…Sacramento River and supplying water to farmers. Despite language in the record of decision that annual flow volumes “may not be changed,” in 2012, 2013 and 2014 Reclamation did change…
Packages Disaster Protection with Loans
…to enroll in new disaster loss protections created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The new coverage, available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), is available to FSA loan…
2015 California Dried Plum (Prune) Forecast
The 2015 California dried plum (prune) crop is forecast at 100,000 tons, down 4 percent from the 104,000 tons produced in 2014. Total 2015 bearing acreage is estimated at 48,000,…
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Updated Forecast for U.S. Agricultural Exports
…American agricultural exports continues, with a trade surplus of more than $23 billion, a $1 billion increase from earlier projections for fiscal year 2015. Fiscal years 2009 to 2014 represent…
Water Board Says More Rights Will be Curtailed Soon
…riparian rights by 25 percent or idle 25 percent of their land. In either case, the reductions would be from 2013 levels. Riparian water right holders who choose not to…
DPR 2013 Air Monitoring Shows Most Pesticides Well Below Health Screening Levels
…to the fact that in February 2014 DPR lowered the amount of 1,3-D that some regions may use. In 2014, chloropicrin was detected at one site (Santa Maria) slightly above…
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially-Disadvantaged Producers
…rates of 20 percent or higher. All grants are awarded through a national competition. The program is making a difference in many rural areas. For example, in 2013, the Southern…
USDA Reminds Farmers to Certify Conservation Compliance
…2015. The 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to have the form on file in order to remain eligible, or to become eligible for crop insurance premium support. Many farmers already…
Defining ‘Sustainable Groundwater Management’
When the state announced groundwater management protocols in 2014, they coined the phrase “sustainable groundwater management”. Kings River Conservation District General Manager David Orth said a lot of people are…
Editorial: Country of Origin Labeling
…could be damaging to a broad spectrum of U.S. industries. In June 2013, Canada published an extensive list of U.S. products that could be subject to retaliation. While Mexico has…
Legislation Introduced in House to Repeal COOL
…2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture amended the COOL rule to mandate origin on the born, raised and slaughtered locations of affected commodities. A WTO compliance panel ruled that the…
Vilsack: New Investments in Water Conservation, Resilience Across Drought-Stricken States
…more about and EQIP and other NRCS programs. Today’s announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America…
USDA Announces Funding to Assist with Organic Certification Costs
…certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country. “The organic industry saw record growth in 2014, accounting for over $39 billion in retail sales in the United…
Fuel Up to Play 60 Kick-Offs Spring Funding Campaign for California Schools
…Ramping Up Recess – a program designed to make recess better for students that involves moving recess to before lunch. During the fall 2014 campaign drive, the CMAB helped to…