Author Archives: tanya brown

FSA Changes Way Producers Receive IRS Forms

Posted on October 17, 2012 by tanya brown

Beginning this year, producers whose total reportable payments from the Farm Service Agency are less than $600 will not receive IRS Form 1099-G. Previously, the forms were issued to show all program payments received from FSA, regardless of the amount. … Continue reading →

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

Posted on October 17, 2012 by tanya brown

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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USDA Uses Training, Accountability to Fight Discrimination

Posted on October 17, 2012 by tanya brown

USDA is transforming its image to address a legacy of discrimination by educating its workforce. In an interview with The Federal Drive, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the agency is training employees to be more sensitive to people of all … Continue reading →

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New Biofuels Research Grant to Spur Job Creation

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack awarded a five-year, $10 million grant  to Pennsylvania State University to develop biomass supply chains for the production of liquid transportation and aviation biofuels. This is the sixth grant made through the USDA Agriculture and Food … Continue reading →

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Study Finds Way to Improve Quality of Potatoes in Long-Term Cold Storage

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Scientists have identified a way to improve the look and taste of potatoes that have been in long-term cold storage. By decreasing the activity of a key enzyme that changes potato sugars, the study showed that the look and flavor … Continue reading →

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Maximizing Soil Performance by Improving its Health

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown
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Crop Report: Soybeans Fair Better While Corn Yields Fall

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Late season rains helped soybeans rebound according to the October USDA Crop Progress Report released yesterday. Despite the historic drought the overall planted areas for soybeans increased to 77.2 billion acres, up 1.1 billion from last month. Harvested acres also … Continue reading →

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USDA Farm Factoid

Posted on October 15, 2012 by tanya brown

In 2010 the top five leading processing vegetable states were California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon.

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Veteran Symposium Brings Credit Options to Farmers

Posted on October 12, 2012 by tanya brown

Althea Raiford retired from the Navy in 2010 and works in Maryland as a police officer. But every month she sends money home to Georgia to buy hogs, chickens and feed, some of which have been purchased at a discount … Continue reading →

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Finger-Licking Loan Specialist Smokes BBQ Competition

Posted on October 12, 2012 by tanya brown

By Latawnya Dia, FSA Public Affairs Specialist Michael Boyd is more than an FSA loan specialist in Tennessee. He is also a barbeque specialist in what many consider to be the barbeque capital of the world — Memphis, Tenn. Boyd … Continue reading →

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