The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced loan rates for 2014-crop sugar as required by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 2014-crop national average loan rate is…
CDFA to Initiate Second Round of Funding for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)
(From CDFA) The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will begin accepting applications on September 29, 2014 for a second round of funding for the State Water Efficiency and…
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Unveils Key New Risk Management Programs
…new safety-net program that is right for their business. “The 2014 Farm Bill represented some of the largest farm policy reforms in decades. One of the Farm Bill’s most significant…
Almond Board: Silent Auction Donations Being Accepted
The Almond Board is now accepting donations for its 2014 Silent Auction at its yearly conference. It helps fund California FFA scholarships. Almond Board Intern Rebecca Bailey says last year…
Poultry Slaughter Ready-to-Cook Weight Down
Poultry certified wholesome during August 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.74 billion pounds, down 3 percent from the amount certified in August 2013. The July 2014 revised certified total at 3.89…
Red Meat Production Down 10 Percent From Last Year
…August a year ago. January to August 2014 commercial red meat production was 31.2 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 2013. Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last…
More Avocado Growers Stumping Trees
No commodity is exempt from the drought conditions in California, and avocado growers around the state are adapting the best they can. Central coast growers at the 2014 Avocado and…
USDA to Collect Data on Chemicals Applied to Vegetables
Beginning October 1, vegetable growers in 19 states, including California, will have the opportunity to provide first-hand information on their production practices when they participate in the 2014 Vegetable Chemical…
California Farm Service Agency Deadline for Livestock Forage Program (LFP)
Livestock Producers Urged to Enroll in Disaster Assistance Program Before October 1, 2014 Producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses are encouraged to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30,…
United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 Percent
…inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2013. Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.72 million, 3 percent below 2013. Net placements were 1.65 million head. During August, placements of…
Olive Oil Quality Standards to be Introduced in California
(From CDFA) The California Department of Food and Agriculture has approved grading and labeling standards for California olive oil, which are scheduled to take effect on September 26, 2014, in…
California’s Fertilizer Research Conference Comes to Modesto October 29-30, 2014
…October 29-30, 2014. This conference brings together industry professionals and academic researchers to learn about the latest research and sound management of fertilizing materials. This conference is designed to improve…
Citrus Utilized Production Down 15 Percent, Value Up 7 Percent
Citrus utilized production for the 2013-2014 season totaled 9.4 million tons, down 15 percent from the 2012-2013 season. Florida accounted for 59 percent of the total United States citrus production,…
USDA: 2013 Potato Production Down 6 Percent
Potato production in 2013 is revised to 435 million cwt, down 1 percent from the estimate in the January Crop Production 2013 Summary and 6 percent below the 2012 crop….