…priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition, and health; bioenergy, natural resources, and environment; agriculture systems and technology;…
USFRA Unveils Agriculture in America Sustainability Report at Sustainable Brands Conference
…that consumers struggle to define sustainability. Moreover, the topic is best understood by consumers when farmers explain the tangible ways they are improving the water, soil, air and habitat on…
Ag Groups Respond to White House Budget Cuts
…block. “In addition to cuts to farm and rural programs, the president’s proposal stands to worsen access to health care for rural residents. The proposed $800 billion cut to Medicaid…
Making Good Use of Old Firewood
…they will slowly break down beneath the soil. The slow decomposition of wood is perfectly suited for making a long-lasting source of nutrients for the plants atop them. Old logs…
Consumers Overwhelmed by Conflicting Food Information
…Almost all consumers (96 percent) seek out health benefits from what they eat and drink (the top benefits being weight loss, cardiovascular health, energy, and digestive health), but out of…
Farmers Nervous About NAFTA Renegotiation
…reducing environmental regulations, increasing law enforcement, and redoing health care. But farmers are looking on nervously as the White House announced last week it intends to renegotiate the North American…
Giving Gardeners Information on Potting Media for Trees and Shrubs
…USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) National Soil Dynamics Laboratory in Auburn, Alabama, compared pine bark’s capabilities for storing carbon in the soil with the alternatives. Storing carbon in the soil…
USDA Investigating Unapproved GE Petunias
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services is investigating imported unapproved genetically modified petunias. USDA says the GE petunias produce various hues of orange, red and…
$4.7 Million to Support University Agricultural Science Programs
…and environment; food safety, nutrition, and health; and plant health, production, and products. NIFA encourages projects that focus on increasing the number and diversity of students entering the food, agriculture,…
May is CalFresh Awareness Month
…improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing improved access to healthy and nutritious foods. Many are unaware they are eligible to receive benefits. Take the…
Planning and What to Grow in Your Food Forest
…around it so that new growth will be snuffed out and organic matter decomposes to enrich the soil. A rule of thumb for starting a food forest from scratch is…
USDA Certifies Another Rural Business Investment Fund
…to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and…
Almond Update: Importance of Water Quality
…growers should keep an eye on. From the Almond Board of California: Almond growers rely on good water quality to ensure both a healthy tree and a healthful crop….
Why You Should Grow Your Own Food Forest
…dropping leaves, twigs, branches, and even entire trees to feed the soil life, which in turn creates fertile, rich soil to grow new trees and plants. Trees prevent evaporation and…