The California Farm Bureau Federation is posting on its website that fermented food waste could be used to deliver beneficial bacteria to food plants. University of California, Riverside researchers have discovered that beneficial microbes on crops can greatly multiply when food waste is added to plant-growing systems in a greenhouse. Researchers believe that fermented food…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
USDA Extends Signup for Conservation Reserve Program
The USDA is extending the general signup period for the Conservation Reserve Program, which was supposed to end on February 12. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes the opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates were reduced, which…… MORE
McConnell Announces Senate Committee Assignments
Senate Republicans announced their committee assignments this week, following the same announcement by Senate Democrats. For the Senate Agriculture Committee, new members include Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville and Roger Marshall of Kansas. The pair take seats previously occupied by retired chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia. Marshall was expected to join…… MORE
More Farmers Plan to get COVID-19 Vaccine
A question in the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer finds more farmers say they will get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ag Economy Barometer for January, released this week, finds producers’ attitudes about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine have shifted since the fall, with nearly six out of ten producers, 58%, planning to get vaccinated as…… MORE
Vilsack Confirmation Hearing
Joe Biden’s Agriculture Secretary nominee pledges to address discrimination across the Department of Agriculture. In the Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing, Tom Vilsack told lawmakers he will also seek to remove barriers to access for anyone who qualifies for nutrition assistance. In his opening statement, Vilsack also vowed to ensure USDA is doing its…… MORE
Cal Producers Can Apply For EQIP
The USDA issued this announcement: All farmers and ranchers interested in conservation are encouraged to submit their applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for financial and technical assistance. Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), EQIP applications will be screened and ranked on an ongoing basis, with the best projects receiving…… MORE
Oil Industry Seeks Ag Alliance
The U.S. oil industry is looking to a longtime adversary for help in opposing the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles. Reuters says the oil industry is reaching out to the nation’s corn growers and biofuel producers for lobbying help, but so far, they’re getting a cool reception to the idea. Multiple sources tell…… MORE
USDA Suspends CFAP Payments
The following is from the USDA’s farmers.gov website: In accordance with the White House memo, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, USDA has suspended the processing and payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Additional Assistance and has halted implementation until further notice. FSA local offices will continue to accept applications during the evaluation period. In the…… MORE
COVID-19 Farm Loan Relief
The Department of Agriculture is now offering the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs. The measures are to provide relief to farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments,…… MORE
Family-owned Farms Account for 96% of U.S. Farms
Family farms comprise 96% of all U.S. farms and 82% of the value of all agricultural products sold. The Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released the data in the 2017 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report. The report focuses on the family farm, defined as any farm where the majority of…… MORE
