Corn, soybean, and cotton production is up from 2020, according to the latest Crop Production report issued Friday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). According to the report, corn production is up 6% from last year, forecast at 15.0 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to increase their production 6% from 2020, forecast at 4.37 billion bushels; and cotton …
USDA Invests in Renewable Energy Infrastructure
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday announced that USDA is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. USDA is financing $129 million of these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program and $335 million through the Electric Loan Program. …
Conversation with Secretary Vilsack Webinar
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joins Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths Thursday September 2 at 2:00 pm Central for conversation and audience questions in a town hall-style virtual event webinar. During this very special Farm Journal Farm Country Update, Secretary Vilsack will discusse policy priorities, COVID assistance, trade, climate, market transparency and goals for the upcoming year. Click here …
USDA Announces Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will begin taking applications for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) starting next Tuesday, July 20th Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals from July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021. …
Corn and Soybean Acres Up
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 92.7 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2021, up 2% from last year, and soybean area planted is estimated at 87.6 million acres, up 5% from last year. Harvested area for both crops are estimated to also be higher by the same percentages. The 2021 …
USDA Announces Pandemic Aid for Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced implementation of additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, including support to timber harvesters, biofuels producers, dairy farmers and processors, livestock farmers and contract growers of poultry, assistance for organic cost share, and grants for PPE. “USDA is honoring its commitment to get financial …
Report Shows How U.S. Farmers Can Fight Climate Change
A new report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation finds U.S. farmers have the potential to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and become part of the global solution to climate change. U.S. agriculture contributes about 10% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the entire national economy, but farmers could greatly reduce those emissions if they were provided with the …
USDA Expands CRP and Funds Rural Infrastructure
As President Biden opened a two-day virtual climate summit on Earth Day, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack discussed the role USDA and agriculture will play in the administration goal calling for U.S. emissions to be 50% to 52% lower in 2030 compared to 2005. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) …
USDA Releases First 2021 Crop Progress Report
#Plant21 season is officially underway now with the start of USDA’s weekly Crop Progress reports. Planting has begun for barley, corn, cotton, oats, rice, sorghum, spring wheat, and sugarbeets, according to the first Crop Progress report issued for the 2021 planting season by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). By this time last year, 2% of the …
USDA Report Reveals Planting Intentions
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Prospective Plantings report released this week reveals producers intend to plant an estimated 91.1 million acres of corn in 2021, up less than 1% from last year, and 87.6 million acres of soybeans, up 5% from last year. Planted acreage intentions for corn are up or unchanged in 24 of the 48 estimating states. …