Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh has been awarded the 2015 World Food Prize, the most prominent award for individuals whose achievements alleviate hunger and promote global food security. The announcement was by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack who made remarks at an event by the U.S. State Department. “I offer my sincerest congratulations to Sir Fazle and appreciation for the progress he …
New FAPRI Report Shows ARC, PLC Picks
A new report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri (FAPRI-MU) shows how many farmers are using Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) plans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Highlights from the report, titled, “U.S. crop program fiscal costs: Revised estimates with updated participation information,” include: · The FAPRI-MU baseline …
Record Beans, Lower Corn in New Acreage Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 85.1 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States this year, up two percent from last year and setting a new record high. In contrast, growers planted an estimated 88.9 million acres to corn, the lowest corn acreage since 2010. Record high soybean planted acreage is estimated in …
TPA Signed With Eye Toward New Agreements
President Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements. “We still …
Allergen-Free Peanuts Among USDA Innovations in FY 2014
Allergen-free peanuts is just one of the many innovations in ag during fiscal year 2014 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says USDA received 83 patents in FY2014, up from 51 patents in 2013, leading to new patents and inventions with the potential for commercial application and potential economic growth. “USDA has a proven …
Secretary Vilsack Visits #ASTAannual
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stressed the importance of the seed industry to American agriculture and the nation as a whole during an address kicking off the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting on Thursday in Washington DC. “Clearly the seed industry has been responsible for an extraordinary increase in productivity in American agriculture,” said Vilsack. “But more than that, …
Biobased Industry Boosts US Economy
A new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry adds $369 billion and 4 million jobs to the American economy. This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that number is poised to grow under changes in the 2014 Farm Bill. “This report is the first to examine and quantify the effect of the U.S. biobased products …
Organic Trade Association Petitions for Checkoff
The Organic Trade Association, along with the GRO Organic Core Committee, has formally petitioned the USDA to begin steps to conduct a vote on and implement a research and promotion check-off program for the organic industry. You can read an executive summary of the proposal here (pdf). OTA’s action reflects three years of dialogue with the entire organic sector and …
Lots of Jobs in Ag for New Grads
May is graduation month, and a new survey shows that agriculture is a great place for those new college graduates. This article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the information from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University shows there are nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings expected each year in the U.S., there …
First USDA Crop Estimates
USDA’s May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report released today includes the first estimates for crop production this year. Overall, the report is projecting wheat production to be higher and corn and soybeans lower this season. All wheat production is projected at 2,087 million bushels, up 3 percent. Corn production is projected at 13.6 billion bushels, down 586 million …