Posts in USDA
India Shows Record Cotton Consumption, Strong Exports

India’s 2021/22 consumption is forecast at a record 25.5 million bales and exports are projected at the second-highest level in 8 years at 5.8 million. This level of total use is forecast to lower ending stocks to 12.4 million bales, down nearly 4.0 million compared with the record level 2 years prior.

A robust recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and stronger domestic consumption and exports of cotton yarn, fabric, and products are projected to support a significant downfall in stocks.

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Cotton, USDAdon molino
US Regains Market Share In Central America Rice Trade

Central America continues to be a key rice importing region in the Western Hemisphere. Demand is expected to grow given rising consumption trends for this staple grain. With limited production in most of these countries, imports will remain significant. While the United States is a major rice exporter to the region, South American countries have been formidable competitors, although not this year.

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Farmers Frustrated at Disaster Assistance in the Aftermath of Hurricane Laura

More than one year after Hurricane Laura caused more than $1.6-billion in damage to the state’s agriculture industry, some farmers say assistance has been inadequate.

“It’s very slow to get any type of aid in your pocket,” said farmer Brandon Vail. “It's not a cheap deal to rebuild and rebuilding is going to take several years.”

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USDA Sees Lower Sugar Supply in 2021-22

The US Department of Agriculture in its Oct. 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report raised from September its estimate of 2020-21 sugar ending stocks but lowered its forecast for 2021-22 ending stocks as lower imports and lower cane sugar production more than offset higher beginning stocks and higher beet sugar production.

For 2020-21, which ended Sept. 30, the USDA lowered domestic cane sugar production by about 20,000 tons, raw value, as a late start to the sugar cane harvest in Louisiana pushed more sugar into the new marketing year. Beet sugar production was unchanged from September.

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USDA Launches First Phase Of Soil Carbon Monitoring Efforts Through CRP Initiative

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $10 million in a new initiative to sample, measure, and monitor soil carbon on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to better quantify the climate outcomes of the program. CRP is an important tool in the Nation’s fight to reduce the worst impacts of climate change facing our farmers, ranchers, and foresters. This initiative will begin implementation in fall 2021 with three partners. Today’s announcement is part of a broader, long-term soil carbon monitoring effort across agricultural lands that supports USDA’s commitment to deliver climate solutions to agricultural producers and rural America through voluntary, incentive-based solutions.

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Electronic Acre Certification On The Horizon

If Martin Barbre has his way, it soon may be a whole lot easier to certify your acres with the Farm Service Agency.

How easy? Think from your home, at your computer — without a trip to the FSA office, which could be clear across the county.

“All producers will be able to sit at home and do acreage reporting at their own computer, rather than going to the FSA office and standing there with stacks of books and maps,” Barbre says.

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Moving Grain: $500M In Relief For Ag Transportation Challenges

On September 29, USDA announced $3 billion in investments targeting “urgent challenges facing agriculture today,” as part of Secretary Vilsack’s work as co-chair of the President’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. Of the $3 billion total, $500 million will be made available via the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide relief from increased transportation challenges, scarcity and rising costs of certain materials, and other near-term obstacles related to the marketing and distribution of certain commodities .

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USDA Invests $4.7M To Provide Outreach & Technical Assistance To Underserved Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an investment of $4.7 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers. The partnerships will support participation in Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, including those that are part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

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2021 Commodity Program Enrollment Dashboard

This article contains a summary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) report on commodity program choice for the 2021 crop year. For most crops, share of base acres enrolled in ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage – County version) increased. Share decreased in ARC-IC (ARC farm version) and PLC (Price Loss Coverage).

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Vilsack Uses CCC Funds To Pour $3B More Into Ag Sector

Through a comprehensive set of investments, USDA announced an additional $3 billion will be made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation to take action to prevent the spread of African swine fever, assist producers grappling with drought and market disruptions at ports and help school nutrition professionals obtain nutritious food for students.

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USTR Promises Tougher Stance On China

Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai announced the Biden Administration’s plans for a new approach to the U.S.-China relationship, including enforcement of the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement that was signed in January 2020. A series of upcoming bilateral discussions amongst trade negotiators will be scheduled.

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