Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the new programs included in the 2014 Farm Bill to help farmers better manage risk. The new programs, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), represent the end of direct payments by offering farmers protection when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices and/or revenues. Producers will have through early spring …
USDA Conservation Grants Announced
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $15.7 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) to 47 organizations that will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in private lands conservation. The Secretary made the announcement while visiting a farm in Moline, Illinois. The grants are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Those receiving the grants …
USDA Crop Report Comments
USDA has increased its estimate of both the corn and soybean crops this month, building on already forecast record highs. Corn production is forecast at 14.4 billion bushels, up 3 percent from both the August forecast and from 2013 and yields are expected to average 171.7 bushels per acre, almost 13 bushels an acre higher than last year. Soybean production …
Conservation Easement Program Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in farming …
USDA Update on Farm Bill
Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hosted a media conference call to provide a six month update on Farm Bill implementation progress. The 2014 Farm Bill reforms agricultural policy reduces the deficit and helps grow the economy. Since the Farm Bill was signed by President Obama on February 7, 2014, USDA has made progress throughout all Farm Bill titles including the …
MGEX Crop Call Comments on USDA Reports
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2014 Acreage Report today, as well as the Quarterly Grain Stocks report. The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) hosted its regular Crop Report Conference Call for the media on the Acreage and Grain Stocks reports with Jonah Ford of Ceres Hedge providing commentary.
USB Soy Biobased Products Dialogue
The United Soybean Board held the 2014 Biobased Products Stakeholders Dialogue June 17-18 at George Washington University in Washington, DC with the theme of “Innovation and Agriculture Grow Together” 2014 USB Soy Biobased Dialogue Photo Album Past and Present USDA Deputies at USB Event – Soy Biobased About Customer Focus – Millennial Views of Biobased and Sustainability – Elevance Exemplifies …
Secretary Vilsack from Brussels
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is in Europe this week meet with European agricultural and trade officials and other industry stakeholders. Vilsack is visiting with officials in Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, and Dublin to discuss the expansion of agricultural trade, the importance of agriculture’s role in the U.S.-European Union (EU) Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), and the benefits the trade agreement …
New USDA Conservation Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Kellogg Company Diane Holdorf and North American Agriculture Program Director at The Nature Conservancy Sean McMahon hosted a media call today to announce substantial investments in conservation projects across the country. The program was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and will be up and running beginning …
USDA Defends Healthier School Lunch Program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, William S. Wallace, General, U.S. Army (Retired), James A. “Jamie” Barnett, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) and School Food Service Director Donna Martin of Burke County, Ga. participated in a media call today to “discuss efforts by some Members of Congress and special interest groups to undermine childhood nutrition standards and the effect that would have …
USDA Ag Trade Mission to China
USDA just concluded a trade mission to China promoting U.S. biofuels and agricultural products. Kelly Davis with Renewable Fuels Association, Jim Miller of Growth Energy and Roger Johnson president of National Farmer’s Union all participated in the trade mission and held a press conference today to discuss the results. Opening comments:
Call to Reform Immigration for Farm Workers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President of the United Farm Workers Arturo Rodriguez and President of Nisei Farmers League Manuel Cunha today on a conference call to discuss the importance of commonsense immigration reform for California’s agriculture economy and rural communities. There are over 81,033 farms in California that sell approximately $33.9 billion in agricultural products. Immigration reform would provide …
2012 Census of Agriculture Report
USDA released the majority of data collected for the 2012 Census of Agriculture on Friday. The data was released at noon via webcast. There are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agriculture …
Interview with NASS Census Official
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it will publish the 2012 Census of Agriculture full report on May 2. The announcement was made this week as NASS Census and Survey Division Director Renee Picanso was attending the National Agri-Marketing Association conference in Jacksonville, Florida.
USDA Announces Small Farmer Help
During an appearance at the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new and expanded efforts to connect smaller farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can “help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations.” Vilsack held a press conference from the NFU convention following his remarks, joined …