State receives more than $19 million in federal grant funds The United States Department of Agriculture has announced funding for the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received…
USDA Video: USDA Week In Review October 3
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, helping the underprivileged eat healthier, growing…
USDA Invests Nearly $118 Million to Support America’s Specialty Crop Producers
…the U.S. economy. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), will provide $66 million to state departments of agriculture for…
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces New Support for America’s Specialty Crop Producers
2014 Farm Bill’s marquee specialty crop programs now providing funding Vilsack Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new funding to help grow Florida’s, and the nation’s, specialty crop industries. Specialty…
EPA Announces $183 Million to Improve Water Quality, Infrastructure in California
…infrastructure and conserve resources as we deal with the challenge of climate change.” The City of Fresno, through a zero percent interest loan from the state, used the $51 million…
Weekly Column: Farm to School Programs Create New Opportunities for Farmers
…instructors, too – will use food and agriculture as a tool in their classrooms, so that lessons about the importance of healthy eating permeate the school learning environment. An investment…
Soil Health Takes Main Stage at California State Board of Food and Agriculture Meeting on Oct. 7th
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will give soil health the main stage at its meeting on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 in Sacramento. Soil health, the basis of…
Merced County Farm Bureau Hosting the 3rd Annual FARM2U Day
…leading groups as they learn about agriculture and where their food comes from. FARM2U Day was created to give students an opportunity to interact with farmers, ranchers and anyone who…
Raising the Bar; How Protecting You From Pesticides Has Changed
…from someone who has questions about an upcoming pesticide application,” explains Robinson. In 2012, Merced County agriculture commodities grossed a record high of $3.25 billion, according to the county’s latest…
Program Boosts Farmers’ Markets
One of the recent programs receiving funding through the Farm Bill will directly help smaller specialty crop growers. Program Boosts Farmers’ Markets Agriculture Marketing Service Administrator Anne Alonzo says the…
United States and Brazil Reach Agreement to End WTO Cotton Dispute
Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced that the United States and Brazil have reached agreement to settle the longstanding Cotton dispute in the World…
USDA Helps Deliver the Latest in Innovative Agricultural Methods to Small, Socially Disadvantaged Agricultural Producers
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today awarded 17 grants in 12 states to help small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers expand their operations and create jobs. “These grants help small producers…
Nation’s Ag Co-ops Set Record for Annual Sales and Income
Co-ops Set Third Consecutive Sales Record; Jobs Increased by 5 percent Last Year Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the nation’s farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives set a new…
2014 Grant Awards to Support Farmers Markets, Local Food and Organic Production
Alonzo The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo discusses the AMS Fiscal Year 2014 grants for farmers markets and other local food promotion efforts….