…pumping and recharge. Groundwater supplies a third or more of California’s water supply. DWR will solicit proposals to award funding on a competitive basis in two funding categories: projects that…
USDA Political Appointment Nominees Coming Soon
The White House is close to announcing nominees for political appointments within the Department of Agriculture, as reported by Agri-Pulse. Rumored for the number two spot at USDA, Steve Censky,…
EPA Extends Timeline for Pesticide Applicators Rule
…Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Administrator Pruitt recently launched his Back-to-Basics agenda for returning EPA to its core mission: protecting the environment by engaging with state, local, and tribal…
First Loans Awarded in the Rural Energy Savings Program
Acting Deputy Under Secretary Roger Glendenning announced that USDA is providing zero-interest loans to two rural energy providers to help business and residential customers lower energy use and costs. “Funding…
Ag Export Groups Support CREAATE Act
Members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports and the Agribusiness Coalition for Foreign Market Development welcomed introduction of House Resolution 2321 last week, the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding…
Roberts Suggests no New Farm Bill Funding
Leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee indicated there would be no additional money to spend in the next farm bill while touting the cost savings from the most recent farm…
FDA to Address Agricultural Biotechnology Misinformation
Included in a budget deal to avert a government shutdown is funding for the Food and Drug Administration for consumer outreach and education regarding agricultural biotechnology. The Washington Post reports…
Soil Health Partnership Urges Farmers to Take USDA Survey
…Survey. In its fifth year, the survey helps the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program understand why farmers choose to use cover crops, or the reasons that they…
NACD Applauds Appropriations Bill in Support of Conservation
…agreement that will support funding for critical conservation programs,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “The investments Congress makes now in voluntary, incentive-based conservation will yield natural resource and economic…
Organic Farmers Push for Welfare Standards Implementation
Organic dairy and livestock farmers are pushing for Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to let animal welfare standards formed at the end of the Obama Administration to go into effect. Politico’s…
TPP Nations Meet in Canada to Discuss Future of Pact
Bloomberg reports Canada is hosting what it calls an “exploratory” round of talks regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Senior trade officials from the remaining countries in the pact are in talks…
Monsanto Terminates Sale of Precision Planting to John Deere
…interest in purchasing it. John Deere also announced today their termination of the Digital Ag Connectivity agreement with The Climate Corporation. The termination of this agreement will have no impact…
Ag Lender Survey: Farm Profitability Down, Commodity Prices Top Concern
…according to a joint survey by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A). The survey of more than 350 agricultural lenders…
Ag Producer Sentiment Inches Higher in April
…the Ag Economy Barometer increased to 130. The latest result for the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which is based on a monthly survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers, was…