…ward pests away from your more precious crops. Horseradish root and grated horseradish There are only a few varieties of horseradish available for planting at home. It can be started…
PRS Grant Program to Aid with COVID Related Costs
…program will provide support for small-scale specialty crop producers and processors, as well as other select producers, processors, and distributors. USDA is expecting to issue approximately 200,000 awards to eligible…
Reemergence and Spread of Branched Broomrape Causes Concern
…of crops in areas where the weed is found. Sanitation is a critical component of preventing the spread of the weed even further, along with diligent monitoring. However, scouting for…
September Chores for Getting the Garden Winter-Ready
…beginning of September is a good time to divide irises and day lilies, fertilize fescue lawns, and start cool-season vegetable seedlings. It’s also a good time to plant cover crops,…
Updates to Whole-Farm Revenue Protection to Benefit Organic Producers
…is designed for any farm with up to $8.5 million in insured revenue. That includes farming operations with specialty or organic commodities, covering both crops and livestock. The insurance plan…
NASS to Review Acreage Earlier for Certain Crops
The Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced it will review planted and harvested acreage for select crops earlier than normal. The crops under review include corn, cotton, peanuts,…
Helpful Tips for Preparing the Garden for the Cold Season Ahead
…area. Spot spray young dandelions that sprout from summer seeds. And, clean up the veggie patch by pulling spent crops. Be sure to gather all debris, including stem, leaf and…
Organic and Specialty Crop Insurance Purchases Increase Substantially
…and research. Over a 30-year period, liabilities for insured specialty crops increased from $1 billion to more than $20 billion. Liabilities for insured organic crops also increased substantially between 1990…
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program to Award $10 Million in Funding
…to state departments of agriculture to help support collaborative, multi-state projects that address issues of food safety, pests and disease, research, and marketing and promotion for specialty crops. “This program…
The Western View: September is California Wine Month
…best wines in the world created on small and large vineyards right here, among the citrus, stone fruit and row crops of California’s rich farmland. So this is the month…
Western House Members Ask for FEMA Disaster Declaration
…disaster programs.” The governors pointed out in their letter that historic drought may wipe out entire crops, limit yields, and lead to extreme levels of pests and disease that could…
Groups Disappointed in Neonicotinoid Evaluation
Grower organizations representing a variety of crops are disappointed with the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft biological evaluation for several neonicotinoid products. The groups representing farmers across the country say that…
Contract Producers Eligible for Assistance Under Recent CFAP 2 Update
…of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities will now be eligible for assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has established October 12 as the deadline…
Almond Update: New Cover Crop BMPs Available for Growers
A new resource has been made available for growers, focused on the use of cover crops in almond orchards. The new Best Management Practices (BMPs) guide provides a thorough look…