Tag Archives: crops

USDA Pilots New Annual Forage Insurance Plan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is piloting a new federal crop insurance plan that uses a rainfall index to provide coverage for annual forage crops. The Rainfall Index Annual Forage Insurance Plan is being tested in six states and covers … Continue reading

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Producers Test Drones for More Precise Crop Information

Farmers are investigating the use of drones to help monitor cropland and spray pesticides. Several universities are testing the unmanned aircrafts as a way to further the use of technology in agriculture. As GPS, tablets and sensors are being used … Continue reading

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Plants Really Do Talk to Each Other

Researchers may have found a secret language used by plants that produces positive and negative results. By using nanomechanical vibrations or sounds, plants communicate to one another even when all forms of communication seem to be cut off. The study, … Continue reading

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Children Find Out How Much Water it Takes to Grow a Pizza

More than 840 fourth-grade students from Minnesota found out how much water it takes to make a large pizza. Through an exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Service Agency during the 15th Annual Children’s Water Festival, in North Mankato, MN., participants … Continue reading

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Black Belt Farmers Finding New Markets

African-American farmers in Alabama are finding ways to merge schools, communities and local government agencies to bring Black Belt produce to mainstream markets. Known as the Black Belt region due to the rich, black soil, this southern portion of Alabama … Continue reading

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Small Farmer Finds Success with FSA Microloan Program

By Cassie Bable, Texas FSA Public Affairs Specialist John Lee Meyer applied for his first loan with the Smith County Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Texas to purchase a John Deere 2750 tractor with cab for his hay operation. Meyer owns … Continue reading

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Study: Irrigating Portion of Cotton Field Could Maximize Yield

As drought continues to grip portions of the country, researchers from Texas Tech University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service are determining whether producers can maximize cotton yield by watering only a portion of their field. Results showed that watering … Continue reading

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Producers Face Nor’easter After Superstorm Sandy

Farmers on the East Coast are bracing once again for a major storm as a nor’easter is expected to bring high winds, snow and freezing temperatures. This comes on the heels of Hurricane Sandy that spared acres of cropland from … Continue reading

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Reminder: Sign-Up Period for Disaster Assistance Program Opens Oct. 22

Producers who suffered crop losses due to natural disasters during the 2011 crop year can sign up for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program beginning Monday, Oct. 22. The SURE program is authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, allowing … Continue reading

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Sale of Organic Crops, Livestock Hits $3.5 Billion

More than $3.5 billion in organic commodities were sold in the United States in 2011, according to a survey by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Based on the 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey, corn led organic field crops in … Continue reading

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