by farm landowners. The workshop will be held June 6-7, 2016, at the Brown Hotel, …