For the first time, the USDA will collect data on farmers growing hemp and using precision technology in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The agency began regulating hemp production in 2021, and this will be the first census to publish data on those producers, who grow the crop for fabric, food products, and CBD. The…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Birmingham Retiring from Westlands Water Dist.
There is a major shakeup atop the powerful Westlands Water District on the horizon. Tom Birmingham, the District’s longtime General Manager, announced he will retire at year’s end. According to reports, Birmingham was in line to be replaced by a newly-elected board which was not satisfied with the direction of the district. Birmingham has served…… MORE
USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture
The USDA mailed survey codes to all known U.S. ag producers with the invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can tell their stories…… MORE
Proposed WIC Change Would Decrease Access to Dairy Products
The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association say the USDA’s proposed changes to the Women, Infants, and Children’s Nutrition Program will limit dairy access. “Unfortunately, the changes would decrease access to dairy products and the unique nutrient profile they provide, especially considering the current Dietary Guidelines say almost 90% of the…… MORE
California Part Of Growing Cotton Production Movement
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol released a report showing increasing improvement in the sustainability of American cotton production. The report shows significant improvements in important sustainability metrics. Cotton Trust Protocol members have recorded a 13% increase in land use efficiency and a 14% increase in water use efficiency. There’s also a 25% reduction in energy…… MORE
House/Senate Ag Leadership Stays The Same For Now
Leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees will likely be the same in the next Congress. Who controls the majority in the House, along with the Senate, will have a significant say in the 2023 Farm Bill process. Ranking Republican Glenn GT Thompson was re-elected Tuesday and seems poised to chair the committee, if…… MORE
Ag Lender Survey Results
The top concern facing agricultural lenders going into 2023 is interest rate volatility, according to the 2022 Agricultural Lender Survey report. The report is produced jointly by the American Bankers Association and Farmer Mac. Nearly half of respondents ranked interest rate volatility among their top two concerns, up 35.5 percentage points from last year. While…… MORE
California Tops Crop Insurance for Specialty Crops
New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows California farmers purchase the most Federal Crop Insurance policies for Specialty Crops. California led the country in policies for specialty crops in 2020, followed by Florida, Washington, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The states also produce the most fruits and vegetables, California, Florida, and Washington, and specialty field…… MORE
Ag Groups Ask Congress to Prevent Potential Rail Strike
More than 190 members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group want Congress to prepare to help prevent a railroad strike or lockout. Beef Magazine says a strike or lockout would shut down all rail-dependent facilities and result in devastating consequences to both national and global food security. The Biden administration successfully helped broker an agreement…… MORE
Higher Priced Turkeys on the Holiday Menu
A new analysis from CoBank suggests consumers will see smaller and higher-priced turkeys this Thanksgiving season. After grappling with staff shortages, plant closures, and supply issues, the turkey industry has been hit by yet another problem in 2022: the worst Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in U.S. history. HPAI leads to the depopulation of birds,…… MORE
