Hurricane Ida Potential Crop Damage
The cotton crop is in really good shape this year across the Delta and Southeast, with its highest rating in five years.
However, Hurricane Ida is threatening to become a major hurricane that could threaten flood and wind damage in that area by Sunday afternoon into Tuesday.
(To see daily updates from DTN meteorologists and follow the track on Ida, go to www.dtn.com/hurricane-ida)
First, a look at the current crop situation in the area that could potentially be hit.
According to the USDA NASS data, the good-to-excellent rating of 71% for the cotton crop is the highest rating in the past five years. All states in the Delta and Southeast have at least a 70% rating except for Tennessee, which is at 67%.
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Actual Product Use Not Reflected in Neonicotinoid Evaluation, Growers Say
Grower organizations representing a variety of crops are voicing disappointment with EPA’s Endangered Species Act-required draft biological evaluation (BE) for several neonicotinoid products, including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin.
The groups representing farmers across the country say that the agency’s failure to consider real-world usage data in its analysis could limit growers’ ability to protect their crops and livelihoods – without making endangered species any safer.
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USDA One Step Ahead On Protecting US Pork Exports
News that African swine fever was detected in the Dominican Republic on July 28 takes on greater importance when considering it could shut down all of U.S. pork exports if it spreads just under 400 miles away to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. As part of its continuing efforts to prevent ASF introduction into the Conterminous United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, APHIS is preparing to establish a Foreign Animal Disease protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the agency says in a notice.
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USDA on Track to Provide Record-Breaking Support for Rural Working Capital Needs
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced that USDA is on track to provide a record level of support for rural working capital and other business capital needs in the fiscal year 2021.
The Department has invested $1.2 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses in 41 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands. These investments – made through the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program and the Business and Industry CARES Act Program – are expected to create or save more than 12,000 jobs for people in rural areas.
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Louisiana Farm Bureau Succeeds in National Push for Contract Poultry Farmer Pandemic Assistance
After seventeen months of grassroots work and persistence, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LFBF) and other state Farm Bureaus can celebrate a massive victory.
Contract poultry growers who were previously ruled out of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program are now eligible to apply for aid thanks to collaboration between various state Farm Bureaus, lawmakers and USDA. Up to $1 billion will be made available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act to livestock and poultry producers who suffered financial losses from January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020.
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USDA Announces Contract Grower Aid Program
Farmers who were previously ineligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) can now apply for aid thanks to collaboration between the American Farm Bureau, lawmakers and USDA. Up to $1 billion will be made available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act to livestock and poultry producers who suffered financial losses from January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020. The American Farm Bureau first raised concern about farmers being left out of the aid package in May 2020 and has been engaged on this issue for more than a year.
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USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres For The Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accepted 2.8 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2021. This year, almost 1.9 million acres in offers have been accepted through the General CRP Signup, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has accepted over 897,000 acres for enrollment through the Continuous Signup. The Continuous Signup remains open and CRP Grasslands Signup closed last week, so USDA expects to enroll more acres into all of CRP than the 3 million acres that are expiring.
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USDA to Measure Grain Stocks in Louisiana
During the first two weeks of September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be contacting farmers nationwide to determine the stocks of grains and oilseeds on farms in the United States. In Louisiana, producers will be contacted for on-farm storage of corn and soybeans as of September 1.
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Program Helps New Farmers with Risk
The LSU AgCenter has received a federal grant for a series of webinars, workshops and farm tours to train new farmers, particularly in the areas of finance and marketing, to help make them more risk-resilient.
The Southern Extension Risk Management Education grant was from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The amount was not reported.
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USDA Improves Dairy Safety Net and Details Pandemic Aid Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the details of the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program as part of meetings with farmers and a tour of farms with U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy from Vermont.
In June, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack committed to providing additional pandemic assistance for dairy farmers in an exchange at a hearing with Leahy, who is the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman. Through the program, the USDA will provide about $350 million in pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers who received a lower value for their products due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic. The assistance is part of a larger package including permanent improvements to the Dairy Margin Coverage safety net program.
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USDA Accepting Applications To Help Cover Costs For Organic Certification
Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021.
“USDA is here to help all producers, including those who grow our nation’s organic food and fiber. Many farmers have told us that cost was a barrier to their ability to get an organic certification,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “By assisting with the costs, this program can help organic farmers get their certification along with the benefits that come with it.”
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Louisiana Crop Production, August, 2021
Corn Yield Down but Production Up from 2020
Cotton Yield Up but Production Down from 2020
Rice Yield and Production Down from 2020 Soybean Yield Down but Production Up from 2020
Sugarcane Yield and Production Down from 2020
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Senators Question Slow Pace of Pandemic Payments to Farmers
The Biden administration has committed $7.3 billion in pandemic aid to farmers and ranchers since March, but payments are now much smaller; $583 million in the past four months, according to an unofficial tally by FERN. Four members of the Senate Agriculture Committee queried the USDA on Monday about the lack of payments to farmers who produce hogs under contract.
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Big Boost for USDA in Senate Budget Proposal
The budget plan unveiled by Senate Democrats on Monday would increase USDA spending by $135 billion over a decade, equal to a 9% increase from pre-pandemic levels. The money would be directed to projects ranging from child nutrition to clean energy and climate mitigation, said a memo from the Senate Budget Committee.
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New USDA Market News Reports To Enhance Price Transparency In Cattle Markets
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning Monday, August 9, 2021, it will issue two new USDA Market News reports based on Livestock Mandatory Reporting data that will provide additional insight into formula cattle trades and help promote fair and competitive markets.
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