The recent trade forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates high expectations for agricultural exports. Fiscal Year 2021 is projected to see an export value of $173.5 billion,…
Organic and Specialty Crop Insurance Purchases Increase Substantially
…higher rates in recent years. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has highlighted several improvements made to existing insurance options for producers. USDA believes that expansions made to coverage options, along…
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program to Award $10 Million in Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that a total of $10 million in grant funding will be available for the 2021 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. Grants are awarded…
Groups Disappointed in Neonicotinoid Evaluation
…American Soybean Association says, “USDA survey and commercial use data are available and show how growers use these tools, but the draft biological evaluation instead includes application rates, numbers, types,…
Grassley Wants Administration to Fill Ag Trade Positions
Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, called on President Biden to fill a couple of key USDA positions that deal with agricultural trade. He wants qualified officials appointed to the…
California Plums Gain Market Access to Japan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that Japan has granted market access for California plums. The announcement comes after several rounds of negotiations between the U.S. and Japan,…
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…
Dairy Donation Program Provides Funding Support to Address Food Insecurity
A new Dairy Donation Program (DDP) has been announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new $400 million program is being established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)….
USDA Announces Proposed Framework for Advancing Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2
…animals includes building an early warning system to alert public health partners to potential threats so they can take steps sooner to prevent or limit the next global pandemic. USDA’s…
First Giant Hornet Nest of 2021 Found in Washington State
…giant hornet spotting this year on August 11. A Washington state tracking team, along with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, located the…
CRP Acreage Falls Short of Goal at Just Under Three Million Acres
…enrolling four million new acres in the program. Despite not meeting USDA’s goal for enrollment, the figures demonstrate positive movement in increasing the overall acreage enrolled in the program. USDA’s…
Study Finds Genetics Rather Than Environment Are Source of THC Levels in Hemp
A recent study from Cornell University has found no link between increases in the THC content in hemp with environmental or biological stresses. Guidelines from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service note…
USDA Reports on Farm Computer Usage and Ownership
…67 percent of farms had a desktop or laptop computer, while 77 percent of farms had a smartphone. USDA collected the data as part of the June Agricultural Survey. The…
USDA Announces Improvements to the Dairy Safety Net and New Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program
…– December 2020 payments were made to their dairy farmer suppliers and a formula set by USDA. USDA will reimburse handlers and cooperatives for allowed administrative costs. USDA will contact…