U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine.
Read MoreUSDA is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding pool, which includes proposals seeking funds ranging from $5 million to $100 million.
Read MoreLast winter, Tensas Parish farmer Will Ratliffe was optimistic about this year's harvest. Commodity prices were up, and his 3,500 acres of soybeans, cotton and corn appeared set for a banner year.
But soon after, prices for fertilizer, fuel and other supplies climbed to unprecedented levels.
Read MoreThe week of August 21st brought many of you excessive rain. For others, you have been suffering a year of severe drought. Some have faced both. We are asking USDA for help.
We want you to know that your Farm Bureau is aware of these situations and has been working to secure a disaster declaration from USDA for these events.
Read MoreLouisiana corn for grain production is forecast at 71.8 million bushels, down 15 percent from the August 1 forecast and down 31 percent from 2021. Based on conditions as of September 1, yield is expected to average 165 bushels per acre, down 10 bushels from last month and down 18 bushels from last year.
Read MoreAs many of you are aware, AMS has launched the USDA Regional Food Business Centers – a $400 million investment to provide essential local and regional food systems coordination, technical assistance, and capacity-building services. The Regional Food Business Centers will build on USDA grants and cooperative agreement work through larger regional-scale investments, which will encourage locally-driven planning and scaled-up solutions to fit regional needs.
Read MoreUSDA launched the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (Increasing Land Access) Program to help underserved producers by increasing land, capital, and market access. The program will fund cooperative agreements or grants for projects that help move underserved producers from surviving to thriving.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from U.S. exporters for its first-ever agricultural trade mission to Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 29 – Dec. 2.
Read MoreUSDA is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to America’s agricultural producers. This includes doubling the maximum insurable revenue under WFRP, now $17 million, more than tripling the size of farm operations eligible for Micro Farm, now $350,000 and reducing paperwork requirements for WFRP.
Read MoreUSDA's Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income (NCFI)-gross cash income minus cash expenses-to increase by $13.5 billion (8.7 percent) from 2021 to $168.5 billion in 2022. This is the highest level since 2012.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2022, which are effective Sept. 1, 2022. 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 MoreThe number of jobs certified to be filled with H-2A workers increased from around 75,000 in FY 2010 to around 275,000 in FY 2020. Six States accounted for 55 percent of H-2A jobs certified: Florida (14 percent), Georgia (10 percent), Washington (10 percent), California (9 percent), North Carolina (8 percent), and Louisiana (4 percent).
Read MoreThe USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program is currently accepting nominations/applications for ALL non-Forest Service positions on the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (The Council).
Read MoreFarmland value continues its meteoric climb, according to the most recent data from USDA. In the 2022 Land Values summary released in August, figures show the average U.S. farm real estate value at $3,800 per acre. That’s a 12.4% jump over 2021 prices.
Read MoreThis report contains the results from the 2022 Cash Rents Survey.
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