The outlook for 2021/22 U.S. rice this month is for increased supplies, higher domestic use, lower exports, and larger ending stocks. Supplies are raised as NASS increased rice production by 3.3 million cwt to 193.8 million, all on higher yields. The all rice yield is forecast at a record 7,756 pounds per acre, up 131 pounds from the previous forecast. Record yields are forecast for Arkansas, California, Mississippi, and Missouri.
Read MoreThe Biden administration made the case at the COP 26 conference in Scotland that agriculture and forestry can provide a solution for mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions by incentivizing farmers to sequester carbon. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the administration’s goals to lower emissions from farming and ranching during a panel discussion at the conference Friday.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.
Read MoreThe Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19).
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.
Read MoreFrom 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.
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