…agency is taking an in-depth look into the 2014 production and supply of small grains, which include wheat, oats and barley. “The small grains industry is a major component of…
2012 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Coverage for Frost, Freeze, or Weather Related Fruit Losses
The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to retroactively provide assistance at additional coverage levels under the 2012 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance…
AFIA Submits Comments on LEAP Draft Guidelines
The American Feed Industry Association recently submitted comments regarding the Livestock Environmental Assessment Performance draft guidelines. Specifically, the comments submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations…
Cotton Transition Assistance Program Enrollment Begins Next Week
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan M. Garcia today announced that farmers can enroll in the Cotton Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) from Aug. 11, 2014 through…
Water Use in California – Analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
…use is roughly 50% environmental, 40% agricultural, and 10% urban. However, the percentage of water use by sector varies dramatically across regions and between wet and dry years. Some of…
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Provides Six-Month Update on Farm Bill Implementation Progress
…organic certification cost-share assistance, making certification more accessible than ever for small certified producers and handlers. Whole-Farm Revenue Protection: On May 21, USDA announced Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, which will provide…
Counties Busy with Drought Meetings
…as others in that state. Added storage is needed but if the extra water stored can’t get through the environmental standards, the money spent on those projects could be wasted….
Almond Board: BMP Guide for Bee Health
…industry guide for best management practices for bee health. Almond Board Specialist for Environmental Affairs, Danielle Veenstra tells us more about it. She says there are two parts to the…
Dairy Industry Finding New Sustainability Practices
The dairy industry continues to look for more ways to conserve resources and lessen their environmental footprint. AgNet West’s Taylor Hillman has the story. Dairy Industry Finding New Sustainability Practices…
CDFA benefits from new training initiative that helps State improve efficiency, cut red tape
…of Measurement Standards environmental scientist Kevin Schnepp, and Division of Measurement Standards director Kristin Macey. One of my priorities as secretary is process improvement, looking at all CDFA operations for…
Weird Al video demonstrates creativity, versatility of CDFA IT programming staff
…as is a recent feature story about Jarret in the Sacramento Bee. In a nod to the agency that we appreciate, the video segment includes a “Care-O-Meter” that was certified…
Global Food Safety Agreement Signed by China and UC Davis
…and livestock, and environmental chemicals. Additionally, the campus hosts the BGI@UC Davis Partnership, which focuses on genome sequencing, and the Confucius Institute, a cultural outreach program emphasizing food and beverages….
USDA Selects 36 Energy Facilities to Accept Biomass Deliveries
…agricultural residues to a BCAP-qualified energy facility may be eligible for financial assistance for deliveries. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will begin accepting applications from biomass…
USDA Provides Aid to 73,000 Rural Californians Impacted by Drought
…with the hardships it has caused, including: Designated 57 counties as disaster areas, making farmers and ranchers eligible for emergency loans. Targeted $25 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program…
