Author Archives: tanya brown

USDA Announces Proposed Rule on Biofuel Production

Posted on February 3, 2010 by tanya brown

The USDA announced that it will be seeking comments on its new Biomass Crop Assistance Program designed to expand the use of dedicated non-food crops for renewable energy and biofuel production. “Advancing biomass and biofuel production holds the potential to … Continue reading →

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Most of Michigan Designated Natural Disaster Area

Posted on February 3, 2010 by tanya brown

The USDA has designated 83 counties in Michigan as primary natural disaster areas due to a series of disastrous weather conditions that occurred throughout 2009. Several counties in the adjacent states of Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin also qualify as natural … Continue reading →

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USDA Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for February

Posted on February 3, 2010 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for February. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.375, unchanged from January, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance … Continue reading →

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Missouri Tween Grows Herd With FSA Youth Farm Loan

Posted on February 3, 2010 by tanya brown

  Bob Arnold earned his grandson $5,000 and five cows just by listening to the radio. “It’s important to get started young,” said Arnold, a Johnson County, Mo., farmer who listens to 100.7 FM “The Farm” radio each morning. During … Continue reading →

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Virginia Residents Receive Fresh Produce by Investing in Local Farms

Posted on February 3, 2010 by tanya brown

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has created an online list of Consumer Supported Agriculture, or CSA, that allows residents to invest in local farms and share what is produced. CSAs allow individuals to provide financial backing through … Continue reading →

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Oregon Jobs Forum Focuses on Renewable Energy to Spur Rural Growth

Posted on February 2, 2010 by tanya brown

Creating biomass and geothermal plants along with other sources of renewable energy are the types of jobs Oregon residents said were needed to grow their rural communities. Nearly 75 residents attended a jobs forum in Bend, Ore., last week as … Continue reading →

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FSA Partners With Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Posted on February 2, 2010 by tanya brown

The USDA Farm Service Agency along with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies made their partnership official today by signing a memorandum of understanding. The document reinforces a relationship between the agencies that promotes and sustains conservation and environmental … Continue reading →

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New USDA Web Site Promotes Openness, Solicits Ideas From Public

Posted on February 1, 2010 by tanya brown

A new Web site launched Friday opens the door for the public to share its views and interact with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The site is part of the Open Gov Initiative — a charge to transform how government … Continue reading →

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Milk Cow Inventory Down 3 Percent From Last Year

Posted on February 1, 2010 by tanya brown

Milk cow inventory declined three percent from last year to 9.1 million, according to a report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Overall cattle and calf inventory in the U.S. declined one percent from 94.5 in January 2009 to 93.7 … Continue reading →

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Most of Florida Designated a Disaster Area

Posted on February 1, 2010 by tanya brown

Sixty-four counties in Florida have been designated a natural disaster area by the USDA due to cold weather and freezing conditions that damaged crops last month. Several contiguous counties in the adjacent states of Alabama and Georgia also qualify for … Continue reading →

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