Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Jason Weller have announced the availability of $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
USDA Extends ARC and PLC Deadlines
USDA has extended by one week the deadline for producers to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), the safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The final day to make the decision, update yield history or reallocate base acres will now be April 7, 2015. Val Dolcini, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) …
USDA Under Secretary Talks Trade
The Missouri State University William H. Darr School of Agriculture hosted the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Michael Scuse at a luncheon with Missouri agriculture leaders on February 17. Scuse mainly discussed trade negotiations, the importance of Congress granting the president Trade Promotion Authority, and issues such as the current ban on poultry imports by China due …
USDA Encourages Use of REAP Funds
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced new funding under the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program under the 2014 Farm Bill. The more than $280 million in funds are open to rural agricultural producers and small business owners to install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. Listen to the press conference that includes Secretary …
Farm Bill Celebrates First Birthday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined USDA’s progress in implementing the 2014 farm bill during a press conference Thursday. Joining Secretary Vilsack in the 2014 Farm Bill birthday recognition Wednesday was Ben LaCross, the Michigan fruit farmer who was at the signing of the bill last year; Michael O’Gorman, Executive director of Farmer Veteran Coalition; and Edgar Pruitt, an Alabama farmer …
USDA Share of Proposed 2016 Budget
On Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined USDA’s $156 billion share of the $4 trillion Obama budget proposal, which is three percent more than last year.
Ag Coalition for Cuba Launched
More than 25 companies and organizations launched the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) in Washington Thursday to liberalize trade and re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. Lawmakers Back Cuba Ag Trade Coalition
USDA Announces New Farm Bill Program
USDA is making plans to launch new Farm Bill program to help provide relief to farmers impacted by severe weather, including drought. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, available nationwide for farmers of select crops starting next spring, allows eligible producers who have been hit with severe weather to receive a higher approved …
NCBA Concerns About Beef Checkoff
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met earlier this week with the Beef Checkoff working group and reportedly told them he’s planning on implementing a new checkoff program for the industry by January, 2016. Speaking were NCBA president Bob McCan, NCBA immediate past president Scott George, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts.
USDA Unveils New Risk Management Programs
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.