Entomopathogenic fungi can be an intricate piece of an effective pest management system and in some cases a cheaper one as well. This week’s Making Sense of Biologicals (MSOB) program …
DOL Issues Final Rule for H-2A Certification Program
A final rule was recently issued that will update the H-2A certification program. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the amendments on January 15. The announcement comes after extensive …
FARMER Program Receives Significant Support in Budget Proposal
The Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions program, known simply as the FARMER program is set to receive significant state support. The $227 billion budget recently proposed by Governor …
Innovation Strategy Report to Guide USDA Research Moving Forward
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released its U.S. Agriculture Innovation Strategy Directional Vision for Research summary and dashboard. USDA will use the information from the summary report as …
USDA Urged to Prioritize Agricultural Worker Safety
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is being encouraged to focus on agricultural worker safety moving forward. A group of more than 70 lawmakers is urging USDA to focus on …
Key PPP Changes in Most Recent COVID Relief Package
Some key changes were made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the most recent COVID relief package. The relief bill includes $284 billion for another round of PPP loans. …
Industry Input Encouraged for Shifting Animal Biotech Oversight to USDA
The proposal to move some regulatory authority for animal biotech to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is receiving significant support. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has been the regulating …
CDFA Looking for Proposals for the Fertilizer Research and Education Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals for the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP). Since it was first formed back in 1990, FREP has …
MSOB: Worms in Space, How Nematodes Might Help Space Exploration
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have recently sent beneficial nematodes on an interstellar expedition. With more and longer space travel in the foreseeable future, the project aimed to …
Budget Proposal Allows CDFA to Continue Important Programs
The latest budget proposal from Governor Gavin Newsom contains significant investment in valuable agricultural programs. A total of $227.2 billion is being proposed for the 2021-2022 budget. The California Department …
FCC Report Highlights Value of Broadband to Ag Productivity
A report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) details the impact that broadband internet has on agricultural production. In a paper titled “Impact of Broadband Penetration on U.S. Farm Productivity” …
Industry Groups Urge New Administration to Address Water Infrastructure
A large group of agricultural organizations and water districts are calling for more federal support to address water infrastructure. More than 200 organizations sent letters to President-elect Joe Biden and …
Ag Order 4.0 Hearings Raise Concern Over Complexity of Compliance
The recent Ag Order 4.0 hearings have raised a level of concern as the timeline for adoption quickly approaches. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board went over proposals …
NRCS Outlines Conservation Priorities for California
Several conservation priorities have been outlined for accelerated funding in California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California announced ten key areas to focus on. …