From tractor parts to fertilizer, farmers are plagued with problems in the U.S. supply chain. And with labor already being an issue across the U.S., some fear it could get worse as vaccine mandates are prompting some employees to walk away from their jobs. After USDA said late last week it’s not approving a vaccine mandate exemption for Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees, farmers could see another shortage: FSA field staff.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in the process of issuing $1.8 billion in payments to agricultural producers who enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2020 crop year. These payments provide critical support to help mitigate fluctuations in either revenue or prices for certain crops. These two USDA safety-net programs help producers of certain crops build back better after facing the impacts of COVID-19 and other challenges.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2021, which are effective Nov. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
Read MorePoor health, viruses, and environmental stress can leave young calves susceptible to secondary bacterial infections that cause bovine respiratory disease (BRD). These severe infections commonly result in pneumonia, and treatments can be costly.
To identify unique proteins that can be used for future interventions against this disease in cattle, scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), took a closer look at the genetic material of multiple subtypes (strains) of three groups of bacterial species commonly implicated with BRD.
Read MoreThe Around Farm Progress podcast connects with Carrie Castille, director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture to learn more the organization and its goals
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing fiscal year 2022 assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and private landowners for key programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program. While USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts applications for these programs year-round, producers and landowners should apply by state-specific, ranking dates to be considered for this year’s funding.
Read MoreThe harvest in Arkansas has rounded its final turn and is all but over the finish line. With less than 10% of the crop to go, the story hasn’t changed much from the beginning. Yields are high, quality is down, and the 15% reduction predicted from the outset looks to be pretty accurate.
In fact, the October Rice Outlook pegs the reduction at just over 16% smaller than last year at 190.5 million cwt. There are reports of damaged rice on barges that were set for the Iraqi vessel, and despite the problems, the vessel has sailed.
Read MoreWhen Randy Moore left his hometown of Bastrop for Southern University, he was planning to get a law degree. But then serendipity intervened.
"I was walking through the Ag building and saw a sign about a co-op education program and its students getting to travel," said Randy Moore.
Read MoreElaine Trevino, President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, has the support of the vast majority of the food and agriculture sector. A coalition of 170 U.S. food and agriculture industry members called for the swift confirmation of Trevino.
Read MoreThe owner of a Louisiana livestock business has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $76,000 from a federal aid program to help compensate farmers and ranchers for losses from the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. authorities said Wednesday.
Burnell Gabriel Zachary, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from the U.S. government on Tuesday and agreed to repay $76,274 as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Lafayette, court documents show.
Read MoreIndia’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.
Read MoreCentral 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.
Read MoreMore 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.”
Read MoreThe outlook for 2021/22 U.S. rice this month is for reduced supplies, lower domestic use, unchanged exports, and smaller ending stocks. Supplies are reduced on lower projected imports as they more than offset minimally higher production.
Read MoreThe 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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