…designed for specialty crop producers, to research, to market and promotion opportunities,” Lester Moffitt said. Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative According to the USDA, the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative aims to…
AgNet Weekly: USDA Specialty Crop Initiatives
The USDA is putting a focus on specialty crops with new investments and the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative (SCCI), which is part of a larger effort to support specialty crop…
Tax Relief Bill Passed in House Will Support Farming Businesses
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a significant tax relief bill on Wednesday. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act was passed by a vote of 357 to…
Almond Update: New QR Code Tells the Almond Stewardship Story
…code initiative has been deployed in high-traffic areas including the Sacramento and Oakland airports, along with transit shelters in San Francisco. Already the innovative QR code has received hundreds of…
Federal Investments to Support U.S. Specialty Crops
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced two USDA investments to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative, part of the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program…
USDA Provides Awards for Organic Market Development and Promotion
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has allocated $9.75 million across 10 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG). This initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris…
Almond Update: Navel Orangeworm Challenges Took a Toll in 2023
…challenges came from insecticide applications not lining up with the optimal timing in the pest’s lifecycle. In an average year, hull split will be synchronized in early July, right about…
Delta Conveyance Project Approved by DWR
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has just approved the Delta Conveyance Project. This modernization initiative aims to significantly revamp important water delivery infrastructure. It has received certification for its…
USDA Seeks Public Input on Foreign Investment in U.S. Agriculture
…being proposed to refine the process of reporting foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States. The initiative, led by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), centers on enhancing the…
CDFA Accepting Proposals for New Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
…Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Aimed at fortifying the middle of the supply chain, this initiative focuses on supporting processing, aggregation, and distribution activities for domestic food and farm businesses. CDFA…
Almond Update: Preventing Another Year of Substantial NOW Damage
…and a prolonged hull split timeframe. Machado emphasized that NOW management is an ongoing journey rather than a one-time action. A critical component of management is proper sanitation. Inclement weather…
Lawmakers Discuss Pesticide Regulations
…agency in the next farm bill.” He said states don’t need multiple agencies overseeing pesticide regulations. “This is an initiative I have continued to build support for over the last…
Final Environmental Impact Report for Delta Conveyance Project Released
A Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project has been released by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). This initiative, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, marks a…
Mating Disruption Incentives Made Possible Through CDFA
…the eastern San Joaquin Valley. Collaborating on this initiative are key players including the Almond Board of California (ABC), the University of California Cooperative Extension, and crop consultants partnering with…