A weekly look at some of the events and activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this edition of USDA Week In Review, conservation in California, the pest and…
Marketing Easier for Small Businesses Online
…online branding schemes are nowadays. A decade ago, starting an online presence in any realm was challenging, time consuming and expensive if you paid for the services. Popplewell says growers…
USDA: Record Number of Organic Producers in U.S.
…is committed to connecting organic farmers and businesses with resources to ensure the continued growth of the organic industry. Along with programs to support conservation, provide access to loans and…
Cotton Acreage May be Lowest Since the 1920s
…the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NASS forecast total acreage at 155,000 acres, including 110,000 acres of pima cotton and 45,000 acres of upland varieties. This…
FSA Teams “Jump” in for Support at Local Offices
Cathy Isom Cathy Isom checks into how Farm Service Agency Jump Teams are helping take the load off in offices and locations across the nation. FSA Jump Teams…
Snowpack Melts Early Across the West
West-wide snowpack is melting earlier than usual, according to data from the fourth 2015 forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “Almost all of…
Eight Facts about Almonds, Agriculture and the Drought
California is entering year four of a historic drought that is impacting residents and businesses throughout the state. Last week, Governor Brown announced unprecedented conservation measures that have, rightfully, received…
Western View: It’s Not 80%
…in water use, agriculture has become a natural target. It takes a lot of water to grow crops, and as the governor was quick to point out, agriculture has taken…
USDA Designates Del Norte County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area
…Curry and Josephine counties in Oregon also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on April 8, 2015,…
ELAP and Honeybees
Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini explains the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program, and its benefits specifically to beekeepers. ELAP and Honeybees…
2015 Conservation Easement Applications for Agricultural lands and Wetlands Due May 15
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP). ACEP offers two easement options, the Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and the Wetland…
Water for Farms – a Briefing by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
…2012 sales of $48 billion (Note – the California Agricultural Statistics Service reports $46.4 billion in farm receipts in 2013). California’s dry summers make irrigation essential. To irrigate more than…
USDA to Issue Disaster Assistance to Help Honeybee, Livestock and Farm-Raised Fish Producers
Farm Bill Program Offers Producers Relief for 2014 Losses in more than 40 States The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency today announced that nearly 2,700 applicants will…
Governor’s Drought Task Force Discusses Emergency Actions
…Ghilarducci, Director, California Office of Emergency Services Felicia Marcus, Chair, State Water Resources Control Board Mark Cowin, Director, California Department of Water Resources Robert B. Weisenmiller, Chair, California Energy Commission…