The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report (WASDE) was released recently. During December, raging wildfires in southern California and a late-month cold wave east of the Rockies highlighted …
USDA Investing Millions in Wildfire Mitigation and Water Quality Projects Through Joint Chiefs’ Partnership
Projects will restore healthy forests on private and public lands in 24 states The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $32 million this year to mitigate wildfire risk, …
Planning Your Spring Garden in January
Cathy Isom has a few tips about why January is the best time to start planning for that springtime garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. January brings …
Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching for 94th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds those interested in attending this year’s Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF) that early bird registration ends Friday, January 26, 2018. The two-day meeting will …
U.S. Ethanol Production Near Capacity but Constraints Limit Growth
As demand for ethanol has increased, the number of ethanol plants in the U.S. has quadrupled since 1999. A USDA report says the growth in the number of ethanol plants …
USDA Wants More Done to Combat Crop Insurance Fraud
The Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Risk Management Agency hasn’t done enough to combat crop insurance fraud. Since 2001, the RMA has contracted with the …
USDA Issues Permit for Santa’s Reindeer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, …
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Reflects on Year of Progress
The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, highlighted some of the agency’s accomplishments during 2017 to improve the productivity, uses, and sustainability of national forests and …
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Pays It Forward with Research Achievements
With the year drawing to a close, the U.S. Department of agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is preparing for 2018 with renewed vigor, building on its scientific and technological …
Expanding U.S. Commodity Markets Top Priority for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service
64.5 billion pounds of fruit and vegetables, and 44.4 billion eggs graded/inspected domestically The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the agency facilitated the export of …
USDA Expands Flexibility, Encourages Program Integration in SNAP Administration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued national program guidance that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state operators new flexibility to make their operations …
Improvements to Crop Insurance continue in 2018
USDA Strengthens Crop Insurance Program to keep Rural Economy Viable Changes to the Federal crop insurance program initiated in 2017 will continue into 2018. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) …
Farmers Decline to Get Involved in USDA/GIPSA Suit
Many farmers were upset for months about a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to withdraw the interim final rule from the Grain Inspections, Packers, and Stockyards Act (GIPSA). Politico says …
USDA Highlights $40 Million in Infrastructure Investments in Rural Communities
Funding Helps Improve Streets, Transit Facilities and Other Structures to Spur Economic Growth and Create Jobs Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in Fiscal Year …